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Chapter Text

The Guanyin Temple was behind him, but the heaviness lingered.

The halls of Lotus Pier were quiet that night, disciples keeping a respectful distance as their Sect Leader walked past with his usual stern expression. Only Jiang Cheng knew how fragile it truly was—how close he had come to unraveling, again. His chest still burned with resentment, his mind echoing with Wei Wuxian’s words, and his hand twitched as though Zidian might spark without command.

But instead of sleep, he sat in his study, brush in hand, forcing his focus onto sect reports. The characters blurred on the page, his jaw tightening with every attempt to steady his mind.

And then—

Something soft brushed against his leg.

Jiang Cheng froze. Slowly, he looked down.

A tiny ball of white fur sat neatly on his lap, as though it had been there all along. She blinked up at him with the clearest blue eyes he had ever seen, sparkling like little shards of sky.

“...What the hell,” Jiang Cheng muttered under his breath.

The kitten tilted her head, squeaked out the tiniest, most delicate meow, and—he swore—smiled. Then she curled up right against him, her warmth soaking through his robes.

Jiang Cheng’s first instinct was to shove her off. This was Lotus Pier, not a barnyard. He had no time for animals.

But his hand, traitorously, moved instead to hover above her fur. Soft. So soft it sank like silk beneath his fingers.

The kitten leaned into the touch with another squeaky, girly trill.

Jiang Cheng’s breath hitched. He tried to scowl, tried to remind himself he had better things to do than… this. And yet, he found himself stroking her, once, then again, until the rhythm soothed something jagged inside him.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he told her gruffly, though his voice was quieter now. “Where did you even come from?”

The kitten offered no answer except another tiny mew and a dainty stretch of her paw, pressing against his chest as though claiming him.

Jiang Cheng stared at her, and against all reason, against all logic, he felt his heart lurch. For the first time in a long while, the tightness in his chest loosened.

“…Tian Tian,” he whispered suddenly, the name slipping out before he could stop it.

The kitten’s ears perked.

He cleared his throat, embarrassed at himself, even though no one else was there. “That’s your name. Sweet enough to give me a toothache. Fitting, since you clearly plan on making a nuisance of yourself.”

Tian Tian mewed again, approving, and nestled deeper into his lap.

Jiang Cheng sighed heavily, but his hand never stopped petting her. He could already tell: this little ball of fluff had no intention of leaving. And though he’d never admit it aloud, he wasn’t sure he wanted her to.

For the first time since the temple, Sect Leader Jiang allowed himself a small, fleeting smile.

Chapter Text

It started the very next morning.

Jiang Cheng, as always, rose early and strode through Lotus Pier with his usual air of severity. Disciples scattered out of his path. The Sect Leader had a reputation: sharp, commanding, and merciless toward anyone who dared slack.

And then Tian Tian trotted in.

The tiny kitten padded daintily after him on soft little paws, her blue eyes blinking curiously at the world. When Jiang Cheng paused to speak with a disciple, she sat primly beside him, fluffy tail curled neatly around her paws like a miniature lady.

The disciple tried to keep his composure. He really did. But when Tian Tian tilted her head and gave the tiniest, squeakiest meow, the poor boy melted on the spot.

“Ah—S-sect Leader Jiang, she’s… so cute,” the disciple stammered, before realizing what he had said and immediately bowing in horror.

Jiang Cheng’s glare snapped to him like lightning. “Focus!” he barked.

But Tian Tian, utterly unbothered, leapt into the disciple’s arms and purred.

The disciple nearly fainted from joy.

From that moment, word spread like wildfire: Lotus Pier had a princess.

---

Within days, Tian Tian had won over everyone. The kitchen servants slipped her scraps of fish whenever Jiang Cheng wasn’t looking. The seamstresses squealed when Jiang Cheng appeared, awkwardly clearing his throat and demanding ribbons and silk scraps. (They later gasped to see him in the gardens late at night, clumsily stitching together a tiny dress.)

The next morning, Tian Tian trotted into the main hall wearing a pale lavender gown with little embroidered lotuses on the hem.

Disciples froze mid-bow. Elders blinked in disbelief.

And Tian Tian—tail high, head lifted like royalty—pranced straight to Jiang Cheng’s seat and hopped up beside him.

She sat there perfectly still, as though she belonged, her blue eyes sweeping the hall with regal dignity.

The Sect Leader’s expression was unreadable.

But when Tian Tian mewed softly and pressed her head against his arm, he adjusted the folds of her dress so it sat properly, then returned to the meeting as though nothing was unusual.

---

By the week’s end, Jiang Cheng had officially lost control of Lotus Pier.

Disciples called her “the little princess.” Servants slipped away from duties just to coo at her. Even the sternest of elders secretly let her nap in their sleeves.

Jin Ling was the worst offender. Upon visiting, he immediately declared Tian Tian his “Meimei.”

“Look, Uncle,” Jin Ling said smugly, holding Tian Tian up to eye level. “Now you’re really a dad. Except instead of me, you finally got yourself a daughter.”

Jiang Cheng spluttered so violently that Tian Tian had to pat his chin with her tiny paw, as though comforting him.

And then—because she was Tian Tian—she mewed sweetly, and the great Sect Leader of Jiang folded instantly.

“Fine,” he muttered, glaring at everyone else as if daring them to comment. “She’s… she’s mine.”

Lotus Pier cheered.

Tian Tian purred.

And Jiang Cheng, for all his protests, felt the corner of his mouth twitch upward again.

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian arrived at Lotus Pier on a sunny afternoon, humming to himself as he strolled across the docks. It had been a while since the Guanyin Temple incident, and while the tension between him and Jiang Cheng still lingered like smoke, Wei Wuxian felt… hopeful.

Lan Wangji followed silently, his expression as calm as ever.

“Now,” Wei Wuxian said cheerfully as he adjusted Chenqing at his waist, “do you think Jiang Cheng will yell at me first or throw Zidian at me? Personally, I’m betting on both.”

“Mn,” Lan Wangji replied, which Wei Wuxian took as agreement.

What he did not expect was the sight that greeted him in Jiang Cheng’s study.

The great Sect Leader of the Jiang Clan sat at his desk, brows furrowed in concentration as he wrote. Nothing unusual there.

What was unusual was the pristine white kitten sitting regally beside him on the desk—wearing a silk dress the color of lotus blossoms.

Wei Wuxian froze mid-step.

Lan Wangji blinked once, quietly tilting his head.

And then Wei Wuxian burst out laughing.

He doubled over, clutching his stomach, tears forming in his eyes as he gasped for breath. “Ahahahaha! A cat! A dressed cat! Jiang Cheng, what—what in the world—pfft! HAHAHA!”

Jiang Cheng shot up from his chair, purple lightning practically sparking in his eyes. “SHUT UP!”

But Tian Tian, as though deciding this newcomer required proper inspection, padded across the desk and leapt gracefully onto Wei Wuxian’s shoulder. She sat there like a queen upon her throne, blinking those crystal blue eyes.

“Aw, well hello there, little one!” Wei Wuxian cooed instantly, his laughter dissolving into affectionate babbling. “Aren’t you the prettiest kitty I’ve ever seen? What’s your name? Who dressed you up so beautifully, hmm?”

“Her name is Tian Tian,” Jiang Cheng snapped, trying to pry her back without looking like he was panicking. “And that’s—don’t ask about the dress!”

Wei Wuxian’s grin widened to something downright wicked. “You made it, didn’t you? Don’t even try to deny it. Sect Leader Jiang, reduced to sewing tiny frocks for his daughter.”

“She’s not my—!” Jiang Cheng’s voice cracked. He turned red from collar to ears. “I mean, she’s not—Shut UP, Wei Wuxian!”

Tian Tian mewed softly, patting Jiang Cheng’s arm with her paw. He froze. The entire room went silent.

And then, with a soft sigh, he sat back down and stroked her fur as though nothing had happened.

Wei Wuxian stared, jaw slack. And then, very slowly, he grinned again.

“Ohhh. I see how it is. Jiang Cheng’s not just a Sect Leader anymore.” He leaned forward, voice dropping into a singsong lilt. “He’s a cat dad~.”

“OUT!” Jiang Cheng roared, pointing to the door.

But Wei Wuxian was already laughing again, Tian Tian purring smugly on his shoulder.

Chapter Text

Lotus Pier had changed.

Where once disciples trembled beneath their Sect Leader’s stern gaze, now whispers followed him through the halls. Not because he had grown weaker—no, Jiang Cheng was as sharp-tongued and intimidating as ever—but because of the small, white shadow that trailed faithfully after him.

Tian Tian.

She had claimed Lotus Pier like it was her birthright.

This morning, Jiang Cheng sat in the lotus gardens, reports in his lap, while Tian Tian perched elegantly on the armrest of his chair, wearing a pale jade ribbon tied neatly around her neck. She looked, as always, like she belonged in the center of attention.

Lan Wangji, seated across from him, sipped his tea in silence. His golden eyes lingered briefly on the kitten, then shifted back to Jiang Cheng.

“She is unusual,” Lan Wangji said at last.

Jiang Cheng looked up sharply. “She’s a cat.”

“A cat,” Lan Wangji agreed calmly. “But not ordinary.”

Jiang Cheng bristled. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Wei Wuxian, sprawled carelessly beside them with a grin, perked up at once. “Ohhh? Lan Zhan’s mystical senses are tingling, huh? What’s wrong with her, Lan Zhan? Is she secretly a spirit beast? A demon in disguise? Or maybe—” He gasped dramatically, pointing at Jiang Cheng. “—she’s your soulmate!”

“Shut up!” Jiang Cheng snapped, face flushing hot. “She’s just a cat that showed up one night. That’s it.”

But Lan Wangji’s gaze did not waver. “She followed you. From Guanyin Temple.”

The air grew heavier. Jiang Cheng’s hand stilled on the report.

“…That’s nonsense.” His voice was clipped, defensive. “I didn’t—nothing followed me back.”

Yet the memory nagged at him. That night after the temple, when the air still stank of blood and resentment, he’d sworn he heard soft footsteps behind him. Too light to be a person. Too persistent to be a trick of the wind.

Tian Tian, perched on the chair, tilted her head and gave a squeaky meow as though agreeing with Lan Wangji.

Wei Wuxian burst into laughter. “See! Even Tian Tian says she’s fated to you!”

“OUT,” Jiang Cheng snarled, pointing to the door.

Wei Wuxian went, still laughing, while Lan Wangji set his teacup down gently.

“The Discussion Conference begins tomorrow,” Lan Wangji said, rising. “It would be… wise to keep her close.”

Jiang Cheng frowned. “She’s not coming to the conference.”

But Tian Tian, now sitting proudly on his shoulder with her tail draped like a royal sash, mewed in that impossibly sweet tone that made the entire sect bend to her will.

Jiang Cheng pinched the bridge of his nose. “...Fine.”

Chapter Text

The great hall of Lotus Pier buzzed with tense anticipation. Banners of violet and silver hung from the beams, and rows of sect leaders and disciples filled the chamber. The Discussion Conference was no laughing matter—sect politics rarely were.

Except, of course, when a kitten was involved.

The crowd hushed as Jiang Cheng entered, robes sharp, expression cold as steel. Every eye turned to him… and then immediately dropped to his shoulder.

Because perched there like she owned the entire Jiang Clan was Tian Tian, dressed in a deep indigo gown embroidered with tiny golden lotuses. A delicate silk ribbon crowned her head like a diadem.

The silence shattered into barely-suppressed gasps.

“Is that… a cat?” someone whispered.

“Not just a cat… she’s dressed!”

“She’s so pretty—”

Jiang Cheng’s glare swept the room like a blade. “If anyone has an actual political matter to discuss, speak. If not, shut up.”

Tian Tian chose that moment to squeak out the tiniest, most delicate meow, perfectly timed like a judge’s gavel.

The entire room straightened at once.

---

The conference began awkwardly. Sect leaders tried to discuss border patrols and rogue cultivators, but Tian Tian made her presence known. Every time someone spoke too loudly, she mewed in protest. Every time someone criticized the Jiang Sect, she let out a pitiful little trill that silenced the critic instantly.

At one point, an elder from a minor sect cleared his throat. “With all due respect, Sect Leader Jiang, bringing… a pet to a conference seems—”

Meow.

The elder stopped. Tian Tian’s blue eyes fixed on him like icy daggers wrapped in fluff. She gave another high-pitched squeak, softer this time, but loaded with authority.

The man paled. “—seems perfectly reasonable,” he corrected quickly. “Very dignified. Carry on.”

Wei Wuxian, lounging off to the side, was absolutely dying. Tears streamed down his face as he whispered to Lan Wangji, “Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, look—she’s running the conference! Ahahaha! Our little princess is the real Sect Leader now!”

Lan Wangji, to his credit, only gave a soft “Mn.” But his eyes lingered on Tian Tian, as if confirming again that her aura was… different.

---

By mid-afternoon, the juniors were completely useless. Lan Jingyi had snuck her a piece of candied lotus root. Jin Ling proudly declared her his “Little Sister Tian Tian” in front of the entire hall, puffing his chest like it was an official title. Even the normally stoic Lan Sizhui couldn’t resist scratching her chin when she padded over during a break.

When the final matters were concluded, Jiang Cheng stood to dismiss the assembly. Tian Tian hopped gracefully onto the desk before him, sitting with her tail curled elegantly around her paws. She gave one last squeaky meow—clear, commanding, queenly.

Every sect leader bowed as if acknowledging her decree.

---

That evening, the entire cultivation world buzzed with rumors.

Some claimed Sect Leader Jiang had tamed a spirit beast. Others whispered of a divine omen in feline form. But everyone agreed on one thing:

The true ruler of Lotus Pier was not Jiang Cheng.
It was Tian Tian.

Chapter Text

It began with a talisman.

One of the Jiang disciples had been practicing charms in the training yard, a clumsy attempt at enhancing communication with animals. The slip of paper flew from his hands during a misfire, carried by the wind straight through the open window of the Sect Leader’s study.

And onto Tian Tian’s forehead.

The kitten blinked. The talisman glowed faintly, then fizzled into nothing.

Jiang Cheng, buried in reports as usual, barely noticed—until his lap suddenly spoke.

“Daddy!”

The brush in his hand snapped in half. Ink splattered across the page.

Jiang Cheng stared down at Tian Tian, who sat happily on his robes, batting her fluffy tail and smiling with those big blue eyes. Except now, instead of a squeaky meow, out came the clearest, sweetest girlish voice.

“Daddy, I love you!”

Jiang Cheng’s soul left his body. “WHAT—”

Wei Wuxian chose that exact moment to walk in. “Oi, Jiang Cheng, you won’t believe what—” He froze. Then his face lit up like New Year’s fireworks. “Did—DID THE CAT JUST CALL YOU DADDY?!”

“I—She—NO—” Jiang Cheng spluttered helplessly, face turning a violent shade of red.

“Yes, Daddy!” Tian Tian chirped happily, patting his hand with her tiny paw. “You’re the best daddy ever! I love the pretty dresses you make me. I feel soooo pretty when you put them on me. Can I have a pink one next? With sparkles?”

Wei Wuxian collapsed against the doorframe, howling with laughter. “AHAHAHAHA! Oh, heavens, this is—this is the BEST day of my life! Sect Leader Jiang! Daddy Jiang!”

Jiang Cheng’s hand twitched toward Zidian, but before he could unleash it, Tian Tian’s little voice piped up again:

“Don’t be mean, Daddy. You’ll scare Uncle Wei Wei.”

Both men froze.

Wei Wuxian blinked. “Uncle… Wei Wei?”

“Yes!” Tian Tian beamed. “Daddy says you’re annoying, but I like you anyway. You give good scratches behind my ears.”

Wei Wuxian’s jaw dropped, and then he absolutely lit up with glee. “You hear that, Jiang Cheng? Even your daughter thinks I’m the fun uncle!”

Jiang Cheng covered his face with one hand, groaning like the world itself was ending.

---

The news spread faster than wildfire. Within hours, disciples, elders, even Jin Ling and the juniors had crowded into Lotus Pier’s study to hear Tian Tian speak.

“Daddy made me this pretty dress!” she announced proudly, twirling in her lavender gown. “He makes the best dresses. He pretends to grumble, but I know he loves it.”

Gasps and giggles filled the hall.

Jin Ling’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “So it’s true. My uncle is a softie. Tian Tian Meimei, tell them how much he spoils you!”

Tian Tian puffed up her chest proudly. “Daddy gives me the best fish, lets me sleep on his bed, and pets me even when he thinks no one’s looking.”

Jiang Cheng wanted the floor to open up and swallow him whole.

But when Tian Tian looked up at him with those shining blue eyes and whispered softly, “I love you, Daddy,” all he could do was sigh, scoop her up into his arms, and pretend the warmth in his chest wasn’t there.

The cultivation world could laugh all it wanted. To Tian Tian, he was Daddy.

And Jiang Cheng… couldn’t bring himself to correct her.

Chapter Text

Lotus Pier had finally settled into a new, chaotic rhythm. Tian Tian spoke human, strutted through the halls in her pretty dresses, and had every disciple wrapped around her tiny paw. Jiang Cheng had long ago accepted his fate as her “Daddy,” though he did so with a very stern glare and an ongoing internal grumble.

Everything was peaceful… until the tomcat arrived.

It first appeared on the edge of the training yard: a sleek, grey-striped tom with an attitude almost as big as Jiang Cheng’s temper. It sauntered confidently up to Tian Tian, brushing against her paws and giving her a low, smooth meow that sounded suspiciously like a flirtatious purr.

Jiang Cheng froze mid-step.

“…What in the—” he muttered, eyes narrowing. The tomcat lifted its tail like a banner of conquest and fixed Tian Tian with a daring gaze.

Tian Tian, of course, purred and rolled over dramatically, showing off her little white belly. “Hello there!” she squeaked in her sweet, human voice. “Do you like my dress? Daddy made it!”

The tomcat blinked slowly, flicked his tail, and meowed again in a smooth, “I like it, little lady. You’re very pretty.”

Jiang Cheng’s jaw practically hit the floor.

“No. NO. This. Is. NOT. HAPPENING.” He stormed forward, fists clenched. “I am not letting some mangy stray tomcat flirt with my little princess.”

Tian Tian tilted her head, looking at him curiously. “Daddy… he’s nice! I like him!”

“Nice?! Nice?! HE’S A STRAY, TIAN TIAN! A STRAY! AND HE’S FLIRTING WITH YOU!” Jiang Cheng’s voice boomed across the courtyard.

Wei Wuxian, leaning lazily on a fence nearby, nearly choked on his laughter. “AHAHAHA! Ohhh, I love it! Daddy Jiang has officially gone full protective mode!”

Lan Wangji, as always, remained silent, though his golden eyes watched the little scene carefully.

---

The tomcat, unfazed by the shouting, gave another low purr and tried to nuzzle Tian Tian’s cheek. She squeaked happily, wrapping her tiny paws around him in greeting.

Jiang Cheng’s face went red enough to rival a burning torch. “GET AWAY. NOW.”

Tian Tian mewed innocently. “But Daddy… he’s so soft!”

“SOFT? SOFT?! HE’S GOING TO STEAL MY LITTLE PRINCESS, THAT’S WHAT HE’S DOING!” Jiang Cheng practically lunged at the tomcat, which darted off in a graceful leap before he could reach it.

Tian Tian bounced after him playfully. “Don’t be mad, Daddy! I like him, but you’re my favorite!”

Jiang Cheng froze mid-step. His chest tightened. “…Your favorite, huh?”

“Of course!” she chirped, tail flicking. “You make the best dresses, Daddy. You give the best pets. You’re the best daddy ever!”

Jiang Cheng’s growl softened into a reluctant sigh. “…Fine. But if he comes near you again, I swear—”

Tian Tian purred and pressed her head against his arm, completely undoing the grumpy Sect Leader.

Wei Wuxian snorted from the fence. “Ohhh, I live for this. Daddy Jiang vs. the flirtatious tomcat. Place your bets, everyone!”

Jiang Cheng groaned, dragging Tian Tian back toward the halls, muttering darkly under his breath.

Somehow, he suspected this little tomcat drama was only just beginning.

Chapter Text

Lotus Pier was… not functioning. At least, not in any way remotely resembling a serious sect headquarters.

What started as one stray tomcat sniffing around Tian Tian had escalated into all-out war.

Disciples whispered in corners, debating whether the tomcat was a rival suitor or just a neighborhood pest. Someone had even started keeping a tally board:

Tian Tian’s Admirers: 1 Tomcat

Jiang Cheng’s Blood Pressure: Unstable

The sect leader himself was pacing the courtyard like a storm cloud, glaring daggers every time the tomcat dared peek its whiskers out from behind a lotus pot.

“Do you see that?!” Jiang Cheng snapped, stabbing his finger at the tomcat. “It’s loitering. Around my daughter. Shameless.”

One brave disciple murmured, “Sect Leader, it’s… just sitting there.”

“Scheming,” Jiang Cheng corrected with venom. “I know that look. It’s thinking about Tian Tian.”

Wei Wuxian nearly fell off the railing where he was lounging. “Pfft—Shidi, are you serious? A cat? Scheming? To steal away your precious princess?”

“She’s too good for him!” Jiang Cheng barked back, scooping Tian Tian up into his arms as if shielding her. Tian Tian, fluffy and innocent as always, only blinked her wide blue eyes at him before letting out a dainty little mewl.

Naturally, Wei Wuxian translated immediately: “See? She says, ‘Daddy, don’t worry, I only have eyes for you.’”

Jiang Cheng went scarlet. “Shut up! She did not say that!”

The drama spread like wildfire.

Some disciples started shadowing the tomcat, trying to lure it away with fish.

Others formed a “Tian Tian Protection Squad,” pledging loyalty to their Sect Leader’s daughter.

A few (traitors, in Jiang Cheng’s eyes) whispered that maybe Tian Tian should have a companion.

The breaking point came when Lan Wangji arrived for a quiet discussion about sect security. Instead, he walked into chaos: Wei Wuxian egging on the disciples, Jiang Cheng holding Tian Tian like a damsel in distress, and the tomcat dramatically perched on a wall, tail flicking like the antagonist of a play.

Lan Wangji blinked. “…Explain.”

Wei Wuxian grinned. “Soap opera! You picked the perfect time, Lan Zhan.”

Even Tian Tian added her part—sashaying out of Jiang Cheng’s arms and prancing right up to the tomcat. She sniffed him, sneezed delicately, and then trotted back to Jiang Cheng with her nose in the air, as though declaring the matter beneath her.

Jiang Cheng looked unbearably smug. “See? She has standards.”

Wei Wuxian collapsed into laughter. “Oh heavens, Shidi. At this point, she’s running the entire sect!”

And truly… nobody could argue. Lotus Pier revolved around Tian Tian.

Chapter Text

The Lotus Pier disciples were beginning to lose focus. At first, they had taken their Sect Leader’s warnings seriously: Do not, under any circumstances, let that mangy tomcat near Tian Tian.

But then the tomcat had strutted across the courtyard with all the swagger of a demonic cultivator at the height of his powers, tail flicking, fur glinting in the sun, green eyes narrowed as though he knew exactly who his competition was.

Tian Tian had been lounging on a silk pillow when he appeared. Her ears perked. Her tail curled delicately. Her soft “mrrrp” sent half the disciples into muffled squeals.

Jiang Cheng had stormed into view seconds later, purple robes flaring like storm clouds.
“ABSOLUTELY NOT!”

The disciples were treated to the unusual sight of their Sect Leader chasing a stray cat with the intensity of a battlefield general. Sandu Shengshou vs. one smug tomcat.

Wei Wuxian nearly fell off the pier from laughing. “Ah-Cheng, you’re going to duel him for Tian Tian’s honor at this rate! You should at least let her decide. Look—she’s watching like it’s a drama!”

And it was true: Tian Tian was sitting upright, big blue eyes wide, watching her father and the tomcat as though they were actors in a play.

---

That evening, the disciples gathered in secret.
“This is basically a romance story,” one whispered.
“A tragic forbidden love,” another sighed, clutching a brush as if narrating poetry.
“We can’t just stand by! Tian Tian deserves to be happy!”

Someone smacked the poet’s head. “She’s a cat!”

But the idea had taken root. Soon, half of Lotus Pier was whispering matchmaking strategies like war plans.

---

The next morning, Jiang Cheng walked into the training courtyard and froze.

Because there, right in the middle of the practice field, the disciples had “accidentally” left a bowl of fish. Tian Tian was daintily nibbling at it… while the tomcat lounged nearby, pretending not to notice her while flexing his claws into the grass.

Jiang Cheng’s eye twitched.

The disciples were pretending to spar, but their eyes kept darting toward the pair. Wei Wuxian leaned against a post, grinning ear to ear.
“Ah-Cheng… admit it, your daughter has suitors! Look at him—he’s already showing off.”

The tomcat stretched, sleek muscles rippling, before rolling onto his back to show his belly. Tian Tian looked, blinked once… and then went back to her fish.

“HA!” Jiang Cheng declared triumphantly, pointing at the scene. “See? She’s not interested. End of story!”

But the tomcat flicked his tail and purred louder, undeterred.

And Lotus Pier?
It was quickly becoming less a sect and more a stage for an unfolding feline soap opera.

Chapter Text

Lotus Pier was supposed to be a place of cultivation, discipline, and sword practice. Instead, at least half the disciples were whispering in corners, drawing up charts, and making dramatic hand gestures as though plotting a great siege.

Except it wasn’t about politics. Or sect strategy.

It was about Tian Tian’s love life.

“Shijie,” one disciple whispered urgently, “if Tian Tian’s destined partner is the tomcat, then we must ensure their meetings are… harmonious.”

Another disciple nodded gravely. “But Sect Leader Jiang must not find out. If he sees us interfering, we’ll be skinned alive.”

“It’s worth it,” a third said, eyes misty. “For Tian Tian’s happiness.”

Meanwhile, the subject of this grand operation—Tian Tian herself—was sprawled across Jiang Cheng’s desk, tail flicking lazily as she purred over the brushstrokes of his paperwork. The tomcat in question had been spotted three times that day: once lurking near the training field, once perched on a roof beam watching Tian Tian with suspiciously shiny eyes, and once brazenly trotting along the pier railings as though claiming territory.

Jiang Cheng was not amused.

“This ends today,” he muttered, storming through the courtyard with Sandu tucked at his hip like he was about to duel a major enemy cultivator. “I will not have some flea-bitten interloper sniffing around my daughter.”

“Daughter?” Wei Wuxian, who’d been trailing after him purely for entertainment, perked up like a gossiping auntie. “Aiyo, so serious! She’s a cat, Jiang Cheng.”

“She’s my daughter,” Jiang Cheng snapped, scanning the roofs for any sign of the tomcat. “And that—” he jabbed a finger toward the shadow slinking along the lotus beds “—is a degenerate.”

The disciples exchanged frantic glances. Their Sect Leader was about to ruin their matchmaking plans.

Time for drastic measures.

“Shijie,” one whispered, “deploy Operation ‘Accidental Encounter’!”

Suddenly, a group of disciples carrying a large basket of fish “tripped” right in front of the tomcat, scattering delicious morsels in the courtyard. The tomcat strutted forward, shamelessly helping himself. A few feet away, another disciple “accidentally” released Tian Tian from her carry-basket.

The two cats locked eyes.

Tian Tian blinked slowly, elegant as a queen. The tomcat puffed up, tail flicking in what could only be described as a bold declaration of devotion.

The disciples sighed like they were watching the climax of a romance drama.

Jiang Cheng, however, looked two seconds away from drawing Sandu.

“OH HO!” Wei Wuxian cackled, clapping him on the shoulder. “Look at that! Love at first sight! Tian Tian really does have a suitor!”

“She does not,” Jiang Cheng said flatly. “Over my dead body.”

“Aw, come on, Jiang Cheng. Look at him! He’s got shiny fur, good posture, and isn’t afraid of you! Perfect son-in-law material.”

“Son-in-law—?!” Jiang Cheng’s glare could have shattered stone.

The tomcat, oblivious to the storm brewing, took a daring step closer to Tian Tian and dropped the fattest fish from the pile at her paws. A courting gift.

Lotus Pier erupted into squeals.

“HE BROUGHT HER A PRESENT!”

“She’s blushing—well, she would be, if cats could blush!”

“This is destiny!”

Jiang Cheng pinched the bridge of his nose, looking like he might spontaneously combust. “If one more person says ‘destiny,’ I’m assigning triple night hunts for the next month.”

But no one was listening.

Because Tian Tian, princess of Lotus Pier, delicately bent her head… and began eating the fish.

The disciples gasped. Wei Wuxian howled with laughter. And Jiang Cheng realized, with growing horror, that he might actually be losing this ridiculous battle.

Chapter Text

By this point, Lotus Pier had officially stopped being a cultivation sect and become the set of a very messy play.

The tomcat had not only stuck around — he was strutting around the pier like he owned it. Perched on rooftops, slinking along the docks, lounging in the sun exactly where Jiang Cheng would step next. And worst of all? He always angled himself so that Tian Tian could see.

And Tian Tian, bless her fluffy little heart, would beam at him and say,
“Gege looks at me again!” before purring and prancing about in her new silk dress.

Jiang Cheng’s blood pressure was officially at maximum capacity.

---

Disciples’ Conspiracy Corner
At the training grounds, a gaggle of Jiang disciples huddled together.
“Okay, listen,” one whispered. “Sect Leader is never going to agree to let Tian Tian have a suitor. But if we can get them together secretly—”
“Are we matchmaking for our sect leader’s cat?”
“Yes. Obviously.”
Another disciple actually had a scroll out. “I’ve drawn up possible scenarios. Meet-cute in the koi garden, dramatic rescue from the pier, or we ‘accidentally’ lock them in the same room overnight—”
“LOCK THEM—are you insane?! He’ll skin us alive!”

Naturally, Wei Wuxian appeared right behind them, grinning like the menace he was.
“Lock them in the same room overnight? Brilliant! Ten out of ten idea!”
The disciples jumped out of their skins.
Wei Wuxian clapped them all on the back. “Don’t worry. Uncle’s bark is worse than his bite. Mostly.” He leaned in conspiratorially. “And Tian Tian deserves a little romance, doesn’t she?”

---

Meanwhile, Jiang Cheng was unraveling.
“Absolutely NOT!” he roared when he overheard the word romance and Tian Tian in the same sentence. “She is a baby! A princess! Do you idiots think I will allow some flea-bitten street cat to—”
“—to love her?” Wei Wuxian finished sweetly.
Jiang Cheng nearly choked on his own outrage. “SHE IS NOT OLD ENOUGH TO DATE!”
“She’s a cat, Jiang Cheng.”
“EXACTLY.”

Even Lan Wangji, who had been silently sipping tea through the chaos, finally spoke. His voice calm, as if discussing sect politics:
“If the male cat is respectful, there is no issue.”
Jiang Cheng’s jaw dropped. “Don’t YOU start!”

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The Final Straw
That evening, Jiang Cheng stomped out onto the pier, only to freeze at the sight before him:
Tian Tian was sitting primly on the dock… while the tomcat presented her with a very dead fish.

She squealed, “Daddy, Gege brought me a gift!”
Jiang Cheng nearly passed out. “WHAT—NO—YOU—PUT THAT DOWN RIGHT NOW—”
Wei Wuxian was already on the floor laughing, the disciples were secretly cheering, and even Lan Wangji’s lips twitched in the tiniest almost-smile.

Lotus Pier had officially fallen.

Chapter Text

By now, the Lotus Pier had stopped pretending it was a sect headquarters and instead functioned as a stage for the never-ending drama that was The Life and Times of Tian Tian, Princess of Lotus Pier.

The tomcat—whom the disciples had named “General Whiskers” for his battle-scarred face and smug attitude—was still strutting around the piers like he owned the place. He spent most of his days lounging on roofs, “accidentally” running into Tian Tian, and flicking his tail at Jiang Cheng with a look that could only mean: You can’t stop me, human.

Jiang Cheng, of course, had doubled the night patrols. Not because of threats, but because, as he told his disciples, “That mangy stray is a threat to Lotus Pier’s dignity!”

Wei Wuxian thought this was hilarious. “Aiya, Jiang Cheng, you sound like a disapproving father about to lose his daughter to some suitor. Don’t tell me—are you worried she’ll elope with General Whiskers in the middle of the night?”

“SHUT UP,” Jiang Cheng snapped, ears red.

The disciples, however, were secretly discussing schemes. Some whispered that perhaps a grand “cat wedding” could improve sect morale. Others wondered if Tian Tian might become the founder of a whole new dynasty of cultivator cats.

When Tian Tian strolled into the sect hall that evening, fur gleaming and ribbon neat, everyone froze as she leapt gracefully onto the table. The spell still made her speech crystal clear.

“Daddy,” she began, looking straight at Jiang Cheng with big round eyes, “why are you so grumpy lately?”

Jiang Cheng blinked, instantly softening. “I’m not grumpy, Tian Tian. I just—”

“Is it because of General Whiskers?” she asked innocently. “He brings me shiny beetles. I like them.”

Wei Wuxian practically fell off his chair laughing. The disciples gasped in unison, as though this revelation was the height of scandal.

“BEETLES?!” Jiang Cheng exploded. “You’re a princess, Tian Tian! You deserve jade pendants, silks—not disgusting bugs from some scruffy tomcat!”

But Tian Tian only tilted her head and purred, “I don’t care about jade. I like pretty dresses, and you make me the prettiest ones. You’re the best daddy. General Whiskers can’t beat that.”

The hall fell completely silent. Even the tomcat, lounging outside the open window, gave a sulky flick of his ear.

Wei Wuxian wiped tears of laughter from his eyes. “Hahahaha—oh Jiang Cheng, look at that! You won. You’re the favorite. Isn’t that what you wanted all along?”

Jiang Cheng tried to keep his scowl, but his lips twitched as Tian Tian pressed her head against his hand. “…Of course I won. No stray cat could ever replace me.”

And just like that, the sect settled. The “soap opera” was over. General Whiskers slunk away in defeat (though Wei Wuxian swore he saw him lurking near the kitchens later). The disciples sighed dramatically, disappointed their matchmaking plots had been foiled.

That night, as Jiang Cheng sat with Tian Tian curled on his lap, ribbon gleaming in the candlelight, she looked up at him and said, “Daddy, can you make me another dress tomorrow? Purple. With gold. Because I want to be the shiniest princess.”

Jiang Cheng’s stern expression melted entirely. He stroked her fur and muttered, “Anything for my little princess.”

And though the Lotus Pier would never forget the Great Cat Drama, everyone agreed on one thing: Tian Tian had chosen her forever favorite, and it wasn’t a tomcat—it was her daddy.

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✨ The End ✨