Chapter 9: The Cat Demon Xiao Pu

  It's break time now. I don't see any ghosts around me, so I listlessly lie on the table. There are all kinds of ghosts and monsters here, but there aren't many that look like humans, like me.

  "Hello, my name is Xiaopu, are you Ximeng?" I was startled and immediately looked up at the source of the sound. Wow, a girl with rabbit ears and a long tail, in modern terms, she's "moe" (cute) just like my doll, couldn't help but smile at her.

  "Right, Xiao Pu." He's really too cute, I've never seen anyone as cute as him before.

  "I'm also a new student this semester, but I've already gotten familiar with the place. Let me take you around and ask me if you have any questions."

  "Alright, I was just wondering what to do anyway."

  As soon as I left the classroom, I felt uneasy all over my body, because the ghosts around me kept sizing me up. Isn't it said that my current spiritual body is almost the same as theirs? Is there still a problem somewhere? I gently tugged at a corner of Xiaopu's clothes and whispered: "Xiaopu, why are they looking at me like this? What's wrong with me?"

  Xiao Pu looked at me deeply and said: "Let's go, we'll talk while walking."

  The two of us arrived at a relatively quiet place where there were few ghosts, only two or three cultivators. I sat down on the grass and looked at Xiaopu in confusion.

  "I'm also a bit curious, it's your aura, it's very strange, not like a demon nor does it have the yin energy of a ghost, yet you can transform into human form. I couldn't guess what you are, but who doesn't have secrets here? You won't say and I won't ask."

  Isn't that right? It's so easy to be suspected, then I'm in danger. "Little Pu, am I really that strange?" I asked tentatively.

  "Ah, sorry. I was just rambling because we cat people are a bit sensitive, don't mind me. I just said what came to mind. And by the way, you smell really delicious."

  Xiao Pu said, seemingly feeling it wasn't quite right, hurriedly waved his hand and said "Ah, Xi Meng, I didn't mean that, I don't want to eat you."

  After hearing that, I was stunned. I'm human-shaped because I was originally a person, how can this be explained? I couldn't say anything. It seems like I need to get stronger. This place doesn't allow killing, but I won't always be able to live in the academy, and I'll eventually leave and encounter strong enemies. Let's just change the subject for now. "Actually, I don't know why I'm in this form either, maybe it's just natural. You can tell by looking at me that I've only just left home."

  Regarding the humanoid prisoner, I was told that humans are the most coveted species in the world. Both soul and body are the perfect match, but the drawback is that they are the most restricted, relatively weak compared to all other spaces, so they often attract some greedy people.

  "I don't understand a lot of things here, Xiaopu, are all the families here very powerful?"

  "Yes, those who can come here are absolutely not weaklings. The most famous one here is Silver Moon, he's in 3rd grade, his family's elders are mostly strong masters of this Dou Huang Silver Temple, his mother is a princess of the imperial family, and his father is the principal here, they're the richest and most powerful family. Ranked second is an unknown person, he's the same level as Silver Moon, until now we don't know anything about his background, his talent is very high, he was brought by the great elder last year, his personality is extremely introverted, but when practicing he's very crazy, we all call him 'Wild Ghost'. There are also some other figures who rank below them, you'll get to know them slowly later. But there are also people like me from weak tribes, it's not easy to come here, I'm the only hope of our Cat Tribe."

  It seems that living here isn't so difficult after all, and I should strive to become a strong being as soon as possible. Xiaopu noticed my daze and hastily said: "Actually, our cat tribe was once very powerful too, it's just that now the last of the royal bloodline is only me."

  "That little Pu you are also a princess, Princess Pu. Can you tell me about your family?"

  "Don't laugh, just our small tribe, even if we had royal blood, we can't compare to other big tribes. What princess, here I'm just the most ordinary one. Since you want to know, I'll tell you, Xi Meng, I really want to be your friend. About 300 years ago, our cat tribe was also prestigious among the big tribes, we didn't interfere with others and prohibited outsiders from entering, our leader was a strong and kind princess. Then, a ghost appeared out of nowhere, he was injured, and the kind princess took him in, this was the first time our tribe saw an outsider ghost, every day many young ones would go to see him, asking him about the outside world. He had a good temper, patiently treating each child, everyone grew fond of him, wanting him to stay. But he said he had his own family and must leave, although he also liked it here. Before leaving, the princess and several elders talked to him, hoping he wouldn't tell outsiders about our tribe's secrets. He agreed. We thought that was the end, but who knew, this treacherous ghost took away our most respected princess too, in just one night, our cat tribe began to fall apart, those outsider ghosts crazily slaughtered and robbed us of everything. Just when everyone thought we were going to be exterminated, the princess rushed back, saying she was sorry, she was a sinner of the cat tribe. In the end, she self-destructed, destroying all the ghosts at that time. So, for these hundreds of years, our cat tribe hasn't had a strong leader appear again, always being oppressed, this time I could enter the Dou Huang Silver Temple completely relying on our tribe's elder begging for a long time to get in, so I must become a strong leader."

  I didn't expect this small figure to bear such a great responsibility, if I can, I will definitely help her, but now I am not strong enough either. "Little Pu, let's work together for our mission."

  "Alright, Ximeng. They all look down on me, and I've thought about giving up and leaving many times, but the elder said that I would definitely gain a lot from here, and that a true friend who would help me would appear. As soon as you arrived, I knew it was you, Ximeng, you're different from them." Xiaopu smiled, this was the smile she should have had, those things were too heavy for her. In this not-so-bright place, we exchanged smiles, and friendship seemed so simple, you understand me, I understand you.

  Prisoner, you see, I'm doing well here, I've made some friends, and I'll wait for you to come pick me up.