Erhuo's Wish . . .
Erhuo, the fluffy feline, displayed its disdain in full measure as it rolled its eyes and cast a supremely arrogant gaze upon Han Bingxue. It uttered a string of contemptuous meows.
"What's with this numbskull?" it seemed to convey. "It's not your fault for being born ugly, but you should at least take pride in your incompetence. I see now; you've taken quite a beating. That surely transforms you from a pighead to a pitiful loser! How dare such a loser attempt to embrace me? This level of audacity is unfathomable!"
When Han Bingxue made an initial attempt to touch the cat, it was quick to express its disdain. With indifference, it turned away and found a new resting spot on Cha Eun Xiao's opposite shoulder.
"Oh? That was fast!" Han Bingxue found himself genuinely surprised.
"Really? A cat evaded my grasp?" he wondered, mildly bewildered.
Intrigued, Han Bingxue made a second attempt to catch Erhuo, this time unleashing his lightning-fast movements with a hint of spiritual power. In the Qing-Yun Realm, he was renowned for his agility. While Cha Eun Xiao's One Laughter in Skyline excelled in various aspects, Han Bingxue's speed was notably superior. This realization fueled his confidence, even though he had not yet fully recuperated. He believed he could capture the little feline with relative ease.
Cha Eun Xiao watched the unfolding spectacle, a knowing smile playing on his lips. He understood that Han Bingxue was in for a challenge.
Han Bingxue's movements remained swift, yet Erhuo proved significantly faster. Cha Eun Xiao believed Erhuo outpaced both his One Laughter in Skyline and Han Bingxue's Traceless Wind in terms of speed. Even at his peak, Han Bingxue would have struggled to catch Erhuo. Yet, while Han Bingxue was far from his best due to his ongoing recovery, he continued his attempts with greater determination.
As expected, Erhuo casually eluded Han Bingxue's grabs, its disdain only intensifying.
"Why is this man so persistent?" it seemed to question. "I don't wish to be in his proximity. Why must he insist on touching me? How dare he!"
Undeterred by the ongoing failures, Han Bingxue attempted once more, this time putting his full effort into it. With a simple motion to seize the cat, he expected success. Within the entire realm, no one below the ninth level of Dao Origin Stage could elude his grasp.
Erhuo's patience waned even further, and with a resounding clap, it swiftly swatted Han Bingxue's face.
Han Bingxue, filled with shock and disbelief, struggled to comprehend the swift turn of events. His face stung, and he gazed at the cat, now looking back at him with increased disdain. He was momentarily at a loss.
"I didn't capture the kitty... I got slapped by it..." his mind raced to understand. "The cat actually slapped me, and I couldn't even escape it! A cat that can slap a man? A cat that's so incredibly fast! Is it still just a cat? How can a cat possess such power?"
In a daze, his eyes widened as he grappled with the bizarre reality that had unfolded before him.
"Boss... Your cat..." he began to utter, cupping his burning cheek. "Is it really... just a cat?"
Cha Eun Xiao, relishing the moment, concealed his mirth, adopting a composed demeanor. "What? Does it appear to be... a dog to you?"
Han Bingxue found himself in a state of speechlessness. His fascination with Erhuo, the enigmatic feline, had grown to the point that he couldn't tear his gaze away from it. He moved with deliberate slowness, endeavoring to grasp every minuscule nuance of the cat's swift movements, hoping to comprehend how it could move faster than even himself.
With an unwavering focus, he extended his hand toward Erhuo, his gaze unwavering, never once blinking. Yet, Erhuo wasn't having any of it. As his hand inched closer to the feline, Erhuo's fur bristled, and it abruptly arched its back. Fixing its eyes upon the hand, it began to purr.
It was a clear and unequivocal warning. "Touch me again, and I shall retaliate."
However, Han Bingxue was completely unaware of this hidden message, having only recently encountered Erhuo for the first time. In his view, everything appeared to be proceeding smoothly, and he felt a growing sense of satisfaction as he inched his hand closer to the feline.
As far as Han Bingxue was concerned, he believed he was on the brink of successfully capturing the elusive cat. He could already visualize his imminent triumph.
Nevertheless, his anticipation was met with an unexpected and rather painful reality.
Erhuo, displaying a swiftness that astounded Han Bingxue, rapidly extended its claws. In the blink of an eye, it executed a remarkable feat – it struck the back of Han Bingxue's hand with a sharp scratch.
"Ah... Oh..." The pain surged through Han Bingxue's hand as he was caught completely off guard. While the wound was not severe, blood oozed from the injury. He was in such disbelief and awe that he actually exclaimed aloud.
His outburst was not simply a cry of pain. Rather, it was a surprising revelation to Erhuo.
Erhuo's curiosity was piqued. Its feline eyes stared at Han Bingxue, baffled and intrigued. It pondered the extraordinary abilities of this peculiar human.
[Can he actually speak the language of cats? How intriguing! Perhaps I should pay closer attention to him. Why didn't I notice this earlier? He possesses a remarkable talent!]
[That was undeniably a cat-like utterance he just made...]
Erhuo, now fixated on Han Bingxue, raised an inquisitive eyebrow, if a cat could do such a thing. It was curious about Han Bingxue's ability to comprehend cat language, even though it was not a vocal conversation, but rather a telepathic connection only Cha Eun Xiao shared with Erhuo.
With his eyes wide open, Han Bingxue gazed at the enigmatic and regal feline. An innocent expression washed over his face as he remained bewildered, entirely at a loss for words.
Erhuo, not one to give up easily, endeavored to communicate with Han Bingxue in cat language. Intrigued by the astonishing revelation that Han Bingxue could potentially comprehend its language, the cat emitted a series of melodious "meow" sounds. It was intent on communicating and getting to the bottom of this mysterious man's unique ability.
Han Bingxue continued to peer at the inquisitive feline, a look of confusion coloring his features, while he grappled with this newfound and wondrous occurrence.