After Being Secretly Loved by a Tsundere Cat

Yu Tao is an orphan with mediocre talent who gains admission to the prestigious Wuchang Sect through sheer luck, becoming the youngest disciple of the reclusive Master Xuan Yuzi. Despite being the weakest among her senior brothers—Jiang Xingjing, Hua Lian, and Yu Li—she dedicates herself to rigorous cultivation to avoid bringing shame to her master. Her days are spent in quiet solitude, practicing on a secluded training platform deep in the forest, where she encounters a sleek black cat with golden eyes that has claimed her spot. The cat is aloof and hostile, scratching her when she attempts to touch it, yet Yu Tao persists in her kindness, eventually winning its reluctant acceptance by providing food and a comfortable nest. Unbeknownst to her, the black cat is actually her senior brother Yu Li, a genius sword cultivator who had recently returned from a mission to subdue a thousand-year-old black flood dragon in Mohe. Yu Li transforms into the cat to observe her quietly, finding her diligence and gentle nature endearing, though he maintains his cold exterior in his human form.

Yu Tao harbors a secret admiration for Yu Li, recalling how he saved her from sea monsters two years prior, an event that inspired her to pursue the sword path. However, she views him as unreachable, believing their differences in talent and status make any connection impossible. Her social interactions are limited and often misunderstood; when she encounters Zhu Mingyu, a talented but arrogant disciple who mocked her on the day of admission, Yu Tao misinterprets Zhu Mingyu’s hostility as concern. This leads to a bizarre exchange where Yu Tao challenges Zhu Mingyu to a duel at the Qingdeng Peak library in twenty days, intending only to secure a companion for her library visit. Zhu Mingyu, convinced Yu Tao is plotting a scheme to humiliate her, accepts the challenge and begins intense, sleep-deprived training, while Yu Tao remains oblivious to the growing tension, focusing instead on earning sect points to pay for the library entry.

As the duel date approaches, Yu Li continues to visit the sect in human form, delivering lectures to new disciples and subtly guiding Yu Tao’s cultivation. He notices her dantian issues stem from improper technique and offers her a pair of jade bells containing a dragon core to aid her progress. Yu Tao accepts the gift, unaware of its true value or its giver’s identity, and resolves to repay him. Meanwhile, the sect buzzes with rumors about the upcoming duel between the two newcomers. Zhu Mingyu, driven by paranoia and competitive pride, pushes her body to the limit, while Yu Tao struggles to balance her cultivation, sect tasks, and preparations for the library trip. The misunderstanding deepens as both girls interpret the other’s actions through a lens of rivalry, despite Yu Tao’s genuine desire for friendship.

The climax unfolds at the Twin Star Sword Training Field, where Yu Li, seeking to test Yu Tao’s resolve or perhaps distract her from the impending conflict, challenges a low-ranked disciple named Xu Jing to a public duel. He deliberately loses, allowing Xu Jing to surpass him in the rankings, a move that shocks the sect and draws attention to his unusual behavior. Simultaneously, Yu Tao arrives at the Void Sword Training Field, intending to face Zhu Mingyu, but witnesses a sinister scene: a veiled figure attacks Zhu Mingyu from behind, stabbing her and forcing her into a demonic beast trial. Yu Tao freezes in shock, realizing the duel she feared was merely a misunderstanding, while a far more dangerous threat emerges within the sect. The black cat, observing from a distance, watches with narrowed eyes, his playful demeanor vanishing as he recognizes the danger posed to his junior sister. The story shifts from lighthearted cultivation misunderstandings to a darker narrative of conspiracy and protection, as Yu Tao’s ordinary life is upended by the sudden violence and the hidden enemies lurking within the Wuchang Sect.