I Only Choked on Noodles, Why Am I Here?! [BL]-Chapter 31 – When Shadows Stir

--------

Before the cat could spit out more sarcastic remarks, clearly on the verge of arguing back, Han Yan hurriedly cut in with his own matters instead.

"Do you... know of any clues that might help me find what I’m looking for?" Han Yan asked quickly. Then, glancing at the black panther beneath it, meeting its worried golden eyes, he added, "And... could it help with the hunting?"

"I mean, if that’s... possible..."

The cat let out a cold, silent laugh. Its eyes twitched violently, its expression one of utter disbelief at his shamelessness. Just moments ago, was this not the same mortal who had resisted bringing this great ancestor home as though facing a calamity? And now he dared speak so freely, piling request upon request without the slightest hesitation, as if this ancestor were some wandering errand runner.

Hmph.

Truly shameless. Absolutely shameless. Mortals were indeed creatures who changed their faces faster than turning a page it was beyond comprehension.

To think this mere mortal even dared glance at the panther beneath it, dragging yet another into his schemes without a hint of embarrassment. If this great ancestor still possessed his former strength, such audacity would have been punished long ago.

The cat gave a light cough before speaking, its tone dripping with mockery. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"This sovereign being has lived for countless years, yet I have never witnessed such a high level of shamelessness. Truly... remarkable."

It clicked its tongue softly, eyes filled with blatant disdain, as though Han Yan had managed to set a new and highly unimpressive record.

"Fine. This great ancestor will show you the way. What else do you need? This ancestor might even agree to your shameless requests... for I am in a good mood," the cat declared, leaping lightly from the black panther’s head before landing gracefully on Han Yan’s shoulder, tail flicking with imperious elegance.

Han Yan looked at the cat on his shoulder and didn’t hesitate as he listed spiritedly.

"I want some of those sweet mountain berries, a few of those fruits that smell... spicy I think, if we happen to come across any nearby and some wild nuts too. Oh, and any mushrooms that aren’t poisonous. Herbs too, maybe some for tea. Anything else that is edible we can find, let’s bring it along."

He glanced at the black panther.

"And you... help find some wild game, alright?"

The cat snorted in clear disdain, yet still issued a brief command to the black panther. Without hesitation, the massive beast turned and vanished from their sight in the blink of an eye, its figure swallowed by the forest.

"Enough. Now, mere mortal, this ancestor will lead the way," the cat said coolly from his shoulder.

Han Yan nodded without any hesitation and followed its directions, moving carefully along the winding mountain paths as instructed. The trail was uneven, littered with loose stones and tangled roots, forcing him to step with measured caution. Along the way, he came across clusters of fruits dangling from low-hanging branches.

Some fruits were familiar jujube, persimmon, and pear while others were strange: bayberry, kumquat, and lychee. A few he remembered from old tales osmanthus and mulberry now growing wild in this land.

Han Yan paused briefly, marveling at the sight, then carefully plucked each fruit, feeling its weight and texture, and tucked them gently into his basket.

Among the rocks and undergrowth, herbs sprouted, their leaves glistening with dew. He selected mint, basil, wild ginseng, and small chili peppers and onions growing nearby, adding them alongside the fruits with care.

Hidden in a thicket of thorns, he finally found the white flowers he had been seeking. Delicate and ethereal, the Moonlight Lilies shimmered softly in the sunlight. If he remembered correctly from modern times, they were called Calla Lilies, though here they seemed far more mystical. He brushed aside the leaves and set each bloom aside, mindful of their fragility.

A faint smile tugged at his lips as he imagined Lin Xin’s reaction. The weight of the basket reminded him of his purpose, and he felt a quiet satisfaction in this strange, wondrous world he was slowly learning to navigate.

By the time they stopped, his bamboo basket was filled to the brim. Han Yan lowered his gaze to the abundant harvest, momentarily stunned by just how much he had collected. For the first time since entering the mountains, a rare sense of satisfaction settled in his chest.

The cat glanced at the overflowing bamboo basket as it jumped down from his shoulder and let out a soft, disdainful snort.

"Hmph. For a mere mortal, your harvest is... barely acceptable" it said, its tail flicking lazily as if granting reluctant approval.

Before Han Yan could respond, the sound of heavy movement echoed from deeper within the forest.

Leaves trembled, branches snapped, and moments later, the black panther emerged from the shadows. Clamped firmly between its jaws was a massive iron-tusked wild boar, its thick hide streaked with dirt as its body dragged across the ground, leaving a long trail behind.

Han Yan’s eyes widened as the panther dropped the beast at his feet with a dull thud, then lifted its head, golden eyes calm and steady, as though bringing down such prey required no effort at all.

He looked from the enormous boar, to his already full bamboo basket, then back to the cat perched on his shoulder.

For a brief moment, he paused, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts, before he forced himself to calm.

Taking a steadying breath he looked upon the creature before him, his voice hoarse and rough as he spoke while carefully arranging the contents of the bamboo basket, he worked with deliberate care, tucking in bundles of bamboo shoots and layering the wild game so that no sign of his large harvest would betray him to the curious eyes of the villagers.

He was still getting familiar with this strange world and wished for nothing more than to avoid trouble, moving cautiously as if even the slightest misstep might draw unwanted attention.

"Use your... powers," he said, his voice measured yet carrying an unmistakable weight. "You can transform it... into that doll form. I will take both of you home."

With a fluid motion, he lifted the bamboo and the wild game onto his broad shoulders, muscles flexing beneath his robe like steel cables, while his eyes never left the cat.

"Come on, hurry up," he said, striding forward without waiting.

The cat, clearly exasperated, cursed for the first time as it transformed the black panther into a doll, which then vanish moments later. With a disdainful flick of its tail, it leapt onto his shoulders and sneered.

"So this is how you repay me... after all I have done, you reveal your true nature. Tch! Truly despicable."

Its ears twitched irritably, and a faint glow of annoyance flared in its eyes. Used me, ignored me, and now expects obedience? it thought, bristling inwardly while outwardly maintaining a perfectly disdainful expression.

"Ungrateful mortal..."

Despite its haughty commentary, it remained firmly perched on his shoulders, tail flicking like a whip, silently calculating just how much trouble it could stir without being cast aside.

Soon Han Yan made his way down the winding mountain path, sunlight filtering through the trees in shifting golden patches.

As the forest thinned and the village came into earshot, a sudden commotion caught his attention.

Ahead, a group of children were shouting and pushing each other. To his surprise, little Dong Hai was in the center of it all being struck as he struggled to defend himself. His small fists flailed helplessly, his face scrunching in frustration and pain, yet he refused to give in.

Han Yan’s heart tightened. The sight stirred a rush of protectiveness and irritation, as he quickened his pace. How dare they lay a hand on him? he thought, his eyes scanning for the instigators.

Dong Hai fought back as best he could, but it was clear he was outnumbered, and the younger boy’s determination only fueled Han Yan’s resolve to step in and he had to act and quickly.

The voices of the children shouting and scuffling grew louder, mingled with the thud of small fists and the scrape of feet against the dirt. Han Yan’s eyes scanned the group, a low, sharp warning curled at the back of his throat.

Every instinct screamed at him to step forward, to put an end to the chaos before Dong Hai was hurt further.

With careful yet determined steps, Han Yan moved closer, the weight of the basket on his shoulders balanced but forgotten in the surge of urgency.

"Stop!" he called, his voice cutting through the commotion like a blade. The children froze, startled, turning toward him, their faces a mixture of fear and defiance.

Han Yan’s gaze fell on Dong Hai, bruised and scrunching his face in pain, yet still refusing to yield. He felt a mix of pride and worry for the little boy, who was much smaller than the other children.

--------