The Confucian Scholar looked at the Rat Demon before him and could not help smiling.
"Ha, you really did catch it!"
Li Ping'an smiled. "I hardly did anything. All the credit belongs to the Cat Immortal."
Orange Cat was very pleased to hear this.
"I'll bring your reward over tomorrow."
Afterward, Li Ping'an left with Kitten in his arms.
Wind and snow raged through the dark night.
The man and cat were both delighted.
The next day, the Confucian Scholar did indeed bring the money over.
As agreed, they split it fifty-fifty.
Li Ping'an handed the money to Kitten.
"The Cat Immortal earned this money, so the Cat Immortal should decide how to spend it."
Orange Cat's eyes lit up, and her little paws poked around inside the money pouch.
Then she handed the pouch back to Li Ping'an.
"Buy lots of tasty food."
"All right."
And so the man, ox, and cat went to the market.
The market looked utterly desolate during the Cold Night.
Snow poured down, and the north wind howled.
Everything around them was pitch-black. Without lamps, they would not have been able to see a thing.
Everyone wore a hood, and only vague silhouettes could be seen in the market. It was quite an unusual sight.
It reminded Li Ping'an of New Year celebrations when he was little.
Come to think of it, the New Year really was approaching.
Wind and Snow City had no concept of celebrating the New Year.
But Li Ping'an, Old Ox, and Kitten were going to celebrate it.
Now that they had caught the Rat Demon and just come into some money,
Li Ping'an planned to get Kitten a new outfit, a new set of writing supplies, and a little red envelope...
As for Old Ox... roasting him an ox