Chapter 109: Grateful to Have You By My Side

Instinctively, I hugged my head tightly, refusing to believe that I would die so easily. Yet, the other’s expression was truly fierce and terrifying. At that moment, I had no means of defending myself or resisting, so I could only yield to fate.

I trusted that heaven would not forsake me, but I was still overwhelmed with fear, curling up on the ground. After a long while, I noticed something strange.

Why was there no sound anymore? Outside, the evil spirits still howled, but the voice of Youyan had vanished.

I lifted my head, my heart pounding as I looked around, but saw nothing. Everything that had just happened felt like a dream—no one stood before me, no sign of anyone entering.

Curious, I moved around a bit. Outside, the evil spirits continued crashing against the house, trying to get in, but Youyan, who had tried to pounce on me just moments ago, had disappeared without a trace.

Was I really dreaming?

I touched my head, perplexed.

Had she vanished silently? Was it all just a hallucination brought on by my nerves?

Only when the ghosts outside gradually dissipated did the door creak open, and someone entered.

Panicked, I rushed out and saw Wangchuan returning. Terrified and still shaken, I threw myself into his arms.

“Master—!”

“What’s wrong?”

Wangchuan gently touched my head, noticing how unwell I seemed.

Hesitantly, I asked him, “Do you smell any strange cat scent?”

He looked around and shook his head.

So it was true!

Was it a dream after all? Or was Youyan’s method just incredibly cunning?

I swallowed hard and leaned against Wangchuan. “Is everything outside okay now?”

“Mm.”

“Was it Youluo who did this?”

“Yes.”

Silence fell.

Wangchuan appeared tired and sat down on the sofa to rest. I didn’t disturb him but instead began mulling over what had just happened.

Youyan had said that my very existence made her unhappy.

What did that mean?

After much thought, I still couldn’t grasp it. So I poured a glass of water for Wangchuan and snuggled close, continuing to ask.

“Besides punishing Rebekah, did you punish any other cats this time?”

“No,” Wangchuan took the water and smiled faintly.

Perhaps this was the first time I’d actively done something for him; he seemed touched.

“Why didn’t you punish the others?”

“Because there was no need.”

I shook my head in confusion. He pulled me close. “Those who deserved to die are dead. Why do you keep asking?”

The implication was clear: except for Rebekah, the rest were killed, like Xuanyuan.

But that didn’t make sense. Youyan seemed allied with Rebekah. Why was Youyan still alive and unpunished? How could she enter and leave without a sound in such circumstances?

After pondering, I told Wangchuan everything that had happened just now.

He frowned, then raised an eyebrow.

“So you’re saying Youyan was giving you a hard time?”

“Yes, last time when she caught me, she was the one holding back Yubao. I thought they were working together.”

“Is that so?” Wangchuan seemed unaware.

“You didn’t know?” I was shocked that even he didn’t know about this in the Rift.

“Who knows what happens when you’re unconscious?” Wangchuan pinched my cheek lightly and said, “I don’t think Youyan has any reason to target you. You weren’t hurt. Maybe you misunderstood?”

“Not at all!” I slammed the sofa in anger. “She almost killed me just now! She said my existence annoyed her! And she even broke the enchantment on my earring!”

Wangchuan reached out to touch my earring and frowned deeply, as if pondering something.

After a while, he told me about Youyan.

Like Yubao, Youyan wasn’t actually a cat but transformed into one by Wangchuan to remain in the Rift.

Wangchuan explained that not all his cats were humans; though most were, many lower-level spiritual beasts and minor demons also lived in the Rift.

These creatures generally had far stronger combat abilities than humans, required less care, and didn’t need extensive magic to prolong life or maintain health. Thus, Wangchuan preferred to recruit spiritual or demon beasts.

Still, most of the cats were human in origin.

Humans lived shorter lives but had greater desires and wants.

For spiritual and demon beasts, becoming Wangchuan’s cats might be a disgrace—or perhaps they couldn’t survive in their own realms, had committed some wrong, or suffered heartbreak, and thus refused to return.

Wangchuan never pressed them for details; as long as they stayed, he treated them well.

Youyan was a minor demon beast, originally a wild goose demon—warlike and cold in demeanor, though Wangchuan thought she was decent.

Once, in Wangchuan’s presence, she directly killed Claudia, which made him suspect she was hiding something.

Youyan wasn’t just a bad cat. She’d been in the Rift a long time and hadn’t committed any wrongdoing—just a secret she guarded.

The last time she killed Claudia outright, Wangchuan suspected Claudia had discovered Youyan’s secret.

But he didn’t investigate further.

Everyone knew that killing Wangchuan’s cats was as good as nothing.

Youyan’s rash action was just to prevent Claudia from revealing something.

So Wangchuan held no grudge; everyone has things they don’t want to speak of, no need to ruthlessly interrogate.

Moreover, Youyan was different from the other cats. She rarely spoke and dutifully performed her tasks.

The Rift was once the Illusory World, trampled by the Divine Realm and unable to withstand it, resulting in many small cracks.

These cracks acted like black holes, often letting various things slip inside—like minor demons from the demon realm accidentally entering the Rift.

Though once a fallen dust realm, it was now rich in spiritual energy.

Though Wangchuan was a fierce beast, he had been recuperating and only recently recovered much after nearly a thousand years.

If some great demon passed through the Rift, there would be a deadly battle.

No one wanted trouble, so the stronger spiritual and demon beast cats guarded the cracks, driving intruders away before they could settle inside.

Youyan was one such guardian.

I understood then: only the Soul-Eating Cats and Protector Cats were humans transformed into cats.

The yard behind the Protector Cats was home to many small spiritual beasts and minor demons.

The only exception was Yubao, who had initially joined because of a desire to court Wangchuan’s female cats.

I’d long been curious about that forbidden place, where even the Protector Cats weren’t allowed.

At first, I thought Wangchuan kept many concubine cats there.

Well… having watched too many ancient romance dramas, I imagined Wangchuan’s cat harem…

I would sneak peeks when passing by, wanting to see if many beautiful cats lived there.

At that time, I was puzzled that even Rebekah wasn’t allowed in, making that place mysterious. Hence, I imagined a gathering of enchanting feline beauties!

Ah… my imagination ran wild. But now I understand: there are always mightier beings beyond.

Perhaps Youyan’s outburst was just a momentary lapse—she didn’t truly want to harm me, only to scare me.

Otherwise, why say she wanted my life but ultimately do nothing?

Could it be she thought I had discovered her secret? That’s why she acted so?

Seeing me lost in thought, Wangchuan comforted me.

“Youyan’s nature is just like that. Demons and humans are different—just like you and me. Since you weren’t hurt, let it be for now. When I have time, I’ll ask her.”

I nodded, hoping it wasn’t anything serious.

“Also, I think it’s better to have someone accompany you when I’m not around. Who would you want?”

I looked at Wangchuan, understanding his meaning.

A minor demon beast cat was rare, especially one as loyal as Youyan.

Wangchuan was reluctant to kill her but puzzled by what had happened, so he focused on protecting me.

Finding someone to guard me seemed the best solution.

I reached up and hung my arms around his neck, squinting with a coquettish smile. I had wanted to do this for a while.

After some thought, I spoke.

“I want Xiaoyun.”

Wangchuan laughed. “I thought you’d say Yubao.”

I felt a little embarrassed. “Besides, Yubao has Xiaomi to take care of. Why would I want him?”

Plus, he had to look after his pregnant wife. Even if Wangchuan called him over, I wouldn’t know what to do with him.

Wangchuan raised an eyebrow, then suddenly pulled me up, carrying me draped over his body.

“Who knows if you’re just desperate and want more males around you?”

I was stunned, watching his mischievous expression. My face flushed, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“Oh, you—you’ve learned that, huh? I’m going to bite you to death!”

Without hesitation, I bit his neck, but as I bit, it turned into playful licking.

Wangchuan watched me with great enjoyment, eyes half-closed, as I licked his collarbone in a manner reminiscent of a devoted pet.

In the end, our primal instincts took over, continuing what we hadn’t finished when the evil spirits descended.

I hung on him loosely, as if floating on water, feeling grateful.

Grateful that I still had you by my side.