Chapter 145: Turning Into Human Form

The cave walls were crawling with gray, twisted vine stems, and in the very center of the cavern a hemispherical hammock had been woven from vines hanging down from the ceiling, looking like a cocoon.

The hammock was also thickly lined with dry leaves, making it look rather cozy.

Ji Jiangci cradled Ye Xi'an as they settled into the hammock, refusing to set her down, and tirelessly stroked her from head to tail over and over.

At first Ye Xi'an felt a bit resistant; after all, being completely under someone else's control wasn't very comfortable, but as time went on she got used to it, and each time she was touched she felt a sense of bodily and mental satisfaction.

"Purr—purr—purr~," Ye Xi'an let out a contented rumble from her throat, her purple eyes narrowing as she lifted her head, waiting for Ji Jiangci's caresses.

The passage of time here seems off; this is the conclusion Ye Xi'an reached after three days here, because her condition makes her faint at midnight each day, making her highly sensitive to her waking periods; she can clearly feel that the interval between her faintings has shortened.

But whenever she becomes aware of this, the flow of time returns to normal, and Ji Jiangci seems completely oblivious, as usual heading out early to hunt, then bringing back a blood‑soaked fresh piece of meat, which she angrily smacks open, leaving a mark on the back of her hand.

"Not hungry?" Ji Jiangci said slowly, as if he had just learned to speak.

How could she not be hungry? She hadn't eaten for three days, and her portal wouldn't open for some inexplicable reason, leaving her trapped here to starve.

"How about this?"

Ji Jiangci placed a red fruit before Ye Xi'an; its thin skin and plump flesh made her eyes light up—after so long, finally there was something edible.

Ye Xi'an took a bite and almost cried from the sourness; it must be unripe.

But she was too hungry, so she endured the pain, gnawing at her belly; after finishing, she felt as if her whole body was about to swoon from the sourness.

"Finished eating, now it's time to be petted."

Ji Jiangci eagerly sat in the hammock, waiting for Ye Xi'an to climb onto his lap; he found this gave him more satisfaction than carrying her himself.

Ye Xi'an let out a helpless sigh; the life of a stray cat was unbearably stifling. She flicked her tail, scampered into Ji Jiangci's embrace, curled up, and waited for his next round of petting.

But Ji Jiangci, seeing the cat in his arms suddenly turn into a naked purple‑haired girl, froze his hand mid‑air, daring not to move.

"Is this still my kitty? Petting won't make it vanish, right?"

Ye Xi'an waited a long time, but Ji Jiangci's hand never came; puzzled, she lifted her head and let out a meow at him, completely unaware that she had turned back into human form.

The girl's purple hair spread before her like clouds in the sky; her violet glassy eyes glittered like stars, her tiny nose still bore feline features; looking further down, Ji Jiangci couldn't help but stare dumbfounded.

"What are you looking at?" Ye Xi'an frowned, and lowered her head with him, only to see her own bare white body.

"Ah!" Ye Xi'an flipped backward, about to fall off the hammock; the dangling vines instantly coiled around her slender waist, steadying her upright.

"Get away!" Ye Xi'an curled her knees, clutched herself, tucked into the innermost part of the hammock, and hurriedly pushed Ji Jiangci outward.