Chapter 111. Easy Targets? More Like A Bandit - Like Person.
Little Nekomata watched as Ling and the man who claimed to be Toukumo were raising their cups to toast and chatting merrily. She found it rather boring yet couldn't help feeling more curious about Ling as he didn't show the slightest bit of Malice towards Toukumo even in this situation.
[Judging from this young fellow's behavior, he's obviously not a kind person. But why can he remain so calm after sensing others' Malice?]
Little Nekomata couldn't figure it out. After all, even among family members, there would be some subtle traces of Malice due to various things. She really couldn't understand why someone could stay so composed when facing undisguised Malice.
[What a strange human being...]
Yawning slightly, little Nekomata stood up when Ling picked up a tender piece of fish fillet again. She stretched out her paw and patted his forehead, meowing once.
Ling paused slightly in his actions and didn't quite understand what this little Nekomata wanted to do. It wasn't until she meowed again that he tentatively held the fish fillet up high. The next moment, he clearly felt the little Nekomata on his head grab onto his chopsticks and start tearing at the fish fillet on them.
[Although a summoned beast targeted by the Uzumaki clan is not likely to be good - natured, this kind of personality really makes it hard to be on guard...] The smile on Ling's lips widened a bit. [Really, if I can't take this adorable little cat with me, I won't be able to sleep well.]
"Is this your pet, young man?" Toukumo sized up the Nekomata with its strange - colored fur, which was of exceptionally good quality. "Nekomata are bad omens, you know."
"It's just a little guy I met on my journey," Ling retracted his chopsticks and picked up his wine cup instead. "And no matter how bad it is, it can't be worse than losing your eyes, right?"
"Hey, lad, you shouldn't say that. There's still a long way to go in life." Toukumo smiled and took out a paper packet. He sprinkled the powder inside into the wine pot, shook it gently, and then said with a smile, "Come on, let me fill your cup."
"Sure, thanks."
Seeing Ling reaching out his cup, little Nekomata's heterochromatic cat eyes suddenly widened. Without thinking, she bit Ling's hair and tugged hard.
"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch..." Ling tilted his head back, sucking in a breath of cold air. The cup involuntarily landed on the table. "Do you still want to eat fish fillets?"
"Meow - growl!"
"Do you want to drink wine?"
"Meow - growl!"
"Alright, alright. It's okay, it's okay... Ouch! Ouch! Ouch..."
"See, lad, I told you not to get too close to creatures like Nekomata," Toukumo said with a smile as he pushed the filled wine cup towards Ling. "After all, felines are very moody."
"Hiss... But isn't that also what makes cats so charming?" Ling picked the little Nekomata off his head and placed her on his lap, stroking her fur. After touching his head with lingering fear, he groped for the just - filled wine cup and downed it in one gulp. "By the way, Brother Toukumo mentioned the change in the crown prince of the Land of Lightning just now. Is that true?"
"Of course it's true. I just got back from the Land of Lightning not long ago. This isn't the first time the Fang Daimyō has fallen ill, not to mention that this time it's particularly serious. The princes are really going at it..." Toukumo said with a sigh, "So, the Land of Lightning isn't a good place to come to right now..."
"This is really a bad time to come..." Ling seemed a bit tired as he covered his forehead with his hand. After shaking his head slightly, his voice became a bit slurred, "Hmm, is the wine in the Land of Lightning this strong? I shouldn't've drunk that much."
Hearing this, Toukumo glanced at the twenty or so empty wine pots on the table and twitched the corner of his mouth. "So I've already said, young man, don't drink so hastily. Which room is yours? I'll help you go and rest."
"Yeah, then thank..."
Thud.
Before the slurred word of thanks could come out, Ling slumped onto the table. The lively atmosphere in the Guest House instantly quieted down, and only a few people sourly said that Toukumo had easily picked up a good [easy target].
Toukumo also said proudly, "Who asked you guys to be so indecisive and always want to wait and see? By the way, this kid's alcohol tolerance is really terrifying. After drinking so much of Boss Tokishigawa Kyo's special brewed strong liquor, he still had to be drugged by me to fall down."
"Don't even mention it. Your method of drugging was really unbearable to watch..."
Toukumo waved his hand indifferently. "Anyway, he's blind. Why waste that effort?"
"Even if this [easy target] is blind, you should have given a proper pretense, right?"
"He's blind. What's the point of me putting on that act? He can't..." Toukumo saw the shocked expressions of the people around him and his voice got softer and softer, but he still stubbornly finished, "see."
"You're so cold - hearted. I've been so cooperative with you. I really banged my head on the table when I pretended to fall."
Toukumo suddenly turned around. When he saw Ling sitting there with his chin in his hand looking at him, his expression was once extremely distorted. "Damn it... the crook gets swindled by another crook?"
"Haha, after all, I don't have any travel expenses." Ling laughed heartily. "So, are you going to be obedient and follow the rules, or do I have to do it myself?"
Toukumo cursed viciously and raised his voice. "Boss, put the meal on my tab! I'll pay you later!"
After Boss Tokishigawa Kyo replied, the small Guest House suddenly erupted into a burst of laughter.
"Wow, Toukumo, you really met a good one this time!"
"Thanks to Toukumo this time!"
"Damn it, you old geezers, don't let me catch you!" Toukumo cursed and angrily took out his money bag and threw it in front of Ling. "You're young but have deep schemes. Are you a habitual offender?"
"Hehe, It's the first time someone has been so cooperative... After all, I'm not in a convenient situation to go to the casino right now," Ling said with a smile as he picked up the money bag. Feeling the heavy weight in his hand, his smile became more sincere. "Thank you. Big Brother Toukumo is really generous."
"What a drag..." Toukumo clicked his tongue. Still not willing to give up, he said, "I clearly saw you gulp down that drugged wine. How come such a strong drug didn't work?"
"Ah, that," Ling pressed his thumb against his throat. With a slight movement of his throat, he spat out all the wine. He then stretched out his finger to wipe off the wine stains on his lips. "As you can see... I didn't drink it at all."
Toukumo cursed under his breath about the bad luck again, stood up, and walked away with a gloomy face - he still had to go home to get money to pay off his debts.
The atmosphere in the Guest House became even more lively. The little Nekomata lying on Ling's leg was a bit stunned because of the suddenly decreasing Malice around. But then she was brought back to her senses by Ling's gentle stroking. "See? I told you it'd be okay."
The little Nekomata looked up and met Ling's smiling profile. His gentle voice came out again. "A hunter may covet the prey, yet if the prey can Hunt them in return, the hunters will also keep their distance... After all, the relationship between hunters and prey is never fixed."