When the Tsundere Rival Turns Into a Cat - Chapter 26

Li Xingcan hadn’t expected Jiang Qingyue’s prediction to be so accurate. Glancing at her foot, she found it impossible to pretend nothing was wrong.

Jiang Qingyue placed the shoes before Li Xingcan, who stubbornly refused to look at them, creating an awkward standoff between the two.

Bai He, unable to bear watching this any longer, produced a porcelain vial from his sleeve and handed Li Xingcan a pill. “This is a shrinking pill. Take it, and I’ll fly you all there.”

With the distant mountain journey ahead, this was their only option—otherwise, the group would need several days to walk there.

Li Xingcan glanced at Jiang Qingyue before accepting the pill. Since they were already here, trust was their only path forward.

As they waited for the pill to take effect, Bai He walked to the roadside and began weaving long vines into a small basket. Li Xingcan could feel her body gradually shrinking—her specially tailored clothes adjusted accordingly.

When everything around her appeared towering, the transformation finally stopped. Feeling no discomfort, Li Xingcan looked up at Jiang Qingyue, who gazed down at her with equal fascination.

Unaccustomed to looking up at others, Li Xingcan crossed her arms and turned toward the newly woven basket beside her. By comparison, she estimated her height at about twenty centimeters—roughly the basket’s size.

“Just revert to your true form,” Bai He told Jiang Qingyue.

With a nod, Jiang Qingyue instantly transformed back into a kitten—though even as a cat, she remained larger than the shrunken Li Xingcan.

Viewing a cat from this perspective for the first time startled Li Xingcan. Forcing composure, she reached up to stroke the whiskers. “Let’s go.”

Bai He turned to Hui. “You too.”

Without hesitation, Hui transformed—revealing a serpent as thick as a human wrist. Both Li Xingcan and Jiang Qingyue gasped involuntarily; Li Xingcan stepped back while Jiang Qingyue’s fur nearly stood on end.

It wasn’t fear of snakes per se, but the sudden appearance of such a massive one at close range proved quite the cardiac challenge.

Sensing their distress, Bai He immediately transformed as well, his enormous wings blocking their view. “Get in the basket. Hui will coil around the chain—you won’t have to see him.”

As Bai He spoke human words, Li Xingcan shot Jiang Qingyue a glance—if spirits could talk, why did Jiang Qingyue only meow?

Ignoring the look, Jiang Qingyue leaped into the basket first. Not to be outdone, Li Xingcan clambered in like scaling a wall.

With the basket’s handle gripped in his talons and the black snake coiled around attached chains, Bai He beat his mighty wings and soared toward the distant mountain peak.

Li Xingcan was still somewhat unaccustomed to being so small. The strong wind from the white crane’s takeoff made her stumble, and the swaying basket made it hard to keep her balance. She uncontrollably fell backward, thinking she was about to crash, only to land on something soft.

Turning her head, she saw Jiang Qingyue standing behind her, furry paws resting on her shoulders to steady her.

Meeting those round cat eyes, Li Xingcan averted her gaze first, gripping the edge of the basket to stand firmly.

Flying was undeniably faster than walking. Watching the forest below rapidly recede, the wind brushing against her face, Li Xingcan felt as if she might take off herself.

What would have taken days on foot was covered in just a morning. Upon reaching the mountainside, the white crane landed on a flat spot, leaving the rest of the journey for them to climb.

Li Xingcan looked at Jiang Qingyue, now back in human form. “What about me? How do I turn back?”

“The potion only lasts ten hours. Just wait—we’ll take you up,” the white crane explained.

Jiang Qingyue bent down and picked Li Xingcan up in her palm. “Let’s go.”

Li Xingcan: “…”

Not having to walk was a relief. Sitting in Jiang Qingyue’s hand, arms crossed and expression stern, she stared straight ahead—hoping no one would notice her reddening ears.

As they ascended the steps, the higher they climbed, the colder it became. Neither Li Xingcan nor Jiang Qingyue were high-level spiritual beings, and dressed only in shorts and T-shirts, the mountain wind left them shivering.

Jiang Qingyue cupped her hands, shielding Li Xingcan from most of the cold while her palm radiated warmth. Li Xingcan felt better, but then it struck her—Jiang Qingyue was dressed the same. She must be freezing too.

Peering over Jiang Qingyue’s thumb, she noticed her lips pressed tight and shoulders slightly hunched—clearly suffering from the cold.

“Why don’t you turn into a cat? At least animals have fur for warmth.”

Unable to bear it, Li Xingcan spoke up.

“No. I refuse to let you ride on my head,” Jiang Qingyue flatly rejected. Though she could carry Li Xingcan in cat form, the mere thought of that scenario made the cold seem bearable.

“You’re really…” Li Xingcan nearly stood up in frustration but bumped into Jiang Qingyue’s palm and plopped back down.

Their bickering made the white crane glance back. Noticing Jiang Qingyue’s thin clothes, he retrieved the earlier basket. “She’s right. Turn into a cat—both of you can ride in this. I’ll carry you up.”

Jiang Qingyue hated inconveniencing others, but staring up at the towering peak, she knew this was the only way.

“Thank you.”

After placing Li Xingcan inside, Jiang Qingyue transformed and leaped gracefully into the basket.

The white crane carried them upward. Li Xingcan huddled in a corner, still cold but at least sheltered from the wind.

Jiang Qingyue padded over, nudging her with a paw to come closer.

Thinking she was being told to move aside, Li Xingcan scooted over.

Nudge. Scoot.

After three rounds, both were on the verge of losing patience.

“What exactly are you trying to do?” Li Xingcan finally got up and moved to sit on the other side of the basket, frowning at the cat who had followed her and was now reaching out a paw again.

Jiang Qingyue paused her paw for a moment. There was no way to explain it to her in words, so this time, instead of just lightly patting at her, she simply pulled Li Xingcan closer.

Pinning Li Xingcan down with her paw, Jiang Qingyue curled around her, completely enveloping the girl in her embrace.

Li Xingcan was stunned for a second, but the warmth radiating from the cat’s body was undeniably real. She finally understood what Jiang Qingyue meant—though being held by a cat instead of holding one was still an unfamiliar sensation.

Glancing at Jiang Qingyue, who had already closed her eyes, Li Xingcan didn’t struggle. She settled into the soft, smooth fur, finding a comfortable position to rest.

Thanks to Jiang Qingyue’s warm coat, Li Xingcan didn’t feel the cold even as they ascended to the mountain peak.

When they finally reached the summit, Li Xingcan looked up to see ancient, imposing city walls standing solemnly atop the cliffs, shrouded in mist like something out of a fairy tale.

Passing through the city gates, she realized this was no small settlement—it was a sprawling city. The streets were lined with nests of all sizes, some built from wood, others dug into the ground or stacked from stone. Various yao tribes moved about, coexisting harmoniously, much like human society.

Moving through the residential area toward the center, the buildings there were entirely made of ice and snow—gleaming white roofs and translucent walls shimmered under the sunlight, ethereal and dreamlike.

The temperature here was much lower, and Li Xingcan felt Jiang Qingyue tighten her embrace slightly, pulling her closer.

Their destination seemed to be one of those ice-crafted structures, the biting cold almost unbearable as they approached.

Before they could enter, a black cat emerged from within, striding toward them. Mid-step, it transformed into a woman clad in a long black robe.

Li Xingcan recognized her immediately—this was Jiang Qingyue’s mother, Xuan Yu.

“You brought her?” Xuan Yu spoke to Bai He first before glancing into the basket.

“Aunt Xuan,” Li Xingcan greeted politely, aware of how odd the situation was but determined to be courteous.

Xuan Yu looked surprised. “Xingcan? Why are you here?”

Bai He answered for her. “While in the human realm, Hui acted without authorization, attempting to capture Jiang Qingyue. In the process, he injured this human. I had no choice but to bring her back—both to treat her wounds and to serve as a witness in Hui’s disciplinary hearing.”

Xuan Yu glanced at Hui, who was bound in chains nearby. “Then go settle this matter first.”

Hui met her gaze. “Elder Xuan, apprehending anomalies falls within my jurisdiction. Surely the fact that this anomaly happens to be your daughter doesn’t exempt her from protocol? I admit harming the human was my mistake, but that’s a separate issue. Your daughter, as an anomaly, should still be processed accordingly.”

Tension thickened in the air at his words. Li Xingcan looked at Jiang Qingyue—what would happen to her?

Bai He turned to Hui. “The Judicial Hall’s elders will handle this matter. There’s no need for your concern.”

“The person I captured is my responsibility. I simply hope Elder Xuan won’t abuse her authority for personal gain.”

Hui refused to back down.

Xuan Yu raised his hand to stop Bai He from speaking, “Then let’s all go to the Hall of Justice together.”

Upon entering this ice-constructed building, the interior wasn’t as bone-chilling as expected, carrying only a slight coolness.

The space inside appeared more expansive than its exterior suggested, with interconnected corridors leading to various rooms. Yet the place wasn’t crowded, so quiet that only their footsteps echoing on the ice floor could be heard.

Li Xingcan leaned down toward Jiang Qingyue, gently pulling her ear close to whisper, “You won’t get into trouble, right?”

Jiang Qingyue’s ear tingled at his proximity, her ear tip twitching slightly before she shook her head at him.

Li Xingcan wasn’t sure if this meant she was fine or simply didn’t know. But considering Jiang Qingyue likely knew little more than he did, he suppressed his unease and wrapped an arm around her neck, giving a reassuring pat. “Don’t be afraid.”

Jiang Qingyue looked down at Li Xingcan embracing her, uncertain if it was just her imagination—why did she feel like he seemed deeply worried about her?