Who wouldn’t like a little white mouse?
White and fluffy, gentle and virtuous, speaking in a soft, delicate voice.
The only regret was that she couldn’t open her eyes, leaving her beauty like an ultimate skill fired into empty air. Otherwise, she would have been even more pleasing. Ashley thought regretfully.
Time flowed like water, and the big gray rat and the little white mouse lived a happy, affectionate rodent life. But there was always a hint of disharmony.
One question lingered in her mind: Who was Amber?
Every time she thought of that name, Ashley felt an inexplicable sense of taboo guilt, like a thief skulking in the shadows.
The little white mouse played the qin for her again—a four-stringed little harp made from a turtle shell. As her claw tips plucked the strings, beautiful notes soothed her heart.
“I love you the most. I can’t live without you. If one day you die, I’ll follow you.” The little white mouse’s tone was gentle and sorrowful, with a touch of coquetry.
“Me too. I would die without hearing your qin music,” Ashley said, lowering her eyelashes, her little face filled with a happy smile.
“What about Amber?” the little white mouse asked suddenly.
Eh? Getting feisty, are we?
“Who cares about her? You’re enough for me. Fluffy little white is the best. Amber doesn’t even have a single hair—don’t want her!”
Ashley rolled over, a bit annoyed.
What a buzzkill. Why did she always bring up Amber?
By the way, who was Amber, exactly?
In her impression, it seemed like something bald and stupid. A naked mole rat? How could she possibly like something so ugly?
But…
Why did her heart pound so hard when she said those two words…
She really wanted to see her…
Amber…
Who exactly are you…
The fog in Ashley’s mind gradually cleared. Upon careful recollection, the little white mouse had mentioned Amber several times, as if trying to remind her but unable to say it outright.
Setting aside who Amber was for now… who was she?
The moment that question arose, a thick fog surged in her mind, trying to drag her consciousness back into chaos.
Ashley bit her tongue hard. The pain gave her a moment of clarity.
The world before her swayed in the candlelight. The cage’s bars cast straight black lines on the wall from the firelight, and various illusions gathered and dispersed…
So that was it…
The Black Cat was weaving a story, trapping her deep within it…
By the way…
How was the Little Blind Girl immune to the candle’s manipulation…
Because she couldn’t see?
No…
Even with eyes closed, one could still be manipulated. The ‘candle’ wasn’t physical but mental—its light could shine directly into the mind, subverting imagination and twisting cognition…
Ah, I get it!
The Little Blind Girl was born blind, with an innate defect in perception—like the blind men and the elephant, unaware of the full picture.
Her mind only had sounds, touch, and temperature. Those alone couldn’t form a story.
Without a foundation to manipulate, she wouldn’t lose her sanity!
Damn…
She couldn’t hold on much longer…
Soon, she would forget Amber. Unless the Little Blind Girl reminded her again—and if she wasn’t around, how could she resist the candle’s manipulation…
In this critical moment, a spark flashed in Ashley’s mind, a bolt of clarity cutting through the dark, turbid thoughts!
She had to create an anchor connected to reality!
In those brief seconds of sobriety, Ashley’s mind raced, and before her cognition twisted again, she took crucial action!
She curled up and secretly bit off her tail finger!
Crack!
It was originally a rat’s claw tip, but after breaking, it swelled in her mouth into a bloody human finger!
The intense metallic smell choked her, forcibly extending her lucid time by a few seconds!
The severed finger wasn’t large. She hid it in one cheek pouch, replacing the almond’s position. When deluded, she could reach in with a claw and touch it to snap awake.
…
Ding ding dong dong. The little white mouse plucked the strings like flowing spring water. The two rats loved each other deeply, and it felt like many years had passed.
Suddenly one day, the little white mouse fell ill.
After examining her, the Squirrel Doctor shook her head and sighed. “Prepare for the end.”
” Please, as long as you can save her, I’ll give anything! I can’t live without her!” Ashley cried.
“Perhaps only the Owl Witch in the Dark Forest can save her, but the Witch’s price is no ordinary one. True love, though—no problem.”
“It’s true love, no doubt. I’ve only loved the little white mouse in this life. Tell me quickly how to find the Witch.” Ashley spoke with overflowing emotion, like reciting lines.
“Climb the tallest pine tree and say to the night sky: ‘Please grant my wish. I’m willing to pay everything.’ The Owl Witch will smile at you.”
After the Squirrel Doctor left, Ashley turned to look at her beloved wife on the sickbed. She put on a big valley hat, buttoned her little vest, picked up her hiking staff, and resolutely headed into the Dark Forest.
The mountain path was long and winding.
The wind blew fiercely, whooshing over her small body. Fallen leaves swirled toward her.
Cold rain poured on her, stealing her body heat.
Tree shadows swayed with clawing branches. A pack of weasels shrieked eerily, lining the path to intimidate her.
But no hardship or cold could stop a heart fueled by true love!
Ashley pressed her hat down, bent against the rain, swung her staff to drive off the weasels, determined to seek a cure for her beloved!
Finally, she saw that tree—standing prominently alone in the forest sea.
At its base grew pitch-black thorns with crystalline spikes glistening.
She waded through them. Though the spikes pierced her flesh, bringing excruciating pain, it was nothing compared to the agony of seeing her beloved’s emaciated face!
She climbed the rain-slick trunk, slipping repeatedly, pierced by spikes again and again, moving herself emotionally time and again, sublimating this false love in her mind until the peak!
Ashley reached the treetop, swaying in the wind. She saw the Owl Witch—right there in the night sky. Slender, intersecting curves formed Celtic patterns of feathers and leaves, framing a face with huge eyes and a round, sturdy beak like polished amber.
But in the next moment, a pair of eyes narrowed into sly slits, and a small mouth cackled wickedly.
“To save her, you must become my pet. This is voluntary, right? No great love without great sacrifice.”
“I’m willing… willing to become your pet… to save her… to exchange for the little white mouse’s health…”
Ashley crossed her hands over her chest, closed her eyes, and murmured repeatedly, deepening the mental brand.
Outside the cage, the Black Cat’s heart bloomed with joy. She had successfully planted a mental brand in Ashley’s subconscious using this false bond, thoroughly enslaving her!
Seeing the brand take hold, she reached in, pulled out the big gray rat, and used her ability to restore the body.
“Go back and forge a report to submit to the Tribunal, saying the incident is resolved. Got it, my little pet!”
Suddenly, the Black Cat’s pupils shrank. She spotted Ashley’s dangling hand dripping blood—the pinky finger gone!
Ashley’s eyes rolled back. She slowly spat half a finger from her lips and said in a slurred voice, “It hurts so much… you bastard…”
A surge of fear rose in the Black Cat’s heart. She turned and rushed to the door, her body shrinking into a cat!
Ashley chased up and stomped hard—right on the tail!
Pfft!
The tail—severed!
And the sound of the break was strange!
Somewhat muffled… like… pulling a cork from a bottle…
Without her tail, the Black Cat’s body grew from small to large, reverting to human form!
Ashley narrowed her eyes, a cold smile curling her lips.
“Like transforming? Then I’ll let you transform plenty!”
She grabbed the Black Cat by the scruff with one hand, held the tail with the other, and repeatedly thrust it in spiraling and pulled it out!
Pfft pfft pfft pfft…
Amid mewling screams, the Black Cat switched between human and cat forms.
“Guh… spare me… I won’t dare again… sorry sorry sorry… really sorry… stop please… it’s breaking… waa… Lucy…”
After spinning around and confirming no one else was in the room, Ashley rummaged through the wardrobe for clothes and put them on. She handed a set to the Little Blind Girl behind her.
“Thank you…”
The blind girl expressed her gratitude in a soft, thin voice.
“I should be the one thanking you. If not for your reminders, I would have been branded.”
Ashley stared at the Little Blind Girl’s long, thick eyelashes, thinking to herself that if those eyes could be cured, they would surely be beautiful. She’d have the Little Doctor take a look later.
A playful smile floated on the blind girl’s lips as she said softly:
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell ‘Amber.’ If your babies are all ‘Amber,’ then pretend I said nothing.”
Eh!
Ashley stiffened guiltily, like a thief caught red-handed.
