Chapter 602: The Rabbit in the Mountains
Yang Family Village, by the shore of Lake Yun, was closer to Yundu than the stone forest. By the time they returned to the city, it was dinner time. Smoke rose from every household’s chimney, and the streets and alleys were filled with parents calling their children home for dinner.
Lady Calico sat atop the horse with a straight back. There were no packs on the horse now, only her alone. She followed the sounds with her gaze, head turning this way and that, her eyes flickering with thought. Whenever she saw a stray cat on the streets or in alleyways without a home, with no parents calling it back, she would pull a small fish from her pouch and toss it far in its direction, hoping it could at least have a full meal tonight.
By the time they returned to the Zhu estate, there was only one fish left. And it was the largest one.
Lady Calico quickly noticed that the Zhu residence was much livelier tonight than it had been that morning or the night before. People came and went at the entrance, and many of them were high-ranking officials or wealthy figures, most of them wearing somber expressions.
Inside the house, there was the sound of ritual music. She sniffed the air, and there was the scent of incense and candles.
Lady Calico sniffed again. Amid the heavy incense and the smells of many guests, she caught a faint whiff of death. At once, she understood: the young master of the Zhu household had likely passed away. He had been close to death already that morning.
Still, the Zhu family didn’t seem overly grief-stricken. They were not completely devoid of grief, but it wasn’t overwhelming either.
Lady Calico had seen death many times. Humans were strange creatures, especially those from large families living in big houses. The more prosperous they were, the stranger they acted. Sometimes, even if they weren’t truly sad, they would pretend to be extremely mournful. Perhaps it could fool those who weren’t too bright, but it could never deceive a cat. Any random street cat could smell human grief, and as the Daoist said, this was a natural gift of cats, let alone her.
Yet tonight, as she passed by, the people in the Zhu household didn’t seem especially sad, nor were they putting on an act.
When they arrived at the residence, the Zhu family actually came forward to greet them. Everyone gathered around, led by an elderly man who bowed deeply to both the Daoist and Lady Calico, full of gratitude.
“Many thanks, Immortal Master...”
“Not at all,” the Daoist replied politely.