Ruan Bai rubbed softly against Marshal Huo’s arm, offering gentle, delicate words of comfort.
“Meow-u~” Don’t be sad anymore, little cat is still here keeping you company.
Huo Jiuxiao could only feel the profound irony of it all. In his past life, he had never understood why the Emperor always looked at him with such disappointment, his brows frequently furrowed with a vague, unreadable frustration.
Now, what was there left not to understand? Wasn’t his frustration simply born from the fact that he hadn’t died on the battlefield, freeing up the military authority in his hands?
Under his command, he controlled the Empire’s four major legions specifically the Third, Sixth, Eighth, and Thirteenth Legions wielding a force that could not be underestimated.
A strange, inexplicable smile curved his lips. Even amidst an atmosphere that called for fury, he found himself wanting to laugh. As the laughter bubbled up, a dark, world-destroying, twisted desire welled from the depths of Huo Jiuxiao’s heart.
Since things were like this, then they could all just go down to hell together.
Mad, frenzied thoughts gradually flooded his mind, until the soft, warm sensation transmitting from his arm instantly froze him in place. Instinctively lowering his gaze, he saw Xiaobai gently rubbing against him while mewing softly in a spoiled display of affection.
The darkness buried in his heart receded like the tide.
Everything was different now. In this lifetime, he had Xiaobai.
Xiaobai was so well-behaved and so delicate, how could he ever bear to leave him?
Huo Jiuxiao returned safely to the Capital Star, dropping a series of explosive revelations that turned the funeral held to mourn Marshal Huo into an absolute, unadulterated joke.
As the crowd dispersed one after another, the sprawling Marshal’s estate instantly grew quiet.
Head Butler Uncle Zhang walked over, a visible trace of emotion etched across his weathered face, “Young Master, you’ve finally returned.”
Huo Jiuxiao stared at the joy shimmering in the old man’s eyes, stunned for a fraction of a second before nodding in acknowledgment, “Mn.”
Accustomed to his young master’s perpetually aloof temperament, Uncle Zhang thought nothing of it.
Surveying the decorations filling the house, the old man felt they reeked of bad luck, stepping outside to loudly direct the Marshal’s personal guards to tear all those items down.
Taking advantage of the moment, Ruan Bai finally had the chance to properly inspect this Marshal’s estate nestled right in the heart of the Capital Star.
It was massive; the towering villa was resplendent and luxurious, complete with a private courtyard.
Carried by Huo Jiuxiao up the spiral staircase, he arrived at the second floor of the villa.
“Only I live on this second floor.”
The Marshal’s study and bedroom shared the exact same minimalist design aesthetic black carpeting, dark curtains, and an entire room coordinated in harmonious shades of dark tones.
Huo Jiuxiao still had meetings to attend, and not wanting to tag along into the study, the cat wandered downstairs on his own.
Lounging with listless boredom upon the sofa, he watched the bustling figures of the staff moving back and forth, which added a comforting touch of domestic warmth to the space.
Uncle Zhang walked over, speaking in a warm, doting tone: “Little kitty, are you hungry? Should I get you something to eat?”
Ruan Bai’s eyes lit up instantly as he nodded.
Uncle Zhang looked astonished, did this cat actually understand what he was saying?
“Let me go check the kitchen to see what the chef made.”
With that, he turned and left.
With nothing better to do anyway, Ruan Bai tagged along right behind him.
“Heh, perfect timing, the chef made small dried fish.” Muttering to himself, Uncle Zhang reached out to plate the dried fish, only to turn around and find the little milk-kitten squatting right outside the doorway.
“Craving a snack? Come on, try some.”
Fixing his eyes on the small dried fish offered right before him, Ruan Bai unhesitatingly went “Aowu” and snapped it right into his mouth.
Delicious.
The butler is truly a good person.
Squinting his eyes in bliss, his tail flicked back and forth every now and then, looking utterly and supremely content.
Huo Jiuxiao walked downstairs just in time to catch this exact sight.
His brows knitted together slightly, his dark eyes narrowing into fine slits as a cold gleam flickered in their depths.
This unconscionable little ingrate does he just follow whoever has food?
A fickle, heartless cat!
Ruan Bai, happily munching on his dried fish, felt a sudden chill crawl down his back. Turning around in puzzlement, he spotted Huo Jiuxiao standing up on the spiral staircase.
Blinking his eyes.
Why did this man look as though he wanted to eat a cat?!