Chapter 1450 – Nie Yang Forms an Alliance (Part 2)
Yan Lin was dispatched to Zhong Zhao, not only to secure a strong ally for Yang Tao but also to shift the power balance within the Nie Clan.
To cultivate his eldest son, Nie Qing, Nie Liang chose not to appear personally and instead sent his son to handle matters, smoothly facilitating the alliance between the two families.
In order to meet his father’s high expectations, Nie Qing had recently been exhausting himself, scarcely catching a good night’s sleep. Despite his kind nature, Nie Qing was neither foolish nor incompetent. He executed the tasks assigned by his father Nie Liang exceptionally well, earning the admiration of Nie Liang’s loyal ministers. From that day on, Nie Qing found his time for studying poetry and literature dwindling; most of his days were now spent busy with state affairs.
Finally catching a break, he rushed to find his good cousin Nie Yang to vent his frustrations.
When Nie Yang saw him coming, he quipped with a hint of jealousy, “A while back when I sought you out, I could never find you. Why are you suddenly gracing this ‘old friend’ with your presence today?”
Nie Qing had lost quite a bit of weight recently, and assuming Nie Yang was genuinely upset, he quickly defended himself.
“Oh, Yang, don’t be mad! It’s not that I didn’t want to see you! I’ve been so busy that I could hardly keep up with my meals,” Nie Qing said with a troubled expression. “You don’t know, but lately, my father has been throwing all sorts of duties at me. To live up to his hopes, how could I dare to take it lightly? I got so caught up that I accidentally neglected you. I’m truly sorry!”
Seeing the sincerity, Nie Yang decided to drop it, his expression softening, no longer carrying that earlier sharpness, but instead showing a bit of concern.
“Uncle is trusting you with important matters; that’s a good thing! Why apologize?”
Upon noticing Nie Yang’s change of attitude, Nie Qing smiled again, grateful for his cousin’s understanding.
“Actually, I came here to ask for your assistance with something, Yang.”
Nie Yang joked, “While I may not have many skills, if there’s any way I can help my elder brother, I certainly won’t refuse.”
Nie Qing replied, “I don’t have any reliable people by my side. Would you be willing to become my right-hand man?”
Nie Yang naturally had no reason to refuse that offer; in fact, he was more than eager.
As time passed, both Nie Yang and the System began to notice Nie Liang’s efforts to mold and prepare his eldest son.
The System, unable to wait any longer, started bombarding Nie Yang’s ears with urgency.
【You really aren’t in a hurry at all; Nie Liang is intent on paving the way for his son!】
Nie Yang rubbed his ears, casually replying, “Anyone with eyes can see that! Nie Liang’s days are numbered. If he doesn’t correct his son’s temper soon, even if he clears all obstacles for Nie Qing before he dies, Nie Qing still won’t hold onto power. What’s this about? The emperor is anxious, but the eunuch is even more so. Let Nie Liang train him; we’ll just quietly wait for him to kick the bucket—no need to make any small moves.”
With that said, he unfurled a bamboo scroll and began to read intently, utterly engrossed as if he were a sage lost in his studies.
The System was at a loss for words.
His host was great in every way except for this stubbornness that drove it crazy, often contradicting its suggestions.
For the System, a headstrong host was not ideal as it meant they could be hard to manage.
【The allure of power is too great; it can change a person’s nature beyond recognition. Do you really think Nie Qing will remain manipulable once he gets a taste of power?】 The System couldn’t help but frighten Nie Yang, only for Nie Yang to remain unfazed, 【You’re so confident you can still control Nie Qing?】
“Isn’t there you?” Nie Yang rolled his eyes, “Nie Liang fell for it, let alone Nie Qing.”
The System was momentarily speechless, finding Nie Yang’s mischievous attitude rather infuriating.
At that moment, an impressively hefty orange cat clambered onto the windowsill with great effort, meowed, and then tumbled to the other side.
Nie Yang’s eyes glimmered with amusement as he stretched out a hand towards the cat, softly calling, “Kitty, come here.”
The orange cat shook its head, let out a meow, and obediently extended its paw.
Nie Yang cradled the hefty orange cat in his arms, running his fingers through its fur with dexterity. Initially reluctant, the cat soon closed its eyes in contentment. The System watched, unable to take it anymore; Nie Yang, are you seriously that much of a cat person?
【We need to help this fatso lose some weight; it’s going to be a problem if it gets any fatter.】
As the surrounding servants had been sent away, Nie Yang didn’t bother responding in his mind and simply chuckled, “Is it heavy?”
The System retorted, 【Nine out of ten orange cats are heavy; the tenth is extraordinarily heavy.】
Nie Yang responded, “Let it be heavy; I can afford to keep it.”
As they conversed, neither of them noticed the orange cat was looking up at Nie Yang’s chin from a rather peculiar angle.
【Forget it; I won’t interfere with your dumb cat.】
Nie Yang scooped up the chubby orange cat again, ready to take it for a stroll.
“My cat doesn’t need your concern.”
Feeling a bit dejected, the orange cat received a gentle scratch under its chin from Nie Yang, which made it turn its head away in defiance.
“Such a little sourpuss. Let’s go out to play, but remember to come back early.”
Nie Yang chuckled as he let the cat down. Once on the ground, the orange cat shook its fur and strutted away, walking wobbly as if it had just a bit too much to drink.
The orange cat slipped into the garden, disappearing from view, likely off to chase butterflies or flowers.
Everyone knew Nie Yang had his passions misplaced, keeping an extraordinarily fat orange cat by his side, leading many to mock his poor taste.
Nie Yang didn’t mind the teasing; in fact, he grew even fonder of the cat, treating the rare flowers in his garden as mere toys for it.
Thus, this orange cat had become a little tyrant among cats.
Our feline overlord now showed a very human-like confusion and fear, covering its eyes with its paws, meowing pitifully.
“Why is it that everyone else transmigrates as a human, and I’m just a fat orange cat? This cat is way too fat; two steps in and I’m out of breath!”
Feline Tyrant angrily pawed at the dirt beneath it, meowing incessantly. Mr. Cat was here for the “Dreaming Back a Thousand Years” event, and in his eyes, a virtual screen displayed countless idle folks who not only showed no sympathy but laughed at him.
So far, over a dozen “overlords” had already appeared. While the previous participants didn’t meet Jiang Pengji, at least they were human! Yet this one turned into a cat, drastically changing locations from Dongqing to Zhong Zhao. Yes, Mr. Cat became the pet of Nie Yang.
【Feathers:
What else can you do besides laugh? Didn’t anyone notice the reaction of that boy earlier was a bit chilling? He has no one but the cat by his side. Who on earth is he talking to? He’s talking to himself and giving us goosebumps.】
【Bai Xue Ge:
What I’m most concerned about is this statement—’Isn’t there you?’ Nie Liang has fallen for it, let alone Nie Qing. Nie Liang is the strongest lord of the Nie Clan in Zhong Zhao; what has he been caught in? We still don’t know much about Nie Qing, but something feels off…
The idlers failed to notice more red flags, but Jiang Pengji saw it all too clearly.
This young man named Nie Yang was carrying a piece of the System within him.
As for whom he was speaking to? Just from the tip of one’s toes, you’d already know!
Jiang Pengji muttered, “I fully believe Old Commander’s words now. The new system within the Divine Slayer Blade is here to help me.”
