Chapter Five: The Calamity That Befell the Clan (I)

Hearing Tao Ming call her to wash up, Softy crunched up the last of her lollipop and ran over. “I’ve finished, but I don’t want to sleep. I want to play with the kitten a little longer.”

Tao Ming stroked her head. “Little ones need to go to bed early if they want to grow tall.”

Softy pouted. “Then I don’t want to brush my teeth.”

Tao Ming pretended not to care. “That’s fine. But children who don’t brush their teeth will end up with little black teeth, and then no one will want to play with you.”

Softy panicked, her voice rising. “I’ll brush! I don’t want black teeth.”

Tao Ming took Softy’s hand and led her into the bathroom, set a small stool by the sink, and lifted Softy onto it. Softy whined, “Mom, tell me a story about Little Softy who loves brushing her teeth.”

As she filled a cup with water, Tao Ming replied, “There’s no such story. You don’t even like brushing your teeth.”

Softy wriggled, still acting spoiled. “No, I want to hear a story about Little Softy who loves brushing her teeth.”

Tao Ming began squeezing toothpaste onto the brush. “How about I tell you ‘News from Tooth Street’ instead?”

Softy covered her ears and shook her head. “I’ve heard that one already! I just want a story about Little Softy loving to brush her teeth!”

Tao Ming looked at Softy in helplessness. “Then brush your teeth nicely, and I’ll tell you.”

While brushing Softy’s teeth, Tao Ming improvised a story. “Once upon a time there was a little girl named Little Softy. She loved brushing her teeth most of all. Every morning, she got dressed by herself, squeezed out her own toothpaste…”

White Tiger lay on the coffee table, listening to the mother and daughter, feeling an inexplicable envy. He had no mother, no one who treated him this way.

At last, Softy was washed up, tucked into bed, and zipped into her sleep sack. Before turning off the light, Tao Ming walked to the living room and said to White Tiger, “Are you tired? Do you want to sleep?”

White Tiger replied, “I haven’t adjusted to the time difference yet. I don’t want to sleep.”

“Then wait for me. I’ll put Softy to bed and then come chat with you.”

Inwardly, Tao Ming rolled her eyes. Oh, goodness, even the time difference is a problem.

Tao Ming climbed into bed, preparing to cuddle Softy to sleep, but Softy rolled to the edge by the guardrail and announced, “Hmph, I’m mad. I won’t let you hug me.”

Tao Ming thought, Here we go again. Heaven help the boy who’ll be Softy’s boyfriend one day!

She reached out a hand. “Come on, Mommy loves you.”

“No.” Softy stuck her bottom toward Tao Ming.

“Come on,” Tao Ming coaxed, refusing to give up.

“No.” Softy peeked back at her.

Tao Ming pretended not to notice and continued, “Come, let Mommy hold you.”

Softy burst out giggling, rolled into Tao Ming’s arms, pressed close to her, and listened to her story, slowly drifting into dreamland.

When Softy was finally deeply asleep, Tao Ming sat in a daze for a while, then collected herself and got ready to talk with White Tiger.

In the living room, White Tiger was still studying. As Tao Ming sat down on the sofa, White Tiger paused the video. “Could you move me a bit? It’s hard for me to see you like this.”

Tao Ming tugged the little blanket, turning White Tiger to face her. Their eyes met.

“Are you afraid of me?” White Tiger asked.

Tao Ming stared back. “I’m afraid of cats.”

White Tiger lifted his head proudly. “I am the ancient divine beast, White Tiger. How could I be a mere cat…”

Tao Ming made as if to leave, and White Tiger hurriedly said, “Let’s get down to business.”

“So, what level have you reached in your studies?” Tao Ming was a little curious.

White Tiger perked up. “About third grade, I think. But it’s getting hard now; after all, I’m still just a little baby.”

“Such amazing learning ability? Why don’t you just fly to the heavens?” Tao Ming was astonished. If he’s as young as Softy, this learning speed is almost supernatural!

White Tiger’s tail nearly curled with pride. “I’m not lying. My kind, the White Tigers, are exceptionally gifted learners. Besides, I really can fly.”

Tao Ming was intrigued. “Show me then. Fly a bit.”

White Tiger hung his head, aggrieved. “Your grandmother suppressed my powers, and I used a secret technique to get Softy’s memories, so now I’m depleted and can’t fly.”

Tao Ming frowned. “And what exactly did you see earlier?”

White Tiger scratched his head. “TV shows. The people there are amazing, flying everywhere—more impressive than those in my world.”

Tao Ming didn’t know whether to laugh or cry but decided not to explain and asked, “So tell me, why did you come here?”

White Tiger rested his head on his right paw. “It’s a long story. Prepare yourself.”

“You’re using idioms now? Go ahead, I can handle it.” After all, she’d survived a bizarre ex-husband.

White Tiger’s feline face grew solemn. “I came to find the Saintess and bring her back to save us. Your family is on the brink of annihilation.”

Tao Ming grew serious too. “What’s going on?”

White Tiger looked earnest. “Let me explain from the beginning.”

He recalled, “Your grandmother is the chief of the Kirara Clan. She’s lived over four thousand years, cultivating day and night. Her lifespan is nearly spent, but she still can’t break through to the next realm, let alone ascend to the Celestial World…”

Tao Ming interrupted, “Wait, over four thousand years old? Is she even human? Ascend to the Celestial World?”

White Tiger was clearly annoyed. “You keep interrupting! You’re throwing off my rhythm.”

Tao Ming thought, What has this guy been learning? But not wanting to hurt his feelings, she said, “Sorry. I promise to listen carefully.”

White Tiger switched to leaning on his left paw. “The Kirara Clan raises silkworms and weaves silk for a living. Women hold the highest status. In the Wei River region, they’re a middle-ranking family. Their silk is imperial tribute, so life is decent, and neighboring families keep in touch…”

Tao Ming tried to hold back but couldn’t. “You’re so young—how do you know all this?”

White Tiger looked pained. “Ever since I appeared in the Sanctuary, your grandmother kept me at her side, forcing me to study and cultivate every day! You have no idea how I endured—it’s so hard when I’m just a little baby!”

Tao Ming stifled a laugh. “Doesn’t that make you very skilled?”

White Tiger’s mouth quivered, almost in tears. “She makes me recite this and that all day, and I never get enough sleep! I can memorize everything, but there’s so much I don’t understand! The endless cultivation is torture!”

Seeing his aggrieved expression, Tao Ming couldn’t help but laugh out loud. White Tiger, hearing her laughter, looked even more wronged, as if about to cry.

Quickly, Tao Ming patted his little head. “There, there. I get it now. You’ve got all the software, but your hardware can’t keep up.”

As Tao Ming gently stroked him, White Tiger felt a warmth he’d never experienced before. No one had ever treated him so kindly. The clan chief was good, but always forced him to study and cultivate, never to simply comfort him like this.

Seeing White Tiger calm and not on the verge of tears, Tao Ming asked, “Those things you said earlier—did you memorize those too?”

White Tiger nodded. “Yes, and there’s so much more. Your grandmother said I had to remember it all and tell you. But I’m still just a little baby! I should be rolling in the grass, catching butterflies, and chasing grasshoppers.”

Tao Ming felt a pang of sympathy. As a mother herself, she knew Softy’s life revolved around play, with sleep second and learning only squeezed in here and there.

White Tiger noticed Tao Ming’s distraction and waved a paw. “Hey, are you listening?”

Tao Ming snapped back to herself. “I’m listening. But let’s change things up—I’ll ask, you answer, okay?”

“Will you pet my head again?” White Tiger asked shyly. Being stroked felt just too wonderful.

Tao Ming let out a soft “ah,” looking at him uncertainly.

Seeing her hesitation, White Tiger turned away. “Never mind if you don’t want to.”