Chapter 53 –This Ancestor Will Fight You!
....
"What are you looking at, human?"
The cat asked arrogantly as it sprawled across the rocking chair Han Yan had specifically bought for Lin Xin.
Not only did the shameless creature occupy it without the slightest guilt, it even wiggled around and rubbed its backside against the chair several times, clearly searching for the most comfortable position.
After finally settling into a comfortable position, it slowly lifted its head.
Its tail swayed from side to side.
One paw rested on the arm of the chair as though it were some great lord enjoying the service of countless attendants.
The rocking chair creaked softly as it swayed back and forth.
The sight was so natural that one might think Han Yan had spent good silver on the rocking chair solely for its benefit.
Satisfied at last, it slowly lifted its head.
Its golden eyes narrowed.
Then it stared directly at Han Yan.
The longer it looked, the stranger its expression became.
Han Yan immediately felt goosebumps rise across his arms.
A bad feeling suddenly appeared in his heart.
The corners of his mouth twitched.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
The cat continued staring.
Han Yan felt even more uncomfortable.
After a moment, he frowned.
"I won’t fall in love with you."
"I’m already married and have a child."
The rocking chair suddenly stopped moving.
The courtyard fell silent.
The cat froze completely.
Its golden eyes widened slightly.
For a brief moment, it looked as though its soul had left its body.
Then, with great stiffness, it slowly turned its head toward Han Yan.
The expression on its face was indescribable.
Its expression became a strange mixture of shock, disbelief, and utter disgust.
Finally, it sucked in a breath. A look of undisguised disgust immediately appeared on its furry face.
"Who would fall in love with a burnt chicken like you?"
Its voice rose several degrees.
The look of disdain in its eyes almost became tangible.
The cat immediately sat upright.
Its golden eyes swept over Han Yan once more.
This time, even more critically than before.
Its gaze slowly swept over him from head to toe, lingering on his face, shoulders, waist, and legs as though carefully appraising him.
The more it looked, the more disgusted it became.
"Too thin, truly too thin. This body is nothing but skin wrapped around bones."
It clicked its tongue repeatedly.
"You couldn’t even fill the gaps between this ancestor’s teeth."
Han Yan’s eyelid twitched slightly.
The cat, however, was only getting started.
It snorted heavily.
Its gaze was full of contempt.
"If this ancestor sneezed too hard, you might fly away."
Han Yan remained silent.
The urge to throw this shameless creature out of the courtyard grew stronger with every word it spoke.
Yet the cat showed no sign of fear.
On the contrary, it seemed to have found its rhythm and continued with even greater vigor.
"Look at yourself."
"Then look at Lan Xin."
The cat shook its head repeatedly.
The more it thought about it, the more dissatisfied it became.
Its tail slapped against the rocking chair.
"Unfair."
"Truly unfair."
"What exactly did he see in you?"
A vein throbbed faintly at Han Yan’s temple.
The cat either failed to notice the warning signs or simply chose to ignore them.
Leaning back against the rocking chair, it let out a dramatic sigh.
Then it looked back at Han Yan.
"...And then there is you."
Han Yan: "..."
The cat shook its head sorrowfully.
Its expression was filled with disappointment toward the world itself.
"The heavens are blind."
"Truly."
Han Yan’s fist clenched slightly.
The cat continued mumbling to itself.
"Sticking a flower into cow dung would at least be pleasing to the eyes."
"But this..."
It looked Han Yan up and down again.
Then it looked toward the kitchen where Lin Xin and Dong Hai were preparing dinner.
The cat’s face twisted.
"This ancestor cannot understand it."
The more it thought about it, the more unwilling it felt.
Its entire body practically radiated resentment.
"My perfectly good Lan Xin."
"Gentle."
"Kind."
"Able to cook."
"And somehow he ended up with this ghost-faced fellow."
The cat looked as though it had suffered a great injustice on Lin Xin’s behalf.
Its tail thumped heavily against the chair.
"What great misfortune... such terrible luck."
The cat continued cursing with great passion.
Its voice grew increasingly emotional.
By the end, it sounded as though Han Yan had personally ruined Lin Xin’s entire life.
Han Yan listened silently for a while.
Then he lowered his head and looked at the cat.
A smile suddenly appeared on his face.
For some reason, seeing that smile, the bald cat felt a cold chill run down its spine.
It immediately shut up sweating bullets.
The smile on Han Yan’s face deepened.
At that moment, only one thought remained in his mind.
This bald cat truly needed a beating.
Han Yan looked at the bald cat for a long moment before slowly rolling his eyes.
The movement was small, but the damage was immense.
The bald cat froze.
For some reason, it suddenly had a very bad feeling.
Han Yan crossed his arms and glanced meaningfully at the patch of missing fur on top of its head.
Then he sighed.
"Looking at that bald spot alone, I can already imagine how difficult your days must have been."
An awkward silence settled over the courtyard.
The cat gawked at him, its eyes so wide they looked ready to tumble from their sockets.
Han Yan stared back unfazed.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then—
"YOU DARE?!"
The cat exploded.
Its fur immediately puffed up.
The next second, it launched itself straight at Han Yan like a black cannonball.
All dignity instantly vanished.
All composure disappeared without a trace.
At this moment, it was nothing more than an enraged cat.
"THIS ANCESTOR WILL FIGHT YOU!"
Its claws flashed.
Its teeth bared.
It sprang toward Han Yan’s face, looking as though it wanted to scratch him to death.
Han Yan had clearly anticipated this.
Without the slightest panic, he calmly reached out and caught the cat by the back of its neck.
The furious black cat immediately found itself suspended in midair.
Its four paws continued flailing wildly.
Scratch.
Scratch.
Scratch.
Unfortunately, none of them could reach Han Yan.
The cat’s eyes nearly turned red from anger.
"Release this ancestor!"
"Immediately!"
"Right now!"
"You shameless despicable human!"
Han Yan remained unmoved.
Holding the struggling cat at arm’s length, he watched it thrash about with complete indifference.
The scene looked almost ridiculous.
One man and one furious cat dangling in the air.
After struggling for a long while, the cat finally began panting slightly.
Its tail lashed back and forth angrily.
Seeing that it had finally exhausted itself, Han Yan spoke calmly.
"I know what you’re looking for."
The cat immediately froze.
Its ears twitched.
The furious expression on its face became slightly suspicious.
"What did you say?"
Han Yan wore a look of complete sincerity, as though he had done nothing wrong at all.
"I said I know what you’re looking for."
The cat narrowed its eyes.
Clearly, it did not believe him.
Not even a little.
After all, this human had just mocked its bald spot.
How could his words possibly be trusted?
The cat stared at him for a long moment.
Han Yan calmly met its gaze.
Neither side was willing to back down.
After a while, Han Yan finally spoke again.
"Be civil."
The cat’s ears twitched once more.
Han Yan continued.
"Behave yourself properly."
"No scratching."
"No biting."
"And no jumping at people’s faces."
Only then did he slowly add,
"If you can do that, I’ll show you."
The courtyard fell silent once again.
The bald cat immediately stopped struggling.
Its golden eyes locked onto Han Yan.
It looked at him with undisguised skepticism.
Clearly, it still did not trust him.
However...
The thing it had been searching for had occupied its thoughts for a very long time.
Long enough that even a tiny possibility was enough to tempt it.
The cat fell into hesitation.
Its tail swayed uncertainly behind it.
Han Yan watched quietly.
A moment later, the cat finally snorted.
"Hmph."
"This ancestor is naturally a civilized existence."
Han Yan looked at the claw marks the cat had just left on his sleeve.
The cat immediately looked away.
"...That was merely an accident."
Han Yan said nothing.
The cat’s expression became slightly awkward.
Then it raised its chin proudly.
"In any case, this ancestor shall temporarily believe you."
Its voice paused.
Then it added threateningly,
"But if you are lying to me..."
The cat narrowed its eyes dangerously.
"This ancestor will remember it for the next hundred years."
Han Yan almost laughed.
A hundred years?
With how petty this cat was, it would probably remember it for a thousand.
Still, he nodded seriously.
"Deal."
The cat at once became alert. Its golden eyes shone brightly.
For the first time since returning to the courtyard, it looked genuinely interested.
Even its tail began swaying eagerly.
Although it tried its best to maintain the appearance of a lofty expert, the anticipation in its eyes had already exposed everything.
Seeing this, Han Yan suddenly felt that teasing this bald cat was surprisingly enjoyable.
Much more enjoyable than he had expected.
"What wicked thoughts are running through your head now?" the cat hissed.
Han Yan lowered his gaze and slipped a hand into his sleeve, choosing to ignore it for the time being.
A moment later, he withdrew a token.
It was the token the old man had given him before leaving.
The token was dark in color, its smooth surface bearing the traces of age.
Carved upon it was a faint pattern resembling drifting mist, the lines flowing naturally as though wisps of clouds had been frozen within the token itself.
At first glance, it appeared simple and unremarkable, yet the more one looked at it, the more extraordinary it seemed.
The instant the cat saw the token, it’s entire body froze.
Its golden eyes widened abruptly.
Then, without the slightest warning, it shot into the air like an arrow released from a bow.
"Meow!"
Both paws stretched forward as it lunged straight toward the token in Han Yan’s hand, looking as though it was determined to snatch it no matter what.
Han Yan was caught completely off guard.
His wrist moved instinctively, raising the token just in time to avoid the incoming black blur.
The cat missed its target and landed on the ground with a thud.
Yet before Han Yan could even react, it sprang up once more, its gaze firmly locked onto the token, unwilling to look away even for a moment.
....