Cat 179: The Freeloader Cousin

Chapter 179 The Freeloader Cousin

Looking around, the street was packed, a lively buzz filling the entire avenue.

It was the first time Yan Jiyun had entered such a bustling instance.

The main quest was to leave Jiangnan Town before the timer ran out, which meant this was surely Jiangnan Town.

With the flagstone streets and surrounding architecture, it all looked like an authentic water town of the south. If not for the raucous wedding, it might have been a truly tranquil place.

Now, everywhere he looked was awash in red—Yan Jiyun felt as though he’d plunged into a sea of crimson.

The wedding was in full Chinese style.

Yet the festive color made Yan Jiyun uneasy; in broad daylight it was fine, but in the dark, wouldn’t this be terrifying? Was this some sort of ghostly bride and groom, another supernatural love story set in a small town?

If it was another horror instance, he was really going to lose it.

Yan Jiyun couldn’t spot his companions anywhere in the crowd; evidently, the instance map was large this time.

By his understanding, a town should have a main street as its core with several surrounding villages.

A group of villages would form one town, so there would be boundaries.

His quest was to survive by leaving Jiangnan Town—wasn’t that much like the goal of the Peak Tournament? For a level-four instance, the main quest surely wouldn’t be so simple on the surface.

For now, all the people were surging toward the same direction—the groom’s procession to fetch the bride.

Yan Jiyun joined the crowd, deciding he might as well watch this rarely encountered traditional Chinese wedding.

This was the first time he’d entered an instance this relaxed, blending in as just one of the onlookers.

The groom stopped his horse before an imposing, red-lantern-hung mansion, the sign above reading “Cheng Residence.” Even the massive doors exuded an old-fashioned grandeur.

Outside stood a middle-aged man in a long robe and mustache, accompanied by two younger men—likely the bride’s uncles there to challenge the groom’s right to claim the bride.

Everything proceeded by the book, nothing out of the ordinary.

At last, the groom collected his bride. The wedding was conducted exactly to Chinese tradition: the bride in resplendent attire, phoenix crown and crimson robes, feet clad in delicately embroidered shoes.

Yan Jiyun casually asked a middle-aged woman beside him, “Sister, whose families are being joined today?”

She gave him a look that said, “How could you not know?” and flicked away her sunflower seed shell. “Have you not been out at all lately? That’s the third son of the Liu family marrying the second daughter of the Cheng family.”

Yan Jiyun said, “The groom’s so handsome, his bride must be just as pretty.”

She rolled her eyes. “Boy, don’t you know about the Cheng family?”

He started to fabricate: “My mom hardly lets me out, says I should just stay home and study.”

Seeing his scholarly look, she believed him and her gossiping urge was stirred. “Don’t be fooled by such a grand wedding. I heard that Cheng girl is sick in the head.” She tapped her temple. “Not right in here.”

Yan Jiyun feigned ignorance. “She looks perfectly normal to me.”

The woman sighed. “You don’t know the half of it. The second daughter of the Chengs has barely left the house since she was little. If the eldest Liu boy hadn’t killed someone and owed a massive payout, the third son wouldn’t be marrying the Cheng girl just to repay his brother’s debts.”

Yan Jiyun said, “So Liu number three is pretty good to his brother.”

She replied, “Not at all—he’s just being bossed around by his mother. The youngest son was fathered by the old man with a woman on the side, so he gets no respect. He and his mother just cling to the father for survival. Of course, they dare not disobey.”

Yan Jiyun felt as if he were hearing family scandals from a bygone era. The smaller the town, the more conservative the morals.

So this was meant to be a romance instance? It sounded awfully complicated—there wasn’t an ounce of love in this wedding.

He prompted for more information: “Is the Cheng family very rich?”

She went on, cracking more seeds, “Listen, their ancestors used to be prime ministers—tons of money, scholarly family.”

“But that was centuries ago. How much could be left now?” he asked.

“They make money running factories. There’s plenty left,” she said, lowering her voice. “Still, the Cheng family is a little strange—they had sons very late, the girls are all sickly in one way or another.”

Important intel.

Yan Jiyun wanted to probe further, but the woman spotted her friends and left to chat.

Fine—he’d just have to dig up the rest himself.

There was bound to be plenty happening with the Liu and Cheng families joined.

Yan Jiyun followed the wedding procession—perhaps he could join in the banquet.

For now, just sticking close to the NPCs seemed safe.

There had been no mention of role assignments for players; the information was scant. Was this what they meant by a “first-run” instance? Yan Jiyun resolved to be more cautious, hunching his shoulders and blending further into the crowd.

He dared not change into a cat, either—bad luck, superstition at weddings, and the risk of being seen by an NPC in broad daylight was too high.

So far, everything was normal—the plot proceeding smoothly, not even a stepped-on ant.

Even if the Lius had declined, theirs was still a notable family in town, the old glory lingering.

The third Liu son escorted the Cheng family’s second daughter in by the front gates. Guests observed all the rites; the marriage was strictly traditional and, on the surface, perfectly respectable. If the gossipy woman hadn’t told him otherwise, Yan Jiyun would never have guessed at the less savory truths behind it all.

For the first time, he was witnessing a Chinese wedding up close—he found the ceremony novel and absorbing.

Authenticity was high: after the couple bowed, they were sent to the bridal chamber.

None of the NPCs found this odd; the bride’s seclusion was perfectly acceptable.

Liu patriarch and matriarch looked suitably pleased.

Then came the feast.

Yan Jiyun managed to score a seat at a distant relative’s table—tucked in a corner, not likely to be called out as a gatecrasher.

The groom had not yet emerged to toast the tables, but most guests were seated. The main tables were for the town’s luminaries—Yan Jiyun could hear them from afar. For now, everyone was on their best behavior.

Yan Jiyun focused on the meal itself, delighted by the light, delicate dishes. The chef must be brilliant—he’d love to steal them off to make cat food for him daily.

[“Longing to Be Human” Livestream]

“Not even a week in and the kitten’s already run an early instance—he’s working hard for the fans!”

“Didn’t anyone notice the [New] tag on the instance name? What does that mean?”

“As a veteran in this streamer’s channel, I’m honored to inform you: this is a brand new instance! The cat’s opening it—he’s the first wave!”

“It’s been ages since new content launched, right? Last time was three years ago—nothing since.”

“This update is bigger than ever: almost thirty old instances removed, fifty new ones online. Did you check the forums yet? Official bulletin’s all over it.”

“Destiny’s really gone big this time. I just don’t get it—why the sudden, massive update? Anyone got a theory?”

“My guess: the old copies had problems—NPC bugs or system malfunctions.”

“But the game’s run for years without trouble, hasn’t it?”

“That’s if you’re not paying attention. Haven’t you noticed NPCs are easier to manipulate lately? In the cat’s view, it’s as if the NPCs have their own will—still following the story, but something’s off.”

“Is that so? Maybe I’m just too focused on the kitten to notice the NPCs. Anyway, with new content, it’s fine. I’ve never watched someone open up an instance before.”

“It’s a treat; normally you’d find prewritten guides, but now there’s none. Watching a blind run, everything that happens to the cat is unpredictable. I’d meant to quit, but now I’m hooked again!”

Yan Jiyun, of course, was lost in thought over the food and the whispers swelling among the gossips around him. Ten minutes eavesdropping on the aunties and he’d already mapped out the Liu family tree—give it an hour and he’d know which stray mutt in town was father to which pups.

“See that man with the cough? That’s the eldest Liu, Liu Jingyi.”

“How does a man as sickly as him manage to drive and crash a car? With that cough, maybe marrying him off would buy him some luck.”

“Hey, just because you’re hacking up a lung doesn’t mean you can’t drive. The accident’s easy to explain: you cough, you’re distracted—no wonder he hit someone.”

Following their glances, Yan Jiyun found the man: sitting at the main table, pale-faced and listless, dabbing his lips with a faint blue handkerchief. He looked about to cough up his soul. Still, there was a certain handsomeness buried beneath the sickly frame.

After a bout of coughing that left him ready to pass out, a woman in a long dress helped him away—no doubt his wife, with the gentle looks of a Jiangnan beauty. He courteously bid farewell to the table before leaving.

Where there’s a Liu eldest and a third son, there must be a second.

The aunties’ need to gossip was unquenchable.

“Look at that table. That’s the second Liu—drinks, gambles—takes all vices seriously. No wonder the Liu family declined so fast; three months ago, he even gambled away the family heirloom. His mother nearly died of anger, and his father beat him and locked him in the ancestral shrine for half a month.”

“If he were my son, I’d have beaten him to death and spared the trouble.”

“Exactly. Now you see why they brought home the son from outside? The first son’s a sickly wreck, the second, a hopeless playboy—any wonder the old man’s vexed?”

“But does the Liu family even have any estate left? Aren’t they living off Cheng charity now?”

“Even ruined families have roots. It’s just that there’s no ready cash.”

“I figure they’re simply broke. Their business loses money every year.”

Yan Jiyun followed their eyes and saw Liu number two, drinking and laughing with his equals—a handsome rogue, his features more like the eldest than Liu father’s, most likely taking after their mother. If the eldest was a sickly scholar, the second was the rakish son.

Both brothers were good-looking, leaving the third son—today’s groom—paling in comparison.

The groom emerged in new attire to make the rounds. With the bride absent, likely for propriety’s sake, Liu father and mother joined him. Second son was also called over.

Yan Jiyun watched the four, reading their microexpressions—each wore a different, unconvincing smile. Everyone was hiding something.

No quest triggered, not even a side quest; two hours had passed, and Yan Jiyun began to wonder if he was missing something.

But after entering the instance, this wedding was the central event—every important figure in town seemed present.

No matter—best to get a handle on all the relationships.

He’d hoped for a pure love story, but the system, cold-hearted as ever, made this one joyless wedding.

After the rounds, the four reached his table—one designated for distant relatives.

Yan Jiyun kept his head down, trying to be inconspicuous, but Liu number two spotted him right away.

After toasting, Liu number two strolled over: “And this distant cousin—what’s your name? Come have a drink with us.”

Yan Jiyun, quick on the uptake, saw an opportunity to get close to the main cast. He was just about to answer when the system flashed a message.

[Congratulations, Player! You have received a new role: Mooching Distant Cousin.]

Yan Jiyun was speechless. Mooching? Just for scrounging a meal without paying out a gift? This system was petty.

He’d thought there was no roleplay—so it was handled like this? Apparently, when a player made initial contact with a key NPC, the system assigned a suitable role. If so, player and game freedom here was immense, but it did make roles somewhat random. Suppose someone claimed to be a butcher—would they have to butcher pigs? If he couldn’t, would the pigs butcher him? With this game’s logic, it was entirely possible. “Best Video Game Console,” indeed.

Liu number two, full name Liu Jingxi.

Yan Jiyun waited for this chance all afternoon—he wasn’t letting it slip. Playing bashful, he stammered, “I—I can’t drink. My mom says I shouldn’t.”

Jingxi smelled of alcohol, but his eyes showed no sign of drunkenness. A truly drunk man’s gaze would be glassy, taking in nothing. Everyone in the Liu family seemed to be hiding something at this wedding.

Liu mother, clearly doting on her second son, joined in, “Young people should have a little fun, don’t be shy! Play how you like. If you get tired, there are places to rest. Jingxi will take care of you.”

Yan Jiyun acted awkward, half-heartedly agreeing: “Alright… but you can’t force me to drink, Jingxi. I really don’t know how.”

Jingxi smiled, silent, and slung his arm over Yan Jiyun, half-pulling him up from the seat.

“Let’s go! A young man should be bold. How can you not know how to drink? Won’t you toast your own bride when you marry?”

Yan Jiyun thought, I’m a cat. I’m not getting married. Female cats? Get lost—I’m a human, not an animal.

“I…I’m not old enough to marry,” he stammered, mimicking his assigned persona. As the system hadn’t forced strict roleplay, he could interpret the role as he saw fit.

Jingxi laughed, “Haha, you’re hilarious. Classic mama’s boy, huh?”

“I’m not!” Yan Jiyun retorted. At most he was a “dad’s pet”—he listened to his owner when he opened a can of cat food, and that was it.

Jingxi kept teasing, dragging the “cousin” off to join his own table, filled with young men who no doubt roamed the town with him often.

So now, Yan Jiyun had a seat right beside Jingxi.

Jingxi didn’t actually force him to drink. The other youths were wild, raising the volume at their table to the highest in the hall.

They were noisy, but Yan Jiyun did his part—filling drinks for anyone urging Jingxi to drink, always tactful and quick-witted.

Jingxi downed quite a bit. Suddenly, he proposed, “This is boring—let’s go for a drive!”

Young men were indeed impulsive—“Let’s go!”

But they’d all been drinking. Yan Jiyun, the only sober one, slowed a pace, considering making an escape. Alas, sharp-eyed Jingxi instantly dragged him back.

“Hey, cousin, can you drive?” Jingxi asked.

“A little.” He was, after all, a veteran truck driver in instances.

“When’d you get your license?” Jingxi pressed.

Yan Jiyun thought a moment. “Not long ago. But don’t worry—I’m pretty good.”

“You look barely of age. Sure you’ve ever driven?” Jingxi doubted.

“I have,” replied Yan Jiyun.

Thus pressed, he found himself leaving with the group.

If he slipped away now, who knew what he might miss at the Liu household—potentially crucial info. Whatever he did, Jingxi wasn’t about to let him slip away.

Why was the guy treating him like a crutch? Yan Jiyun grumbled inwardly.

Though the Lius had married for money, they still had a few cars for the occasion. Some eleven or twelve young men crammed into three cars; Yan Jiyun got the driver’s seat—no squeezing for him.

Jingxi, as the car’s owner, claimed the passenger side; no one dared argue.

Just as Yan Jiyun geared up to ask about their destination, the two cars ahead swerved onto the road.

He realized abruptly—he was the only one not buzzed. Drunk driving? Dangerous.

Feigning fear, he said, “This is dangerous…”

Laughter from the back seat: “Cousin, this is the fun part. Keep up with them!”

Jingxi turned to scold them, “Don’t push him around—I haven’t had my turn yet.”

Yan Jiyun fought the urge to roll his eyes. Swinging the wheel onto the road, he floored the gas. The sudden acceleration threw everyone, especially beltless Jingxi, forward—if not for quick grips on the seats or handles, they’d have face-planted.

He said tensely, “Sorry, never driven a sports car before—didn’t expect so much power. Scary.”

After that jolt, Jingxi strapped in tight, looking a little pale. Probably afraid of dying.

So Yan Jiyun decided to show them real rookie moves.

Unstable steering, jerky acceleration, heavy on the brakes—a dramatic performance. By journey’s end, the rear seat crowd, despite Jingxi’s cousinly clout, barely tolerated him.

At least they were alive.

What began as a little bit of play-acting became more and more theatrical as he grew bolder.

Even Jingxi was grimacing by the end. “Drive properly, cousin,” he finally said.

They followed the other cars out to a maple forest a few kilometers beyond the town.

“I am driving properly, cousin. I just got my license—give me a few more days and I’ll be a pro!”

Jingxi’s expression was that of a man with a stomachache: “…Thanks.”

Actually, Yan Jiyun was quite enjoying himself, but as they slowed onto the rural road, the car’s speed naturally dropped.

Soon, the others had parked by the roadside.

Yan Jiyun parked, too.

He wondered—wasn’t the road ahead clear? Why stop here?

He was patient, though—when stumped, wait and see.

Once out, he saw an inscribed stone: “Dangerous Road Ahead, No Passage.”

A few steps further, he noticed deep pits and even a large, water-filled depression.

If they hadn’t stopped, they’d be in the drink.

Yet the other youths paid no mind to the hazard, heading straight into the maple forest.

Seeing Yan Jiyun examining the puddle, Jingxi stood waiting. “Come on, cousin!”

Reluctantly, Yan Jiyun gave up on testing the pond. Just what were these youths up to in the maple woods?