“I’m afraid I need to return to the City God Temple,” said Chen Changsheng.

The Tabby Cat glanced at Chen Changsheng. It sensed something wasn’t quite right.

Chen Changsheng walked towards the City God Temple with the Tabby Cat.

He had some guesses in his mind, but he wasn’t sure.

He wanted to ask for clarification.

As dawn arrived, the doors of the City God Temple swung open wide.

Worshippers hadn’t arrived yet. The temple keeper was sweeping dust and fallen leaves in front of the temple.

The rustling sound of the broom mingled with Chen Changsheng’s footsteps.

Chen Changsheng took a look and then walked straight into the City God Temple.

“H-hey, now.”

The old man cleaning the temple blocked Chen Changsheng’s way.

“You can’t bring that cat in here.”

The Tabby Cat looked at the old man, then raised its head to look at Chen Changsheng.

Chen Changsheng said, “My cat is mischievous. I’m worried it might run off. Might you allow an exception?”

“No, no!”

The old man insisted, “Bringing that cat inside shows disrespect to the City God. It cannot enter.”

Chen Changsheng lowered his head and looked at Tabby. He asked, “Lihua, do you want to come in with me?”

“Meow.”

“Alright then.”

Chen Changsheng turned to the old man. “Could I trouble you, sir, to look after my cat for a moment? I’ll be out very soon.”

The old man hesitated. “This… perhaps you should take it home first? If the cat gets lost, I can’t be responsible.”

Chen Changsheng replied, “My cat is obedient. It won’t wander around. Even if it runs off, that’s my own affair. It won’t involve you, sir.”

“Well then…”

The old man hesitated. He looked at the cat; it seemed docile. Reluctantly, he agreed. “Alright.”

Chen Changsheng handed the Tabby Cat to the old man.

As he turned to leave, Chen Changsheng instructed, “Lihua, stay right here. Don’t run off.”

“Meow.”

“Hmm.”

The old man watched the Green-Robed Gentleman enter the temple.

His gaze shifted to the Tabby Cat. He couldn’t help remarking, “Could the cat even understand human speech?”

The Tabby Cat just crouched nearby. It didn’t stray, occasionally looking left and right at most.

Amazed, the old man chuckled. “Heh, that’s amazing.”

He thought for a moment, then pulled a half-eaten Baked Pancake from his pocket. He broke off a small piece and offered it to the Tabby Cat.

“Baked Pancake? Want some?”

The Tabby Cat looked at it, then lowered its head and began to eat.

“It even eats Baked Pancakes?”

Finding it amusing, the old man continued breaking off small pieces of the pancake and feeding the cat.

………

The City God Temple was empty.

Chen Changsheng walked straight to the front of the Divine Statue of the City God in the Main Hall.

His gaze focused, and soon a figure materialized before his eyes.

“Mr. Chen, you’re here so early?”

Hong Sancai sounded surprised. “Is there an urgent matter?”

Chen Changsheng said, “Nothing major. I just wanted to ask when the Old City God departed.”

Hong Sancai didn’t understand why Mr. Chen asked this, but answered honestly. “Not long ago. Just ten days ago.” 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

“Ten days ago?”

“Yes.”

“……”

Chen Changsheng remained silent for a few moments.

He raised his head, his gaze suddenly shifting towards the Divine Statue.

Everything was far too coincidental.

He had come seeking the Old City God, only to arrive right after the Old City God had completed his Merit and gone to Reincarnation… just ten days prior.

And that was exactly the same day Hu Junhan had told him the technique manuals couldn’t be copied.

Hong Sancai asked, perplexed, “Is there… a problem?”

Chen Changsheng shook his head. “No.”

He stood in the temple hall, lost in thought.

A particular idea had crossed his mind more than once, yet each time he had pushed it away.

Because from the very beginning, it seemed impossible.

Now, he found himself hesitating over that same thought once more.

Why was he afflicted with the Mayfly Curse? Why did he live through cycles of immortality? Why were his prayers to heaven always answered? And how could he bypass the rules to copy the forbidden techniques?

Each incident, each puzzle, seemed to point towards a single answer.

Chen Changsheng snapped out of his daze. He simply said, “My apologies for disturbing you.”

With that, he turned and walked away.

Hong Sancai found this odd and hurried after him. “I’ll see you out, Mr. Chen.”

They reached the entrance.

The old man watching the cat heard footsteps approaching from inside the temple.

He had already fed the cat his entire Baked Pancake.

His own breakfast was gone.

The old man looked up and saw Chen Changsheng emerge, followed by someone.

Baffled, the old man thought, ‘When did that man go inside?’

“Take care, Mr. Chen,” Hong Sancai said.

“No need to see me further. I shall return. We’ll meet again then,” said Chen Changsheng.

“That’s good to hear.”

Hong Sancai nodded slightly, making a note that Mr. Chen planned to return.

Chen Changsheng stepped forward towards the old man. “Thank you, sir.”

The old man smiled. “Think nothing of it. This cat is very well-behaved. Didn’t need watching at all.”

Chen Changsheng gave a warm smile, then looked at the Tabby Cat. “Let’s go.”

The Tabby Cat cried out in acknowledgment, stood up, and followed behind Chen Changsheng.

The old man watched them go, thinking of the obedient cat, and couldn’t help smiling.

It really was a well-behaved cat. He almost wanted one like it for company himself.

Suddenly, the Tabby Cat stopped walking. It looked back at the old man.

The old man paused, surprised to see the Tabby Cat open its mouth.

“Thank you, old man.”

The old man froze, rooted to the spot.

The Tabby Cat turned back and hurried after Chen Changsheng.

Before the temple gates, the old man gripping his broom suddenly snapped awake.

He cried out, “Oh!” and slapped his thigh hard.

“Th-that… That was…”

The old man trembled, finally understanding.

But then he stood utterly still, stunned.

The old man’s gaze snapped towards the inside of the temple. He paused, then quickly walked back inside, searching every corner meticulously.

He couldn’t find the man he had seen just moments ago!

The man who had walked the Green-Robed Gentleman to the door.

The old man tried hard to recall the man’s clothes — a blue and yellow long robe…

His eyes suddenly fell upon the Divine Statue of the City God.

The clothing… it matched the City God Statue perfectly!

The old man’s legs gave way. He began to fall, but unexpectedly, a gentle breeze seemed to catch him and set him down softly.

His lips parted slightly. He stood in bewilderment for a long time.

‘Immortal…’

………

Chen Changsheng and the cat walked out of the Autumn Moon Market.

He looked at the Tabby Cat. “You frightened that old man, didn’t you?”

The Tabby Cat blinked innocently. “Did I?”

“You mustn’t do that again.”

“Alright…”

The Tabby Cat sounded a little downcast. “But he shared his Baked Pancake with me. Lihua should have said thank you.”

Chen Changsheng nodded. “Saying thank you was indeed the right thing to do. But next time, find a different way. Old people have weak hearts. Startling them isn’t good.”

The Tabby Cat blinked again and nodded. “Lihua understands. Lihua won’t do that again.”

Chen Changsheng stepped onto the Imperial Road. The Tabby Cat followed closely at his heels, eyes occasionally darting to butterflies by the roadside.

The morning sun rose high in the sky, pulling their shadows long behind them, until those two figures slowly faded away.