27：New Beginnings and Hidden Threats

The next morning, as dawn broke, the sky in the east began to light up with a pale fish-belly white glow. A few rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining brilliantly, as if the heavens themselves were opening. Everything around seemed to grow brighter and clearer.

A light breeze wafted through the window, gently brushing against Shen Hao's face. He closed his eyes slightly, enjoying the soothing, cool air.

At that moment, a soft voice interrupted his tranquility.

"Young Master, what would you like to eat today? I'll prepare it for you."

"Anything," Shen Hao replied casually.

When Shen Hao stepped outside, he noticed that Ji Dongge, whom he had met the previous day, had been sitting in the yard for quite a while. Seeing Shen Hao, she seemed unsure of how to interact, her expression somewhat awkward.

Shen Hao noticed the one-eyed cat she was holding and teasingly asked, "What's the cat's name?"

Ji Dongge paused, surprised by his question. "Its name is Roubao," she said, offering a brief explanation, "It likes to eat meat."

Shen Hao squinted, remembering how wild cats had once scratched at him when he was a child. He wasn't fond of them. "Has this cat always been like this, or was it injured?" he asked.

Ji Dongge explained, "I found it when it was badly hurt."

So, it's a stray cat, then?

At that moment, the white cat in Ji Dongge's arms shot a sharp, piercing glance at Shen Hao, much like a tiger eyeing its prey. Shen Hao, feeling uncomfortable, raised an eyebrow. "This cat looks a little too arrogant for my liking."

Ji Dongge immediately protected the cat, apologizing, "Sorry, Young Master, I'll be more careful next time."

Shen Hao nodded. "Just keep an eye on the cat. If it's a wild animal and it scratches someone, it'll need a rabies shot. I'll throw it out if it causes trouble."

Ji Dongge's face paled at the mention of a rabies shot, not fully understanding what that meant. "I... I understand."

"Good, don't say I didn't warn you," Shen Hao added.

Just then, Song Yongci walked out of the room, holding a bundle of dirty bed sheets. The cloud-like stains on the fabric were especially noticeable. At that moment, Song Yongci's face had a healthy flush, radiating a warmth and tenderness of a married woman. She was a bit shy when she saw Shen Hao and Ji Dongge together, but she quickly addressed the situation, saying, "Young Master, don't be upset."

She turned to Ji Dongge and said kindly, "Dongge, quickly apologize to the Young Master. He is a good person."

Ji Dongge nodded and said, "I will be more careful next time."

Meanwhile, the one-eyed cat in Ji Dongge's arms shot another sharp look at Shen Hao, then curled up and hid in her arms.

Shen Hao, still watching the cat, nodded. "Since you've said that, remember: no cats in my room. I won't hesitate to throw it out if it shows up."

Ji Dongge, frightened by the mention of throwing it out, paled again but nodded obediently.

Song Yongci sighed in relief and said, "Dongge, it seems Young Master really doesn't like cats. You need to be careful."

Ji Dongge's face paled slightly, but she still nodded in acknowledgment. She understood Song Yongci was only trying to help.

Song Yongci smiled warmly and continued, "Don't worry, I was bought by the Young Master too. He treats me very well. He healed me when I was sick and even helped bury my father. He's always been kind to me. You'll understand in a few days. Maybe he just doesn't like cats. I'll clean the second-floor loft in the front courtyard for you to stay in. That way, you'll be far away from the Young Master, and he won't mind."

Ji Dongge nodded, her eyes filled with both gratitude and a tinge of sorrow. She knew Song Yongci was trying to comfort her. "Thank you, sister."

Song Yongci smiled. "No need to thank me. We are all part of the same household now. You'll get to know the Young Master better in a few days. Don't worry."

Later, when Shen Hao returned to his room, he didn't mind cats in general, but he did dislike wild cats that could carry diseases, especially ones that weren't vaccinated or dewormed. He had no interest in taking unnecessary risks.

With his mind made up, Shen Hao returned to the modern world for a while. After all, he had just obtained a large amount of gold, and now was the perfect time to make use of it.

In the meantime, he had learned that the two black-clad men who had attacked him the previous night were spies from the Northwast Kingdom. Their mission had been to investigate the death of the Fifth Prince of the Dayang Dynasty, who had been guarding the border. Shen Hao also learned that the spies had been monitoring him after hearing the noise of gold in the chest they had been tracking.

As it turned out, these men had been preparing for a larger conflict. From what Shen Hao gathered, the Northwast Kingdom was preparing to move against the Dayang Dynasty, and troops had already been dispatched to the border. However, with the news of the Fifth Prince's death, the situation seemed tense.

Although the spies had hoped to ambush Shen Hao, they had underestimated him, and it had ended in their deaths. Shen Hao didn't feel much sympathy for them, though. They were spies, and in his world, spies were enemies, not friends.

After handling the situation, Shen Hao didn't have much interest in informing the Dayang Dynasty about the plans of the Northwast Kingdom. He simply didn't care; the politics of the land were no concern of his. As long as he could live his life in peace, he wasn't going to get involved in the schemes of other nations.

He smiled, thinking about the future. The world was large, and no matter what happened with the nations, he would always be able to find a place where he could live freely.

Shen Hao was ready to return to the town with Ji Dongge and continue enjoying the simple pleasures of life.