Moonlit Reunion

Mei Zhuyu sat by the bedside, holding a tabby cat in his arms, his expression blank as he remained lost in thought for a while. Only when his hand touched the warm, soft fur did he fully comprehend the fact that "Wu Zhen was the tabby cat he often saw."

For some reason, Wu Zhen didn't emit the slightest trace of demonic qi after transforming into a cat, looking no different from an ordinary feline. Thus, he hadn't paid much attention to her before.

But now that he knew, Mei Zhuyu couldn't ignore it. He began unconsciously recalling the times he had encountered the tabby cat. First, he suddenly understood what had happened when he found Wu Zhen's clothes under the bed—a mystery that had puzzled him for a long time was finally solved. After this sudden realization, the previously indistinct memories of the tabby cat's appearance and movements became vividly clear.

Mei Zhuyu remembered seeing the tabby cat many times at home and in his office, the earliest instance dating back to before their engagement was settled. The cat had appeared on the paulownia branch outside his office. At the time, the tree was in bloom, and when he turned his head, he saw a tabby cat weighing down the branch until it drooped low.

She had examined him with a strange, slightly curious gaze. Later, she even took advantage of his absence to leap onto his desk, accidentally stepping into ink with one furry paw and leaving black paw prints on a discarded sheet of paper. The water he had brought back to drink ended up being used to wash her paws. Back then, he had merely thought the cat's eyes held a certain intelligence, and seeing her look somewhat disdainfully at her inky paw, he had inexplicably helped her.

Thinking of this, Mei Zhuyu unconsciously squeezed one of the tabby cat's front paws—the very one that had stepped in ink back then.

Wu Zhen had been resting with her eyes closed, suppressing the pestilence qi wreaking havoc inside her. Sensing the subtle movement on her paw, she suddenly chuckled softly and said, "You just remembered the first time I went to see you, didn't you?"

"My father said someone dared to marry me, and I wondered which reckless young man was so bold. Out of curiosity, I secretly transformed into this form to take a look at you."

At the time, she hadn't cared much about the engagement—it made no difference to her. Visiting him had been purely out of boredom. But later, when the young man washed her paws and even lifted his sleeve to let her wipe them, Wu Zhen suddenly found him rather amusing. That was when the thought of getting closer to him first crossed her mind.

"I'm sorry."

Wu Zhen was startled by his sudden apology. "Why are you apologizing to me all of a sudden?"

Mei Zhuyu held her furry paw. "I didn't know it was you. I neglected you." He recalled two occasions when the cat had tried to curl up in his arms to sleep, only for him to set her aside. She had then run off, seemingly disappointed. If it had been an ordinary cat, he wouldn't have cared. But now that he knew it was Wu Zhen, he felt he had done wrong.

He didn't explain clearly, but Wu Zhen once again shared his train of thought. She laughed and lazily pressed her paw against his palm. "Missing the chance to be intimate with your wife is a greater loss for you, isn't it? Why are you apologizing to me now?"

Mei Zhuyu froze for a moment, then suddenly realized she had a point. He began to feel he had missed a golden opportunity, wasting precious time, and unconsciously hugged the ball of fur in his arms a little tighter.He wasn't someone who particularly liked cats. Though many nobles in Chang'an kept these animals as pets—with cat lovers being especially numerous—he had never shared such inclinations. Yet now, watching Wu Zhen in this feline form, he suddenly found cats taking on a peculiar charm in his eyes.

She felt soft and fluffy to the touch, her fur smooth. Small and delicate, she was nothing like the usual Wu Zhen.

Feeling the cautious strokes along her back, Wu Zhen rolled over to expose her belly. "Rub my stomach for me," she said. "It's full of Pestilence Qi—feels bloated."

Mei Zhuyu looked at the patch of even softer white fur on her belly and reached out to stroke it, then stroked it again. Wu Zhen's stomach was swollen, as if she had overeaten, but he could sense the chaotic churning of Pestilence Qi inside. Clearly, she had swallowed too much of it and was in great discomfort. Though her tone was light and lazy, betraying nothing, Mei Zhuyu understood the moment he laid his hand on her belly—Wu Zhen was enduring immense pain.

At that moment, all other thoughts left his mind. He carefully massaged her stomach for a while, contemplating silently before making a decision.

Wu Zhen was enjoying the soothing rub when she suddenly felt him set her down and leave the room. She heard him call for Shuangjiang outside, the two murmuring in low voices. Soon, he returned, holding several wooden pieces.

Seeing him head toward the study, Wu Zhen lifted a paw. "Husband—"

Mei Zhuyu turned back, picked her up, and carried her into the study with him. Nestled in his arms, Wu Zhen cracked open one eye to see what he was doing.

Earlier, while subduing the Plague God, he had cut his hand. Though it had been bandaged, he now tore the cloth away, squeezing the unhealed wound to let blood drip into a jade dish, where he mixed it with cinnabar. Once the blood and cinnabar were blended, he laid out the wooden pieces he had taken from Shuangjiang.

Wu Zhen saw clearly now—they were all peach wood, though of different ages and origins, their colors slightly varied. Mei Zhuyu examined each piece carefully before selecting the darkest and smallest one.

After choosing, he soaked the peach wood in the blood-cinnabar mixture, then began carving a talisman with his blood-stained fingers. Wu Zhen watched in silence as he worked.

Her husband was a Taoist priest. Wu Zhen was reminded of this once more as she observed his practiced, natural movements. His strokes were precise and fluid, and with each line he carved, she could sense a surge of spiritual energy emanating from the Peach Wood Talisman. His demeanor and bearing were entirely different from when he handled official documents for the Ministry of Justice.

So handsome. Wu Zhen mused idly, watching him complete the talisman with meticulous care. As the final stroke was made, a flash of light shimmered, and the small dish of blood-cinnabar was entirely absorbed, deepening the color of the peach wood.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. At Mei Zhuyu's word, Taoist Master Shuangjiang entered, carrying a bowl of water, which he placed on the desk. "Junior Uncle, the Rootless Rainwater has been collected."

It had begun raining outside—the overcast sky finally releasing its burden. After this rain, there would likely be a few clear days. Wu Zhen's thoughts wandered briefly before she noticed Shuangjiang's gaze repeatedly flickering toward the peach wood talisman in Mei Zhuyu's hand.He seemed to hold back but couldn't resist asking, "Little Uncle, are you trying to make a Peach Wood Sword? Isn't this piece of peach wood too small?"

Mei Zhuyu replied, "No." With that, he pinched the peach wood slice between two fingers, murmured a few low incantations, and the wood suddenly ignited spontaneously. He then tossed it into the bowl of rootless water.

The burning wood didn't extinguish upon entering the water; instead, it continued to burn quietly until completely consumed.

From the moment the wood began to burn, Shuangjiang's expression shifted—first stunned, then pained, and finally, as the wood burned away, he couldn't bear to look anymore, his gaze drifting aside. His face was the picture of someone witnessing their treasure being ruined before their eyes yet powerless to stop it, suppressing heartache with great effort.

Mei Zhuyu didn't look at him but seemed to sense his expression as if he had eyes on the top of his head. Swirling the bowl of water, he said, "Don't slack off. Practice diligently, and you'll eventually be able to draw an Evil-Stopping Talisman with raw peach wood too."

Shuangjiang: It'll probably take me thirty years to manage that.

Seeing Shuangjiang comply, Wu Zhen gave him a few extra curious glances. Shuangjiang was usually aloof and proud, yet now he seemed unusually docile, his usual arrogance nowhere to be seen. Wu Zhen sensed that he seemed somewhat afraid of her husband, which struck her as odd.

In her eyes, her husband might not be exactly gentle, but he was still an easygoing person. Afraid of him? Really?

As she pondered, a bowl of murky black water appeared before her—the same bowl of rootless water into which Mei Zhuyu had burned the talisman.

"Drink this. It'll make you feel better," Mei Zhuyu said, bringing the bowl closer to Wu Zhen's cat head.

Wu Zhen had watched him prepare this concoction. Though skeptical, out of respect for the blood her husband had shed for her, she obligingly took a lick. Instantly, an indescribably bitter taste flooded her mouth, so revolting she couldn't possibly swallow it.

Wu Zhen had swallowed the Pestilence Qi of the Plague God. Though it made her terribly uncomfortable, it wasn't fatal—her stomach would eventually digest the Qi. She was used to carelessly gobbling such things, and discomfort was nothing new. Drinking this vile stuff was worse than suffering for a year or two.

Sorry about this, Wu Zhen thought, getting up to bolt. But Mei Zhuyu anticipated her move and grabbed her.

"Don't be afraid. It'll be over soon," Mei Zhuyu said, his voice low and soothing, though his actions were anything but. His grip was firm, and Wu Zhen, now at a disadvantage, was forcibly subjected to the talisman water. By the time her husband had poured the entire bowl of black liquid down her throat, she was half-dead, collapsing into a miserable, lifeless cat pancake in his hands.

Setting the bowl aside, Mei Zhuyu gently stroked her head, comforting her. "It's alright."

Alright my ass! If it weren't her own husband, Wu Zhen would've cursed out loud.

Her mouth was unbearably bitter, and though the tearing pain in her stomach gradually subsided, something inside began to squirm.

The Tabby Cat irritably sharpened her claws, then opened her mouth and retched. With each heave, she expelled black clumps of fur—the result of the talisman water absorbing the Pestilence Qi in her stomach. Wu Zhen vomited out a small pile of these black furballs, and her bloated belly visibly deflated.Mei Zhuyu's sleeve was frayed by the cat's claws, with a hole torn in it. But he didn't mind, his eyes fixed on the Tabby Cat, occasionally touching her belly. As he noticed the Pestilence Qi slowly being expelled, he relaxed considerably.

However, as soon as the Tabby Cat finished coughing up a hairball, it immediately bristled, leaped onto the desk, and knocked the bowl to the ground before darting out the window.

Mei Zhuyu: "...?"

"...Madam?"

Mei Zhuyu glanced at the window, then turned to look at Shuangjiang, his expression slightly bewildered. "What happened?"

Having witnessed the entire scene of his little martial uncle tormenting the cat, Shuangjiang pointed at the tuft of cat fur between Mei Zhuyu's fingers. Earlier, in his effort to force the cat to drink the Talisman water, his absurdly strong little martial uncle had nearly plucked the poor creature bald.

Yet Mei Zhuyu remained utterly oblivious. Upon noticing the fur in his hand, he looked surprised and concerned, frowning deeply. "Why is she shedding? Could it be because of the Pestilence Qi?"

Shuangjiang: No, Little Martial Uncle, it's because of you.