The auction came to an end.
Qian Renxue returned to quietly weigh her options, while Bai Mu, having settled all remaining fees, stepped forward and opened the iron cage that held the cat girl.
"Ugh…"
The girl immediately curled into a tight ball in the corner. Her large, watery eyes were filled with vigilance and unease.
"Don't be afraid," Bai Mu said, stopping his movements. His voice was gentle, like a spring breeze. "I won't hurt you. What's your name?"
After a long silence, the cat girl finally lifted her head slightly. Her lips trembled before a thin, fragile voice emerged.
"Xiao… Xiao Yue."
"Xiao Yue. That's a lovely name." Bai Mu smiled, his gaze softening. "Come with me. From now on, no one will bully you again."
He took her cold, trembling hand and led her away without lingering. Leaving the auction house behind, they headed toward his manor in Heaven Dou City—a residence gifted to him by Ning Fengzhi. Rarely occupied, it was spacious, quiet, and refined.
The moment Xiao Yue stepped inside, her body tensed. Her cat ears pressed flat against her head, her tail tucked carefully behind her. The fear in her eyes did not lessen in the slightest. She followed closely behind Bai Mu, clutching the corner of his sleeve, her head bowed so low she scarcely dared to breathe.
Seeing her like this, Bai Mu stopped and slowly crouched until he was level with her gaze.
"It's safe here," he said softly. "No one will hurt you."
He raised a hand as if to reassure her, but Xiao Yue instinctively flinched. Bai Mu withdrew his hand at once and smiled calmly.
"My name is Bai Mu. From now on, I'll protect you. All you need to do is relax and follow me. Come—I'll have someone help you get cleaned up and changed."
At the mention of washing, Xiao Yue stiffened, her eyes reddening slightly. Bai Mu did not press her, speaking instead in a steady, reassuring tone. After a moment, she nodded faintly.
What followed was handled with care and discretion. Xiao Yue was helped to bathe and change in comfort and privacy, and when she emerged, she wore a simple white dress that made her look even more petite and gentle. Her cat ears and tail peeked out adorably, and the tension in her posture had eased just a little.
"This is your home now," Bai Mu said warmly. "You can rest here in peace."
That night passed quietly. Xiao Yue, exhausted both physically and emotionally, soon fell asleep, the unease in her heart slowly fading.
Days later, a soft knock sounded at the manor gate.
"The door isn't locked. Come in."
Qian Renxue entered, having already restored her female form. She wore a pure white dress, her long hair cascading down her back. Her beauty was serene and angelic, though her eyes held a trace of urgency she could not fully conceal.
As she stepped into the hall, she saw Bai Mu seated nearby, with Xiao Yue resting close at his side. Qian Renxue paused, her expression freezing for a brief moment before she took a deep breath and composed herself.
"It seems I came at an awkward time," she said coolly.
"On the contrary," Bai Mu replied with a faint smile as he stood. "You came at just the right time."
Before she could respond, he guided her to sit and spoke in a lighter tone. "I was just thinking about you."
Qian Renxue stiffened slightly, color rising to her cheeks, but she did not pull away. Instead, she met his gaze, her voice low and serious.
"What about the matter we discussed before? How can I ensure it proceeds smoothly?"
The plan weighed heavily on her mind. Ascending the throne ahead of schedule was too important to leave to chance, which was why she had come in person, setting aside her pride for the sake of the greater goal.
Bai Mu's smile deepened. "Xue'er, resolve alone isn't enough. You need absolute clarity."
She frowned, understanding that he was deliberately testing her. Yet she had no alternative. After a moment's hesitation, she leaned closer, her face burning as she spoke quietly.
"Then tell me. What more do you need?"
Their discussion continued behind closed doors, shifting fully to strategy and planning. Details were examined, risks weighed, and contingencies refined. Qian Renxue gradually took control of the conversation, her sharp mind asserting itself as she insisted on mastering every aspect of the State-Usurping Plan.
"No matter what," she said firmly, "this plan must be fully under my control."
Bai Mu nodded in satisfaction. "Good. With your determination, everything will proceed far more smoothly."
Xiao Yue remained nearby, listening quietly and offering what small assistance she could without interrupting. As the hours passed, Qian Renxue became completely absorbed in the plan, forgetting even her original anxiety.
By the time she finally left, the blueprint for the State-Usurping Plan was clear in her mind.
In a fleeting moment of reverie, she imagined herself ascending the throne—bathed in divine light, soaring beneath the glory of the Angel God.
And for the first time, that vision felt truly within reach.
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