Chapter 62: T-this… this Isn’t A Cat!

An Hour Ago..

.

.

The inner disciples of the Supreme Dao Sect had been scouring the Whispering Grove for weeks, their mission veiled in frustration and exhaustion.

Beneath the shade of an ancient tree, they rested, sharing a modest meal they had prepared in haste. The air was filled their murmured complaints about the fruitlessness of their search.

"Big Brother, I don't think we can find him. Maybe that bastard's already dead, taken down by some powerful beast," one of the younger disciples muttered, gnawing on a piece of meat.

"I agree. We've been looking for almost a month now, and still, no sign of him," another chimed in, his voice tinged with irritation.

The leader of the group, a burly man with sharp features and a scar running across his brow, glared at them, his tone cutting.

"Shut your mouths. We can't return without confirmation, or Young Master Niu will finish us himself. Eat quickly—we've still got some areas on the outskirts to search."

As the group resumed their meal in silence, one of them suddenly noticed a flash of movement. A small, lithe figure darted toward their camp, snatching a piece of their meat before disappearing into the underbrush.

"Big Brother! Look! That cat just took our food!" one disciple exclaimed, pointing at the retreating figure.

The leader turned to glance, his expression indifferent. "Let it take a piece. A single morsel won't hurt us. Besides, cooking food ourselves already makes it taste terrible."

But as his eyes lingered on the creature, his casual demeanor evaporated. His face went pale, and he stammered, "W-w-wait… T-this… this isn't a cat."

"What are you talking about, Big Brother?" one of the younger disciples scoffed, rolling his eyes. "It's clearly a cat, a white little cat. Have you gone mad from all this searching?"

The leader's temper flared. With a swift motion, he delivered a sharp punch to the young man's head. "Idiot!" he barked. "Do you think I'm blind? Look carefully!"

The group turned to where the creature had disappeared into the shadows. The leader rubbed his eyes, disbelief etched across his face. "That's no ordinary beast. It's... it's a Thunderous White Tiger—a Legendary-Lineage beast, descendants of the Heavenly Thunder Sovereign White Tiger, one of the Divine Beasts!"

"What in the heavens is it doing here in the Mystic Evergreen Forest? Legendary-Lineage beasts like this aren't supposed to exist in these parts, they are extremely rare."

The younger disciples gaped at him, their confusion giving way to awe and unease.

"What are you talking about, Big Brother? You're not making any sense," one of them ventured cautiously.

The leader took a deep breath, composing himself, though his voice still carried a mix of excitement and fear. "Listen, fools. Beasts grow in strength based on their lineage. The higher a beast's lineage, the more respect it commands and the greater its potential."

"Their bloodlines are classified into tiers: Commoner Lineage, Rare Lineage, Unique Lineage, Noble Lineage, Royal Lineage, Imperial Lineage, Legendary Lineage, Mythical Lineage, and Divine Lineage."

He paused, his eyes narrowing. "In our sect, there's only one Royal-Lineage beast—the mount of the Sect Master—and a Great Elder of Supreme Dao Sect. This tiger... this beast... surpasses them. It's of Legendary lineage, and its very presence here defies logic."

The disciples exchanged nervous glances, the weight of the revelation sinking in. Finally, one spoke up hesitantly, "Big Brother… if this beast is as powerful as you say, shouldn't we just leave it alone? What if it's dangerous?"

Another blow landed on his head, courtesy of the leader's fist. "You fool!" the leader snapped. "Do you think I'd suggest taking on an adult Thunderous White Tiger?"

"Look at it! It's just a cub—weak, hungry, and likely abandoned for months. Its strength can't be more than High-Ranked Demonic Beast Rank. If we attack together, we can subdue it easily."

His tone shifted, cunning and ambition seeping through. "If we capture it and offer it to Young Master Niu, he'll reward us beyond our wildest dreams. We could even receive promotions. This is our chance, you idiots!"

The leader's words lit a spark of greed in the disciples' eyes. Despite their lingering hesitation, the thought of glory and favor from Young Master Niu began to outweigh their fear. Slowly, they stood, readying themselves for a coordinated strike.

The leader's voice rang out like a command. "Surround it. No mistakes. We'll have this beast, and our names will echo across the sect!"

.

.

.

In the Present Time

.

.

.

Reon gently hoisted the white cat onto one shoulder and Cloudia onto the other, their contrasting forms perched like yin and yang.

With a warm smile, he glanced at Cloudia, his hand reaching up to rub under her chin in the spot he knew she loved.

"Cloudia," he said softly, his tone teasing yet affectionate, "how about we prepare a feast for your new friend?"

Cloudia, however, wasn't so easily placated. She cast a wary glance at the white cat, her eyes narrowing slightly as though assessing an uninvited rival—an intruder threatening her place by her master's side.

If looks could speak, hers would have declared, "You're stealing my spotlight!"