Chapter 157: When I Fell Asleep
Encountering a black cat is not a good thing, at least in Yingzhou it is not considered a positive omen.
In the Ming Country, black cats are able to suppress evil demons, and they are highly regarded in England and Egypt. However, in Yingzhou, black cats symbolize misfortune.
Perhaps it wasn't the black cat that brought misfortune, but rather the misfortune that attracted the encounter with the black cat.
But people always tend to blame the person who uncovers the truth at times like this, as if the truth ceases to exist as long as it remains hidden.
Bai Wei didn't dislike black cats. He had even thought about whether or not to have one as a pet. In the past, when he was in the palace, he had kept a cat and a dog. It was during his time as a prince. However, both the cat and the dog passed away later on.
The dog passed away because it was loyal and selfless, having saved Bai Wei from three assassination attempts. The ferocious demon-hound had valiantly protected Bai Wei. As for the cat, it died due to the loss of the dog. It felt incredibly lonely, so one day, it sneaked into the forest, disappearing without a trace. When Bai Wei finally encountered it again, it was already old and lifeless, lying next to the dog's burial site. The majestic golden lion-tiger beast curled up, covered in snowflakes.
Ever since then, Bai Wei, a cat lover, never had another cat as a pet. It was because their lifespans were too short.
When Bai Wei spotted the black cat, he instinctively had a fleeting moment of confusion. Certain memories flooded his mind in an instant, but before he could blink, the black cat had vanished without a trace.
The pedestrian light turned from green to red, and he felt as if only a short time had passed. However, in reality, almost a minute had gone by.
He instinctively pressed his forehead, realizing he shouldn't have been lost in thought for so long.
Just like a high-end computer that had been running smoothly for a long time, it suddenly encountered a hiccup with a freeze and a blue screen. It was clear that some sort of issue had arisen.
During the process of waiting for the red light, all of a sudden, he heard a very sharp screeching sound of brakes and several high school girls screaming.
A car stopped by the roadside, and the middle-aged driver opened the door and stepped out. He looked at a pool of blood beneath the wheels, his expression turning grim.
Bai Wei seemed to catch a glimpse of a black tail, causing him to furrow his brow.
When small animals cross the road, they often get crushed by vehicles. This is not uncommon. In rural areas, you can often find dried pieces of rats or toads on the road. However, cats being crushed is relatively rare. Most cats are alert and drivers instinctively avoid them.
Bai Wei, uncertain if it was the same cat, felt a pang of sympathy. He lifted his finger and summoned his power to drive away the demon.
Even for weak creatures, the soul can still linger for a period of time after death.
But this time, it was as if a snowball had been thrown onto the surface of a lake, without receiving any response.
Bai Wei couldn't catch any lingering souls. He looked at the black cat under the wheel and the middle-aged office worker pointed at by several high school students.
Without much thought or deep investigation, he turned around and walked away.
On the side of the road, atop a garbage bin, a black cat with red eyes appeared. It stared at the young man's departing figure.
...
Returning home, Hokusinn Kichyō still remained there.
Bai Wei didn't know what kind of agreement Yagyū Simozi had made with her, but she had previously cried and shouted that she wanted to go back. In the end, however, she calmly stayed.
Perhaps it would be difficult to explain all the bruises on her body when she returned home. It could be misunderstood by her father that she had already suffered domestic violence before getting married. Then, in his fury, her father would immediately put on his younger self's leather jacket, grab a sword, and rush over...
Then, the father and daughter would be both beaten together...
The whole family should be neat and tidy.
Bai Wei showed no mercy to any girl, let alone to a middle-aged man who was widowed and lonely.
She looked at the bruises on her body in the mirror and sighed, saying, "I could paint them red to explain..."
She thought that if the bruises didn't go away in a few days, she would use makeup to cover them up.
Yagyū Simozi had been standing all day and was now cooking in the kitchen. Her legs felt weak and sore, yet she couldn't rest.
Because Bai Wei knew exactly where to hit and where not to hit.
As for the bottom, it doesn't have many nerves, so getting hit doesn't really hurt. But if something goes wrong with the bottom, it can be quite painful.
Yagyū Simozi was beaten with over fifty wooden planks yesterday. No matter how much she yelled and begged for mercy, Bai Wei didn't hold back and made her little sister jump and dodge around.
As a result, she could only sleep lying down and couldn't sit for the entire day.
As she stirred the soup pot with a ladle, she murmured to herself, "To hit is to show love, and scolding is affection. Love so strong, even kicking with feet."
Of course, this couldn't be considered as domestic violence, but rather a form of tough love discipline.
It's like teaching a naughty dog that runs around and destroys things with a shoe in your hand.
Bai Wei was angry just because she recklessly gambled with her own life, and she was all alone without considering any escape routes.
This isn't bravery, but rather a lack of common sense.
He also hoped that Yagyū Simozi would grow, but not into an inflexible person, even if she seemed to become a one-man fortress like Leonidas on the surface, she should also leave herself a way out. If it weren't for the sudden arrival of him, she could have fallen into the hands of the gangster this time.
A person's thinking needs to be flexible and adaptable, from one moral boundary to another.
The two girls, upon hearing the noise, both instinctively walked to the entrance to greet the visitor.
"Welcome back."
They spoke in unison, their expressions filled with unease.
Hokusinn Kichyō thought to herself, "Why am I feeling so uneasy? I haven't done anything wrong."
Upon second thought, getting beaten up really does hurt. It's better not to be so stubborn. Now, she and Yagyū Simozi are bound.
Bai Wei responded with a quiet "Hmm" and didn't continue to keep a stiff face. He had a lot on his mind but simply said, "Let's get ready to wash up and eat."
At the dining table, Yagyū Simozi didn't continue to stand, but instead knelt on the chair. Occasionally, her thighs and knees would lose strength, causing her body to sink until reaching a certain limit. With a sudden reflex due to the pain, she would quickly prop herself back up.
Hokusinn Kichyō almost burst into laughter several times, while Bai Wei pretended not to notice, leaving his sister feeling embarrassed.
Yagyū Simozi deeply regretted her actions. If only she had known, she wouldn't have called Hokusinn. She rarely embarrassed herself in front of anyone other than her older brother.
After the meal, Bai Wei took out two bottles of medicinal wine for treating bruises and a cream to relieve congestion. He swung a stick to hit a radish.
"This is healing ointment and tonic. You can gently apply it on each other."
Yagyū Simozi, with one hand protecting her bottom, blushed and said, "I can do it myself."
Hokusinn Kichyō smiled mischievously and said, "Why are you shy? Let me help you~ I remember when making beef meatballs, there's a method of continuously pounding the meat with a stick until it becomes minced, and then rolling it into meatballs. The meatballs turn out tender and delicious, with a nice bounce to them..."
Yagyū Simozi's eyes shot out flames, angrily saying, "Fine! Since you have plenty of meat on your bottom, let me cut a piece to try!"
"No no no..." Hokusinn Kichyō suddenly felt that the bruises on her body were not a big deal at all. She opened the bottle of medicinal wine and gently applied it on her wounds, feeling relieved by the cool sensation. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Yagyū Simozi and said, "Let me help you, it's not convenient for you to do it alone."
"No need!" Yagyū Simozi declined directly, politely saying, "I have a mirror in my room, thank you!"
"What's wrong, what's not okay~"
Clang... Yagyū Simozi drew her sword, but Hokusinn Kichyō swiftly circled behind her, avoiding her blade, and pounced forward.
As the girls playfully frolicked, Bai Wei quietly made his way to the tea room. After sitting in solitude for a while, he began to feel a bit weary.
He had already rested for quite a while. Being young, staying up late shouldn't make him feel exhausted to the point of sudden death. However, when one feels sleepy, one feels sleepy.
Even after drinking several cups of tea, there were still continuous yawns. Could it be that he had slept too much?
Bai Wei supported himself with the table and stood up, wanting to retreat to his room for a rest.
As he passed through the living room, he was so sleepy that he didn't pay attention to the path ahead. He stumbled over the foot of the couch and nearly fell down.
Still, just as Hokusinn Kichyō was about to be chased out of the room by Yagyū Simozi, quick as lightning, she reached out and caught him.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" she asked, puzzled. Bai Wei had been strong and courageous yesterday when he fought against two opponents at the sword dojo. His swordsmanship was powerful and robust. So why did he suddenly become weak and fall to the ground?
"Perhaps I turned into a living dead because I couldn't play Elden Ring."
"Ah?"
"It's just that I am very sleepy, an inexplicable drowsiness washed over me," Bai Wei said, struggling to sit up. "I will go back to my room and rest, there's no need for you to worry."
"I'll help support you," Hokusinn Kichyō insisted, refusing to let go. She took Bai Wei's arm and led him towards the dormitory. Her height was just right to prop up the young man with her shoulder. She slightly lowered her head, her fallen strands of hair hiding her expression, but one could vaguely see the corners of her mouth lifting.
Looking at them from behind, it seemed more like they were embracing rather than supporting each other.
Hokusinn Kichyō's daughter had a more thoughtful nature than Yagyū Simozi and Saki Jingūji, which made her better understanding.
Bai Wei was really tired and didn't think too much about it. He entered the bedroom, took off his coat, and simply lay down under the covers. The sun-warmed blanket carried a hint of sunlight, and in a short moment, he fell into a deep sleep.
Hokusinn Kichyō wanted to imitate how wives take care of their husbands in TV dramas. She thought about taking off his socks and pants to tidy them up, but before she could even begin, her shoulder was firmly held down. She turned around and saw Yagyū Simozi's expression was as cold as a wrathful demon, with a background full of chilling murderous intent.
"I just wanted to..." Hokusinn Kichyō explained nervously, wearing a sheepish smile.
The bedroom door closed behind them. The confrontation between the two girls had just begun, but they needed to keep their distance and remain quiet. It was like Tom and Jerry from the cartoons, who had to put noise-canceling headphones on Spike, who was fast asleep nearby, before they could engage in their mischievous battle.
Bai Wei not only fell asleep, but also had a very long dream. In his dream, all his senses were dulled.
His consciousness gradually drifted away, and his body became weightless, as if he was floating on top of the ocean.
At the same time, a cat's meow reached his ears, followed by the sound of a honking horn and screeching brakes.
Unaware of the passing time, he journeyed through a long tunnel. The vehicles emerged from the darkness into a bright and open view.
In front of him, he saw a completely unfamiliar ceiling.
