Chapter 4 The fourth night eight-tailed cat

"In ancient Egyptian mythology, cats played a very important role. It is said that long ago, cats ruled humans. They were cunning, cruel and very intelligent. They drove humans as slaves. Until the appearance of dogs at last, they drove away They killed cats, and changed cats from rulers to human pets. So dogs were regarded as the most important friends in life by the Egyptians. And the Egyptians believed that cats would bring death." The friend drank tea and said slowly . "Is it only Egyptian mythology that involves cats?" I looked around, and the cute kitten was out fooling around again.

"Of course not, what I'm telling today is the story of an oriental cat." My friend said with a smile. "It is said that the Buddha said at that time that anyone with seven orifices in the world can practice to become an immortal. The so-called seven orifices are actually living things according to today's terms. Cats are naturally included in it. And according to records, cats that practice can become immortals every twenty years. If one more tail grows, when the tail grows to the ninth, it will be able to cultivate to a certain level. But the ninth tail is not easy to grow. When a cat has eight tails, it will get a reminder that it must satisfy a person's wish.And every time a wish is fulfilled, the cat must disappear a tail to fulfill it.So it's almost an endless loop.But the cat I'm talking about does complete the cycle very religiously.So although it has always had eight tails, it doesn't know how many years it has lived, and it doesn't know how many people have helped fulfill their wishes.It also once complained to the Buddha, how can it be cultivated in this way?The Buddha laughed and didn't answer. The friend paused and said mysteriously: "Actually, I just heard what my ancestors said above."Because the eight-tailed cat will not help people casually, it will only help the offspring of its first owner realize the wish.In my hometown, the rumor of the eight-tailed cat is very common. Everyone hopes to meet it, because if it is willing to help you, you can realize any wish, any wish. "

As I watched, I vaguely remembered that he had visited his hometown once before inheriting the inheritance, and I couldn't help asking him: "Have you seen it? That's why you can inherit such an inheritance?" "Fool, my parents passed away long ago, and the inheritance can only be accepted by me when I graduate from college as stipulated by my parents." My friend laughed.I was also a little embarrassed when I laughed. "But when I went back that time, I did know some stories about the eight-tailed cat." "My hometown is a place rich in products. Of course, there are also many rats. In order to solve the rat problem, every household has kept cats since a long time ago. It is strange that no one in our local area has dogs, and we never eat dog meat. Cats Its existence has brought great benefits to the local people. There is no infestation of mice, the food harvest is abundant, and diseases will not spread. Therefore, everyone loves cats very much. Naturally, there are many legends about cats.

The first one I knew was told to me by my great-uncle.He passed away last year.When he told me about this incident, he was still strong and strong. Although the old man was nearly eighty years old, he had white hair and a young face, and he spoke clearly and neatly.It's just that the eyes are deeply sunken, which looks scary at first glance, because he has severe cataracts, and he doesn't want to have surgery, so he has no choice but to do so. For the convenience of narrative, the following is in his tone. "That year, your grandfather (my grandfather) and I were only ten years old. There is a mountain behind the village. We often go up the mountain to play, or if we are lucky, we can hunt some small animals. You know, children in rural areas will support themselves very early Of course, we know that there are wolves on the mountain, but we usually don’t go far, only on the mountainside, and your grandfather is very good at distinguishing the wolf’s territory, he knows which places are not allowed to go, and those places are allowed.

We have also heard the legend of an eight-tailed cat in the village before. It is said that it was raised by a boy in the village hundreds of years ago, and it is a very big cat.Big enough to be almost as big as a normal dog.And the whole body is white, with a thick and long tail.People at the time were in awe of the cat.They think that this cat may be the cat demon inside the cat. After the boy died, the cat disappeared, and then people claimed to have seen the cat one after another, and all of the boy's descendants were prosperous.Finally became a famous family in the village.Everyone thinks this is a blessing from the cat demon.But the offspring of the boy never mentioned it.Because in the taboo, if you tell others the story of you and the eight-tailed cat, your life will be shortened.But anyway, I've had enough, so it doesn't matter if I tell you (speaking of which, my uncle smiled heartily).

The weather was fine that day, but the weather in June can change within minutes, and even a good weather watcher like me is negligent.I didn't ask your grandpa to go with you that time.Because he was already going to school in the provincial capital.Can't be as wild as me.So I want to go to the mountains alone to pick some mushrooms or get some game.But I didn't wait until I reached the mountainside.Then it rained heavily. Looking back, I have never encountered such a heavy rain in the past few decades.I had no choice but to find a place with dense leaves and hide for a while.The sky was gray and tight, and the air was oppressive.I almost forgot it was morning.Just as the rainstorm and lightning were intersecting, I vaguely heard the howling of wolves.Logically, at this time, and it was raining again, it was absolutely impossible for wolves to come out to look for food.But soon the second wolf howl confirmed my guess.

Before I could leave, I saw four wolves surrounded me.This is not the first time I have seen wolves. I used to go up the mountain with my father to fight wolves.But after that time, I just followed the adults to play.But this time I may really be reduced to food for wolves.I started shaking, and I couldn't tell whether it was from fear or from the rain. The four wolves are all adult wolves, and their fur is tightly glued together in the rain, which makes their figures fully displayed.I can even count how many ribs they have. It seems that they have been hungry for a long time.I just confront them like this, I know the wolf will not attack you all at once.They will observe carefully and patiently, looking for the best opportunity to ensure a hit.I don't even know that my throat may be torn open in the next second.

At this time, I saw the wolf shrink back suddenly, and let out a low growl from time to time. I knew it was a roar full of threats and fear.I look around.Sure enough I saw it. Its length is almost beyond my imagination, it can almost be regarded as a little lion.But the whole body is snow-white, and the rain doesn't seem to touch its beautiful hair at all.The eyes are like two black agates, with an ominous light.And the most eye-catching is its tail.It is eight heels, scattered behind like the support of the emperor on tour. It suddenly occurred to me that people in the village said that cats with eight tails would usually appear in unusual rainstorms and would look for someone who needed to grant their wishes.

The wolf was quickly scared away.The eight-tailed cat also strolled up to me.In front of it, I almost forget that I am a person, a person who should be above all living things.I feel so small.But I long to own it, because it is so beautiful. (Speaking of this, the uncle's eyes are very soft, looking forward, almost immersed in the previous memory) It wagged its tail slightly, then shook its head, stretched itself extremely long, and looked at me. I know it's waiting for me to ask for it.It turned out that our family is the descendant of that boy, which made me excited and excited.But its sudden arrival made me at a loss. I really didn't think about what wish I should let it help me realize.I asked it carefully: "Can I touch you?"

It squinted its eyes expressionlessly, and the rain had stopped at this time.Soon the sun came out again.Its white hair turned translucent in the sunlight.Maybe it said yes.So I ran my trembling hands through the hair around its neck. A person will touch many things in his life. Those that feel good include silk, satin, glorious porcelain, or the skin of a young woman.But the hair of the eight-tailed cat feels different to the hair I have touched.Not as messy as regular cat fur, and not as soft as fox fur someone gave us.I don't know what kind of feeling it is, but it is very comfortable to touch.My hands seemed to be glued there.I even want to sleep on its fur like this.

But it quickly avoided, maybe it didn't like being too close to people.I know it is still waiting for my wish, its eight-heeled tail is dangling restlessly.I really didn't know what wish to fulfill, so I had to tell it to go home with me first, and I will tell you when I think about it. The eight-tailed cat looked at me, and suddenly its whole body shone brightly, almost shaking me so much that I couldn't open my eyes.Then I saw a cat on the ground.A white cat that is no different from ordinary fur, and has only one tail. I knew it was Eight Tails, so I hugged it happily and went home excitedly. In the following days, I played with the eight-tailed cat almost every day.The adults in the village will not interfere with the children playing with the cat.Anyway, at that time, I didn't want to go to school like your father, and my family was rich, so I just let my temper fool around.But Yao was very reluctant to play this kind of play at first.Whenever I throw paper balls of yarn or something to it like teasing other cats.It always looked at me indifferently.Like an old man looking at a naive child.I finally realized that teasing it like this is actually disrespectful to it. It calls to me every day, or it just wags its tail and squats at the door.I know it doesn't want to be here.It wants to fulfill my wish as soon as possible, without a tail, and then repeat the endless practice.Looking at its back, I think it is very pitiful. That day I sat in front of it and asked it: "Is it true that all wishes come true?" It didn't make a sound, just looked at me lazily. "Then, my wish is that you can have nine tails." I said word by word. The eight-tailed cat was stunned.The black onyx eyes were full of doubt, followed by a look that I later came to know as gratitude.Maybe it finally understands what the Buddha meant, that it can only have nine tails if it meets the wish of someone who is willing to make it fulfilled.People in the past were selfish and thought about themselves. They believed that the eight-tailed cat should fulfill any wish for them. They would not consider the feelings of the eight-tailed cat, because each tail must go through decades of cultivation. The eight-tailed cat got up slowly, fell in front of me, and licked my hand, which was very warm.I saw that its eyes were wet, maybe it was tears Eight tails can no longer be called eight tails. I saw it grow nine tails, which were so gorgeous and magnificent, and its body shone with white light.Tiedan from the same village kept swearing that he saw a strong white light shining in my house that day. I watched it go, still a little disappointed.I know I will never see it again in my life. But it seems that I will be sheltered by it in the future. I have nothing to do in my life, but I live happily and peacefully. My children are very filial, and my body is very healthy.Maybe it's all thanks to it. Also, I dreamed about it yesterday, and it said it was coming to pick me up. " The above is the narration of my uncle. At that time, I could only be skeptical after listening to it. I know that there is a disease in medicine that is intentional.Mostly occur in the elderly, they are in good health, but their memory is confused.They tend to string together some irrelevant things to assemble my own so-called memories.I don't know if my great-uncle had it too. But soon, he passed away before I left my hometown.He walked very peacefully.He just slept on wicker chairs during the day and walked around.The family members also said that this is called happy mourning. At the funeral, I was the oldest of my generation.So I was the one who guarded the spirit on the first day, and what happened that night confirmed the story of my uncle. After about two o'clock in the morning, most of the people dispersed, only a few vigilantes were still there, but most of them had already fallen asleep.But I was surprisingly sober.When I think of the relatives who were talking and laughing with me a few days ago, I am somewhat sad.But in the silent night, I heard a cat meowing.It's not as scary and weird as in the movie, but it's full of gentle cries. I saw it too, I saw an eight-tailed cat, no, it should be called a nine-tailed cat.As my great-uncle described it, anyone who sees it for the first time is amazed at its beauty.White hair like snow but eyes as black as black jade.And the nine floating white tails are even more graceful and luxurious. It walked straight towards me, ignoring my surprise.I would love to wake up other people.But the mouth can't say anything. I just watched it walk up to my uncle's coffin, lick his hand like my uncle did when he left with him, and then disappear like a puff of smoke. After a long time, I found that I could only speak out loud.But I didn't tell the others, knowing it would just provoke a laugh, and it's taboo in our place during such a solemn funeral.I didn't return home until after my great-uncle's funeral.And I have never seen an eight-tailed cat again.Its legend also seems to have ended. " "What a magical cat." I couldn't help but sigh. "Indeed, but do you believe it?" My friend asked me. "Of course, I may not believe it if others say it, but no matter how bizarre you say, I am sure." I said firmly. "That's good. In life, a confidant dies without regret. You believe it is enough." My friend smiled and patted me on the shoulder, signaling me to go to bed early.I know tonight's story is over.When friends go out.The room returned to my own silence.At this time, the friend's cat came back from outside again.I looked at this cute cat and thought, could it be the eight-tailed cat?If anyone is lucky enough to see a cat with eight tails, remember to ask it to have nine tails, because they are very lonely wandering in the world.