Carefully getting near, I wrapped my fingers around it and gave it a firm jerk.

I excavated it easily, that one jerk was enough to pull it out it seemed, though I definitely didn’t like that disgusting screech that sounded, nor the spooky tendrils that sprouted out of the ground and thrust toward me with ferocity, quivering in what could only be rage.

I tried leaping back but it proved too fast for me, rolling around me and then tensing itself. Fuck! I cursed under my breath and struggled to wriggle free of its grasp. However, it seemed that it wasn’t meant to be, and its grip only tightened up. I growled, grounding my teeth as panic settled into my mind. I no longer thought properly, I’d been consumed by panic. I’d never gone through something like this, I’d been a normal human back in the Before and suddenly shifting from that to this… it was panic-inducing.

The vine around my wrist tightened so much that I felt it twisting.

“Argh!” Biting my lip to contain my scream I let out a muffled growl, my eyes wandering about the place. Should I be screaming for help? Who was here to help me anyway? I knew it was stupid of me to come out alone like this, goddammit!

Death crept up on me, and a primal fear settled deep into my being. I shuddered, my mind recoiling. This was enough to get me back to reality; I tried to calm down as much as I could. Then, with quick thinking, I made a decision.

I used [Trinket Of The Fallen].

…And the creature knew terror. A crushing force of some sort overwhelmed my mind and a wave of calm settled in as panic simply vanished. I saw everything clearly for the first time, not as in a Cultivator would, but saw as in saw without panicking in this situation.

Saliva dripped from the Vipervine’s mouth or whatever this monstrosity was. The flowery bud on top of its head had sprouted out into a revolting mouth. It appeared akin to a turtle’s mouth. Teeth glistened from every corner.

As calm settled in, I noticed some sort of pressure, some sort of intent unleashing on the creature. It bore down on it, crushing it mentally. It appeared to have very little mental faculties, so only this much was enough to kill it off, which was surprising in and of itself.

Once killed, its grip loosened and I dropped to the ground, grunting at the sudden jolt that ran through my body. Cursing, I stood up and stretched, a grin making its way up my face. I swept my eyes across the place and then onto the Vipervine that lay dead on the ground now. Shaking my head I walked up to it and began picking up any non-damaged part of the Vipervine. I put them in my Inventory and spat on the place it was before trudging off toward another direction, ready to get some more Vipervine now that I was here anyway.

I saw in the distance a vast nothingness as far as my eyes could see in this Crimson Mist. I wondered again how it really was. It didn’t seem natural so there had to be some kind of cause behind its existence. For now, though, I pushed that thought aside and walked to any Vipervine I could see. I didn’t yank at the vine this time, but slowly pulled on it, trying my best to not wake it up.

However, while doing so, realization washed over me, and I felt strangely dumb. Even back in the mansion I’d moved the stuff myself and hadn’t utilized what I had at my disposal. Just like now. I used Inventory and sure enough, I could easily put the whole Vipervine inside there. The Inventory was a strange thing really. It wasn’t an interface with boxes like it was usually portrayed in fiction but a weird sensation at the back of my mind.

There were these “slots”, yes, but no interface, I could simply pull things out of said slots or put them in. That was exactly how I’d put the Vipervine in there. Finding this so-very abusable thing, my mind cooked up a plan as a smile slowly made its way on my face.

“Fuck yes.”

I was determined to hoard all the Vipervine I could find on the outskirts.

It took me days of work, but I did it. Despite going back and forth between Bleak Town and the outskirts of the Gorge, I managed to suck in all the Vipervine available in the outskirts, I had no clue how much there was into the Gorge itself but on the outskirts, I was pretty sure that I’d made a big dent in the supply, and of course, possibly the market. If I was right, then Month Of The Mist would make me a big profit. Why do I need a profit? I run this town now, so I need that stuff, also, I’m in a Cultivation world, in the demonic land no less, so of course, the more money the better. Strength makes everything right in the end, I’m pathetically weak for now, so I can only use money for stuff.

…Also, so that the thing with Biscuit doesn’t happen again.

I knew she’d done it to protect me, and I was happy for that, but I did not wish for her to endanger herself for someone like me. Something like this might happen in the future too, with my meatshields, so I needed to be prepared.

Today was the last day collecting this stuff, so I trudged back home happily.

The first thing I’d do upon going back home had to be checking up on Biscuit, she hadn’t woken up still, even though the old granny had come and treated her some more with the drugs she made with Vipervine. Also, yes, turns out, Vipervine is used to make drugs.

I sighed as I entered the mansion, making a beeline toward her room as I passed by servants I’d hired from the town. I made sure they were mortals, I didn’t want any guy that could fuck me over in my sleep, though now that I thought of it, even mortals would do the job. Another sigh escaped my lips, and I stopped in front of Biscuit’s room.

Opening the door, I sucked in a breath and walked inside. Shockingly, she wasn’t on her bed. I panicked at her sudden disappearance. Where was she? What happened?

I ran around the mansion in search of her, and what I found out left me quite a bit baffled.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

No, scratch that, it left me shocked to my bones.

***

- Bis Ke -

She had deigned to rouse herself from her regal catnap with an extravagant yawn. Just as she was in the midst of dreaming about chasing elusive red dots through the palace of her dreams, that wretched cock-a-doodle-doo had burst forth in a most uncouth manner. It was as if the entire realm had conspired to disrupt her sublime slumber.

With an air of disdain, she elegantly stretched her body and rose to her paws. Her eyes, sharp as the finest gemstones, glared daggers in the direction of the audacious feathered troublemaker beyond the window.

How dare this insolent creature interrupt her sleep? She might have to make rounds around town in search of this darn cock to teach him a lesson. She seemed to purr under her breath, her whiskers twitching with irritation.

No sooner had she graced the mortal realm with her presence that her purpose revealed itself. Her Great Master’s condition. With a calculated saunter, she approached his snoozing form. A delicate paw was extended to pat his cheek, her eyes searching his visage for signs of distress.

She allowed herself a self-satisfied smirk. She walked forth in search of the rooster; she supposed it was in the area behind the mansion. She didn't find it, what she did find were the weaklings that were supposed to be her fellow Disciples. Weak, they were not only weak, they were an embarrassment to her Great Master’s name.

Her delicate nose pointed skyward, Bis Ke sauntered near them. It appeared that they’d grown quite a bit from last time. No longer the slouches and bad postures, it seemed her Great Master had seen fit to grace their existence with the boon of formidable arts and techniques, all bestowed alongside his venerable teachings, no doubt. A grand display of benevolence, truly! How generous! She yowled.

No doubt, he’d given them this so he could test them, to see if they were worthy of his teachings or not! Bis Ke’s whiskers twitched, her chest swelling with an undeniable sense of pride. She approved! Not of these weaklings, but her Great Master’s ways! Truly, there was none other like him! How magnificent!

The Disciples opened their eyes at her yowl, staring at her in puzzlement before their eyes widened in recognition and something more. Something that reminded her of that interloper.

That expression that oozed of being smitten by her charms.

Bis Ket's eyes transformed into gleaming daggers, and her claws unsheathed themselves as she hissed. That interloper! She wished he was dead! If he weren’t, not even the heavens could save him from her!

That was a promise!

“Awwww… aren’t you a cutie! Master’s pet? Shall we play with you?” The bigger of the two, Wang Kai if she recalled correctly, stepped forth with stars shining in his eyes. She snorted, play? With them? They were unworthy!

“Yes, Bis Ke, do you wish to play with us?” The other one, Li Renji, cooed at her as well.

A deep, disapproving frown dawned on her face. Did they dare view her as some plaything? The impudence! She, the great mistress, Bis Ke, playing with lowly weaklings? Bis Ke flicked her tail and scowled, a hiss leaving her magnificent snout. Clearly, her juniors were in need of some pointers!

Bis Ke couldn’t believe the audacity of these junior Disciples. With a snarl, she lunged at Wang Kai, aiming to teach him a lesson. But to her surprise, Wang Kai clumsily stumbled backward, certainly due to his surprise, trying to avoid her, but tripping over his own feet in the process. Bis Ke couldn’t help but let out a disdainful snort at his clumsiness.

How shameful of him.

Li Renji, on the other hand, tried to make himself look imposing by puffing out his chest and raising his paws as if ready for a showdown. Bis Ke rolled her eyes at his feeble attempt at intimidation.

Li Renji’s confidence seemed to waver as he glanced nervously at his companion, who was still trying to untangle himself from the mess he made on the ground.

Without wasting any more time, Bis Ke decided to end this farce quickly. With a flick of her tail, she darted around Wang Kai, punching softly with her paws and making him stumble about. Then, she pounced on Li Renji, but instead of attacking him, she merely flicked him on the nose with her paw.

“Meow!” she mewed.

Li Renji looked dumbfounded, not sure how to react to the embarrassing boop.

Bis Ke had shown mercy, they should be thankful! She had used the softness of her paws instead of her claws that promised pain!

However, it seemed that Li Renji here needed some more! They needed to be made aware of the hierarchy here. In that moment of distraction, Bis Ke spun around and used her tail to trip him, sending him tumbling to the ground.

Wang Kai finally managed to stand up, only to see his friend sprawled on the floor and Bis Ke sitting triumphantly on top of him, grooming her whiskers nonchalantly.

“Meow~” she said, her voice dripping with superiority.

Wang Kai's cheeks flushed with embarrassment and frustration. “You... you're just a cat!”

As the words “just a cat” echoed in the air, Bis Ke’s ears twitched, and her eyes widened with disbelief as her expression flipped. Her tail fluffed up, and her whiskers trembled in outrage. The audacity! How dare they belittle her with such an absurd statement?

Just a cat? This mistress was far from just a cat! Insolent weaklings! Bis Ke’s yowl reverberated with fury, her fur standing on end as she jumped down from Li Renji’s back and landed gracefully on the ground.

She gave him a disdainful look. He should know his place! She was Bis Ke, the Great Mistress, the most magnificent feline to ever walk these grounds! She possessed the wisdom of her Great Master, albeit pale in comparison, she possessed the agility of the wind, and the strength of a hundred tigers!

Wang Kai and Li Renji exchanged bewildered glances, clearly not expecting this level of magnificence from her. They couldn’t help but stifle a chuckle for some reason, and that only fueled her fury.

She wished she could speak like her Great Master at the moment more than anything.

Bis Ke growled, narrowing her eyes at them. They could laugh all they wanted, but she would make sure that they remembered this day, for it marked the beginning of their lesson in humility and respect!

Bis Ke lunged at Wang Kai and pulled him toward Li Renji before attacking them simultaneously. Her paws moved with unparalleled speed, and before they could react, she delivered a series of rapid punches and kicks, targeting specific points of their bodies with precision. Wang Kai stumbled backward, clutching his sore chest, while Li Renji was left grabbing his crotch with an expression that screamed pain.

Bis Ke spat in disgust at their disbelief. What? They couldn’t believe their eyes that “just a cat” had turned into a whirlwind of paws and claws, leaving them humbled and awestruck? They should be thankful she hadn’t done worse!

She was just about to do a bit more when she felt her Great Master’s presence. She turned out with her chest puffed, and stared at her Great Master, her eyes scanning for any injury he might have. He stood there, dumbfounded, and that made her swell in pride even further.

“Meow~” Bis Ke warned, casting a glance at her junior Disciples. Her eyes seemed to say, “Enough of your foolishness,” and apparently, they seemed to have understood too.

She nodded approvingly and sauntered up to her dumbstruck Great Master before hopping up to her rightful place on his shoulder. She licked his cheek and snuggled into his neck before letting herself melt in the embrace that followed after.

Today was a nice day, all considered.