Chapter 112: It's the Glutton!

"Not good! There's a murderous aura!"

While cultivating, Ba Ji suddenly flipped over, feeling a suffocating sensation as if a python was coiling around him.

He looked around but found no immediate threat.

That is, until the door to the secondary bedroom opened.

Chen Huaian walked out holding a set of silver needles, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on Ba Ji, who was by the water basin on the windowsill.

The big green fish had come back to life, so he had moved back to the windowsill, since the bathtub was for bathing. However, he had replaced it with a larger baby bathtub, so at least the tail wouldn't stick out.

"Ba Ji, I'm giving you an opportunity today!"

Chen Huaian approached step by step, a kind smile on his face.

But to Ba Ji, that gentle smile was more terrifying than a raging Xingtian.

"It's over! He's giving me an opportunity!? Has his memories awakened, and he's discovered my true identity, wanting me dead!?"

Ba Ji's fur stood on end as he turned and ran.

His current strength wasn't enough to break through the talisman-sealed windows and doors, so he could only try to hide.

Ba Ji ran, and Chen Huaian chased.

The living room was in chaos.

Chen Huaian crawled under tables, rummaged through the coffee table, and after several attempts, finally cornered Ba Ji.

"This is strange. Ba Ji is usually very obedient, letting me hold him and grab him whenever. Why is he so scared today?" Chen Huaian caught his breath, frowning suspiciously as he looked at the trembling, curled-up Ba Ji.

Then he thought of Lin Lingling, who had just moved in, and instantly understood.

Cats are extremely sensitive and highly territorial animals.

To them, all creatures are cats—big cats, small cats, two-legged cats—and they distinguish friend from foe primarily by scent, especially stray cats like Ba Ji, who are naturally wary of unfamiliar smells.

This must be a stress reaction.

"Ba Ji, don't be afraid. Even if you're crippled, I'll take care of you for life, feed you the best cat food, and even find you a calico wife!" Chen Huaian crouched down, his shadow looming over Ba Ji, saying things that sent shivers down Ba Ji's spine.

"Is this my fate?"

A trace of sorrow flashed in Ba Ji's eyes.

In that grand era, he had been captured and tamed by the Celestial Clan to guard Xingtian's head. After the great calamity, he had been forced to sleep to preserve his life but had gained freedom. Yet now, not long after awakening, he had fallen into the tiger's den once again.

Was he destined to be nothing more than a watchdog?

"No, I can't give up so easily!"

"I'll fight to the death if I have to!"

Ba Ji stared intently at Chen Huaian's outstretched left hand, his eyes flashing with red light as he arched his back, ready to pounce.

But the next second, a numbness spread across the back of his neck.

His body froze.

"Distraction works best," Chen Huaian chuckled as he lifted the black cat. He had used his left hand to lure Ba Ji while his right hand swiftly grabbed the back of Ba Ji's neck, successfully subduing him.

Grabbing a big cat by the scruff might not always work, but for a small cat like Ba Ji, it was foolproof.

"Damn this weak, pathetic body!"

"Move, you useless thing!!!"

Ba Ji struggled with all his might, but his claws could only twitch slightly, his body as stiff as if frozen in ice.

"Argh—!"

"Awoo—!"

Hearing the noise, Chen Huaian curiously lifted Ba Ji to eye level, looking into those terrified eyes, and laughed. "Not bad, Ba Ji! You can even bark like a dog? Wait, that sounds more like a wolf!"

He carried Ba Ji to the sofa.

To prevent Ba Ji from moving during the acupuncture, he kept his right hand firmly on the back of Ba Ji's neck while his left hand moved like a blur, quickly opening the needle case and pulling out a silver needle with a gentle pinch.

"Be good, it'll be over in a flash. Who knows, you might even become a super cat. I'll film you doing backflips and barking like a dog. If you go viral, you'll earn your own cat food!"

Backflips?

Barking like a dog!?

Ba Ji's eyes were filled with humiliation.

He was the ancient Glutton, a ferocious beast!

He was the Glutton, damn it!!!

Even when the Celestial Clan captured him, it was to guard Xingtian's head.

It was demeaning, but at least it had some dignity.

But now this human wanted him to stoop so low?

He opened his mouth to let out a howl, but Chen Huaian's hand moved like lightning, and the needle was already in. This time, even without the scruff hold, Ba Ji couldn't move, not even his eyeballs.

"Heh heh, little cat, if my acupuncture works, you'll thank me later!" Chen Huaian's lips curled into a smile as golden light emanated from his eyes, revealing Ba Ji's entire meridian system.

When Ba Ji met those eyes, his mind went blank.

In Chen Huaian, he saw the shadows of Fuxi, Wu Peng, and Shennong… They overlapped with Chen Huaian, as if it wasn't Chen Huaian holding the needle, but these ancient sages.

Even if he could move now, he wouldn't dare.

"This truly is the perfect meridian-opening acupuncture technique!"

Chen Huaian's needlework was swift, his thoughts clear as if divinely guided, and he couldn't help but marvel inwardly.

This time, performing acupuncture on Ba Ji gave him a completely different understanding.

First, there was the control of force and timing. Second, he could clearly predict the effect of each needle and see all of Ba Ji's physical issues.

One thing was particularly strange.

Ba Ji usually walked with a limp, but his legs were perfectly fine.

Was it a neurological disability?

That was easy to fix—just keep needling.

For meridian opening, fixing a neurological disability was nothing.

However, neurological issues were more complicated and required over a hundred needles. It would also be a bit painful, so he hoped Ba Ji could endure it.

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, his hands became a blur.

A row of silver needles was inserted into Ba Ji's forehead.

"Argh—!!!!!"

…

Creak—

The door to the master bedroom opened a crack.

Lin Lingling peeked out cautiously.

She had been cultivating when she suddenly heard a series of bone-chilling howls, filled with anguish. Though she was afraid it might be some anomaly, her job was to observe Chen Huaian, so she mustered the courage to investigate.

What she saw left her stunned.

Chen Huaian was sitting on the sofa, performing acupuncture on the cat demon with a set of silver needles.

Acupuncture itself wasn't particularly unusual.

What was astonishing was Chen Huaian's speed—his hands moved like butterflies, leaving only a blur that her eyes couldn't follow.

She had already opened her Ren and Du meridians, the most important ones, and her strength had skyrocketed. Her reflexes were far beyond those of an ordinary person. If she were to compete in the Olympics now, she could break numerous world records.

Yet even she couldn't keep up with Chen Huaian's hand speed!

"Is this the legendary Kirin Arm?"

Lin Lingling was in awe.

It seemed this senior's kidneys were in excellent condition.

Aside from the speed, Chen Huaian's state was also mysterious.

His eyes emitted a faint divine light, and his entire aura had changed. He no longer gave off the vibe of a charming monk.

Now, he resembled a master of traditional medicine.

But why was he performing acupuncture on the cat demon?

To heal it? The cat demon wasn't injured—it was faking its limp. She had seen it leaping around the living room multiple times, only pretending to limp in front of Chen Huaian.

Was he enhancing the cat demon's strength?

Lin Lingling pursed her lips, holding her breath as she silently observed.

A thought suddenly struck her—what if the cat demon was something Chen Huaian had personally cultivated?

…

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