As the Cat Spirit who had watched Chen Gao Yang grow up, Haitang knew what a devastating blow her disappearance without a word had been to him.

'It was so close. So dangerously close. If I'd been even a step too late, we would have been torn apart forever.'

Even for a Cat Spirit who had lived for one hundred and sixty-two years, she was filled with a lingering fear, as if she were on the brink of a nightmarish abyss.

"Brother Gaoyang, I will never leave you again. Not for a single step. Will you forgive me?"

Her voice was a plea, a sorrowful cry, and she looked achingly beautiful in her distress.

Overcome with emotion, Chen Gao Yang hugged Haitang tightly. "Really? You really won't leave again?"

As far as he could remember, this was the only time he had ever held Haitang like this—held the girlfriend he had loved for so many years.

'It was ridiculous, but this really was the first time.'

Her delicate body was soft, yet ice-cold. Chen Gao Yang silently blamed himself. 'I must have terrified her just now.'

'Scared the warmth right out of her.'

And so, the man and the woman stood beside the well, locked in a tight embrace, neither willing to let go.

It was as if the other would instantly vanish the moment they let go.

Tu Xiao'an watched from a distance. This real-life tale of Human-Demon Love was as profoundly moving as a love story from *Strange Tales*.

He remembered the first time he'd read a story from *Strange Tales* as a child. The main character, Nie Xiaoqian, was a beautiful female ghost who had only lived to be eighteen. After her death, she was buried beside a desolate ancient temple north of the city and was unfortunately forced by a Demon Yaksha to harm people.

Later, a scholar named Ning Caichen came to stay at the temple. Under the Demon's orders, Nie Xiaoqian went to murder him but was moved by his righteous aura. She told him the truth and helped him escape the danger.

Ning Caichen lived up to her trust, helping her escape the Demon's clutches. He then took her in, and she served his mother and his chronically ill wife. Hardworking and kind, Nie Xiaoqian became deeply beloved by Ning Caichen's family.

Over time, through prolonged contact with the living, Nie Xiaoqian gradually became more and more like a human. The family never mentioned her true identity. After Ning Caichen's wife passed away, Nie Xiaoqian married him, becoming his ghost wife. She later guided him in vanquishing a Demon from Jinhua that came seeking revenge.

A few years later, Ning Caichen passed the highest imperial examinations. Nie Xiaoqian also gave birth to a son, who later grew up to be a man of great renown.

The story of Ning Caichen and Nie Xiaoqian was the perfect tale of love between a human and a ghost.

Tu Xiao'an now found himself sincerely hoping that this tale of Human-Demon Love before his eyes would also have a happy ending.

Before Haitang had even gained sentience, she was taken in by the Chen Family. She had lived in their estate ever since, protecting the Chen Family members for over a hundred years.

To now fall in love with a descendant of the Chen Family was truly a remarkable twist of fate.

After a while, Tu Xiao'an walked over, a teasing smile on his face. "Gao Yang, I brought your girlfriend back. How do you plan on thanking me?"

Chen Gao Yang immediately recognized the voice. "Xiao'an, it was you who brought Haitang back! You're my savior!"

With that said, an emotional Chen Gao Yang knelt before Tu Xiao'an. Haitang didn't stop him and sincerely knelt beside him.

'Kneeling again?'

'We're all modern people, yet they go around kneeling at the drop of a hat.'

Tu Xiao'an was inwardly speechless. He was practically being treated like an ancient emperor—everyone knelt the moment they saw him. Back in Bai Town, as the Snake King, he'd had hundreds of thousands of people kneel to him at once.

Looking at the kneeling pair, with a mere thought, Tu Xiao'an used his formless Consciousness Power to forcibly lift them to their feet.

"Gao Yang, we're friends. I can't have you kneeling to me. If you really want to thank me, there is one thing I could use your help with."

Chen Gao Yang quickly replied, "Anything I can do, I'll do it."

"It's late, and I've just arrived in Wencheng without a place to stay. I was hoping you could put me up for a bit."

At these words, both Chen Gao Yang and Haitang were taken aback. How could that be considered a big favor? He was clearly just giving them an easy way to express their gratitude.

At this point, Gao Yang would have given Tu Xiao'an the entire courtyard house, let alone just offer him a place to stay.

Haitang meant everything to Chen Gao Yang. Without her, he had no reason to live.

"Haitang, quickly prepare a room for our benefactor. We'll talk more later."

Chen Gao Yang said emotionally. Haitang first helped him inside, then carefully prepared the best room in the courtyard house for Tu Xiao'an.

Now that Haitang was a person and not a cat, tasks like this were no trouble at all.

Afterward, Chen Gao Yang kept shaking Tu Xiao'an's hand, expressing his boundless gratitude. Being blind, he truly didn't know how he could ever repay him.

In truth, Tu Xiao'an had already been handsomely rewarded, but there was no need to tell Chen Gao Yang about what had transpired between him and Haitang.

He was just an ordinary person; there were some things he would find difficult to believe, let alone accept.

He simply fabricated a story about finding Haitang, giving Chen Gao Yang a plausible explanation.

Once Haitang had the room ready, Tu Xiao'an tactfully said he was tired and wanted to rest, giving the unusual couple some private space.

He left them to be lovey-dovey and pour out the sorrows of their time apart.

Tu Xiao'an truly hoped this tale of Human-Demon Love would have a happy ending. He was very open-minded about such things.

As long as two people were truly in love, what did it matter if one was a Cat Spirit? Besides, now that Haitang wasn't a cat anymore, it would be much easier for her to take care of Chen Gao Yang.

「The next day...」

Tu Xiao'an made an early excuse about needing to run some errands and left the Chen Family Mansion. He couldn't quite take the couple's fervent gratitude; they were practically worshipping him like a God. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

For the time being, Tu Xiao'an planned to stay with the Chen Family. For one, he truly had nowhere else to go. For another, he was worried that the Bai Family would come looking for them.

After all, the Cat Spirit Haitang had snatched the Snake King Stone from the hands of the Bai Family.

The Bai Family had failed again at the laboratory last night; they surely wouldn't let the matter rest.

According to what Dr. Snake had told Tu Xiao'an, the Hidden Clan of the Bai Family was a major power in Wencheng. He wasn't particularly concerned for himself, but it would be best if this couple, who had already been through so much, weren't disturbed.

Tu Xiao'an would take the heat for this one.

After leaving the Chen Family Mansion, Tu Xiao'an wasn't sure what to do. Then he suddenly remembered the five-million check in his possession and decided to find a bank to cash and deposit it.

And of course, he would deposit it into his older sister Tu Xiaoyue's account.

Tu Xiao'an hadn't properly explained his departure from Bai Town to his older sister. Because of his Transformation, he had a new appearance she had never seen before.

He had essentially left without saying goodbye, their only contact being over the phone.

His sister was probably furious, silently fuming at him. In the past, Tu Xiao'an was often away from home, disappearing for days on end.

Now he'd gone and straight-up run away to another city.

Tu Xiao'an figured he would cash the five million, keep one million for himself, and transfer the rest to his sister to placate her.

Money didn't mean much to Tu Xiao'an anymore; it would be easy for him to earn it if he needed to. Besides, his most important task now was to increase his strength and break through to the level of a Rank Three Creature as quickly as possible.

Then he could finally go home, open and without hiding, and put down his roots for good.