Chapter 403: Hidden Currents Stirring, Strange Visitors and Mysterious Origins! Long Jiu! The Orange Cat’s Complicated Past!

People came and went through the busy inn, but Li Yanchu paid no attention to the few odd figures among them.

After handing the ancient jade, the one left behind when he had shattered Su Shunqing’s artifact, to the innkeeper, he returned to Qingyun Temple.

About half a stick of incense later, another pair entered the Taiping Inn: a refined young man followed by a burly giant.

The youth wore a clean green robe, his bearing elegant and refined. He was clearly from a noble family. The giant behind him, however, stood over nine chi tall, with thick limbs and eyes like bronze bells. When the massive man sat down, he drew curious stares from all around.

The innkeeper glanced over with her clear, bright eyes and frowned slightly.

“Why so many strange guests today?”

Ever since two Blissful Lands had manifested near Wei City, the city had become a quiet hub for cultivators, a place of hidden talents. Still, those Blissful Lands extended beyond Wei City, into the neighboring counties, so to see so many unusual figures appear all at once was... conspicuous.

The strangers didn’t seem to know one another, yet their glances met, their auras faintly clashing and intertwining beneath the surface.

Then everything shifted as a woman in imperial robes glided into the inn.

The hatted swordsman, the feng shui master, the shabby Daoist, the green-robed youth, and the towering giant all turned their eyes toward her at once.

“Huh? Such a small city... yet it draws so many cultivators. How amusing.” The palace-robed woman smiled charmingly.

When the hatted swordsman saw her, he was stunned as he recognised her.

“Why is that madwoman here?!” he muttered under his breath. He cursed silently, tossed a few silver coins on the table, and hurried out of the inn.

This woman was none other than Sudu, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Bare Body Sect, a figure infamous for her wild, domineering nature.

The middle-aged feng shui master soon followed her out. Then the shabby Daoist rose and slipped away as well.

𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Only the green-robed youth and his giant companion remained, drinking calmly, unmoved by the commotion.

The palace-robed woman swayed closer, her every step graceful and deliberate,

and sat down beside the young man. “Which family’s son are you? You don’t look familiar.”

The youth lifted his head slightly, his gaze cold and sharp. “Are you talking to me?”

Her smile deepened. “You’re the only one here, unless you’ve gone deaf?”

The youth’s tone was icy as he replied, “My surname is Long.”

That name made the woman’s brows knit together in surprise, and her expression turned wary. “How is Long San related to you?”

“She’s my elder sister,” the young man replied evenly.

The woman’s eyes flashed, her aura shifting like a saber unsheathed. “So... you’re the eighth one among your siblings? Or the ninth?”

The youth’s gaze darkened. “I’m the youngest. Ninth in line.”

When she heard this, a slow, knowing smile curved the palace-robed woman’s lips. “Your family actually let you out...? Even if you’re here, that thing will still be mine.”

The young man in the green robe kept his expression calm and said faintly, “The world has changed. Even those at the peak of the Yin Spirit realm aren’t as untouchable as they used to be. Who that item belongs to... is still uncertain.”

The palace-robed woman’s eyes flickered, her face darkening slightly. At last, she said slowly, “Well said. Your family is still as arrogant as ever.”

With that, she stood up to leave, but not before shooting a cold, lethal glance at the burly giant beside the young man. Killing intent flashed openly in her eyes.

“Hmph!” a sharp snort burst from her lips.

The giant’s face changed; his brows furrowed, his breath momentarily disrupted,

as if struck by some unseen force.

Meanwhile, the innkeeper watched the whole exchange with unease, nervously glancing between the two groups. If they started fighting here, her precious huanghuali tables[1] and chairs would be reduced to splinters!

Fortunately, the young man seemed to come from a powerful family, and a few harsh words were enough to settle things without a brawl.

***

Meanwhile...

After returning to Qingyun Temple, Li Yanchu felt the serene spiritual atmosphere wash over him. His mind cleared; his spirit felt light.

“Right... I still don’t know your name.”

He looked at the orange cat. He couldn’t keep calling it hey, you forever.

“I’m Mountain God!” the cat declared proudly.

Li Yanchu almost choked. Mountain God, my ass. Even your mother wouldn’t pass the title down to you.

“How about I give you a proper name?” he offered.

Though he wasn’t fond of keeping pets, this cat’s punches were fast and heavy enough to earn his respect, it deserved at least that much.

“Hmph. What kind of name could you come up with?” the orange cat scoffed, then, after a short pause, added more mildly, “Fine, go ahead. Whether I like it or not depends on my mood.”

“Judging from that conversation earlier, you’re a girl, right? With your fur pattern... let’s call you Blossom[2].”

“Pfft! Are you insane? Pick again!” The cat’s claws scraped at the ground in frustration, tail lashing.

Li Yanchu shrugged. She clearly had a bad temper, so there was no use arguing. “Alright, alright. You don’t like Blossom because it sounds too plain, right? Then how about Mao Jiu[3] or Mao Nanbei[4]? Those sound more dignified.”

He said both names in one breath.

The name Mao Jiu came from his other disciple, Feng Jiu, who had also been taken by the Mountain God for training.

The orange cat blinked, pausing for a moment. “Mao Nanbei actually sounds kind of nice.”

Li Yanchu’s eyes lit up. “Right? People always curse ‘Gou Dongxi[5],’ but with you called Mao Nanbei, it’d be the perfect match!”

The orange cat exploded in outrage, leaping up to claw at him.

Unfortunately for her, Li Yanchu cultivated Godspeed, so his speed was ridiculous.

The man and cat darted across the courtyard, leaving streaks of afterimages. After half a day, she still hadn’t managed to catch him.

“If you don’t like that style, fine! How about something elegant, like Athena, Cai Wenji[6], Wang Zhaojun[7]? What do you think? Or maybe... Mengqi[8]?”

When Li Yanchu finally turned back, the proud orange cat wasn’t chasing him anymore. She stood still, silent with a strange, distant look in her eyes.

Li Yanchu froze. In those amber pupils, he saw a swirl of emotions: sorrow, nostalgia, resignation...

“Hey now, it’s just a name. No need to look that serious,” he said lightly.

He almost reached out to pat her head, but stopped himself. They weren’t that close yet.

So he just smiled and made a small joke instead.

The orange cat’s ears twitched slightly, as it had sensed something. It turned around, sat down beside Li Yanchu, and said softly, “Actually... I already have a name. My real name is Li Cuihua[9].”

Li Yanchu’s mouth twitched a little. “Li Cuihua?”

That sounded like a human name. But she was... a cat.

“You’re the first person to know my true name,” the orange cat said, staring at him, her expression shifting slightly. “My mother gave that name to me. Do you think it sounds nice?”

“Nice. Very nice,” Li Yanchu said quickly, nodding hard, not minding telling a small, harmless lie. But the smile on his face betrayed what he was really thinking.

The orange cat shot him a glare, then sighed, “I thought about it... I won’t change my name. My mother gave it to me, so I’ll keep it.”

Her tone carried a trace of melancholy.

Hearing this, Li Yanchu grew curious. “Why is your surname Li? Don’t tell me your father was human?”

The orange cat shook her head. “My mother never told me. She only said my father was powerful, that he left to do something important long ago. Otherwise, he would’ve come to take us away.”

A cat... with a complicated parentage.

Li Yanchu nodded slightly, saying nothing more.

1. A huanghuali table is a highly prized, antique Chinese table crafted from huanghuali (yellow rosewood), famous for its warm golden color, intricate grain, minimalist elegance, and masterful mortise-and-tenon construction, often from the Ming Dynasty (17th century), serving as status symbols for literati and courts. These tables emphasize natural beauty, clean lines, and functional design, showcasing the superior craftsmanship of traditional Chinese furniture. ☜

2. The 花 in 花纹 (fur pattern) means ‘flower’, hence I chose Blossom as its name. ☜

3. 猫九 literally means ‘cat nine’. ☜

4. 猫南北 Mao Nanbei literally means ‘cat north-south’. ☜

5. “狗东西” is a common insult meaning something like “bastard” or “jerk.” It literally translates to “dog east-west.” The contrast between “dog” and “cat,” and “东西” (literally “east-west”) vs. “南北” (“south-north”), creates a playful word-pair, so the speaker says it’s a “perfect match.” ☜

6. Cai Yan, courtesy name Wenji, was a Chinese composer, poet, and writer who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. She was a daughter of Cai Yong. ☜

7. Wang Qiang, commonly known by her courtesy name Wang Zhaojun was known as one of the Four Beauties of ancient China. Here is a picture for your reference. ☜

8. “梦” evokes dreams, imagination, and a touch of the surreal, giving the name an airy, almost poetic quality. “奇” adds a sense of uniqueness, wonder, or something delightfully out of the ordinary. ☜

9. Li is a common Chinese surname; it is the fourth name listed in the famous Hundred Family Surnames. Li is one of the most common surnames in Asia, shared by 92.76 million people in China, and more than 100 million in Asia. It is the second-most common surname in China as of 2018, the second-most common surname in Hong Kong, the most common surname in Macau and the 5th most common surname in Taiwan, where it is usually romanized as "Lee".

“翠花” “Cuihua” brings to mind bright green jade and blooming flowers, giving the name a rustic, lively charm. It’s a name often associated with older, rural settings, the kind you might hear in folk stories or countryside comedies, which can make it feel warm, familiar, and a bit humorous depending on context. ☜