Reincarnated as a Tabby Cat: Daily Life with the School Beauty Empress

Chapter 48 Thoughts Under the Moon

After obtaining the weapons, the two did not rush to leave.

Murong Qingfeng activated the protective barrier of the training ground to its highest level, moved a chair to a corner, and sat down to observe the recent training progress of the two.

Su Qianxue stood on the left side of the arena, holding the Moon Crown Staff, while Murong Hui stood on the right side, carrying the Crimson Flame Sword.

[If you won't let Cat Master play, then Cat Master will be the referee.] He squatted on the chair, his golden tail curling around the back of the chair, his emerald green cat eyes scanning the two contestants from left to right.

[I'll gamble; Su Qianxue will lose.]

It wasn't that he lacked confidence in his master, but rather that he had only been practicing his Light-type skills for a short time—less than half a month.

Murong Hui's fire-based martial arts skills had been honed since she was born, making her foundation as solid as a city wall.

"I'll go first." Murong Hui didn't waste any words. With a flick of her Crimson Flame Sword, she was already close behind.

Instead of attacking head-on, a streak of fire slashed diagonally towards Su Qianxue's left rib.

With its tricky angle and the sixth-level martial artist's full speed, it was too fast for most people to react.

Su Qianxue reacted accordingly.

The staff was held horizontally, its shaft blocking the sword's edge. The intertwined gold and silver spiral patterns collided with the crimson fire-elemental runes, sparking a cluster of golden-red sparks.

But then things got tough.

Murong Hui's swordsmanship follows a fast-paced approach; her first sword strike was parried, and her second strike was already upon her.

The sword tip flicked upwards, aiming straight for Su Qianxue's wrist. Su Qianxue took a half step back, pushed forward with the head of her staff, and a blade of light shot out from the crescent-shaped crown.

The speed is twice as fast as when condensing it with bare hands—this is due to the staff's bonus.

Murong Hui sidestepped the blade of light, twisted her foot, and had already circled to Su Qianxue's right. The sword light drew a half-arc, forcing Su Qianxue to take two more steps back.

The difference in offense and defense is obvious.

Su Qianxue's movements were flawless, even half a beat faster than Murong Hui's.

However, the Light-based attack methods are too limited. The power of the Blade of Light is sufficient, but its condensation speed is a beat slower than Murong Hui's sword strike.

Using a staff to block in melee combat is not impossible, but a staff is not a melee weapon after all, and each time you take a hit, you will suffer additional impact.

After thirty moves, Su Qianxue's right arm felt slightly numb.

Murong Hui also noticed this, and she sheathed her sword and took two steps back.

"Alright, that's enough." She slung the Crimson Flame Sword over her shoulder, tilted her head to look at Su Qianxue, and said, "Qianxue, your movement skills are truly amazing. You anticipated my attacks several times. But your Light Blade attack speed is still lacking. It's not worthwhile to use your staff to block attacks in close combat. You should practice your Light Shield more to improve your close-range defense, and then create distance to attack from a distance."

Su Qianxue nodded. She was aware of the problem herself.

I just barely scratched the surface with Light's Judgment today; its direction is still off when I play it, so it's unusable. Light's Shield is also newly formed and not strong enough. I have too few cards in hand.

"You've only been learning the Light element for half a month." Murong Hui sheathed her sword and walked over. "You've only learned two basic skills in half a month, and you can still hold your own against me for thirty moves? Try that with someone else? Impossible."

She reached out and patted Su Qianxue on the shoulder: "You're a monster. I'm praising you, don't look so serious."

Su Qianxue's lips relaxed slightly, but she didn't reply.

Yichen listened attentively to the entire conversation from the bench.

[Murong Hui is absolutely right. Su Qianxue's current weakness is her limited offensive repertoire. But that's normal; she previously practiced ice-based techniques, and now she's switched to light-based ones, essentially starting from scratch. Her current speed is already quite extraordinary.]

[But the problem is, we're going on a mission tomorrow. If we run into a tough opponent in real combat, having no cards to play is suicide.]

He flicked his tail.

Thankfully, Cat Master is here.

Su Qianxue cooked dinner herself.

Back at her place, she changed into her loungewear and spent half an hour in the kitchen preparing a bowl of clear soup noodles, a plate of garlic shrimp, and a dish of cold wood ear mushrooms.

It's simple, but made with care.

In Yichen's bowl were two small, golden-brown fried fish, and next to the plate was a small pile of chopped chicken breast.

After finishing her meal, Su Qianxue washed and stacked the dishes. She took a shower and came out wearing a loose, off-white nightgown. Her hair was still damp, draped over her shoulders, with water droplets trickling down her face.

She didn't go to the bedroom.

There is a comfortable rocking chair on the balcony, one of the college's furnishings, made of wood, which creaks when you sit on it.

Su Qianxue wrapped a thin blanket around her legs, leaned back in the chair, and tilted her head back.

The night sky in Beijing is rarely starry; the lights are too bright, washing the sky into a hazy gray. But tonight, for some reason, a large part of the clouds has dispersed, and a few bright stars can be seen.

She stared at those stars for a long time.

The capital city not far away was brightly lit, with thousands of lights connecting the city, creating a bustling scene like another world.

Since my rebirth, everything has gone too smoothly. Awakening the contract, encountering the tabby cat, breaking through in cultivation, sweeping the arena, obtaining resources from the Murong family and guidance from Murong Qingfeng. Every step has been perfect.

It started the same way in my previous life.

In the beginning, everything went smoothly for her, and everyone flocked to her. Her senior sister treated her exceptionally well, imparting her skills and sharing resources without reservation, and even risking her life to save her when she was seriously injured.

That kind of kindness was so genuine that it was impossible to doubt it.

So, on the night her contracted beast was about to evolve into Mewtwo, when her senior sister stood at the door and said, "Junior sister, I've come to see you," she smiled and let her in.

Then stab them in the back.

Su Qianxue's fingers clenched tightly at the edge of the thin blanket for a moment, then relaxed.

Murong Hui is a good person, and Teacher Qingfeng is also a respectable person.

But "good" and "respectable" are never reasons to trust. Wasn't my senior sister from my previous life good enough?

One should always be wary of others.

These words were etched into her very bones.

Friendship, that's all just a facade. In this life, she won't entrust her back to anyone.

Besides, a golden ball of fur squeezed in through the crack in the balcony door, put its two front paws on the edge of the rocking chair, and with a push of its hind legs, the whole cat jumped onto Su Qianxue's belly.

Yichen circled her abdomen twice, found the most comfortable indentation, and lay down.

The cat's belly was pressed against the person's belly, separated by a thin layer of pajamas.

He also tilted his head back to look at the stars.

A few bright stars shone in the cat's emerald green eyes, and its tail draped over Su Qianxue's waist, its tip swaying gently and intermittently.

Su Qianxue lowered her hand and placed it on Yichen's back, her fingers unconsciously stroking back and forth along his golden spine.

The cat's fur is smooth and warm.

The heartbeat came from my palm, faster than a human's, with a light and rapid rhythm.

Two living creatures, one lying on a chair and the other lying on its belly, were looking at the few stars in the gray sky.

No one spoke.

After a long time, Su Qianxue's fingers stopped at the back of Yichen's neck and gently pinched it.

"We're going on a mission tomorrow, so stick close to me."

"Meow."

Don't worry, boss. Cat Master is your ultimate cheat code.

Yichen buried his head in the edge of Su Qianxue's pajamas collar and rubbed against her.

[Ding! Warmth value +100!]

[Another source of income tonight. But it's still a long way from 100,000. Let's take it slow. First, let's survive.]

He closed his eyes and began to snore.

Su Qianxue also closed her eyes.

The rocking chair creaked and groaned in the night breeze.