Innumerable hateful, contemptuous gazes swept over the five-year-old child.
More and more common folk gathered, their harsh words growing louder, like heavy dark clouds gradually enveloping Bai Ze’s heart.
“I’m not dirty! And Mother isn’t a demoness!”
“She!” Bai Ze sobbed, his small fists clenched and trembling. “She’s the best mother in the whole world!”
“Don’t you dare speak ill of her! I won’t allow you to speak of her—!”
However, his defense was pale and powerless. Amidst the ear-piercing discussions of the divine realm’s inhabitants, Bai Ze’s cries were utterly drowned out.
On this day, Bai Ze shouted until his voice was hoarse, until his tears ran dry, until the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth, yet no one believed him.
Only when night fell did the surrounding crowd gradually disperse, leaving behind a small figure standing by the roadside, head bowed, fists clenched.
“Rumble—” his stomach grumbled uncontrollably. Bai Ze reached out and vigorously wiped his cheeks, then took a step forward.
That night, Bai Ze curled up in a small alley and froze until morning…
…
“Meow—”
Bai Ze’s eyelashes fluttered. When he opened his eyes again, a small, snow-white cat stood before him, gazing at him.
“Little cat…?”
His throat felt an intense pain, but Bai Ze endured it, carefully extending his hand to pet the little cat’s head.
The cat was very affectionate, rubbing against Bai Ze’s outstretched hand and meowing cozily around him.
Bai Ze’s palm felt ticklish from the rubbing, and for a moment, he seemed to forget the gloom in his heart.
“Little cat, do you have nowhere to go either?”
Soft fur slid beneath his fingertips. Since arriving in the divine realm, this was the first time he had smiled.
“Meow—” the cat meowed, as if responding to Bai Ze.
As it looked at him, its ink-black eyes reflected two small figures.
Just then, a loud shout echoed, “Mother—the cat’s gone—”
“I clearly saw it come this way—”
At the mouth of the alley, a woman, holding a little girl’s hand, turned in.
“Ah! It’s here!”
The little girl ran over excitedly, roughly scooping up the kitten. At the same time, she noticed Bai Ze huddled in the corner.
“You! I saw you on the street yesterday!”
“I…” Bai Ze opened his mouth, but didn’t know what to say.
Upon hearing this, the woman not far away was startled and hurried over, pulling the little girl away.
“What bad luck, encountering the demoness’s child the moment we step out.”
As she spoke, the woman tugged at the kitten’s scruff, forcefully pulling it from the girl’s embrace and tossing it to the ground.
“Listen, Mother will buy you a clean, pretty new one. This one is dirty.”
The little girl stared intently at the kitten. Although she didn’t understand her mother’s words, she obediently nodded.
“Okay—”
Thus, the woman, holding the little girl’s hand, strode out of the alley.
After they left, Bai Ze slowly stood up and gently picked up the kitten.
“Don’t listen to their nonsense, you’re not dirty…” His voice was much softer.
“Meow—”
Bai Ze smiled. Then, as if remembering something, he put the kitten down again and fumbled with his collar.
“Look! This is what Father made for me!” He excitedly displayed something around his neck—a small, fiery red wooden sword.
Then Bai Ze slowly took it off and tied it around the kitten’s neck.
“Feng Yin Sword is with my sister. Father saw how much I liked it and made a small one for me…”
Amidst the snow-white fur, the small, exquisitely crafted red wooden sword looked perfect on the kitten.
“From now on, I’ll protect you!” Bai Ze smiled purely.
In the days that followed, he and the kitten depended on each other. They sheltered from the rain under eaves, and when hungry, they scavenged for discarded leftovers.
Although the whispers and pointed stares from passersby continued, with the kitten’s companionship, Bai Ze felt he could persevere.
…
One early morning, a grimy Bai Ze walked through the crowded street with the kitten.
Suddenly, an incredibly enticing aroma drifted over, instantly awakening the hunger in his belly.
“So fragrant—” For Bai Ze, who often went hungry, this scent was irresistible.
He looked around and saw a middle-aged man standing in front of a steamed bun stall, calling out.
“Free meat buns! Freshly baked buns!”
Free! Bai Ze’s heart soared with joy at the word, but then his spirits sank.
He… probably wouldn’t get any…
Yet, the middle-aged man’s eyes lit up when he saw Bai Ze, and he eagerly approached.
“Want some meat buns? I’ll give you a few.”
Bai Ze froze. The next moment, a whole bag of steaming meat buns was pressed into his hands…
He looked at the buns in his arms, momentarily speechless. “C-can I really have them?”
“Of course,” the man smiled warmly.
“But…” Bai Ze bit his lower lip, his small hands clutching the bag tightly. “Yesterday, you all said I was the demoness’s child…”
The middle-aged man’s expression remained kind as he scratched his head, a hint of apology in his voice.
“I’m sorry, we wronged you recently. Please accept these as an apology.”
Bai Ze’s eyes reddened slightly, and he held the bag tighter. “Th-thank you…”
These buns would be enough to feed him and the kitten for three days…
“Meow—” The kitten rubbed against Bai Ze’s leg, seemingly smelling the meat too.
“Are you hungry too?” he said, untying the bag and breaking off a small piece of filling. He squatted down and opened his palm before the kitten.
“Hey—!” the man tried to stop him, but the kitten swiftly swallowed the piece of filling.
Bai Ze stood up and repeatedly bowed in thanks. “Th-thank…”
But before he could finish speaking, the kitten at his feet suddenly collapsed in an instant, its body convulsing, black blood trickling from its mouth.
Bai Ze froze, his blood turning cold. His hand loosened, and the buns scattered on the ground.
“L-little cat…?”
Poison… The buns he gave me… were poisoned…?
Black blood began to spread, soaking into the kitten’s white fur, and also seeping into the little red wooden sword around its neck…
At this moment, Bai Ze’s entire body felt as if it had turned to ice. He stared at the small white cat losing its breath on the ground, his heart seeming to stop.
“Oh dear, this darn cat has ruined everything!” Seeing his plan foiled, the middle-aged man’s face instantly changed.
Shopkeepers from other establishments also gathered, their eyes sharp and their words cutting.
“What a waste, cats have keen senses. It must have smelled something in the buns.”
“A few gold coins for the poison powder, what a shame to waste it.”
…