LAVW – Chapter 19 Going Back to Pet the Cat

Shi Qian: “Squeak.”

Doesn’t look like it.

Long Ye: “Doesn’t it? I think—”

“Squeak Squeak.”

Is this even about whether it looks like it or not? It’s just a lotus seed.

Shi Qian played a bit of wordplay, but it didn’t dampen Long Ye’s excitement in the slightest.

The young man was momentarily stunned, but this unexpected stroke of luck made him even more accepting. He exclaimed in admiration, “Brother Qian, you’re really… too amazing! We just heard the name ‘Sleeping Heart Lotus,’ and within two days, we found the lotus seed, and so easily too! It’s like we didn’t even have to lift a finger!”

Shi Qian was quite pleased with the credit being given to him and patted Long Ye: “Squeak squeak.”

Brother Ye, your luck isn’t bad either.

“It’s still you who’s amazing. Who would have thought the Sleeping Heart Lotus seed would be in a squirrel’s tree hole?”

Any normal person would never have thought of that. Only Shi Qian would think outside the box and go digging in holes.

Thinking about it this way, Shi Qian felt that his treasure-hunting skills were indeed something to be proud of. Once it passed through his hands, wasn’t it essentially the same as him finding it?

He asked about the next steps: “Squeak Squeak?”

When will this lotus seed mature? Are we giving it to the Wang family?

Long Ye pondered for a moment: “In my opinion, it’s better to give it to the Wang family. They’re in urgent need and will offer a high price. The Wang family’s reputation is also quite good; they’re one of the rare upright families. Besides, neither of us has any use for the Sleeping Heart Lotus, and the chances of us needing it in the future are slim. So, it’s better to give it away to save someone.”

Shi Qian nodded.

The Sleeping Heart Lotus seed was originally the opportunity for Long Ye to make contact with the Wang family.

This time, the one who had fallen into a deep sleep and urgently needed the Sleeping Heart Lotus was Wang Xingzhi, a disciple of the Sword Sect. Later, Long Ye would also join the Sword Sect, officially entering the grand stage where elites gathered.

The Sword Sect’s obsessed junior ancestor, the Divine Flower Valley’s saintess, the Demon Sect’s enchanting demoness, the Taiyi Sect’s young sect master, and other geniuses who were looked up to by many, as well as countless cannon-fodder characters who were there to be humiliated and show off—Shi Qian didn’t remember all of them.

As Shi Qian’s mind wandered to the distant future, he heard Long Ye say, “We can exchange it for a spot in the secret realm.”

A spot in the secret realm?

Couldn’t they enter on their own?

But after a moment’s thought, Shi Qian immediately understood the reason for asking for an extra spot. First, their secret realm token was too unique and eye-catching. Second, the Nine Heavens Peak was close to Falling Maple Town, and going alone might invite trouble.

Long Ye was such a scheming boy!

After this realization, Shi Qian added: “Squeak squeak.”

Ask for some Foundation Establishment Pills? You’re almost ready to establish your foundation.

Hearing Shi Qian mention it, Long Ye suddenly realized that he was indeed close to establishing his foundation. It seemed the process of leveling up had been so smooth that he hadn’t even fully registered it.

Handing the lotus seed to Shi Qian, Long Ye nodded: “Right, we can ask for a Foundation Establishment Pill and start preparing.”

As for the secret realm spot, Long Ye felt that his little spirit beast probably didn’t fully grasp the deeper implications of the trouble they might face. But Shi Qian’s complete trust in him, despite not fully understanding, made him feel even more satisfied.

Sure, his luck might not be great, but he had wisdom! And Brother Qian’s unwavering trust.

The transition from “Little Qian” to “Brother Qian” was something Long Ye accepted easily. Because Shi Qian exuded a kind of charm—a charm that made Long Ye genuinely admire him.

Shi Qian was also delighted—he was quite interested in the sword cultivators who spent their time flying around and treating their swords like their wives.

“Squeak squeak!”

Let’s go find the Wang family!

Beiming Demon Mountain was vast, and the best way to find the Wang family was to head to the outer mountain entrance, where a small village functioned as a marketplace. The Wang family would definitely have people stationed there.

But things didn’t need to be so complicated—before they had even walked far, Wang Chunping and his group arrived, riding their swords.

Wang Chunping didn’t act high and mighty. He landed directly, stepping off his sword, and even politely bowed to Long Ye before the younger disciples of the Wang family behind him could react.

“Fellow cultivator, I am Wang Chunping of the Wang family. May I ask, have you found the lotus seed of the Sleeping Heart Lotus?”

His tone was a bit hurried but still controlled.

His eyes, full of hope, were fixed on Long Ye, yet deep within them, worry and anxiety were barely concealed. It reminded Long Ye of his own father.

“The lotus seed? Is this what you mean?”

Long Ye reached toward Shi Qian. Shi Qian held the lotus seed in both paws—it was too large for just one.

Because he had been prepared, it seemed as if Long Ye was prying it out of his hands.

A lotus seed in the hands of a spirit beast—what use could it have?

——A mere snack.

Wang Chunping was startled. Had his son’s hope of survival almost been eaten by this white-furred spirit beast?!

Sweeping it with his spiritual sense, he confirmed the lotus seed’s authenticity and quickly said, “Yes, this is it! My son needs this Sleeping Heart Lotus for his medicine. We’d like to exchange with you. Little cultivator, what do you need?”

His daughter, Wang Lianzhi, added, “Our Wang family is one of the four great families of the prefectural city, with abundant resources. As long as your request is reasonable, we can procure it for you.”

Following the topic, Long Ye stated his conditions.

A spot in a secret realm, a Foundation Establishment Pill, and one additional, somewhat troublesome request.

“Could we retrace our steps along the exact path we came?” Long Ye asked.

Such a minor request was easily granted by Wang Chunping without a second thought.

With a Golden Core cultivator leading the way, their return trip was much faster. What had taken Long Ye and Shi Qian three days was covered in what felt like moments, bringing them back near the giant furred beast’s cave where they had stayed on the first night.

Shi Qian didn’t quite understand why they had to retrace their steps.

Did Long Ye want to take another trip just to deepen his memory?

But since there were outsiders around, he didn’t ask, lest he reveal something unusual about himself. Instead, he nestled into Long Ye’s clothing and rocked himself to sleep.

When he woke up, Long Ye was poking his belly.

“Squeak?”

What? I’m sleeping.

“Come out and take a look,” Long Ye’s voice carried a hint of expectation.

Shi Qian crawled out from under Long Ye’s outer robe, poking his furry little head out—only to come face-to-face with another furry head.

Golden pupils. Black fur like a lump of coal.

“Meow—!”

The cat demon looked aggrieved—was it really captured just to be shown to a mouse?!

Then, with a light smack from Long Ye, it obediently shut up.

Shi Qian gazed at the fierce-looking black cat—just days ago, it had been chasing him down. Overjoyed, he jumped onto its head.

As he stroked the big cat demon, he didn’t forget to thank his feline-loving friend. “Squeak Squeak.”

Brother Ye, you’re such a great guy.

Watching this “mouse” that enjoyed playing with cats, the Wang family members all had surprised expressions.

Long Ye also gave the black cat a few strokes, though his main focus was keeping an eye on it. Even though its spiritual power had been temporarily sealed, it still looked rather defiant. One swipe from its paw, and Shi Qian wouldn’t stand a chance.

Long Ye preferred harmless, ordinary little cats—he wasn’t too fond of demonic beasts.

Unlike Shi Qian, he could pet something even fluffier every day and cuddle it while sleeping—his needs for fluffiness were well met.

Shi Qian didn’t know that while he was happily petting the cat, another furry creature watching from a distance was having an existential crisis.

The reclusive beast of the demon realm—the giant furred beast—was hiding far away.

Days ago, its home had been raided, and only now did it dare return to check. But hearing movement nearby, it decided to stay hidden.

Normally, it wouldn’t even dare to sneak a peek, but today, its beady eyes were fixated on the cat demon that had once wanted to eat it.

That very same cat demon was now being manhandled by a mere rodent spirit beast, completely unable to fight back. Yet outside the mountain range, black cat demons were infamous for preying on rodent-type demon beasts.

Should it… should it also find a human cultivator?

Then, Wang Chunping’s gaze swept over it, and the giant furred beast panicked, fainting on the spot.

Its last thought before passing out—maybe… maybe this wasn’t the life for just any ordinary beast. It wasn’t as brave as that rodent.