95: Chapter 95 Leaving Bala City

Although he called it a surprise, in truth, Zhang Mu didn't hold out much hope.

After all, he had been searching for an entire day, overturning countless piles of trash; what were the odds that he would be lucky enough to find her right here at the alley entrance?

However, when his footsteps stopped by the trash pile and he noticed faint breathing coming from within, he marveled at how incredibly lucky he was.

He reached out and brushed away the fruit peels on top, revealing the tips of a pair of golden cat ears sticking out from the trash.

Seemingly frightened, the breathing inside became rapid, and the ears desperately tried to shrink deeper into the pile.

Judging by the cat ears, Lia must be squatting with her arms wrapped around her legs. He thrust his hands into the trash, accurately found her underarms, and pulled her out, revealing a dirty Cat Girl before his eyes.

"Lia didn't steal anything, please don't hit Lia!" the Little Cat Girl cried out, waving her arms and kicking her legs while being held up.

Remembering he was still in the state of the Transformation Technique, it was no wonder she didn't recognize him. Zhang Mu realized this and prepared to cancel the Transformation Technique, but she stopped struggling on her own.

Closing her eyes tightly, she leaned her nose toward Zhang Mu's cheek and sniffed.

"Mr. Zhang Mu!" Lia, still wrapped in that patched grey robe but now much dirtier, shouted in surprise.

Before Zhang Mu could speak, bean-sized tears welled up in her eyes: "Wa... Mr. Zhang Mu, Mom, Dad, and the kind-hearted Mayor were all bitten to death by wolves!"

The Little Cat Girl cried heartbreakingly; on her dirty little face covered in soot, two cleaner tear tracks were gradually widening.

Zhang Mu was silent for a moment, then supported her thighs and pulled her tightly into his arms: "It's okay now."

The warmth in his embrace greatly soothed her agitated emotions, and her sobbing slowly weakened until it disappeared.

Looking down, he saw that she had fallen into a deep sleep.

Hugging her closer, Zhang Mu turned and walked out of the alley to the inn, where he rented a room.

He paid an extra ten copper coins and asked the receptionist to help wash Lia clean, while he went out to a shop to buy a few short-sleeved shirts, shorts, and short leather boots that would fit her.

Returning to the inn and going upstairs to his door, he heard a great commotion inside before he could even enter.

He hurriedly pushed the door open.

On the bed, Lia was wearing the white shirt he had left behind as a temporary makeshift garment when he had left earlier.

Perhaps due to long-term malnutrition, her physique didn't look like that of a teenager at all; the hem of the shirt dragged down to her knees, turning it into a short dress.

At this moment, the receptionist was grabbing a towel to dry her hair. Lia seemed very scared, struggling to shake her head from side to side in an attempt to break free from the hand pressing down on her head.

Hearing the sound of Zhang Mu entering the room, they both looked over.

Taking advantage of the receptionist's momentary daze, Lia violently shook off the hand on her head, rushed to Zhang Mu's side, and hugged his leg, choking out: "Lia, Lia thought she was dreaming."

He waved his hand to signal that the receptionist was no longer needed, then picked up Lia, let her sit on his arm, wiped the tears from her cheeks, and asked with a smile: "Why?"

"Last night, I found a piece of rotten meat in the trash pile. Lia was too hungry, so I ate the meat."

"Later, my stomach started to hurt, and Lia passed out from the pain. When I woke up, I smelled Mr. Zhang Mu's scent."

"Lia thought it must be a dream, otherwise..."

As she spoke, she began to sob again.

Satisfied, he stroked her head and cat ears, then Zhang Mu put her down on the ground and handed her the cloth bag: "Do you have any trouble putting these on by yourself?"

"If you don't know how, I'll call the sister from just now to help."

"Lia can do it!" She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, hugged the cloth bag, turned around, and ducked into the bathroom.

About ten minutes later, she changed into the clothes and pushed the door open.

Looking her up and down, Zhang Mu mentally gave himself a thumbs-up for his eye for picking out clothes.

The sky-blue short-sleeved shirt suitable for summer wrapped slightly loosely around her upper body, the legs of the matching shorts exposed her knees, the black short boots just passed her ankles, and a section of fair, white calves showed between the two.

Combined with her damp, golden hair that hadn't quite dried yet hanging down her back, the Little Cat Girl radiated the youthful aura that someone of her age should have.

Glancing at her troubled expression, Zhang Mu asked curiously: "What's wrong? Is the fabric uncomfortable to wear?"

That shouldn't be, he had specifically chosen the best fabric.

Shaking her head, Lia raised her hand and gently tugged at her cat ears: "Lia likes the clothes very much, thank you Mr. Zhang Mu, but... there is no hood."

"What do you need a hood for?"

"To cover Lia's ears."

After a moment of silence, Zhang Mu bent down, picked up the towel on the bed, walked behind her, and wiped her long hair that reached her waist: "Lia, is there anywhere you can go?"

Hearing this, she turned around in a panic: "Mr. Zhang Mu, Lia is very easy to feed!"

As she spoke, she grabbed the hem of the short-sleeved shirt and flipped it up: "Are the clothes too expensive?"

"Lia can just wear her own grey robe."

Pressing down on her hands, Zhang Mu held her shoulders and turned her around so her back was to him, continuing to wipe her hair: "I mean, if you don't have a place to go, then from now on, you can follow me."

"Is that really okay?"

"Of course."

"Lia only needs one piece of black bread a day, and Lia is very diligent; I can help Mr. Zhang Mu wash clothes and cook."

Feeling that it was about enough, Zhang Mu put down the towel, walked around to her front, bent over slightly, and covered her head with his large hand: "You don't need to do those things."

"And, you won't need to wear a hood in the future."

"But, there will be humans..."

"Whoever dares to run their mouth, I guarantee I'll blast them into slag with a fireball, no matter where it is."

Lia blinked, and her hands covering her cat ears loosened.

Straightening up, Zhang Mu took her little hand, went downstairs, and checked out of the room.

Afterward, he found a bakery, bought a few pieces of white bread and ketchup, spread it for her, handed it to her, and walked toward the city gate.

As they strolled slowly along the street, all the townspeople who saw them cast looks of disgust.

Lia held the bread in her mouth, shrank behind Zhang Mu, and gripped his hem tightly.

Zhang Mu happily pulled her to his side and glared back at those townspeople with eyes full of murderous intent.

Waiting until they looked away in fear, Zhang Mu twisted his mouth: "What kind of things are they."

Discovering that no one was making a move against them, Lia's courage grew a bit; she tucked her little hand into his large one, while her other hand held the white bread and gnawed on it.

"Mr. Zhang Mu."

Zhang Mu, swaggering like a bully, had walked for a while when suddenly more than half a piece of white bread was extended toward his chin.

Looking down, he saw Lia with ketchup on the corners of her mouth, her hand held high: "Lia is full."

Zhang Mu took out a gold coin, flicked it into the air with his thumb, then caught it steadily, and proceeded to put the gold coin into her shorts pocket: "Even if you eat non-stop every day, you won't eat me into poverty."

Looking up and staring at him for a while, Lia stuffed the white bread back into her mouth, and her golden cat ears flicked happily.

Continuing to walk for half an hour, the big one and the small one passed through the city gate.

"Mr. Zhang Mu, where are we going?"

Standing on the grass not far from the city gate, Zhang Mu scratched his head: "The Silent Forest, but I don't know the way; I need to find someone to ask."

Given the attitude of those townspeople earlier, there was certainly no hope of them helping to point the way.

The Adventurers' views on demi-humans were much milder, but the strange Adventurers simply weren't willing to talk to him.

If that doesn't work, look for... eh?

Zhang Mu suddenly saw a familiar little boy walking slowly in the distance on the dirt road.

I remember, the first time I entered Bala City, it was he who pointed me to the tavern.

It's just like someone handing you a pillow when you're sleepy.

Happily holding Lia's hand, he walked up to meet him. Seeing that there was no one around, Zhang Mu canceled the Transformation Technique and waved his hand to greet him: "Hello little friend, there is something I hope you can help with."