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Chapter 14: I Know You

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Soon, the two groups stood facing each other.

The monkey youth in golden yellow clothes looked up with a dissatisfied scowl.

Because of the terrain, they'd ended standing at lower level, having to be looked down by the other group. Moreover, aside from the three at the back who were carefully observing his group overall, he could tell that the two at the front weren't really paying attention to him.

The other tiger was focused on his side tiger. The cat was more blatant, openly staring at his subordinate with an expressionless face.

They were truly not putting him in their eyes!

He, Bon Sa, was really dissatisfied.

Wonlai finally noticed the monkey youth's increasingly ugly expression, and knew that they had no option but take the role of the lower party and speak first.

He glanced to his left, but Kyu Cao seemed to not even be paying attention to the situation, leaving him in charge.

"Greetings," he said curtly, but still politely.

"Hmph, so you have a little bit of manners," responded Bon Sa impatiently. They truly had taken their time to greet him.

Seeing this reaction, Wonlai was not too surprised, but the three behind him couldn't help but furrow their brows as if drawing out blades. Kyu Cao too turned his head to look, but not a change could be found on his expression.

"Don't pay it attention, Brother Sa," the tiger in the other group spoke out. "He's just an ordinary member of the clan, without any importance. How could he be knowledgeable of the great figures of the Empire? It's normal for him to not recognize Brother Sa, who dislikes appearing in front of the masses." His tone was calm, with a hint of helplessness, but his words were obviously full of condescension.

"Oh, is this your junior?" Bon Sa asked half-heartedly.

"He belongs to my branch of the clan."

This tiger's name was Bei Bingxao, and was the eldest son of the Head of the Bloodstripe Clan's branch to which Wonlai belonged.

Evidently, their relationship was not very good.

"Oh," Bon Sa muttered uninterested. He could not be bothered with these minor characters. "Just pay your respects and move aside."

Hearing this, Wonlai felt extremely indignant, lest his three teammates. But seeing that Bei Bingxao was actually acting the role of the follower next to this monkey youth, he knew that this Bon Sa must have an extremely elevated identity, so he couldn't afford to offend him.

Wonlai gave a courteous bow with a calm expression, the same could be said from Bi Gong and Li Ling. Only Ti Ping's face slightly showed a glimpse of the extreme bitterness he felt inside, but he knew clearly that he had no standing to oppose. Then the four of them began to step to one side.

Bon Sa silently watched them move. Behind him, that group of followers grinned mockingly, quite satisfied of being on the winning side.

It was only when they finished moving aside that Wonlai and the others noticed that their fifth companion had not followed. In fact, the cat hadn't moved at all, continuing to calmly face the other group.

"Shit, I forgot!" He cursed silently.

Right, this cat was also an unordinary young master.

While Ti Ping and the others may call him Young Master, Wonlai's position in the branch was quite ordinary. Because his talent was acceptable and his diligence praiseworthy, he enjoyed some benefits which any commoner would be greatly envious of.

However, compared to the true young master of the branch, he was the commoner.

But this cat Cao, Wonlai was one hundred percent that he was a genuine young master, and not one from a minor family.

It was because the cat was usually quite carefree, even following the instructions of Li Ling and them, who by all means were commoners with lower standing, that he'd overlooked the fact that he, like any young master with and exalted background, was someone who must have also an extremely high pride.

Such kind of character, it was simply not possible for the cat to obediently comply with such oppressive demands.

However, if he had the actual backing to stand against the other party, Wonlai simply didn't know.

"Fellow Brother Cao..." he tried to advice him, but the cat ignored him completely.

Bon Sa unhappily narrowed his eyes, seeing that this cat was not moving at all. What was more, he was facing him head-on with a fixed stare, clearly intending to go against his words.

This cat wore light green robes without armor, not at all suitable for harsh training in the forest. They actually looked like the inner garments that one would wear below a formal long robe. These were somewhat mistreated, with a blackened big gash on the left side where some bandages were visible underneath.

Still, the fabric was of good quality. They were stitched with silver tread, and adorned with auspicious patterns. Its current state was kind of a pity.

Was this some clan's young master who had wanted to show off venturing into the Backdoor's Forest dressed like this, just to end like this, or was he simply an idiot?

"You aren't going to move?" Bon Sa asked with a slight threatening tone.

No matter from which clan the cat was from, could it be compared to his?

Such insolence, Bon Sa needed to teach him how far the sky was.

Kyu Cao said nothing nor did he move. His face was immovable like a mask.

Bon Sa's glare deepened, seeing the cat's vacant expression. Could he actually be a retard? He wondered.

At the side, Bei Bingxao too was becoming impatient.

As expected from a friend of that nobody Wonlai, he really overestimates himself.

"It seems you really don't know who Brother Bon Sa is. You are quite lucky that Brother Sa is a patient and forgiving individual, but you are pushing your luck too far. Quickly pay your respects and step aside, we don't have time to waste with you," he said snappily.

Kyu Cao gave a glance to this tiger, then shifted back to the monkey.

"Why?" a single word came from his maw.

"Why?" repeated Bon Sa puzzled, then glared fiercely at the cat, feeling played. "Why what?"

"Why should I pay my respects to you?" he said, his voice calm and devoid of any ripples.

Hearing this, Bon Sa was momentarily at loss, and everyone else behind him was stunned.

Why should he pay his respects? Was this even a question that needed to be answered?

Ignoring commoners, even among nobles, it was simply normal to show deference to someone with higher standing. Of course, this was according to the situation and the relationship between the involved parties.

For example, just now, it was really not necessary for Wonlai and the others to pay their respects, since they actually had no relationship with this Bon Sa. The fact that Bon Sa had demanded this of them, was actually a show of his overbearing personality and a sort of reprimand for the previous loss of face.

But this cat was obviously unwilling to bend, and was even questioning Bon Sa's qualifications to demand this.

Bei Bingxao and the other followers felt immediately incensed, feeling that this cat was simply ludicrous, but didn't speak since they risked talking out of place. As for Bon Sa, a glint of caution appeared in his piercing black eyes.

He didn't fail to see, that the cat's expression had not changed at all during this time, even when rebuking him. His demeanor was calm all along, as if nothing affected him.

That face that seemed foolishly blank before, now appeared to be extremely aloof and disinterested, as if this situation was so below him that he was bored beyond compare, and that everyone in front of him were mere specks of dust he could overlook.

Such disposition was simply not common and ordinary, and would need a pretty special environment to be nurtured.

"Who are you?" Bon Sa asked, a hint of graveness in his voice.

The cat didn't respond immediately, and instead seemed to be observing him closely, causing the monkey an uncomfortable feeling. "I know who you are," he finally said.

Bon Sa found himself a bit confused, before the cat continued. "You are Goldcloud Bon Sa, second son of the First Elder of the Goldcloud Clan, Goldcloud Son Feixen. Third in line for the succession of the Elder's position. Your mother is the fourth wife, Freshwind Xu Lanlan, eldest daughter of Batonpass City governor, Freshwind Gu Fong... You like Goldymint Tea the best and long hot baths at night."

Bon Sa looked at the cat with alert. With each word, he'd felt an unbearable feeling, as if a pervert was groping him perversely. He was also indignant and incredulous.

Second son, yet third in line, this was practically pointing out that among his younger siblings at least there was one who was superior to him.

And that last part... what the fuck was that?!

But soon, a shiver run down his tail, making his fur stand on its ends.

Such accurate and complete information, he suddenly felt that in front of this cat he was bare and with no secrets to hide.

This level of grasp on his person, not everybody would be capable of that. And while most of it was actually no secret and could be considered common knowledge among the upper echelons of nobility; that last part, there were actually some terrifying connotations there.

"The fabric of his clothes is Illusionary Misty Silk, the tread is Moon Gold." Suddenly, an ultrasound transmission arrived to Bon Sa's ears.

Immediately, he was inwardly startled, and giving the cat clothes a second glance, indeed, it was as his servant said.

Certainly, he knew these materials, and of course he owned robes made of them.

But these were his very best clothes, only to be used during important occasions.

But this cat was using them to come into the Backdoor's Forest, and had actually ruined them.

Just... who was he?

"Master, the duration of our leave ends today. We must report before the sun sets." At his side, the black buck spoke, loudly this time.

Bon Sa understood the buck's intentions, and begrudgingly admitted that it was time to take a step back. Even now, the cat looked completely unmoved, which only served to fuel his frustration, but also his wariness.

"Let's go," he ultimately said, surprising the young theriopes waiting for a show behind him.

Only Bei Bingxao had an extremely suspicious look in his eyes, having understood something.

He strode forward, a dominant and untamed aura emanating from him. The others silently followed, while glaring daggers at the statue-like cat. Both tigers shared a glare filled with animosity as they passed each other.

"This isn't resolved yet." A voice sounded in Kyu Cao's ear, making it twitch and flick, but otherwise not causing any change on him.

Before long, the sight Bon Sa's group lost itself between the trees and the shrubbery.

A heavy silence fell on Wonlai and the group.

The four of them looked at that cat, who just this morning had obediently stepped aside and waited upon them to make breakfast, and had a hard time recognizing the two as the same cat.

If he had surprised then before with his odd demeanor, tyrannical martial skills, or his ability to make them feel helpless, just now, they were left speechless at his overbearingness.

An overbearingness such that everything before him could be treated as mere dust that would not enter his eyes.

They simply didn't know how to respond.

Then he turned toward them.

Kyu Cao regarded them with his usual lack of expression... but soon, he unexpectedly broke eye contact. "What is the matter?" he said, but there was a strange inflection in his voice that the four could only notice because they had spent the last two days madly trying to learn how to read this cat.

It only took them a moment, for an idea to pop in his minds.

Was not that... embarrassment? Was he embarrassed?

This threw the four for a loop. Where was that domineering cat from a moment ago?!

The tension left their bodies so quickly that they almost went limp.

Then, a smile threatened to sprout on their muzzles.

It didn't matter who this cat was now. They would not needlessly ask.

In their hearts, he was already a friend.

Traversing Backdoor's Forest, Bin Sa and his group continued to make way toward the exit.

"Ku Ro, have you any idea of who that cat could be?" Using ultrasound transmission, Bon Sa secretly asked the black buck.

This Ku Ro was his personal servant and bodyguard. To receive and organize information was part of his duties, thus it was him who was more knowledgeable about the figures in the Empire.

"I do not. I have never heard of any important figure from the cat race among the great powers. Not from that age." The buck responded back. His voice was deep and a bit raspy.

Theriopes from the goat race matured faster than monkeys, so his appearance was older than Bon Sa despite being the same age.

Bon Sa only grunted in acknowledgement. This might turn out to be tricky, but today loss of face had to be repaid.

"We should tread carefully, I could not glean nothing from him."

"He's even duller than you," Bon Sa joked with dark humor, but as expected got no reaction. "Whatever. I will ask Big Brother if he knows something."

At the side, Bei Bingxao could infer that these two were currently talking secretly, but could not dare to join. Thinking back to what had happened, his eyes clouded with an ill intent.

That upstart Wonlai, always trying to vie for the top even though he was just ordinary in all aspects.

However, it seemed he had somehow found a backer who, while mysterious, at least was not afraid of someone like Bon Sa.

That was no good.

Something had to be done.