During the dog days of summer, it’s also cool in the middle of the night.

The window is open and the wind is coming in.

There is a pottery pot in the middle of the room, with a match rope made by the neighbor next door inside. It will not produce an open flame when lit with fire. It will only burn very slowly without sparking, and it will emit the aroma of herbs.

The Taoist lay on the mat, which should have been comfortable, but unfortunately he was covered with a bed of calico cats.

Ever since she came back from Beiqin Mountain, Sanhua Empress's mouse-catching business has flourished again. However, in order to keep catching mice while also taking into account study and rest, the Taoist agreed with her that the mice of each family should be divided into five parts as before.

After catching one day, each family will have two days of rest, and then ask for leave if something happens.

Today is my usual day off, but I can’t completely relax.

The first thing is to spend more time studying to maintain your gifted cat design.

At the same time, it is a hot summer day and the Yang Qi is extremely strong during the day.

Even if the moon is bright at night, the yin energy is strong.

Sanhua Empress, fellow practitioners of yin and yang spiritual power, has to work hard day and night to absorb the essence of the sun and moon.

Late at night, the practice ended. Although he was very tired and in low spirits, because he usually worked the night shift, the calico cat actually didn't fall asleep for a long time. He walked around the room, climbed up and down the bed, and kept changing places.

He didn't fall asleep until he climbed onto the Taoist's belly.

At this time, he curled up into a ball and slept soundly.

Match rope repels mosquitoes and soothes the mind, making even cats dream.

The content of the dream was quite simple.

It was early autumn of the year.

In the small town at the foot of the mountain, there was a small stone arch bridge, a gurgling river, and dark willow trees. She sat on the bridge and stared into the distance doubtfully. Wherever she looked, a young Taoist wearing an old Taoist robe that was not as old as now was standing respectfully.

The famous fisherman begged two small fishes from a bamboo basket, wore them with willow branches, and brought them back, saying they were her betrothal gift.

The calico cat stared at him.

At this moment, she felt herself being hugged by someone and suddenly flew off the ground.

Then put it on the ground again.

The ground is ice cold.

Just like a mat.

"?"

Mat?

The small bridge in the small town disappeared, the morning fog disappeared, the willow trees disappeared, and the fish disappeared. Everything seemed to have returned to darkness and disappeared, including himself and the Taoist priest.

I opened my eyes drowsily and rubbed them with my paws. I was curled up on the mat. In the dark, the Taoist got up from the bed and was walking downstairs.

"Well……"

The calico cat rubbed its eyes again.

It turns out I was dreaming.

She must have been sleeping on his belly, and when he wanted to get up, he picked her up and placed her next to him.

When I was thinking about it, the Taoist had already walked away.

"Well?"

The calico cat got up in a daze.

…

The Taoist walked downstairs in the dark.

The moonlight comes through the window, and it's not too dark.

As soon as he walked downstairs, the Taoist realized something was wrong.

Looking back——

A dazed calico cat also came down the stairs with him. His steps were sloppy and he looked very lethargic at first glance.

When the Taoist stopped, she stopped too.

The Taoist looked at her, and she looked up at the Taoist.

"Miss Sanhua, what are you doing?"

"Taoist priest, what are you doing?"

"I'll go to the hut."

"oh……"

"Why are you following me, Sanhua Empress?"

"hurry up……"

The Sanhua Cat couldn't open its eyes and spoke in a daze, but it persuaded him: "The Sanhua Empress is going back to sleep."

"..."

The Taoist looked really helpless.

After using the toilet, I walked back.

The cat seemed completely unaware of his helplessness. While feeling sleepy, the cat followed him back and talked to him.

"Taoist priest."

"Um……"

"Is today the beginning of autumn?"

"It's a hot day today."

"Then how long until the beginning of autumn?"

"I told Empress Sanhua before that there are still thirty days, and Empress Sanhua knows how long thirty days is." The Taoist's voice was very soft.

"oh……"

The calico cat stopped talking.

As a genius cat, he naturally knows how long thirty days is, but knowing means knowing, he still has to ask.

Lying on the bed, the bamboo mat felt cold, and the pillow filled with rice husks made a sound. It was not soft, but it still felt very comfortable.

The calico cat did not climb onto his belly again, but crawled next to him, stared at him and said:

"Taoist priest."

"Um……"

"Miss Sanhua seemed to have had a dream just now."

"What did you dream about?"

The calico cat just turned its head and stared at him, as if it was a little more awake than before. Its eyes were wide and round in the dark night, but it refused to speak.

The Taoist turned his head and cast a doubtful look at her.

In the middle of the night, through the scattered light of a ray of moonlight outside the window, only a small group of darkness could be seen, but she still didn't answer, just looked at him.

"Don't you want to talk about it, Sanhua Empress?"

"Want to talk!"

"Then let's talk."

"Don't tell me!"

"Then don't talk about it."

"Well……"

"Go to sleep."

"Well……"

"How about we go to the painting tomorrow?"

"In which painting?"

"Which other painting could it be in?"

"Go to the painting!"

"I've always wanted to go in and have a look."

"oh……"

"Go to sleep."

The Taoist turned over and closed his eyes.
To be continued...