Chapter Thirty-Seven: Trouble in the Void Rift

The wailing of the resentful ghost never ceased to echo in my ears, and I was indeed so affected by her that my whole body felt out of place, trapped in a state beyond my own control.

Finally, after a piercing shriek, I abruptly stepped back, baring my sharp claws as I glared at her.

“Don’t try to confuse me! I’m not what you imagine—I don’t like the master! I just… I just…” Halfway through, I realized I couldn’t even find a reason myself.

The resentful ghost laughed gleefully. “Hahaha! And you still insist you don’t like him? Why are you at a loss for words then? Clearly, you’re just saying the opposite of what you truly feel!”

Those words—saying one thing but meaning another.

They almost shattered me completely.

Yes, I was being contradictory. Wasn’t this the very reason I was punished?

If I hadn’t been so insincere, how would I have ended up being haunted by this resentful ghost out here now?

Every time I encountered this ghost, I felt as if my nerves had become someone else’s.

A little awkward, downcast, even with a desire for death.

Wasn’t it the same last time? If Yubao hadn’t appeared and rescued me, perhaps I would have dashed myself to death against that stone stele.

No, perhaps last time this ghost only wanted to teach me a lesson; a Soul-Devouring Cat cannot be so easily killed.

There’s pain, but not death. This time, she truly wanted my life!

My mind was perfectly clear, but with her chilling laughter, my claws moved upward against my will.

Stealthily, I slipped into the elevator.

Around me were the feet of passersby, all appearing gray to my eyes.

Had my human senses been infected? Devoured?

The master once said that our senses were still those of a human.

In many cases, the world seen through the eyes of a feline is devoid of color.

But we, the Soul-Devouring Cats and the Spirit-Calming Cats, can distinguish colors—proof that we still retain human consciousness.

I shook my head, hoping to escape when the elevator doors closed, but as I took a step forward, my body froze!

“Little cat, little cat, don’t run. Following your sister won’t end well for you… Hahahahaha—!”

The resentful ghost laughed so disgustingly I rolled my eyes. The people around could not hear the ghost’s laughter, nor did they notice the stiff little cat at their feet, merely going about their own business.

If only my body were under my own control, I might have already lunged out to fight her!

In that moment, I mustered all my strength just to break free from this struggle! Yet deep inside, a reckless despair tempted me to give up.

Yubao is so powerful, and even he fell victim to this ghost’s plot last time. How could I, by myself, ever truly win?

But if I don’t even try, how will I know if I can succeed?

Gritting my teeth, I pushed forward with all my might, struggling to break free from the ghost’s restraint!

A minute passed. Two minutes passed… I failed…

With a ding, the elevator reached the top floor, and everyone exited.

I had never been here before, yet after darting out of the elevator, I immediately found a staircase.

The skylight at the top of the stairs was just about my size, as if it had been left there specifically for me.

It was much easier than climbing up. I slipped through the skylight, and found myself on a rooftop.

I knew then, the resentful ghost wanted me to end my life here.

I struggled desperately, but could not stop myself from moving step by step toward the edge of the rooftop, which loomed like an abyss!

Glancing down, the surrounding buildings twisted in terrifying shapes, as if I would plunge from this towering height at any moment.

The resentful ghost seemed to want to give me a chance to speak, forcing me to stand at the edge and endure the fear of being so close to death.

My previous death had been an awkward affair, so I hadn’t felt fear or pain at all.

But this time was different. This time, I was watching myself leap from the building with open eyes.

It was a sensation that chilled every bone and sinew, making me want to collapse on the spot in terror.

Just as my front paw stepped out, I suddenly felt a jolt—something inexplicably released the force binding me!

At once, I rushed away from the lethal edge, standing far back.

And now, before me stood not only the resentful ghost but also a shadowy little girl.

She was not exactly pretty, but neat and clean, dressed in a green woolen robe. Most importantly, she too appeared to be a ghost.

“Wang Yu, you again?!” The resentful ghost frowned at the girl. “Why do you keep interfering? What have I done to you?”

“As the daughter of a ghost warden, maybe I can’t collect you, but I can certainly stop you, can’t I?” Wang Yu grinned, holding a Bagua mirror used to reveal ghosts.

The resentful ghost raised her arm to shield herself from the mirror’s scorching light, but blue smoke sizzled from her burning hand nonetheless.

Just then, firecrackers began to go off downstairs for no apparent reason!

With crackling bursts, the fireworks exploded across the sky—strangely conspicuous in broad daylight!

But the resentful ghost in front of me was so frightened she howled and vanished, just as she had upon seeing Wangchuan last time.

“Little cat, hurry and go! Otherwise, she’ll come back soon—you must be careful!”

With that, Wang Yu leapt down from the tall building!

Clinging to the edge of the rooftop, I saw her below—being a ghost, she did not land, but instead conversed with a white-bearded old man, gesturing in my direction as if reporting a good deed.

Freed from the resentful ghost’s shackles, I suddenly understood so much!

Things I’d never before considered all surfaced in this moment from deep within my heart!

No—I must go back and find the master!

With this thought, I immediately retraced my steps toward the entrance of the Void Rift, determined to find Wangchuan and demand an explanation!

So what if I like him? That has nothing to do with whether or not he punishes me!

So what if I’m contradictory? There must be a real reason behind sending me to collect fifty fetal souls! Being insincere is not reason enough!

At the time, I’d been too caught up in my sorrow to ask anything—this time, I would get to the bottom of it!

In three quick strides, claws ignited with urgency, I dashed toward the entrance of the Void Rift!

But before I reached it, I found a little white cat weeping at the crossroads!

Xiaoyun?!

I braked abruptly and whispered gently, “Xiaoyun, what’s wrong?”

The moment Xiaoyun saw me, she threw herself into my arms. “Qianqian—the rift, something terrible has happened!!”

“What?” I froze on the spot, never having been so frightened before. “How can something happen to the rift?”

“Yes! This morning, the rift was inexplicably filled with blazing sunlight—we all thought it was good weather, but in no time, dark clouds gathered, and so many ghosts appeared! So many! I was terrified!”

I quickly embraced Xiaoyun, pressing close to her neck to comfort her. “It’s all right, maybe some souls the master had collected escaped. Don’t be afraid.”

But Xiaoyun kept sobbing. “No, Qianqian, it’s not that. These are the vicious kind—the kind that bite! Look at my neck!”

As she spoke, Xiaoyun immediately parted the fur around her collar for me to see.

I hadn’t noticed before, hidden beneath her red collar, but now I saw—it was covered in blood!

Some of it had already crusted into sticky scabs, matting her fur, while several deep wounds were still bleeding, drops trickling down!

“How could this happen!” I hurriedly pressed my paw to Xiaoyun’s wounds.

Though Soul-Devouring Cats cannot die, it still hurts terribly!

My heart ached for Xiaoyun, but all I could do was hold her wounds and ask for details.

“Those ghosts—they swooped down, bit me! Drank my blood! I barely managed to escape! Yubao helped me—if not for him, I’d already be dead… Wuwu…”

Recalling the ordeal, Xiaoyun was still trembling in fear. Gritting my teeth, I said, “Hide here, or get as far away as possible. I’ll go back to check—wait for me here!”

Just as I was about to move, Xiaoyun grabbed me. “No! It’s too dangerous inside the rift right now. Most of the cats have either fled or been killed. If you go in now, it’s suicide!”

Seeing Xiaoyun’s condition, I realized she was right. Had she not escaped quickly, she might not be alive to see me now.

“But… Wangchuan is still inside!”

Xiaoyun frowned and let out a long sigh, then scratched a mark into my fur with her claws.

“Why do you care about the master? He’s the king of the rift—no matter who dies, he won’t! You should only worry about saving your own life!”

I was speechless, standing there in a daze for several seconds.

Xiaoyun continued, “I mean it! Running back in at a time like this—are you crazy, or do you have a death wish?!”

I swallowed and laughed. “I am crazy. I do have a death wish. I’m going back.”

Perhaps I was still under the resentful ghost’s influence, for at that moment, my mind was filled with nothing but dark thoughts!

This morning’s inexplicable punishment from Wangchuan, now linked with the sudden flood of ghosts in the rift, overwhelmed me with the urge to rush in!

Even if it’s only to share the hardship with the other cats!

Even if it’s only to see the master safe—so be it!

Without waiting for Xiaoyun to say more, I leapt into the entrance of the rift!

Behind me came Xiaoyun’s anguished cry, “Foolish Qianqian! Stupid cat! You idiot!!”

…

Howling winds. Screaming specters.

Just as Xiaoyun had described, there was not a trace of sunlight here! It had already become like the greenish underworld of myth!

Though the Void Rift was always dim, it had never been so engulfed in eerie green, with countless ghosts shrieking and flying everywhere!

What in the world had happened here?!