Don't mess with that Miao boy, he's sickly and perverted.

A white cat stood on the threshold.

Like walking a tightrope, I paced back and forth along the thin wooden threshold.

The cat's four paws were on the same horizontal line, and it walked very steadily.

But his mood was not stable. He walked back and forth, coughed twice on purpose, walked back and forth again, and coughed twice more.

Trying to attract the attention of a cold-faced boy.

However, Wu Li simply kept his head down, carefully folding each dress and garment. The clothes, though colorful, were all in light shades and didn't look flashy, yet he insisted on separating each color individually.

A stack of light green, a stack of pale pink, a stack of aquamarine...

The same goes for the hairpins and jewelry in the jewelry box. If I find that a bead is not clear enough, I will breathe on it, purse my lips, and carefully wipe it clean with my sleeve before putting it back.

This whole sequence of actions left the white cat speechless, even forgetting to cough.

It squinted and looked at it for a while. Why did it look so quiet and obedient?

I never imagined that this little brat had this side to him in private.

When we fought it that day, it was ruthless and unyielding, its murderous aura almost overflowing from its eyes. It showed no mercy to anyone it encountered.

But when it comes to these trivial matters, he is meticulous and orderly, with a serene and tranquil demeanor, just like an ordinary young man from a humble family.

It then remembered those four words on the invitation.

He... is not like his mother.

Wu Ying refused to admit her mistakes until her death. She loved her lord, but all she wanted was for him to become her possession, to bow down to her, to submit to her, and to see her as everything.

But why does this brat seem to be the opposite?

Anyone who didn't know better would think that Xiaomi had bewitched him, completely captivating him.

Otherwise, how could such a clever person be completely defeated in a fight by using only one illusion technique?

The white cat wagged its tail and exclaimed loudly, "Oh my, what a lovely day!"

No one answered.

It closed the door, then hopped onto the table and licked its paws. Noticing a small paper frog folded into the corner, it gently lifted it with its paw: "This frog is so lifelike! I wonder who folded it?"

Along the way, it often saw Wu Li weaving little trinkets from grass leaves, so it's likely that this paper frog was also made by him.

Before the words were even finished, the little frog in his paw was snatched away.

Wu Li carefully placed it into the jewelry box before glancing at the white cat: "Old man, you've worn the threshold down to the bone. Speak up if you have something to say, or shut up if you have something to say."

Compared to his sinister call of "Master Ji," "old man" sounded much more comfortable.

The white cat cleared its throat and said seriously, "I'm here to apologize. What I said to Xiaomi earlier was too decisive. I still have a prejudice against you."

It flicked its tail, as if trying to save face: "A real man can bend and stretch, and admits his mistakes. So, to express my apology—"

It paused.

He muttered to himself, "That brat Yu'er is enough of a headache..."

He then took out a whisk, sat upright on the table, raised his tail high, and tilted his cat head back: "Fine, I've already made up my mind. I'll teach you magic and take you as my last disciple."

What do you think?

Although it was a question, it was filled with absolute certainty. After all, looking across the entire Central Plains, there were countless cultivators who wanted to become his disciples and enter the Pure Bright Platform for cultivation. Logically speaking, it shouldn't have been his turn, a boy from another race.

This is practically using connections.

To everyone's surprise, Wu Li looked down at him with an arrogant gaze and scoffed, "You want to teach me?"

"Old man, are you mistaken about something? If you hadn't played dirty that day, I probably would have beaten you to a pulp, and you might have been bedridden for ten days or half a month. How would you have had the chance to say these things in front of me?"

"You brat, you're hopeless!" the white cat scolded. "Techniques are meant to carry the Dao, and they are never about winning or losing. All your skills are useless if your heart is unsettled. What cultivators seek is never to suppress anyone, but to control their own hearts."

The white cat's eyes were piercing: "Don't think I can't see it. The evil energy within you is constantly disturbing your mind. If you fall into depravity along with it, you're finished."

Wu Li was suddenly taken aback.

It actually figured it out?

He lowered his eyes.

Beneath his feet lay a bottomless abyss formed of malevolent energy, with countless ghostly hands reaching out from the darkness, clinging to his ankles, attempting to drag him down.

Sharp, sinister laughs, curses, and shrieks surged up again, devouring his soul, interspersed with his mother's weeping and screams—

"Useless trash! I risked my life to give birth to you, and this is how you repay me?!"

"What is that girl? You fawn over her, and all she does is throw you a bone to the dog! Are you really that despicable?!"

"Ah Li, that heartless man is still living a carefree life... Are you going to betray your mother too?"

......

These things, only he can see, only he can hear.

He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. His mother's curse wouldn't allow him to give up his desire for revenge, or it would drive him insane.

"Cultivate the mind...?" he mumbled absentmindedly, his voice hoarse.

"Yes, cultivate your mind."

The white cat's gaze was calm. It swept its whisk lightly and stared directly into the abyss in his eyes: "When the heart is clear and all thoughts are still, one can see the path beneath one's feet."

Seeing that Wu Li's expression had softened somewhat, the white cat pressed its advantage, pouring himself a cup of tea and handing it to him: "Opportunity knocks but once. Take advantage of this chance I'm giving you today, offer me a cup of tea, and call me 'Master,' and I will teach you how to cultivate your mind."

After saying that, it stared blankly at its own paw holding the teacup.

It looks more like it's offering tea, begging to be taken on as a disciple.

The tea soup in the white porcelain cup is clear and bright, with floating tea leaves swirling and slowly settling at the bottom of the cup.

suddenly--

A drop of dark red liquid dripped into the tea.

The white cat looked up in surprise, only to see a trail of blood winding down from Wu Li's lips. His face suddenly turned a sickly pale, and he clutched his chest tightly. He couldn't hold on for long before one knee slammed heavily to the ground, the impact producing a dull thud.

A rare, barely suppressed look of pain appeared on the boy's pale face.

"What's going on?" The white cat hurriedly put down the teacup and jumped to Wu Li's feet.

"Mother worm..." Wu Li twitched his lips, revealing a mocking smile. His teeth were chattering violently, but his tone was still playful and disdainful.

"The high priest planted the mother worm of the Crimson Blood Silkworm in my heart; it's gnawing at my heart."

This is the third time.

Each attack was more severe than the last.

Recently, too many Crimson Blood Silkworms were extracted, and the High Priest finally discovered this, which was a summons for him to return.

Only by getting closer to Mount Chi will the pain in my heart lessen, until I return to the High Priest's presence.

The farther he went, the more frequent and intense the attacks became, making him wish he were dead. Yet, he couldn't die and could only endure it.

This mother insect was like an invisible thread, one end tugging at his heart, the other end held in the high priest's hand.