Chen Ren paused, his eyes narrowing, as he wondered if what he was seeing and hearing was a reality or just something his mind was making up. He had memories of witnessing strange things that he would have regarded as breaking every law of physics and biology in his past life, but he never minded them, as they should be considered normal in this world.

Now that it happened before him, his brain needed a good minute to register it. His eyes stared at the feline perched elegantly on the courtyard ground before finally speaking.

“Aren’t you the cat that Xiulan feeds occasionally?”

The cat turned its head slowly, regarding him with piercing, intelligent eyes. Its fur was a pristine white, thick and luxurious, flowing down like a waterfall down its broad frame. It was large for a cat, easily the size of a small dog.

What were these cats called? Right, Maine Coon.

Chen Ren remembered them as a majestic breed in every way possible.

The cat's ears were tufted, the tips flicked ever so slightly, and its bushy tail stood high in the air, fluffy and imposing the surrounding area as if it regarded it all its own. The fur there seemed even more voluminous, curling in thick waves that almost appeared alive.

The creature blinked at him, again. Its slitted eyes narrowed as the tail whipped sharply, an unmistakable tension taking place between them.

Chen Ren couldn’t help but let his eyes wander over it under the moonlit sky, but it wasn’t the colour, imposing size, immaculate coat or piercing eyes that caught his attention the most— it was the flames.

They danced and curled around its tail, licking the air in a slow, deliberate burn. They were subtle, more like embers of a dying fire, yet they crackled with life. Its eyes, a molten ember glowed with an eerie light, not just bright, but almost… sentient.

They locked onto him with a gaze that felt far too human— Chen Ren didn’t know how or why, just that it spooked a part of him. Because despite the elegance in its posture, there was an air of menace. The tension in its raised tail wasn’t just for a show— this feline wasn’t here for food or a casual encounter if it wasn’t obvious by now.

His breathing slowed as he realised that in his memories, he had seen powerful cultivators unleash elemental techniques, but this… this was different.

The cat's mouth parted, and a voice, smooth like honey, but sharp as a sword cut through the thickened air.

Unsurprisingly, as he guessed, it was a female cat.

"I’ve been watching you ever since you took over Chen Ren’s body. And I’m here for answers."

Chen Ren’s eyes widened, and his breath caught in his throat.

The first surprise was his realising that she knew he had taken over Chen Ren's body. But before he could process it, another shock hit him as he noticed that the constant presence he had felt trailing him wasn't one of the debtor's men, but the cat. Everything suddenly made sense as his mind raced.

"I am Yalan," she continued, her flames flaring briefly as she spoke her name. "Now tell me, who are you?"

He blinked, disbelief flooding him. How did she know? His first thought was to chalk it up to his laziness compared to the original Chen Ren, but something told him that wasn’t it. His gaze dropped to the fire trailing along her tail once more. No, it had to be something else— something about her, some skill she possessed that allowed her to see through his facade.

And now, that same skill had placed him under her scrutiny.

Chen Ren hesitated, weighing his options. Should I lie, or confess the bizarre truth? One glance at the flames still licking at the cat's tail told him all he needed to know. He swallowed and spoke, his voice giving away the fact that he was nervous— even though he was just facing a damn cat.

"I... I don’t know how I got here. I remember falling asleep, and the next thing I knew, I was Chen Ren. I have his memories, but I know they aren’t mine. It’s like remembering everything about someone else's life but having no real connection to it. I didn’t try to take over his body... it just happened. I didn't wish for it nor do I understand how or why it happened. It was bizarre even for me."

He watched the cat carefully, his pulse racing. Would she accept that answer? What if she didn't? His gaze stared beyond her, but there was no else in the courtyard. Even if he shouted for help, it would take a swipe of her tail for the embers to burn him down.

He had purposely avoided any places where he would be alone in case he got confronted by some debt collectors, but it never crossed his mind that there would be other forms of threats.

As the seconds stretched out, his heartbeat thrummed in his chest and the flames around the cat's tail dimmed, imitating the last bits of dying fire.

"So," she spoke finally, her eyes glowing faintly. "Were you a powerful cultivator whose soul mistakenly took over Chen Ren's body in the process of ascension? I heard of such a case a century ago."

Chen Ren shook his head immediately, choosing to be truthful.

"No, I was just a mortal in my world. There's no concept of cultivation where I come from— except in books or games. Although it's just a hypothesis, I believe it's because our atmosphere doesn't have qi."

Hearing that, Yalan paced around the floor for a few seconds. Her tail moved to the rhythm of her paws, making him want to reach out and pat her fur, but the flames stopped him from moving.

Finally, she turned around and stared at Chen Ren.

"A qi-less world… Interesting. Probably one of the lower worlds that no one has heard about." She murmured before her gaze sharpened, focusing on him with a newfound curiosity. "Then tell me— what have you been doing with those things you call noodles?"

His eyes lit up at the mention. "Oh, those! I’m building a business," he said, a touch of excitement creeping into his voice. "I’m trying to make enough to pay back the debts Chen Ren owed, so I can be debt-free as soon as possible. I didn't take them, but you know I can't just escape them no matter how unfair it is. After that, I plan to focus on earning more money— hopefully, a lot more."

Yalan's flames flickered again, but this time, it felt less like a threat and more like a signal of amusement. It dimmed once again— quicker than it had before.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

"Money? Why?” she asked, stretching the ‘why’ a bit longer, while her head tilted to the side. “You were a mortal, but now you're a cultivator. Why not focus on cultivation, rise through the realms, and claim whatever you desire? Artefacts, women, riches— it would all be within your reach."

Chen Ren chuckled softly.

"That sounds tempting— ideal, even, but I don’t have much of a choice right now. Cultivation is interesting, but making money is... necessary. At my level, I can only hunt low-level beasts, and the debt hanging over Chen Ren’s head isn’t small. It would take me a while to pay it off that way— and be far more dangerous. You see, the knife is dangerously close to my neck, and I know it could strike at any moment. From what I've learned and already know about this world, that's the conclusion I've come to."

He hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "Besides, I've realised Chen Ren's talent isn't exactly... remarkable."

Yalan's fiery gaze softened as she gave a slight what-looked-like nod.

"I can understand that. Chen Ren was never blessed by the heavens. I almost pitied him in his childhood. But instead of challenging the heavens, he allowed them to crush him. The man grew bitter, more with each passing year."

Her tail lashed sharply once before she shook her head. "Alright, I won't be exterminating you. At least, not until you reveal yourself to be a demon who's been lying this whole time. But I doubt it."

Her eyes sparkled briefly, the flames around her tail snuffing out completely. Chen Ren let out a quiet sigh of relief, though he still watched her warily, curiosity bubbling beneath his calm exterior. Her words confirmed that she didn’t consider him lying, or maybe she was simply choosing to let him be for now in order to keep him from panicking.

There was no way to know and hence, he focused on something else— Finding out how she and Chen Ren had been related. There was no recent memory of him talking to a cat that could speak the mortal language. If there had been one, it would have certainly stood out. But, as he looked deeper and deeper, something eventually caught his attention.

A vague memory of a cat lingered in Chen Ren’s childhood. Could it be the one in front of him? But other than that, it seemed like the man didn’t like cats at all— something that, in his opinion, should have been considered a crime.

He glanced back at the cat. "So, in return, can I ask you a few questions? I think it’s only fair."

Yalan tilted her head slightly, her expression inscrutable. She licked at her paw once. "Sure, go on," she replied. "I’ll allow it."

Chen Ren leaned forward, his curiosity driving him to ask the question that had been swirling in his mind the whole time. Despite giving himself time during their conversation to process everything, he couldn’t ignore the fact that there were still things he didn’t understand.

"Who... who are you exactly? And what's your relationship with Chen Ren?"

The cat straightened, her tail following the actions, and her eyes took on a deeper, more thoughtful glow. "My name is Yalan," she began, her voice layered with boredom.

“Okay. But I already know that. I want to know more than your name.”

"I am bound by a pact made with Chen Ren’s ancestors. For hundreds of years, I have been tasked with watching over their descendants, acting as a protector of sorts. This pact has seventy years left on it and by all means, I have expected Chen Ren to be the last one to have my otherwise costly services for free."

Chen Ren listened intently, the pieces slowly falling into place as she continued.

"I’ve been with Chen Ren since he was a child, looking over him from the shadows. But, as you already know, I wasn’t exactly successful in protecting him." Her tail twitched, betraying a hint of frustration. "The boy was too stubborn, too full of pride. He ignored every bit of advice I offered him in his childhood and never liked me— wouldn’t even acknowledge my presence most of the time. He was simply wallowing in despair over his parents' death. So, I simply followed him... silently, waiting for the day he’d come find me himself and listen."

Her voice softened as she sighed, her little face scrunched up in frustration. "But he died a meaningless death. His own idiocy sealed his fate. By the time he was brought to the Tang Clan Manor, he was almost lifeless. That was when I noticed your soul beginning to merge with his body."

Chen Ren blinked, absorbing her words. So he had been right in his early conjectures. His soul had started to enter the body at the exact moment Chen Ren was on the verge of death. And she had been there, powerless to intervene.

It also revealed that the cat was able to see souls, probably the reason she knew he wasn't the original Chen Ren.

He did the mental maths. If the pact between Yalan and Chen Ren’s ancestors was truly that old, then the cat was far more powerful than he had initially imagined. And the original Chen Ren… He hadn't been a simple fool, but the worst kind of fool. Not only had he ignored a protector who could have helped him rise, but he’d squandered a chance to grow stronger under her guidance. Truly, an idiot.

It also explained something else. Now he understood how Chen Ren had made it to Cloud Mist City unscathed, even without guards. Yalan had been watching over him the entire time, silently keeping him alive.

He glanced at her again, curiosity gnawing at him. "So... does the pact extend to me too?"

As soon as the question left his lips, he was rewarded with silence. Just silence that stretched far longer than what he was comfortable with.

Yalan didn’t respond, her fiery eyes narrowing in contemplation.

Maybe I asked something that I shouldn’t have? She doesn't seem unreasonable, but you hardly know in this world, he held back a frown, but before he could retract the question, she shook her head.

"I have no idea.” The voice came out so low that if Chen Ren hadn’t been attentive, it would’ve run past his ears. "The pact should remain in effect as long as Chen Ren is alive. Since you carry remnants of his soul, he isn’t technically dead… She paused, her tail flicking absently. "It’s a very blurry line."

Chen Ren nodded slowly, unsure of what to make of her response. On one hand, the pact stood—barely—which likely meant she wouldn’t or couldn't hurt him. But on the other hand, he doubted she harboured any real care toward him. After all, he was someone else. Their relationship was complicated, a tangled mess he had no desire to unravel right now. It hurt his mind just to think and unfortunately, he couldn’t simply give her tuna to win her over.

Hence, he decided to stick to the reason he had come here.

Turning his gaze to the cat, he asked, "Do you mind if I cultivate for a bit?"

Yalan flicked her tail dismissively as if shrugging off the question, hopping onto the bench beside him. "Go on," she said casually, as though his request was of no real importance.

“Alright, then.”

Chen Ren tried to ignore her presence and focused inward. His strange meeting with the cat bothered him, especially because she had been keeping a close watch on him. Having a spirit beast that could potentially kill you in one blow next to you while you try to cultivate wasn't exactly a great way to concentrate.

It took him half an hour before he dispelled some of his nervousness and focused on the faint surges of energy in his dantian.

The feeling was refreshing like a tender warmth filling him from the inside. He tried to probe the energy, to manipulate it, but his control was clumsy. Frustratingly so.

He shifted tactics, attempting to absorb the qi in the air around him. He could sense it faintly, like a whisper just out of reach, but no matter what he did, the energy refused to respond. Even when he chanted [Thunderstorm Sutra]— the Chen family’s cultivation technique, it was like trying to catch smoke with his bare hands— nothing worked.

As he continued to struggle, the silence was finally broken by Yalan’s voice. "What exactly are you doing?"

Chen Ren sighed, opening his eyes and glancing at her. "Cultivation," he said flatly.

Yalan’s tail swished lazily. "You’re in the body-forging realm," she remarked, her tone dismissive. "Cultivating like this won't get you far. At your stage, you can’t sense qi properly, nor can you circulate it through your meridians. You need to focus on training your body, slowly pushing it to the peak of body forging before you even begin to sense qi—"

Chen Ren, mid-breath, interrupted her, his voice calm but firm.

"I can already feel qi."

Yalan froze. Her eyes narrowed, and the lazy swish of her tail stopped mid-air. "What did you just say?" she asked, her voice low, sharp with sudden intensity.

Chen Ren blinked, surprised at her reaction. "I can feel qi," he repeated, uncertain why it seemed to shock her so much. He knew it was unusual, but by her reaction, he might have massively underestimated such an ability in this realm.

The cat’s gaze bore into him, her eyes narrowing further as though she were reassessing everything about him.