章 20: Chapter 20: Ronin and Cat - II

[[ Notes: Felt good today. So a bonus chapter~ ]]

...

Ignoring the giant python's corpse, he walked towards the Silver Tiger Spirit Cat on the side.

Looking at the Silver Tiger Spirit Cat, he could sense only a faint breath from it, elusive like a flickering candle flame in the wind, as if it would extinguish in the next moment.

"Oh, it seems you're about to die too."

Looking at the pitiful appearance of the Silver Tiger Spirit Cat, Zeng Yi sighed. Although he liked cats very much, he couldn't save it now! He wasn't a soul master specializing in healing.

"But I can avenge you, so be grateful!" Zeng Yi said casually.

However, why could he feel another faint breath from this Silver Tiger Spirit Cat? It was strange.

Could it have some precious item on its body that made it hunted by the giant python?

Thinking so, Zeng Yi truly felt that this was possible.

Then let me touch the corpse and see what kind of treasure it might have.

"As I avenge you, consider it as the reward I'm asking for," Zeng Yi said with a smile as he reached out his hand towards the Silver Tiger Spirit Cat.

"Meow~"

Suddenly, there was a small, full-of-milk meow, which made Zeng Yi stop.

He saw the Silver Tiger Spirit Cat's dense fur move a few times, and then a fluffy little meatball rolled onto the ground, tumbling a few times before stopping.

At this moment, Zeng Yi also got a clear view of the appearance of this meatball. It was a little kitten, looking about three or four months old, with silver color and black stripes just like the Silver Tiger Spirit Cat. It looked like a miniature version of the Silver Tiger Spirit Cat, indicating that it was the mother of this big Silver Tiger Spirit Cat.

"Meow~"

The tiny Silver Tiger Spirit Cat weakly meowed and struggled to get up from the ground, unsteadily. Its left hind leg had a patch of bright red blood on it, indicating that it was injured and seemed a bit limping. The little Silver Tiger Spirit Cat had been clinging to its mother all this time, and although its mother had engaged in a fierce battle, her opponent hadn't touched her. Therefore, the little cat had been holding on tightly to her mother and hadn't fallen. But in the end, its mother was hit, and even though the impact hadn't reached the little cat, the strong force had injured it.

Observing the surroundings, the little Silver Tiger Spirit Cat's small eyes looked confused. It went over to its mother, slowly crawled towards her, and rubbed its cute little head against her body. It didn't know why its mother was lying motionless on the ground, maybe she was just sleeping. It hoped that by doing this, it could wake her up.

And Zeng Yi, watching this situation from behind, fell into silence. Just a moment ago, he felt the last breath of the Silver Tiger Spirit Cat disappear. This little fellow probably didn't know yet that its mother had died. It kept calling out to its mother, which made Zeng Yi feel a little sad.

Now, it was also just like him, becoming an orphan. Without its mother's protection, this little fellow who had just been born didn't have the ability to survive in this dangerous Sunset Forest. Perhaps the next moment, it would become the meal of another soul beast.

But it was fortunate to have encountered Zeng Yi.

How about I raise a kitten for myself?

This thought flashed through Zeng Yi's mind.

After all, he was also a wanderer alone. Whether he was accompanied by a cat or not, he was still wandering. If he had nothing to do, why not keep a pet and relieve some boredom?

Thinking of the furry fur of this little fellow, Zeng Yi began to itch. This fur must feel good to touch. Zeng Yi himself was a fanatic cat lover. Even before he transmigrated, he had two cats at home. When he was at home, he would often grab a cat and indulge in a crazy stroking session, sometimes for one or two hours at a time.

But if I raise a cat, will it affect the passive skill of the Ronin? After all, it only takes effect when I'm alone!

Thinking of this problem, Zeng Yi began to hesitate.

No, according to the skill, when it says "alone," it means I can keep a cat as a pet, which is an animal, not a human. Besides, it doesn't have any combat power. Apart from being cute, if I keep it with me, I'll have to protect it, which can be considered as extra burden! There shouldn't be a problem.

Thinking this way, Zeng Yi's mood brightened.

Alright, I've decided. I'll keep it!

"Okay, stop calling out. Your mother is already dead. From now on, you'll stay with me!" A voice sounded behind the little Silver Tiger Spirit Cat, startling it. It immediately turned around, claws on the ground, and arched its back, emitting a low growl, wary of the strange creature in front of it.

"Hehe, you look fierce!"

Seeing the little fellow's appearance, Zeng Yi found it funny. How could you scare anyone with that cute look?

Zeng Yi squatted down and reached out his right hand towards it. The little one shrank back in caution, but suddenly, it pounced forward with its body springing up, and its tiny cat paws exposed sharp claws and swiped at the hand coming towards it, very fast. However, Zeng Yi was faster. He quickly lifted his hand upwards and caught the kitten by the nape of its neck, lifting it up.

"You're quite fierce!"

Looking at the struggling kitten that he was holding, continuously pawing with its four limbs, extremely adorable, Zeng Yi laughed.

He put the little fellow down on the ground and pressed its back with his palm to prevent it from moving around. But the kitten struggled hard, trying to escape from Zeng Yi's palm.

"Don't move!"

A sudden stern command startled the little fellow, and it cowered on the ground, trembling, not daring to move.

Seeing it calm down, Zeng Yi nodded satisfactorily. Cats were basically like this, mischievous yet very timid. Just scaring them a little could make them quiet down.

His palm emitted a faint soul power, and it began to nurture this little fellow, helping it recover its body while conveying his goodwill.

A strange energy entered the kitten's body, making it tense and fearful at first, but it soon felt a warm, hot flow spreading throughout its body in an instant, which made it feel comfortable and cozy, as if it wanted to sleep.

Seeing this fluffy little fellow, resting its small head comfortably on his forearm under the nourishment of his soul power, occasionally twitching its cat ears, Zeng Yi smiled.

After nurturing this little fellow with his soul power for a while, Zeng Yi stopped transmitting the soul power and lightly stroked its smooth and silky back with his hand.

The warm feeling disappeared, leaving the little fellow somewhat puzzled. It raised its cute head and looked at Zeng Yi with its emerald-green cat eyes, seeming to ask why he had stopped. It hadn't finished enjoying the comfort yet.

The little fellow didn't resist Zeng Yi's act of touching it. It could feel his goodwill and that he wouldn't harm it. Moreover, he touched it quite comfortably.

After a while, the little fellow didn't allow Zeng Yi to touch it any longer. It stood up, more spirited than before, and its injured hind leg had also recovered. It meowed excitedly, circling around Zeng Yi's feet a couple of times, and then ran to its mother's corpse, rubbing its small head against her, then turned to look at Zeng Yi and meowed as if asking what had happened to its mother and why she wasn't moving.

Seeing the little fellow's actions, Zeng Yi's gaze dimmed for a moment.

"She's already dead."

But it can't understand human language, so why am I saying these things? Thinking of this, Zeng Yi smiled wryly and shook his head.

Sometimes, ignorance is a kind of happiness.

Walking lightly in front of the little fellow, Zeng Yi put his hands beneath its forelimbs and lifted it up, facing it with his face.

"From now on, you'll live with me. I'll take good care of you in place of your mother, understand? Understand by giving a meow."

"Meow~"

The little fellow didn't understand the words Zeng Yi said at all. It meowed cutely in response, expressing its confusion.

"Okay, if that's the case, I'll consider it as your agreement," Zeng Yi said with a smile.

"From now on, you're my good companion!"

"But I need to give you a name. What should I call you?"

Zeng Yi started to think.

"How about Xiaoyin? Because your fur is silver. No, that's not right? Your fur also has many black stripes, so how about Xiahei? That doesn't sound good either. Xiaoyinhei? Maybe…"

Zeng Yi thought for a moment, but it wouldn't do. Xiaoyinhei sounded even weirder. It seemed that naming based on fur color alone wouldn't work.

Zeng Yi began to ponder again.

After a while, Zeng Yi's gaze fell on a withered pale Yellow Chrysanthemum on the ground. A flash of inspiration came to his mind, and he thought of something.

"From now on, your name will be Xiao Ju! How about that? Xiao Ju, doesn't it sound good?"

[T/N: Xiao Ju means Little Chrysanthemum. Chrysanthemums are significant in Chinese culture and are often associated with qualities like elegance and longevity, making them a popular motif in names and art. And please don't ask me on MC's naming sense. Ahem~ ]

The little fellow in Zeng Yi's hand seemed uncomfortable, beginning to struggle. Zeng Yi thought that Xiao Ju liked this name very much, so he happily danced his hands and feet.

Putting Xiao Ju on his shoulder.

"That's it! From now on, the two of us will be a team. I've already thought of names for us. Let's be the Ronin Cat Duo. Doesn't it sound good, hahaha?" Zeng Yi said cheerfully.

"Meow~"

The fluffy and cute Xiao Ju sat on Zeng Yi's shoulder, inexplicably meowing.

"Alright, now let's start our joyous journey!" ...