Chapter Two: The Need to Devour Vital Essence

Three days later, I was hiding in the corner of a bedroom, watching a man and a woman tangled together on the bed.

“Mmm… no… please, don’t… I can’t…”
“Can’t what? Here?”
“Ah! Stop it!”

Beside me, Xiaoyun nudged closer and whispered, “Qianqian, don’t eat everything this time, remember to leave me some, or the master will scold me.”

Embarrassed, I nodded hastily. Xiaoyun was the white cat—her full name was Qianyun—now teaching me how to be a proper cat and how to please our master.

Three days ago, after I put on the collar, I learned to show constant respect to Wangchuan and accepted the task he gave me.

“You have two choices: first, become a guardian cat, which means snatching souls from the hands of the ghost messengers. Second, feed on the essence of human fetal souls.”

That was what Wangchuan said at the time. I flicked my tail and considered. The first was definitely out—I was too timid to even see a ghost, let alone a ghost messenger.

So I chose the second, thinking that breathing in some essence couldn’t be that hard.

And so, I found myself here, watching the pair rolling about on the bed.

Who would have thought feeding on human essence meant devouring the energy that spills from a man’s body at the moment of passion?

I rolled my eyes and covered them with my silvery paws to shield myself from the lurid scene.

The first time I tried, I was stunned, didn’t dare look, and ended up going home hungry—only to be tormented by the collar again.

The second time, afraid of being punished once more, I rushed in and devoured it all, leaving nothing for Xiaoyun, who in turn suffered for it.

Today was the third day. I watched in trepidation as the man, slick with sweat and covered in scratches, continued his relentless thrusts.

This job… truly, it’s mortifying!

“Ugh—!”

The man’s deep growl signaled the end was near. I perked up, saw him quicken his pace, then with a final plunge—countless streams of white mist burst from his body!

The moment they sprayed out, they darted into the woman’s body.

That energy would gather in three places: the crown of the head, the heart, and the navel.

I had to catch it before it fully entered her!

Xiaoyun and I stood on either side of the bed. In times like this, no one cared what two cats were up to. With a breath, the man’s essence was drawn into our bellies within three seconds.

Satisfied, I let out a huff, and so did Xiaoyun.

The man collapsed atop the woman, exhausted. “That was incredible,” he muttered.

I covered my mouth with my paw and chuckled.

I imagined what he really meant was that it was more exhausting than ever.

A man deprived of his essence wouldn’t have a chance at fathering children for months, not until the energy reformed.

It was like a ritual—the essence, upon entering the woman’s body, completed the soul exchange, and whatever remained would return to the man.

But since we devoured it the instant it left, the man was left drained and weary.

I wondered: is this the real reason infertility is on the rise? All the vital energy needed to conceive is being taken by our master!

We slipped quietly out of the bedroom, tails raised in feigned play.

This was our usual routine: act cute, get invited home by a couple, behave ourselves, then vanish after the act.

By dusk, we carried the gathered essence back to that pitch-black place.

Xiaoyun told me it was called the Hall of Shadows, hidden within the void—a rift where Master Wangchuan dwelt among mortals, a pocket dimension inaccessible to ordinary folk.

Only his cats could find him.

He had many cats. Most, like us, roamed the world devouring essence, then brought it back. A select few, of higher rank, were the soul-stealing guardian cats.

When we low-ranked soul-eating cats met a guardian cat, we had to bow our heads in respect.

After all, feeding on essence meant stealing unformed souls, nothing compared to the guardians who snatched away fully-formed ones.

Not that I cared about ranks—I just wanted to collect enough essence and go home.

Wangchuan said, once I’d eaten from fifty people, I’d have a chance to maintain a human shape, even if only briefly.

So far, I’d fed on three. Already, my feline mouth could form human words, so I could speak with Xiaoyun instead of just meowing.

So I worked even harder, hoping that once I became human again, I could return home to see Xin’er.

Three days ago, with my master’s permission, I’d gone home once. With Xiaoyun’s help, I left a note.

There was no trace of my human body; Xiaoyun explained, once the collar was on, my flesh became a cat’s body for my soul to inhabit—my human self vanished from the world.

On that note, I wrote that Sister had finally found a job, but needed training and couldn’t return for a while. I told her where the money was, urged her not to be frugal, that I’d make a lot, and would bring her treats when I got back.

I sat in the corner, watching Xin’er laugh and cry over the note, hugging her blanket in the night and calling for me—my heart ached unbearably.

When time was up, I returned to the Hall of Shadows and began my assignments.

From that moment, I decided: unless I became human again, I’d never go back to Xin’er.

“Have you learned everything?” Wangchuan sat high atop his throne, draped in grey robes, looking down upon me in my feline form.

“I have, Master,” I replied, crouched respectfully.

“Come here,” he called.

I raised my tail and drew near, feeling his hand scratch my forehead. My eyes narrowed in pleasure.

“From tomorrow, you’ll work alone. Bring back a full portion of essence.” He waved a wide sleeve.

“Yes, Master.”

After a few days, I’d learned his cues. That meant I was dismissed.

Outside, Xiaoyun bumped me with her rump—a habit of hers—our tails intertwining.

“Master treats you well.”

“Does he?”

“He speaks gently to you.” Xiaoyun shook her head, eyes squinting.

I said nothing—I didn’t feel he was kind at all.

I was terrified of him, or rather, of the collar chained around my neck.

One misstep and punishment would fall—a pain worse than death.

“Let’s go together tomorrow. Maybe we can each find one, since we won’t have to share. I could find someone every other day that way!”

I knew she worried about me, afraid I’d mess up and get punished.

She’d always been kind to me. Once, I asked why she’d helped me so much that day.

She said it was because I’d once given her alms.

Before becoming a cat, she’d been a little beggar. When I was young, I’d persuaded my father to give her fifty yuan.

She froze to death on the street, then, by chance, met Wangchuan and became his cat. So, when she saw me again, she chose to help.

Later, I learned from her that I’d faced many dangers that day.

I should have died in an explosion—she stalled for time by clinging to me.

If I’d gone upstairs, a dog would’ve bitten me—she found a way to make the dog sleep.

The range hood would’ve exploded—she called out to distract me and turned it off.

The sofa would’ve collapsed, or some metal would’ve killed me—she took my place.

I’d put something poisonous in the food—she overturned the plate.

But in the end, I died from a bottle of chili sauce, accidentally kicked by her as she tried to save me.

To me, it was like a scene from a horror movie—if I hadn’t lived it, I’d never believe it.

Xiaoyun still felt guilty, but I only felt grateful. Whether I survived or not, she’d done everything she could to help.

That’s a bond of life and death, isn’t it?

As I was nuzzling with Xiaoyun, I suddenly noticed a black she-cat with green eyes standing before us.

She wore a red collar too—a soul-eating cat, like me.

She glared fiercely, baring her teeth. “You’re the new cat?”

I shivered all over, but straightened up. “I am.”

“What’s your name!” The black cat was still menacing, her green eyes blazing.

“My name is Bai Qianqian.” My voice was trembling, claws digging into the floor.

“Bai Qianqian? What a disgraceful name! Ha—” The black cat’s lips curled with malice, and behind her more cats appeared.

Black, white, tabby—all sorts, each one glaring at us with venomous grins.

Xiaoyun was timid, but she’d been among cats longer than I had. She stretched a paw out to shield me.

“What do you want!”

“What do you think? We’re here to teach this shameless little cat a lesson!”

I bristled, glaring back. “How am I shameless!”

The cats began to close in, claws bared, ready to pounce.

“Don’t think you can bully us! Aren’t you afraid the master will punish you for neglecting your duties?” Xiaoyun’s shout brought mocking laughter from the others. The circle tightened until we were pressed together.

“You little tramp, let’s see if you dare seduce the master again!” The black cat lashed out, claws scraping my cheek!

She was faster than me—I didn’t dodge in time. It wasn’t a slap; it was a proper scratch, burning hot and likely bleeding!

“I did not!” Anger flared in me. I ground my teeth and leaped at her!

With a yowl, we rolled together, a tangle of fur and claws.

“Still denying it?” She bit down on me. “Consider this your lesson!”

Then I couldn’t tell whose paw kicked whose belly, or whose teeth bit whose neck. In the end, I was stinging all over like fire, but I managed to tear off some of her fur too!

With a swift roll, the black cat broke free.

“Let’s all bite her!”

At her command, the others glanced at each other, then all advanced on me.

I spat out a mouthful of black fur and flung myself into the fray, teeth and claws everywhere!

“Bai Qianqian is attacking! Bai Qianqian is attacking!” Several of the cats suddenly cried out, then scattered in all directions.