"In ancient Egyptian mythology, cats played a very important role. It is said that a long time ago, cats ruled over humans, they were cunning, cruel and very clever. They drive humans as slaves. Knowing the appearance of the last dogs, they drove away the cats and turned the cats from rulers into human pets. So the dog was regarded by the Egyptians as the most important friend in life. And the Egyptians were convinced that cats would bring death. "My friend drank tea and said slowly." Is only Egyptian mythology involving cats? I looked around, and the cute kitten was out again.
"Of course not, I'm telling the story of an oriental cat today." The friend laughed and recounted. "It is said that at that time, the Buddha said that anyone with seven skills in the world can cultivate into an immortal. The so-called seven tricks are actually creatures according to today's words. Cats naturally count among them. And according to the record. A cultivating cat can grow an extra tail every twenty years, and when the tail grows to the ninth, it can cultivate to a certain level. But this ninth tail is not very long, and when a cat has eight tails, it will get a hint that it must fulfill a person's wishes. And every time a wish is fulfilled, the cat must disappear a tail to achieve. So it's almost an endless cycle. But the cat I'm talking about is very religious in completing this cycle. So it's always been eight tails though. But I don't know how many years I have lived, nor how many people I have helped to achieve my wishes. He also complained to the Buddha, how can he cultivate the Tao in this way? The Buddha laughed and did not answer. The friend paused for a moment and said mysteriously, "Actually, I just listened to my ancestors talk about the above words." Because the eight-tailed cat does not help people casually, it will only help the descendants of its first owner to fulfill their wishes. In my hometown, the rumor of the eight-tailed cat is very common, and everyone wants to meet it, because if it is willing to help you, you can fulfill any wish, any wish. “
As I looked, vaguely remembering that he had gone to his hometown once to inherit his inheritance, I couldn't help but ask him, "Have you ever seen it?" So you can inherit such a legacy? "Fool, my parents died a long time ago, and the inheritance was only acceptable to me when I graduated from college as my parents had prescribed." Friends laugh. I was also a little embarrassed to laugh.
"But when I went back that time, I did know some stories about the eight-tailed cat." "My hometown is a very rich place, of course, there are many rats, in order to solve the rat infestation, from a long time ago every household will have cats. Strangely enough, none of us have a dog in our area, and we never eat dog meat. The presence of cats gives the locals great benefits. There is no rat infestation, the food is abundant, and no disease will be transmitted. So everyone loves cats. And the legend of the cat is naturally also many. The first one I knew was told to me by my uncle and grandfather. He passed away last year. At that time, he was still strong when he told me about this matter, and although the old man was nearly eighty, he had a childlike appearance and spoke clearly and neatly. It's just that his eyes are deeply sunken, and it looks a little scary because he has severe cataracts, and he doesn't want to do surgery, so he has to do this.
For the sake of narration, the following is in his tone. "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 enough to hit some small animals, you know, rural children will support themselves very early on. Of course, we know that there are wolves on the mountain, but we generally don't go far, only on the mountainside, and your grandfather is very good at discerning the territory of the wolf, he knows which places are unattainable and which places can be visited. In the past, we have also heard the legend that there is an eight-tailed cat in the village, which is said to have been raised by a teenager in the village hundreds of years ago, and it is a very large cat. It's big enough to be almost like a normal dog. And the whole body is snow white, and the tail is thick and long. People at the time were in awe of the cat. They thought the cat might be the cat demon inside the cat. After the teenager's death, the cat disappeared, and then one after another people claimed to have seen the cat, and the descendants of the teenager were all flying yellow. In the end, he became a famous noble family in the village. Everyone thought it was a blessing for the cat demon. But the descendants of the youth will never mention it. Because in the taboo, if you tell others the story of you and the eight-tailed cat, you will lose your life. But I've lived enough anyway, and it doesn't matter if I tell you. The weather was fine that day, but in June the weather changed within minutes of the trees, and even a good observer of the weather like me was negligent. I didn't ask you to go with you that time. Because he was already going to the provincial city to go to school. Can't be as wild as I am. So I went to the mountains alone to pick some mushrooms or some game. But I didn't wait to reach the mountainside. It rained so much, and I think back to the fact that I've never seen a rainstorm like that in decades. I had to find a place with thick foliage and hide. The sky was gray and tight, and the air was oppressive. I almost forgot it was morning. Just as the rainstorm and lightning were converging, I faintly heard the wolf's cry. At this time, and in the rainstorm, wolves will never come out to feed. But soon a second wolf howl confirmed my suspicions. Before I could leave, I saw four wolves already surrounding me. It wasn't the first time I'd seen a wolf, I had beaten a wolf with my father up the mountain. But after that, I just played with the adults behind. But this time I may really be reduced to the food of the wolf's belly. I began to shake, and I couldn't tell if I was scared or if I was being watered by the rain. The four wolves were all adult wolves, and their hairs were tightly glued together in the rain, which made their figure very thoroughly displayed. I could even count a few of their ribs, and it seemed they had been hungry for a long time. I'm holding on to them like this, and I know the wolves won't attack you at once. They will observe carefully and patiently, looking for the best opportunity to guarantee a hit. I didn't know that maybe my throat might be torn open the next second.
That day I sat in front of it and asked, "Is it possible that all wishes can be fulfilled?" It didn't make a sound, just looked at me lazily.
"Well, my wish is that you can have nine tails." I said it word for word. The eight-tailed cat froze. The black agate-like eyes were full of doubt, followed by a look that I later came to know called gratitude. Perhaps it finally understood what the Buddha meant, that it could only have nine tails if it met the wish of someone who would make it perfect. People in the past were selfish for themselves, they thought that the eight-tailed cat should fulfill any wish for them, and they would not consider the feelings of the eight-tailed cat. Because every tail must go through decades of cultivation.
The eight-tailed cat slowly got up, crouched down in front of me, and licked my hand, which was very warm. I saw that its eyes were a little wet, maybe it was tears. Eight tails, can no longer be called eight tails, I saw it grow nine tails, it is so gorgeous and magnificent, its body flashes white light. So much so that the iron egg in the same village kept gambling that he saw my house shining with a strong white light that day. I watched it go, still a little lost. I knew I wouldn't be seeing it in my life.
But it seems that the days to come are all protected by it, I have done nothing in my life but have lived happily and peacefully, my children are filial piety, and my body is very healthy. Maybe it's all thanks to it, and yesterday I dreamed of it, and it said it was coming to pick me up. "The above is my uncle's account, and at that time I could only believe it after listening to it, and I knew that a medical disease was a fantasy. It is more common in the elderly, who are in good health, but their memories are confused. They tend to string together unrelated things to combine what I call my own memories. I don't know if my uncle or grandfather also had this disease. But soon, before I left my hometown, he passed away. It was very peaceful. I slept on a wicker chair during the day. The family also said that this is called joy and mourning. At the funeral, I was the longest in my generation. So I came to guard the spirit of the first day, and what happened that night confirmed the story of my uncle and grandfather. After about two o'clock in the morning, most of the people dispersed, and only a few of the guardians were still there, but most of them had already slept to death. But I was surprisingly sober. When I think of the relatives who were still talking and laughing with me a few days ago, they are suddenly separated by yin and yang, and I am a little sad. But in the silent night, I heard a cat bark. It is not as terrifying and eerie as in the electric shadow, but it is full of gentle screams. I saw it too, and I saw the eight-tailed cat, no, it should be called nine-tailed. As my uncle described it, anyone who sees it for the first time will be amazed by its beauty. The white hair was as white as snow but had dark eyes like ink jade. And the floating nine white tails are even more graceful and luxurious. It came straight up to me, completely oblivious to my surprise. I'd love to wake up the others. But the mouth could not say anything.
I watched it walk up to my uncle's coffin, lick his hands as my uncle had done when he left, and then disappear like a puff of smoke. After a long time, I found that I could speak up. But I didn't tell anyone else, I knew it was nothing more than a mockery, and it was very taboo for us to say this during such a serious funeral. I came home after my uncle's funeral. And I've never seen an eight-tailed cat again. Its legend also seems to have ended. "What a magical cat." I couldn't help but sigh.
"True, but do you believe it?" A friend asked me.
"Of course, I may not believe it if others say it, but I am sure of what you say no matter how bizarre it is." I said firmly. "That's good, life has to die without regrets, and it is enough for you to believe." My friend smiled and patted me on the shoulder, signaling me to rest early. I know tonight's story is over. When friends go out. The room returned to my silence alone. At this time, the friend's cat came back from outside. I looked at this cute cat and wondered if it could be the eight-tailed one. If anyone has the opportunity to see an eight-tailed cat, remember to mention to it the desire to have nine tails, because they are very lonely and lonely in the world.