Chen Ren paused, his eyes narrowing, as he wondered if what he was seeing and hearing was a reality or just something his mind was making up. He had memories of witnessing strange things that he would have regarded as breaking every law of physics and biology in his past life, but he never minded them, as they should be considered normal in this world.
Now that it happened before him, his brain needed a good minute to register it. His eyes stared at the feline perched elegantly on the courtyard ground before finally speaking.
"Aren't you the cat that Xiulan feeds occasionally?"
The cat turned its head slowly, regarding him with piercing, intelligent eyes. Its fur was a pristine white, thick and luxurious, flowing down like a waterfall down its broad frame. It was large for a cat, easily the size of a small dog.
What were these cats called? Right, Maine Coon.
Chen Ren remembered them as a majestic breed in every way possible.
The cat's ears were tufted, the tips flicked ever so slightly, and its bushy tail stood high in the air, fluffy and imposing the surrounding area as if it regarded it all its own. The fur there seemed even more voluminous, curling in thick waves that almost appeared alive.
The creature blinked at him, again. Its slitted eyes narrowed as the tail whipped sharply, an unmistakable tension taking place between them.
Chen Ren couldn't help but let his eyes wander over it under the moonlit sky, but it wasn't the colour, imposing size, immaculate coat or piercing eyes that caught his attention the most— it was the flames.
They danced and curled around its tail, licking the air in a slow, deliberate burn. They were subtle, more like embers of a dying fire, yet they crackled with life. Its eyes, a molten ember glowed with an eerie light, not just bright, but almost… sentient.
They locked onto him with a gaze that felt far too human— Chen Ren didn't know how or why, just that it spooked a part of him. Because despite the elegance in its posture, there was an air of menace. The tension in its raised tail wasn't just for a show— this feline wasn't here for food or a casual encounter if it wasn't obvious by now.
His breathing slowed as he realised that in his memories, he had seen powerful cultivators unleash elemental techniques, but this… this was different.
The cat's mouth parted, and a voice, smooth like honey, but sharp as a sword cut through the thickened air.
Unsurprisingly, as he guessed, it was a female cat.
"I've been watching you ever since you took over Chen Ren's body. And I'm here for answers."
Chen Ren's eyes widened, and his breath caught in his throat.
The first surprise was his realising that she knew he had taken over Chen Ren's body. But before he could process it, another shock hit him as he noticed that the constant presence he had felt trailing him wasn't one of the debtor's men, but the cat. Everything suddenly made sense as his mind raced.
"I am Yalan," she continued, her flames flaring briefly as she spoke her name. "Now tell me, who are you?"
He blinked, disbelief flooding him. How did she know? His first thought was to chalk it up to his laziness compared to the original Chen Ren, but something told him that wasn't it. His gaze dropped to the fire trailing along her tail once more. No, it had to be something else— something about her, some skill she possessed that allowed her to see through his facade.
And now, that same skill had placed him under her scrutiny.
Chen Ren hesitated, weighing his options. Should I lie, or confess the bizarre truth? One glance at the flames still licking at the cat's tail told him all he needed to know. He swallowed and spoke, his voice giving away the fact that he was nervous— even though he was just facing a damn cat.
"I... I don't know how I got here. I remember falling asleep, and the next thing I knew, I was Chen Ren. I have his memories, but I know they aren't mine. It's like remembering everything about someone else's life but having no real connection to it. I didn't try to take over his body... it just happened. I didn't wish for it nor do I understand how or why it happened. It was bizarre even for me."
He watched the cat carefully, his pulse racing. Would she accept that answer? What if she didn't? His gaze stared beyond her, but there was no else in the courtyard. Even if he shouted for help, it would take a swipe of her tail for the embers to burn him down.
He had purposely avoided any places where he would be alone in case he got confronted by some debt collectors, but it never crossed his mind that there would be other forms of threats.
As the seconds stretched out, his heartbeat thrummed in his chest and the flames around the cat's tail dimmed, imitating the last bits of dying fire.
"So," she spoke finally, her eyes glowing faintly. "Were you a powerful cultivator whose soul mistakenly took over Chen Ren's body in the process of ascension? I heard of such a case a century ago."
Chen Ren shook his head immediately, choosing to be truthful.
"No, I was just a mortal in my world. There's no concept of cultivation where I come from— except in books or games. Although it's just a hypothesis, I believe it's because our atmosphere doesn't have qi."
Hearing that, Yalan paced around the floor for a few seconds. Her tail moved to the rhythm of her paws, making him want to reach out and pat her fur, but the flames stopped him from moving.
Finally, she turned around and stared at Chen Ren.
"A qi-less world… Interesting. Probably one of the lower worlds that no one has heard about." She murmured before her gaze sharpened, focusing on him with a newfound curiosity. "Then tell me— what have you been doing with those things you call noodles?"
His eyes lit up at the mention. "Oh, those! I'm building a business," he said, a touch of excitement creeping into his voice. "I'm trying to make enough to pay back the debts Chen Ren owed, so I can be debt-free as soon as possible. I didn't take them, but you know I can't just escape them no matter how unfair it is. After that, I plan to focus on earning more money— hopefully, a lot more."
Yalan's flames flickered again, but this time, it felt less like a threat and more like a signal of amusement. It dimmed once again— quicker than it had before.
"Money? Why?" she asked, stretching the 'why' a bit longer, while her head tilted to the side. "You were a mortal, but now you're a cultivator. Why not focus on cultivation, rise through the realms, and claim whatever you desire? Artefacts, women, riches— it would all be within your reach."
Chen Ren chuckled softly.
"That sounds tempting— ideal, even, but I don't have much of a choice right now. Cultivation is interesting, but making money is... necessary. At my level, I can only hunt low-level beasts, and the debt hanging over Chen Ren's head isn't small. It would take me a while to pay it off that way— and be far more dangerous. You see, the knife is dangerously close to my neck, and I know it could strike at any moment. From what I've learned and already know about this world, that's the conclusion I've come to."
He hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "Besides, I've realised Chen Ren's talent isn't exactly... remarkable."
Yalan's fiery gaze softened as she gave a slight what-looked-like nod.
"I can understand that. Chen Ren was never blessed by the heavens. I almost pitied him in his childhood. But instead of challenging the heavens, he allowed them to crush him. The man grew bitter, more with each passing year."
Her tail lashed sharply once before she shook her head. "Alright, I won't be exterminating you. At least, not until you reveal yourself to be a demon who's been lying this whole time. But I doubt it."