Chapter Text
Luo Binghe cursed, “Why is it like this, Shifu?!” The young half-demon shouted in his mind as he tried to move on all fours, he gave up and sat down on his butt instead.
“Brat! I already told you to be careful with the medicine and how you flowed it through your body! You flowed it through the wrong acupoint and not to mention you directly drank everything just after you consumed that wound-healing medicine from that Ning girl. Side effects might happen!” The Dream Demon hastily blamed it back to Luo Binghe.
“Side effect?! You said turning into a cat is a side effect?!” Luo Binghe cried out but only a sharp mewl could be heard from the cute fluffy black kitten near the bushes.
“Well...” The Dream Demon turned a bit thoughtful. “I did read it could have another effect if it’s mixed with Jade Dew Mist ingredient... That pill your girl gave to you had Jade Dew Mist as its main compound.”
“So?” Luo Binghe asked impatiently.
“Sigh, that pill recipe I gave you is very versatile, it could be anything ranging from cleansing bone marrow like intended to, to poison, to turning you into an animal...” Dream Demon said.
“How do I get out of this?” Luo Binghe asked desperately, already having a headache over the waste materials he had painstakingly gathered for cleansing his bone marrow but instead, it was wasted to turn him into a useless weak kitten.
“Hang on, let me remember that...” The Dream Demon went silent.
After what felt like an hour of waiting, Luo Binghe finally couldn’t stay calm, “So what do you remember?” He asked.
“I can’t remember the detail that fast! I need a few days! This is what happened when my soul is weak, it’s getting harder to recall a detail for a mid-grade pill like that!” Dream Demon complained.
Why are you complaining? It should be Luo Binghe who complains right now! “A few days? Won’t I die that way?!” Luo Binghe was mortified. No! He couldn’t die this uselessly! He wanted to thrive, to live, to get revenge on those people who wronged him! Luo Binghe gritted his teeth stubbornly.
“... Give me a day or two,” Dream Demon bargained. “You’re a kitten right now, go beg those soft female disciples, they would absolutely feed you well,” he suggested.
“And if they were told to throw me away?” Luo Binghe said. It was rare for disciples of a Sect to have a non-spiritual pet and in Cang Qiong Mountain Sect, they only kept messenger birds and eagles as pets. Spiritual Beasts-taming was more of Tian Yi Overlook’s specialty*.
“They will try to protect you, even if you’re in danger, just run away,” Dream Demon said uncaringly.
Luo Binghe scowled inwardly, it had been a long time since Dream Demon took him under his wings and things had been going smoothly behind the screen for Luo Binghe, that was why he trusted the demon. And he turned into a kitten now, his gaze darkened.
A bit weak from the side effect of suddenly turning into kitten from one somewhat-healthy adolescence, Luo Binghe trudged lazily on the grassy path of bamboo forest. Damn it, it was a long way to go too! Could Luo Binghe make it?
Shuffles
Luo Binghe paused when he saw the edge of clean light green robe on the corner of his eyes and he looked up. His pair of small kitten’s eyes met a pair of cold and unexpressive eyes.
Shit.
Shen Qingqiu.
Luo Binghe felt hatred burning inside him for this man who had abused and tormented him, he was really impatient to grow stronger to precisely put this scum in his place and turned the table of their destinies. Luo Binghe knew his good Shizun sometimes spent his time in the Bamboo Forest. How could he not? Whenever he accidentally stumbled upon Shen Qingqiu, Shen Qingqiu would immediately have him punished terribly.
Luo Binghe always had to make sure that he wouldn’t meet this cruel man in the wide Bamboo Forest of Qing Jing.
Luo Binghe stepped back, trembling like a kitten (Because he’s currently a damn kitten). Damn it, of all people, he just had to meet this cruel man in this weak and humiliating form! If he could meet someone in the depth of this bamboo forest, couldn’t he just meet the sweet Ning Yingying?!
Luo Binghe shrunk back as Shen Qingqiu stepped closer.
‘Small beast...’ Luo Binghe felt anger boiled in his chest when he recalled one of his Shizun’s favourite insults towards him. Now he looked at himself, he was indeed nothing but a small animal. A small animal that would suffer in the hands of Shen Qingqiu, no change of his fate.
Luo Binghe braced himself, because from what he knew, Shen Qingqiu was a type of person that would be definitely cruel enough to kick a kitten if it displeased his eyes or was in his way. Getting thrown out of Qing Jing in this form might be much better than to be kicked by a golden core cultivator.
Shen Qingqiu stopped a few inches away from him, Luo Binghe could clearly see how clean his brown shoes were. Luo Binghe cowered and closed his eyes, bracing for an impact.
However, a pair of cold hands gently scooped him up and he was suddenly enveloped in warmth.
“What a small little angel like you are doing in this place?” A soft voice cooed and Luo Binghe thoroughly stiffened.
Luo Binghe’s brain froze, his heart skipped a beat, his eyes shot open, his jaw dropped open. Who?! Who said that?! Whose voice was that!? Was it another side effect of that damn pill?!
Luo Binghe felt his small kitten head was petted gently, “Where did you come from?”
Luo Binghe stared incredulously, that... That soft, gentle, and angelic voice actually came out of his cruel and ruthless Shizun? Luo Binghe was so shocked that he let out a squeak, he had no time to be ashamed of himself when Shen Qingqiu chuckled, the pleasant vibration from his chest was transferred to Luo Binghe who was pressed close to his chest.
“Cute,” Shen Qingqiu chuckled as he petted the small fluffy kitten in his hands.
Luo Binghe was legitimately freaking out and had a difficulty to breathe right now. Shizun... Shizun just chuckled? Not a derisive snort nor a haughty scoff, but a genuine chuckle? A smile? Shizun... Shizun never smiled before, even to Ning Yingying- his favoured disciple- it was only a twitch on the corner of his lips, not more.
“It must’ve been one of my disciples who snuck you inside, aren’t they?” Shen Qingqiu said, he didn’t sound impressed when he mentioned his disciple. Finally, a tone that Luo Binghe was familiar with, but it still sounded way too gentle for Shen Qingqiu’s standard.
Luo Binghe looked at Shen Qingqiu’s face deeply, he tried to remember every inch of gentleness Shen Qingqiu had on his face right then and Shen Qingqiu stared back, marveling the cute kitten’s clear and wide watery eyes.
Luo Binghe hesitated for a bit, he then meow-ed at Shen Qingqiu as he pawed on his chest and Luo Binghe never seen such a soft and affectionate look on his Shizun’s face. His eyebrows eased up a lot, his lips formed a warm and gentle smile, his gaze was unbearably warm and soft, Luo Binghe felt his heart melted at the sight.
That... That expression shouldn’t be allowed to be used on his Shizun’s face... Luo Binghe’s heart skipped a beat
He meow-ed again, crinkling his eyes. Shen Qingqiu held him slightly tighter. “Are you cold? You must be hungry too. I’ll feed you, don’t worry,” Shen Qingqiu brought the kitten away from his chest. “But you need to be quiet, okay?” Shen Qingqiu said gently as he put Luo Binghe in his sleeve.
Luo Binghe dug his measly claws on the inside of his Shizun’s sleeve and looked up to see his Shizun’s white and flawless wrist, it looked absolutely divine.
“Are you settled? Good. Don’t make any noise, okay?” Shen Qingqiu said as he gently rearranged his sleeve. “I have a reputation to uphold,” Shen Qingqiu murmured. But what could he do? He was always weak to small animals, especially cute small animals...
Luo Binghe was too busy marveling Shen Qingqiu’s wrist to even make a noise.
Luo Binghe was brought into the bamboo house, most where the bad memories resided. Every time Luo Binghe looked at this bamboo house, he always felt resentment and unfairness of his cruel Shizun, but right now he had the said cruel Shizun hand-feeding him a perch’s meat, diligently getting rid of the bones.
Although the perch tasted bland but being fed by his aloof Shizun’s hand alone already made it very worth it.
Shen Qingqiu looked at the fluffy black kitten with a doting gaze, Luo Binghe breathed in and meow-ed cutely at him. Shen Qingqiu smiled, it didn’t fail to make Luo Binghe’s heart skipped a beat again.
Shen Qingqiu’s hands went to pet the kitten’s head and Luo Binghe purred in content. Aah, the cat’s trait also applied to him, currently.
The black kitten stood up and walked towards Shen Qingqiu, tail flicking as he rubbed his head on Shen Qingqiu’s wrist. “Water?” Shen Qingqiu remembered as he brought a small bowl of water close to Luo Binghe.
Luo Binghe glanced at it with disinterest but went to drink from it anyways. He put his front paw on the edge of the bowl to balance himself but he accidentally dipped his front paw into the water instead. Luo Binghe shook it to dry it off, however, a gentle hand suddenly scooped him up
“You’ll get the water everywhere,” Shen Qingqiu said disapprovingly as he dried off Luo Binghe’s paw with his handkerchief.
Luo Binghe meow-ed. He had gotten a hold of this, now he could act like he had been born a kitten.
Shen Qingqiu softened when he heard the small meow and looked at the black kitten’s wide and innocent eyes. Cute. Small animals like cat are really the best, they were cute and so innocent, but also clever. Shen Qingqiu bumped his forehead to the cat’s and Luo Binghe froze before he nuzzled in, bumping his small head on Shen Qingqiu’s forehead.
“Good boy,” Shen Qingqiu said and pulled away to smile at the kitten. Shen Qingqiu really wanted to kiss this little guy, so he drew closer.
Luo Binghe’s gaze widened and darkened at the same time when Shen Qingqiu drew closer, his action was very clear to kiss him. To kiss the small fluffy black kitten that was actually Luo Binghe. He felt shocked. In the first day of his disaster of being turned into a weak kitten, he was suddenly about to be kissed by his abusive Shizun... Luo Binghe found he didn’t mind this development at all.
His Shizun could be this gentle and affectionate to him, he didn’t care. He thirsted for it since forever and now he got it, he wouldn’t be fussy.
However before Shen Qingqiu could kiss the kitten, he paused. Wait a sec, this kitten was found by him in the bamboo forest of Qing Jing and he only wiped him with a warm wet towel just now, not completely clean. Shen Qingqiu was really picky about his hygiene especially considering his past. When Shen Qingqiu hesitated, a rapid and frantic series of knocks resounded.
Shen Qingqiu pulled back and Luo Binghe glared murderously at the door, in his heart, Luo Binghe believed the door stopped him from being kissed by Shizun!
Who dares-!
“Shizun! Shizun?! Are you inside!? This is Ying’er!”
Oh, it was Ning Yingying...
Shen Qingqiu picked Luo Binghe up and hid him inside his sleeve, “Come in,” Shen Qingqiu said calmly and the door was opened almost instantly.
“Shizun!” Ning Yingying burst out crying as she ran up to her Shizun.
Shen Qingqiu blinked, “Cease your cry, disciple. What happened?” he asked dignifiedly.
“Shizun, A’Luo... A’Luo is gone! He’s not anywhere inside the peak! I’m worried that he’s in trouble!” Ning Yingying cried. “Shizun, what should we do?!”
Shen Qingqiu stared blankly, unconcerned. What should they do? How about, no. “He’ll return naturally.”
Ning Yingying teared up, “But, Shizun-! A’Luo... What if something happens to him?!”
“Ying’er,” Shen Qingqiu shook his head. “That small beast is already old enough to know better. He’ll return, if he didn’t, he can only blame himself,” Shen Qingqiu said coldly.
“But, Shizun! He’s your disciple too! Please,” Ning Yingying pleaded.
“Ying’er, you’re indulging him too much. Go back and rest, don’t stress over that beast,” Shen Qingqiu said, absolutely calm.
‘Yeah, who cares about Luo Binghe? Just go and rest, Shijie, you’re only being an annoyance here!’ Luo Binghe didn’t seem concerned that he was the one they were talking about.
“But-“ Ning Yingying hesitated.
“Ying’er,” Shen Qingqiu cut her off. “Sleep,” Shen Qingqiu said calmly and insistently.
“... Yes, Shizun. Ying’er will go and rest now,” Ning Yingying bowed down disheartenedly and sadly walked out. There was no doubt she would spend most of the night fretting over Luo Binghe.
Shen Qingqiu got the kitten out of his sleeve, “I’ll have to retire soon too.”
Damn it! Luo Binghe cursed.
Shen Qingqiu took an extra blanket and bundled it up on his nightstand before placing Luo Binghe in it. Shen Qingqiu walked to his wardrobe and picked out a sleeping robe. He shed his outer robe in front of Luo Binghe’s wide and unblinking eyes, he then shed the second layer and Luo Binghe had an urge to bit his finger but stopped because he only had a paw now.
Before Shen Qingqiu stripped off of his last layer of clothing he paused as if he recalled something, “Oh,” he then walked to the corner of the room and- disappeared behind a screen divider! Luo Binghe was speechless for a while before he decisively jumped down from the nightstand and ran to look at the scene behind the screen but he was disappointed when Shen Qingqiu was already dressed in his sleeping robe.
Shen Qingqiu was surprised to see the black kitten walked behind the screen divider and smiled lightly, thinking it was attached. “I just forgot my ribbon, I’m not leaving,” Shen Qingqiu said. His hair was tied neatly in a low ponytail with a white ribbon, Luo Binghe felt like he had seen that white ribbon somewhere but he was too disappointed to even think.
Luo Binghe let himself to be scooped up with Shen Qingqiu’s gentle hand again. He found himself liking these hands rather than the pair that splashed tea at him and beat him with a ruler.
“Tomorrow, we’ll think what to do with you. I’ll also take you to bath with me,” Shen Qingqiu frowned. The kitten might have some germ, he had to clean him thoroughly tomorrow.
Luo Binghe’s eyes lit up like stars when Shen Qingqiu said that he would take a bath with him. He meow-ed his consent. Shen Qingqiu smiled at him, “Good night.”
Luo Binghe watched as Shen Qingqiu drifted off and he slowly got up, inching closer to Shen Qingqiu before he settled close by his Shizun’s side. Luo Binghe closed his eyes.
Living as a cat might not be a bad thing for these several days.... Especially if he would be showered with so much love and care that he never ever experienced after his mother's death. Luo Binghe nuzzled closer to Shen Qingqiu’s side.