Chapter Thirty-Nine: Almost Squeezed Into a Cat Pancake

Seeing Xiaoyun calling from the other side, I called out softly, “Xiaoyun, I’m over here!”

It seemed she heard my voice—delighted, Xiaoyun looked around and immediately spotted the glowing orb near me. But there were too many evil spirits clustered around me. I couldn't get out, and Xiaoyun, seeing the situation, stood frozen, unable to come in.

The number of evil spirits surrounding Xiaoyun grew, leaving her overwhelmed and unable to react.

No, this can’t go on.

I glanced around, summoning courage from who knows where, and charged forward. But just as I lunged toward Xiaoyun, an evil spirit, faster than me, leapt out with a swoosh, clawing Xiaoyun and sending her flying two or three meters away!

“No!” I cried, watching helplessly as a horde of evil spirits chased after me.

Blood gushed from the fresh wound on Xiaoyun’s belly, and the evil spirit pounced again.

Before I could react, a figure darted over, cloaked in blue-violet light that crackled and struck down the evil spirits all around.

It was Fishball!

Was this the power granted by our master? It was indeed much stronger than anything we soul-eating cats possessed. I, a guardian cat, had received nothing but endless punishments and the task of searching for fetal souls.

Fishball and Xiaoyun both looked at me and suddenly shouted, “Qianqian! Watch out!”

Only then did I realize that a ghoul, exuding a sickly yellow-green aura, had crept up close—silent and unlike the others, much larger than the rest. In my rush to save Xiaoyun, I had stepped outside the small circle our master drew for me.

“Qianqian!” Xiaoyun’s anguished scream tore through the air.

But the distance was too great; neither Xiaoyun nor Fishball could reach me in time.

Never mind, as long as they’re safe, it doesn’t matter what happens to me.

On instinct, I ducked and hugged my head, praying that if I were to die, it wouldn’t be too painful.

Yet, in the very instant I thought my end had come, a sharp sizzle sounded next to my ear, like red-hot iron plunged into water. I turned around in terror to find the fierce-looking evil spirits gazing at me in bewilderment.

Why wasn’t I dead?

I didn’t understand, but Fishball wasted no time, dashing over with Xiaoyun in tow.

He hadn't changed into human form, remaining a small cat. He placed Xiaoyun in the golden circle drawn by Wangchuan, then hurried back for me.

“Hey—” I protested as he dragged me by the collar, struggling in his grip.

I was a bit hurt, but I still had paws and could walk myself…

But Fishball ignored my protests and, with a plop, dumped me into the little circle as well.

Squeezed together with Xiaoyun, I watched her look at me with relief, while I glared at her with exasperation.

“I told you to stay outside! Why did you come in?”

“I… I was worried about you…” Xiaoyun stammered, laying a paw on my ear. “Thank goodness, thank goodness…”

I pushed her paw away, still furious. “You were safer outside! It’s so dangerous in here!”

Xiaoyun looked at me, speechless, her expression saying clearly: as long as you’re okay.

“You two! Such a handful!” Fishball scolded us while fending off the evil spirits outside.

It was almost the same as the scolding I’d gotten from Wangchuan earlier. Lacking the ability, but always worrying about others, even if it means causing others anxiety, still acting on our own whims and coming back!

No wonder Wangchuan called me troublesome, and Fishball thought so too…

My tail and ears drooped in dejection. Well, I understood now. Xiaoyun and I were no different—just a pair of troublemakers making things harder for others.

But glancing at Fishball standing outside, I called, “It’s dangerous out there—come in.”

Fishball eyed the little circle Wangchuan had drawn—just big enough for one cat—and scoffed.

“Forget it. You two are already squeezed into a cat pancake. If I go in, it’ll be a juice machine!”

“Uh…” I glanced at Xiaoyun, pressed up against me.

Indeed, Wangchuan hadn’t considered much; the circle was truly too small for three cats.

But I wasn’t reassured with Fishball outside, so without a second thought, I dashed out and dragged Fishball in.

Reluctantly, Fishball let himself be pulled in. As a male, he was larger than either of us.

Now, we looked like three big cat pancakes squashed together, seamlessly connected.

“Tsk…” Fishball rolled his eyes, compressing himself as much as possible to give us space.

“Xiaoyun, are you in pain?” I asked, concerned by her constant hissing.

“No, no,” Xiaoyun explained quickly, “I’m just worried if I breathe too hard, I’ll push you all out…”

“Ugh!” Fishball pulled a face. “You think you can blow us away?”

“Pfft!” I couldn’t help but laugh.

“What are you laughing at! You almost died just now—if that earring of yours hadn’t flashed suddenly, who knows where you’d be!” Fishball scolded me again.

I raised a paw to touch my earring. Oh, so that’s what killed the evil spirit earlier?

No wonder Xiaoyun touched my ear and said thank goodness. I thought it was just an ornament!

I shook my head, letting the thought go, and quietly stood aside, trying to take up as little space as possible.

Luckily, we were cats—experts in extreme stretching and flattening.

We didn’t know how long we stayed squashed together, or how long the evil spirits battered the circle.

No one dared to take a deep breath—just as Xiaoyun said, afraid a single breath would squeeze someone out.

Suddenly, streaks of red-black energy spread across the sky. Like meteors crashing down, all the black-red flames bombarded the ground, striking the evil spirits below.

The cats who were still fighting either dodged or ran; some were caught by the black fire and exploded with a bang.

I stared, wide-eyed, as all the evil spirits howled and scattered, vanishing without a trace.

The ghostly green mist faded, the sun reappeared in the sky, shining down on the earth.

If not for the heaps of bloody cat corpses before me, I would nearly believe none of this had happened.

Many wounded cats crawled out, meowing as they called for their companions.

The three of us exchanged glances and finally released ourselves from the cramped circle.

A deep breath of fresh air almost revived me. Never in my life had I been so squashed—not even on a bus or the subway!

Just then, a thunderous roar split the sky and a massive black dragon burst from the clouds, its four glossy black claws tearing through the air, its tail swirling as it circled overhead.

The dragon’s head turned majestically, its enormous eyes surveying the carnage below.

With another roar, the dragon twisted and turned, then suddenly cast down beams of radiant light.

Just like when Wangchuan revived us guardian cats, the light fell upon the dead cats, restoring them all. One by one, they rose to their feet.

Watching this, my heart pounded with excitement.

The master was indeed invincible, and after transforming, the little black dragon was so imposing and awe-inspiring!

The black dragon departed, and on a nearby mound, a loud-voiced little black cat appeared, calling out, “Cats assemble! The master commands—all cats are summoned!”

Hearing the summons, the cats quickly shook out their fur and hurried toward the Yinluo Hall.

The dragon’s radiant light had healed my wounds as well as Xiaoyun’s.

“Let’s go,” I said. We hurried to follow the summons; surely our master would explain everything.

Before long, we arrived at the Yinluo Hall, where many cats lingered outside.

“Qianqian.” A melodious voice made me turn around.

“Rebecca?” I frowned at the usually arrogant little cat, unsure what she wanted.

“Qianqian, you’re very brave—the only cat who didn’t run when trouble arose. I see you in a new light.” Rebecca smiled elegantly, then sidled up as if to rub against me.

I hesitated, taking a small step back.

“My opinion of you has changed. I won’t be that way anymore. Can we be friends?” Rebecca’s smile was both graceful and sincere, her sea-blue eyes free of any deceit.

I took a deep breath and chose to trust her. “All right.”

Rebecca’s whiskers trembled with delight as she rubbed her neck against mine several times.

“We Persians greet friends like this—hope you don’t mind?” She covered her mouth with a dainty laugh.

“Of course not,” I replied, forcing a smile. But I lied; honestly, I minded very much and felt rather uncomfortable!

“Well, I’ll go in first to see the master—he must be anxious.” With another smile, Rebecca flicked her tail and entered the hall to find Wangchuan.

Being Wangchuan’s right paw, she was naturally the first to enter.

Other cats gave us odd looks at the sight of her rubbing my neck. I didn’t know why.

In any case, I couldn’t believe this cat, who’d never liked me, would suddenly change so quickly—it was hard to accept.

Glancing at Fishball and Xiaoyun, I nodded. “Let’s go in as well.”