Even though Zanxing had many different guesses in her mind, she never expected that inside this egg would be a cat.

Setting everything else aside, the problem was – how could cats possibly be oviparous animals? Although cultivation novels didn’t need to be scientific, hatching a cat from an egg was still too unscientific!

The kitten in front of her took two wobbly steps and licked Zanxing’s finger. How to put it – it gave one the feeling of having their heart instantly struck.

But no matter what, this exceeded Zanxing’s understanding, so she found a cloth to wrap the kitten in, quickly washed up, and went out holding the cat, planning to have Xuan Lingzi take a look.

As soon as she stepped outside, she ran into Tian Fangfang, who was heading to morning practice. Seeing Zanxing holding what looked like swaddling clothes, Tian Fangfang’s expression changed as he came over excitedly: “Did it hatch? When did it hatch?” Like a gossipy relative coming to see a new mother and baby, about to ask next: “Boy or girl?”

Zanxing showed Tian Fangfang the kitten in her arms, and the man immediately went crazy.

“It’s a cat, it’s a cat!” Tian Fangfang danced with joy: “It’s a cat! So cute! Junior Sister Zanxing, can I hold it?”

Zanxing: “…”

She handed over the swaddling clothes. Tian Fangfang vigorously wiped his hands on his gauze robe before carefully reaching out to take the kitten, looking at it with the gaze of a mother looking at her baby.

Zanxing couldn’t bear to watch anymore: “Let’s go. I still need to go to Miaokong Hall and have Sixth Master Uncle see what species this is.”

“No matter what species it is, it’s adorable,” Tian Fangfang said dreamily. “Junior Sister Zanxing, I’m so envious of you. I want to have a little cat like this too.”

Truly an iron man with a tender heart.

Zanxing pretended not to hear: “Let’s go, let’s go. If we’re any later, everyone will gather to watch the excitement.”

When they arrived at Miaokong Hall, Xuan Lingzi was already up. Now that he was older, he slept much less. He had gotten up early to water flowers and plants. Seeing Zanxing and Tian Fangfang arrive, he was first startled, but before he could speak, Zanxing thrust the swaddling clothes under his nose: “Sixth Master Uncle, the egg I picked up has hatched.”

Xuan Lingzi peered in. The kitten in the swaddling clothes looked at him timidly, nearly making him slip.

“This… this is a cat! How could a cat hatch from an egg?”

Seeing his shocked expression, which was even more extreme than Zanxing’s own, Zanxing fell silent for a moment before asking: “Sixth Master Uncle doesn’t know this cat’s origins either?”

“I… I’ve never seen a cat hatch from an egg either,” Xuan Lingzi said, puzzled, reaching out a finger to poke the kitten’s head. The kitten’s head tilted to one side from his poking as he said: “This looks like just an ordinary cat.”

“That’s not a cat.” A voice came from behind the great hall.

Several people turned to look and saw a youth walking out from behind the hall – it was Gu Baiying. Today, he wore snow-white fitted clothing with ink-colored plum blossoms embroidered at the edges, looking refreshing and handsome. His eyes carried the distinctive arrogance of youth. He walked up to Zanxing, glanced at the kitten in the swaddling clothes, then looked ahead: “This is a Yinlang Shi.”

“Yinlang Shi?” Xuan Lingzi looked at the kitten, then at Gu Baiying: “Junior Brother, I remember that Yinlang Shi doesn’t look like this.”

Zanxing asked: “What is a Yinlang Shi?”

Xuan Lingzi cleared his throat: “Yinlang Shi are ancient divine beasts, once recorded in the immortal records. However, about five hundred years ago, Yinlang Shi went extinct.” He paused, then continued: “The immortal records note: ‘East of the North Sea, there are Yinlang, shaped like lion beasts, with silver bodies and snow feet, feeding on clouds.’ This…”

This kitten yawning didn’t look at all like it was “shaped like lion beasts.”

Gu Baiying said, “It is a Yinlang Shi, yet it isn’t. This cat has Yinlang Shi bloodline, but it’s extremely diluted and can be ignored. This tiny bit of bloodline won’t awaken even by the time it dies of old age, so,” he looked at Zanxing, “you can treat it as an ordinary house cat.”

“Only a little bloodline…” Xuan Lingzi sounded somewhat regretful upon hearing this: “What a pity. Even if raised as a spirit beast, it wouldn’t be very qualified.”

Zanxing didn’t think so in her heart. It was said that fierce beasts roamed Gufeng Mountain at night, making it very dangerous. But that day, after she climbed out of the black swamp, she didn’t encounter any danger and even safely spent the night sleeping under a tree. At the time, she thought it was the Xiaoyuan Pearl’s protection, but… what if it was because of this egg?

Since it had a divine beast bloodline, the fierce beasts of Gufeng Mountain might have sensed it and didn’t dare approach. Although this kitten looked ordinary now, they were all feline – who knew if it might not develop into a lion someday?

“Junior Sister Zanxing,” Tian Fangfang beside her interrupted Zanxing’s contemplation, staring at the kitten: “Whether it’s a cat or a lion, it’s yours now. Why don’t you give it a name?”

Zanxing: “…”

She had always been terrible at naming things, so she said casually: “Then let’s call it Mimi.”

“Great!” Xuan Lingzi clapped his hands: “That’s a good name!”

Gu Baiying frowned: “What’s good about it?”

“‘The cowherd girl’s heart yearns and eyes meet, Mimi’s tender pulse gets fulfilled.’ Our Zanxing is quite good at naming.” Xuan Lingzi smiled: “Then let’s call it Mimi!”

Zanxing: “…” She was too lazy to correct Xuan Lingzi’s interpretation, and besides, “Mimi” did indeed sound much better than “Mimi.”

Tian Fangfang was holding Mimi and playing with the cat. Zanxing sensed a gaze falling on her and turned to look, but Gu Baiying had already looked away.

She thought for a moment, walked up to Gu Baiying, and asked: “Why does Seventh Master Uncle keep stealing glances at me?”

The youth was first surprised upon hearing this, then looked baffled: “Who’s stealing glances at you?”

“You.”

Gu Baiying looked down at her, slightly raising an eyebrow: “Why would I look at you? Are you very beautiful?”

Zanxing said frankly, “I think I’m not bad.”

The girl in front of him had a graceful figure and calm gaze. Her features were quite delicate and charming, but unfortunately, the black scars crisscrossing her right cheek made it difficult to call her “beautiful.”

Gu Baiying sneered: “Boastful.” As if too lazy to bother with Zanxing, he turned and swept his sleeves as he left.

Zanxing watched his retreating figure, understanding in her heart.

She was just an ordinary new disciple, not worth this favored son of heaven’s special attention. The reason Gu Baiying repeatedly noticed her was probably still because of that “Qing E Nian Hua Gun” manual.

After all, from a certain perspective, she could also be considered a disciple of Gu Baiying’s mother, so there was some connection.

It’s just that the “Qing E Nian Hua Gun” manual didn’t appear in the original story, and Gu Baiying had no name in the original story either. Now, one thing after another was connecting to her in various ways.

Zanxing looked down at the red mark on her palm.

This time, even the side plot had changed.