GCCB Chapter 69

Shu Yu wasn’t very happy, because she couldn’t speak as a cat. 

When interacting, because Fu Wang was very good at observing reactions, he could answer some of her simpler questions, but sometimes when she wanted to express more difficult things, Fu Wang couldn’t understand either.

In order to express her wish to recover her human identity, Shu Yu jumped on top of the desk and pointed for Fu Wang to get her some ink, then she raised a paw and, with some difficulty, smacked some scribbly and twisted lines on white paper, which made up the words “Become Human”.

Fu Wang picked up the white paper stained with droplets of ink and many paw prints and observed it for a while. Before Shu Yu’s sparkling eyes, he let out an appreciative smile. “Xiao-Yu is so talented, these two words are written with such artistry, especially the last paw print’s placement, it’s perfect, very much like dotting the eyes of a dragon’s painting.¹ 画龙点睛 Dotting the eyes of the dragon. Means adding a finishing touch to something.”

Shu Yu: … Who wants to hear your praise! And you can even speak such words against your conscience, please just look at what those words mean, alright?! 

Kitten Shu Yu went silent for a bit, then she jumped on his shoulder and, without reserves, she planted a black paw print on his face. Confronted with the face of “Count Edra”, Shu Yu felt zero pressure doing so.

Fu Wang held the displeased kitten in his arms and soothed, “It’s not that I don’t want Xiao-Yu to become human again, however I have no manner of doing so right now. But soon, I will have dealt with this, believe me Xiao-Yu, please wait patiently a little bit more?”

Shu Yu was a reasonable girl who didn’t have temperament issues, that’s why her displeasure was her suspecting that Fu Wang was playing with her on purpose and wanted to see her as a cat, however since Fu Wang had already explained, she’d temporarily believe in his words. As for whether the truth was as he said or not… 

Shu Yu looked at his earnest gaze and his face which betrayed no lies. 

When this man wanted to lie, no one would be able to catch him.

Shu Yu wilted in Fu Wang’s embrace. She lazily looked as he stashed away the papers printed full with paw prints, putting them away in his dimensional bag, together with the treasures and gold he had robbed. Then Fu Wang took Shu Yu to wash her paws. Warm water, and just the right amount of strength to knead her paws; kitten Shu Yu’s eyes squinted in bliss from having her paws squished.

Fu Wang, as well, was joyful as he squished those paws.

Right now they were in Count Edra’s mansion. Fu Wang had thought that an individual with unique fate was by Count Edra’s side, but even after looking over each person within this mansion, there was nothing. 

However he wasn’t in a hurry either. Every day he’d carry a cat and admire the scenery and eat some nice snacks.

To Fu Wang, what world he was in didn’t matter; as long as the person in his arms was by his side, then he feared nothing. 

And fascinatingly, this world was different from his own, different kinds of energies completely different from the one used in his world caught his interest, making him want to learn and understand more about it.

To be frank, Fu Wang’s top student illness of wanting to learn whatever interesting skills he saw was being triggered, he wanted to study things like magic and so. Moreover with Shu Yu currently being stuck in such an adorable form, this made him not want to ever let go day and night, he wanted to hold her in his hands every single moment of the day. With such a hard-to-come-by opportunity, of course he’d take the chance to look at her as much as he could.

There was one thing though, and it was that they couldn’t do some very intimate acts, what a pity. 

A sleepy Shu Yu suddenly shivered awake. She looked at Fu Wang’s face full of tenderness in confusion and then looked at their surroundings. No danger?

Kitten Shu Yu didn’t think much of it. She patted Fu Wang’s fingers and meow’ed.

“Meow~” —— I’m hungry.

If there were any benefits to becoming a cat, the only benefit was probably that she didn’t need to drink Fu Wang’s blood anymore, since this wasn’t the body Fu Wang had made for her~ And the milk and weird fruit juice specially made for her was also pretty delicious~

In the afternoon, Fu Wang sat in the flower garden experimenting with magic scrolls, Shu Yu took an afternoon nap in his arms. Then a servant carried over a letter— it was an invitation from the duke in the imperial city, inviting them to take part in the duke’s beloved daughter’s coming-of-age ball.

The prestigious lord duke of the imperial city was Count Edra’s uncle. He usually pampered this nephew of his, perhaps even more than he did his own sons. Count Edra spent most of the year in the duke’s manor. According to past habits, even without this ball, it would’ve already been time for Count Edra to visit the imperial city.

Fu Wang thoughtfully held the invitation. Perhaps the little special fate that had been on Count Edra was in the duke’s manor, after all, Count Edra spent most of his time in the duke’s manor.

Although Fu Wang was donning the appearance of Count Edra, there was still a difference to be seen in mannerisms and actions, he also didn’t have his memories, so he could only improvise. However, acting as another person was something that didn’t give Fu Wang much pressure, and he wasn’t worried about being noticed. If there were no other options, he could still take Shu Yu and seek out another identity, the only reason they were here was because it was convenient.

He put the invitation on the desk. Fu Wang started pouring over the magic books and ordered the servants, “Prepare the luggage. Tomorrow, we set towards the imperial city.”

“Understood, Count.”

Since it was a magic continent, carriages pulled by horses were naturally not the only method of fast travel, nobles merely liked to use human labor to accentuate their nobility and identities, if one truly wanted to rush towards somewhere far away like the imperial city, then a teleportation array was necessary. 

Of course, with this kind of array, the farther away it was or the more things were sent, then the expenses of doing so became heavier. Every time Count Edra utilized teleportation for travel, the expenses were that which an average citizen would never be able to afford in their life.

Fu Wang was very interested in the teleportation array and promptly decided on studying the teleportation array as his next goal. Because Count Edra was a noble who didn’t have magic aptitude nor could he tolerate the slightest hardship, he was neither a magician nor a warrior, he had over a dozen magicians and warriors who were in charge of his safety, as well as servants and maids, so it was a crowd of people and a pile of luggage. 

From start to finish, Fu Wang sat within the carriage and they were teleported – carriage and all – atop the formation. After more or less the time it took to prepare tea, they arrived at the imperial city miles and miles away. They left the teleportation array of the imperial city and there was already a butler from the duke’s mansion waiting for them, prepared to lead them into the duke’s manor.

Fu Wang lived ostentatiously within the duke’s manor as well, because the servants treated him with much respect and that duke, on their first day, also came over to inquire about his health and so on. Knowing that he was almost injured by the 9th Level hellion-beast in the auction house before, the duke also comforted him by gifting him a pile of nice trinkets, and promised as well to retaliate on his behalf. His enthusiastic demeanor would’ve made others misunderstand that this was not his nephew but his son instead.

In the end, Fu Wang actually learnt a few secrets from the mouths of the servants: Count Edra was truly the duke’s bloodline. So, nothing further had to be said about the encounters between the duke and Count Edra’s mother, the countess. People not in the know merely assumed that the duke spoiled Count Edra because of his parents’ passing.

According to rumours, the duke had two illegitimate sons; one was Duke Edra, who was adored and pampered, and the other was in an opposite situation, living a life that wasn’t even as good as the manor’s average servants. This illegitimate son was born as a result of the duke having gotten drunk and forced himself upon a low rank maid. Not only was he born with a disgraceful status, he was born with a naturally worthless constitution, and he had black hair and dark purple eyes—- In the magic continent, these were symbols of the devil.

The only reason he wasn’t killed upon being born was because the duke saw that he had his blood flowing in his veins.

But the only outline was that he wasn’t killed. The duke didn’t allow anyone to mention his identity, and didn’t allow him to study magic or learn martial arts, he only treated him as a rough servant, so it was clear to anyone just how harsh his days were. Especially when compared to Count Edra of the same age, it was a difference between clouds and mud.

The worst thing about it was that Count Edra – for an unknown reason – liked to torment him. Every time Count Edra settled in the duke manor he would always have him serve him and then humiliate him in several ways.

Fu Wang observed the black-haired young man with a straight back, his eyes hiding a deep hatred, and slowly let out a smile. Very good, the individual with a special fate in this world, found him. Moreover, the ambition and resentment shown within this young man’s gaze was slightly similar to him from so long ago— this was a person who desired power and who would sacrifice everything to attain it.

The black-haired young man named Bucce learnt of a sky-shattering secret. The Count Edra who always tormented him was not Count Edra anymore, instead, it was the transfigured form of the 9th Level hellion-beast that had caused so much uproar the past few days, and it was offering an extremely tempting deal to him.

“Bucce? Are you interested in making a deal with me?”

“I need this body of yours, so in exchange, I shall give you an entirely new body, a new identity. From henceforth you won’t be a servant of the duke manor anymore, and you will attain the magic tomes, the martial arts techniques, and the wealth in my hands. Then you will be able to grasp power, and use this power to do whatever your heart desires.”

The 9th Level hellion-beast recovered its original form in Bucce’s eyes, and it truly looked like a real devil. It was seated there, black hair and bloody pupils, and although its smile was gentle nothing could hide the scent of blood that wafted off its body, and the soul-pearmeting terror was enough to almost crush him.

After accepting the contract and walking out of the garden of Count Edra, Bucce still couldn’t regain his wits. He felt like he had made a deal with the devil and became someone who had sold his soul to the devil. However… 

Bucce clenched his fists. 

If something were to give him power, no matter if it was the devil or a hellion-beast, he was willing to give it a chance. 

Moreover if he switched bodies, then his dear Delia, his own sister, will be able to be together with him, right?² Translator: That’s right! Incest galore lmao.

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The coming-of-age ball of the duke’s sole beloved daughter, Delia. 

Invitations were sent to countless talented noblemen of the imperial city, the intention of looking for a son-in-law was vaguely hinted, so the ball tonight was going to be very lively. Not only were the princes making an appearance, the young miss Delia’s friend Princess Alberta would also join.

The duke intended for his daughter Delia to marry the prince with the highest chance to succeed the throne, and then have Princess Alberta be a pairing with his nephew Edra. Unfortunately, the two young misses speaking in hushed tones within their room were unhappy with this decision of his.

“My dear Alberta, what should I do? My father wants me to marry into the royal family, but, but the one I love is Bucce, I cannot betray him!” The lovely, beautiful young girl said sorrowfully, her eyes full of despair.³Translator: Alright, so it’s consensual at least gg.

Princess Alberta who sat next to her wiped away her tears. Her expression wasn’t good either. “Dear, you and Bucce are sister and brother, regardless of whether he’s recognized as such by the duke. As long as the duke doesn’t agree, you two cannot possibly be together.”

“I know, but our love is sinless. I’m willing to leave with him. I don’t want luxurious clothes or accessories, I only want him.”

Princess Alberta shook her head and sighed, “I truly admire your bravery, I cannot change your mind. You know that the duke always wanted for me and Edra to be together, but to marry the so-called nephew of the duke, heavens, that man is truly a blockhead whose only good trait is his face! But sadly, the duke does not even fear my father, I probably will have to marry that blockhead.”

Delia looked at her in apology. She felt even worse about it all. “Alberta, why do we have to carry such a painful fate!”

“This is our destiny, Delia. Don’t cry, the ball is going to start soon, if you go out like this you will be noticed, and the duke will get angry.”

In the magnificent hall, slow music slowly resounded. The madams and young misses wearing fashionable dresses, luxurious accessories, and holding scented fans murmured amongst each other. Their eyes secretly peeked at the handsome and upright male guests, sometimes even letting out low giggles. There were also men with passionate gazes who would seek out certain young misses and then be unable to resist coming forward with wine glasses to make small talk.

As the afternoon ball was about to start, the door servants welcomed two more guests. As for who dared to enter so late? Beneath the fluorescent lights of the hall, quite a few gazes looked towards the entrance inquisitively.

A handsome young man with brilliant golden hair and eyes as deep as the ocean appeared, his expression gentle enough to sway countless hearts. Everyone was stunned speechless by the inexplicable presence he exuded, and they all quickly realized in surprise that it was – unexpectedly – the nephew of the duke, Count Edra.

His birthright was an unspeakable secret in the upper circles of nobility, but if it was him, it was understandable for him to appear so late into the night, after all who asked for the duke to favor him so much?

Nonetheless, after having not appeared for a while, the count seems to have undergone a slight change? That smile which was pleasant to look at, those deep sets of empathetic eyes, the charming and graceful posture, they were things the count didn’t possess at all in the past. And even more surprising happened next—- That arrogant Count Edra who was bent on chasing after the princess was, astonishingly enough, holding the hand of an unfamiliar woman with a gentle posture and a besotted expression as he led her inside the hall.

Everyone’s gaze turned to the female partner of the count and hushed in unison. Because, that woman had black hair and black eyes, as well as that overly beautiful appearance of hers. She wore a dress that didn’t show shoulders nor her back like the others, instead she was covered up to her neck, with beautiful interlocking designs faintly alluding to a beautiful bone structure. White roses were pinned on her chest, intricate designs of roses were sewn onto the hem of her dress, the laced designs flickering with a silvery shine with every step she took.

Uniformly black with silver linings. Black hair falling like silk. Eyes as dark as the blackest of nights. A calm, passive expression. All of it made her seem like a proud queen. White gloves were laid delicately on Count Edra’s hand. Anyone could see that there was a gravitational and harmonious balance between them that no one could break.

Because of their arrival, the hall became silent in an instant. 

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Chapter Description: Let’s dance~

• 1
  画龙点睛 Dotting the eyes of the dragon. Means adding a finishing touch to something.
• 2
  Translator: That’s right! Incest galore lmao.
• 3
  Translator: Alright, so it’s consensual at least gg.