Chapter 287 The Thirty-Second Day of Entering a Xuanhuan Novel

Chapter 287: The Thirty-Second Day in a Fantasy Novel

Wherever he passed, the crowd parted on both sides, leaving an empty path behind.

Everyone watched in stunned silence as the bizarre figure carrying its own head grew distant.

Only when the figure had completely vanished at the end of the long street did the deathly stillness shatter under a cacophony of frantic chatter!

"It... it's a demon!"

"Headless... it can still walk! This, this..."

"Is this Buddha's doing? Or some demon's mischief?!"

"The master must have reached a high level of cultivation—he's beyond mortal limits now!"

Inside the teahouse's private room, Xie Xuandu had witnessed the entire scene unfold, a huge grin spreading across his face. "How amusing, truly amusing!"

He clapped his hands softly and chuckled, his phoenix eyes sparkling with excitement. "This monk's a real character—way more interesting than those holier-than-thou sycophants."

An Yi smiled, his gaze thoughtful as he watched the direction the monk had gone.

He had noticed that when the monk's head was severed and his body stood up on its own, a faint wisp of blood-red energy had risen from the severed neck—like a living thread, drifting lazily toward the imperial palace.

Above the palace, a burst of spiritual energy shot out, dispersing most of the blood energy, but a small wisp remained, clinging stubbornly like a tick, and managed to slip through.

So that's the deal...

An Yi understood clearly now—the emperor probably didn't have much time left.

He remembered the original novel didn't mention this, but the emperor did die mysteriously the next year.

Now it seemed this monk's business might be part of the death warrant.

He looked away, losing interest in the still-chaotic, terrified crowd below.

With a flicker of thought, a flash of light enveloped him, and under Xie Xuandu's astonished gaze, he instantly shifted back into that pitch-black, fluffy ball—palm-sized, its face almost lost in dense fur, with only its big fluffy tail standing out.

With a soft "thump," he landed lightly on the polished wooden railing, his small body swaying slightly with the railing.

Xie Xuandu blinked, his gaze landing on that black, fluffy ball perched on the railing, tilting its head.

Then, when he saw the little coal ball steadying itself by gripping the railing with its claws, his eyes lit up with something almost fanatical!

He felt like his heart had been lightly scratched by the softest, warmest little paw—an indescribable wave of affection flooding through his whole body!

He held his breath, reached out quickly, and gently scooped up the warm, soft little coal ball.

It was impossibly soft and warm, its dense, smooth fur feeling amazing, carrying An Yi's unique cool, crisp scent.

The little coal ball stirred in his palm, lifting its almost featureless "face" to "look" at him, and let out a tiny, puzzled: "Squeak?"

"An Yi..." Xie Xuandu's voice unconsciously went soft: "You like this... really..."

He searched for the right words, then just went with his gut, chuckling softly and breathing out: "Adorable as hell."

He couldn't resist pulling An Yi closer, studying him, trying to find familiar features in all that black fur, then, unable to hold back his curiosity, asked softly: "What exactly is An Yi's true form?"

He'd never seen a spirit beast like this—not a fox, not a cat, not any demon race he knew.

The little coal ball in his palm was quiet for a moment, as if thinking.

Then, in a dead-serious, earnest tone, the ball said clearly: "Dinosaur."

"Dinosaur?" Xie Xuandu blinked, sure he'd never heard that name before.

Dragon? Was it some kind of dragon?

But this form... was nothing like the legendary divine dragon.

But since An Yi said it so confidently, he seriously filed away this unfamiliar word.

"Dinosaur... got it." Though confused, whatever An Yi said, he'd remember.

He lifted the little black ball up to his face, unable to resist nuzzling the soft fur on top of its head, taking a deep breath of the comforting fluff mixed with An Yi's scent.

An Yi, annoyed by the affection, flailed his little paws, swatting at Xie Xuandu's face, his pink paw pads softly smacking Xie Xuandu's nose and cheeks.

Xie Xuandu, under this "attack" of tiny paws, wasn't annoyed at all—instead, he chuckled and grabbed the still-waving little black paw.

The paw was tiny, hidden in his palm, and he lowered his head, pressing a reverent kiss to the pink paw pad.

An Yi: "..."

Creep!

Speechless, he yanked his paw back.

Then, pushing off Xie Xuandu's palm with his hind legs, he leaped lightly, landed right on Xie Xuandu's head, found a comfy spot, and settled in.

His big fluffy tail unconsciously swept across Xie Xuandu's forehead and temples, tickling him slightly.

"Squeak~" An Yi let out a satisfied, lazy hum: "Don't wanna walk anymore. You carry me."

Xie Xuandu felt the almost weightless presence on his head, the soft fur brushing his skin, and his heart swelled with a warm, burning satisfaction.

He couldn't help but laugh softly, his voice full of genuine delight: "That works."

He raised a hand, touching the warm little ball on his head: "Then I can carry you around all the time."

With this eye-catching little coal ball on his head, he walked down from the teahouse like no one else was around, passing through the still-shaken, murmuring crowd below.

Passersby, seeing this striking daoist priest in flowing robes with a weird, pitch-black, fluffy creature on his head, immediately recoiled, pointing and whispering.

Scared it might be some unknown demon, but also curious about the weird combo—after all, what self-respecting daoist priest would walk around with a mystery black furball on his head?

Xie Xuandu ignored the stares and whispers, his steps unhurried and calm.

But just as they turned onto a quieter street, they ran into a patrol from the Demon Suppression Bureau.

The one in front, in dark blue official robes with cloud patterns, a standard-issue long blade at his waist, and a stern face, was none other than Gan Feng, who they hadn't seen in a while.

(Gan Feng: Huh? Isn't that Xie and... Senior An? What the hell is that on Xie's head? A black, fuzzy blob? Cute~)

(System: Scanning... energy reaction matches...!!)

(Gan Feng: Matches what? Spit it out!)