Chapter 24: The Prefect Pays a Visit
If a demon or spirit wishes to transform, a certain level of cultivation is required.
However, not just cultivation is required. Having enough cultivation doesn't naturally guarantee transformation. It also required a bit of opportunity, a bit of good fortune, and a bit of ingenuity.
It’s mysterious but sometimes just a bit was lacking. Some demons naturally overcome this barrier without even realizing how. Others struggle mightily, searching everywhere to no avail. Sometimes, they succeed during an ordinary day or night when they've given up. Song You had read many such stories in the books at the Daoist temple.
Transforming is not something that can be achieved overnight.
Song You had seen several demons that had transformed into human shape with varying levels of cultivation. However, he had never witnessed the transformation process itself. He had read that the time it takes to transform varies greatly, so he often watched her at home.
Cold Dew[1] had passed and it was Frost Descends[2].
The weather turned from cool to cold.
The calico cat still looked like a cat. When the weather turned cold, it always curled up in warm places or burrowed into the stovetop burner. Every time he wanted to light the stove to cook was like making a visit in the mountains. He had to first approach the hole, politely ask if she was inside, or bend down and lower his head to look for her inside the stovetop burner. It often resulted in them staring at each other.
Whenever she emerged, she was always black with soot.