Chapter Forty: A Traitor Hidden in the Rift

After Rebecca entered, Wangchuan acted as though nothing had happened, sitting calmly in his chair. The enormous black dragon, which had just moments ago been imposing and majestic, now coiled around his hand like a toy snake. If not for its dragon horns, whiskers, and claws, one might have mistaken it for an ordinary little black serpent.

“Is everyone here?” Rebecca asked softly.

All the little cats below immediately straightened up at their positions, and I stood at the very back. Fishball looked at me in surprise. “I thought you were a Soul-Eating Cat?” he remarked.

His words startled me, but then I remembered I was now a Guardian Cat and should be standing at the front. I quickly followed Fishball forward, taking my place among the six Guardian Cats.

“The master says there are four Guardian Cat positions still vacant. Soon, a few will be chosen from among you. I’m sure you all know the kind of cat the master prefers.”

There was a stir below. Many cats recalled what happened to those who tried to become Guardian Cats last time. Even without taking the plunge themselves, they found it terrifying and wondered if things would be the same again.

“And another thing: the master's intention is that anyone not present today proves they lack the courage required. If they don’t even qualify to share in our hardships, they’re certainly not fit to protect the master.”

Once more, the kittens whispered and looked around to see who was missing. As expected, several had escaped the rift during the chaos, just like Cloud earlier, and were now hiding in the human world.

As I listened to Rebecca, I suddenly noticed Wangchuan looking at me from above with a strange, knowing smile, reminiscent of how he had first grinned at me. It was as if he carried everything inside him, fully aware of all that transpired in this chaotic rift, mastery never slipping from his grasp.

Admiration. That was all I felt. I realized I was becoming just like the other kittens, hopelessly drawn in.

Rebecca went on at length, explaining what had happened. In summary, a horde of evil spirits had invaded the rift. They had created their own entrance, a portal much like the small door Han Mingxuan had once made for us. Unlike Han Mingxuan’s, which existed only for an instant, this one had stayed open far longer.

But this door did not lead to the human world; rather, it opened onto the Underworld, the place where humans go after death to be reincarnated. This gate led to its deepest reaches, home to countless evil spirits—those unable to reincarnate, consumed by malice and violence. One might even call them demon-ghosts, for their endless torment had turned their negative energies into a tangible force.

Like those wrathful ghosts with their eerie green and purple auras—mere contact with them could drive a human to madness or suicide. Such monsters are kept deep within the Underworld, what is commonly called Hell, and are seldom released.

“This time, so many evil spirits stormed the rift at once—it was clearly premeditated. And the door remained open for a long while, in a most inconspicuous corner of the rift, unnoticed by all. It wasn’t until Mr. Qilin discovered it and closed it that the incident truly ended.”

The kittens listened to Rebecca’s account in terror; some had their fur standing on end in fright. Yet, despite their fear, they listened on.

“So, all kittens present must remember to thank Mr. Qilin…”

As Rebecca spoke, a flash of blue light exploded through the main doors and Pei Mu burst in—bare-chested, wearing only a pair of white boxers patterned with tiny strawberries.

“You’re already talking about me?!”

Several of us kittens gasped at the sight of this wild, half-naked Qilin. Droplets of water still clung to his body, and his hair was lathered with white suds—had he just been bathing?

“Oh dear, I came too fast and forgot my bathrobe, ha ha…” Pei Mu rubbed the foam from his head, then vanished on the spot.

We were left speechless, not knowing what to say. After some ten seconds, Pei Mu reappeared in a gust, now wearing his familiar oversized bathrobe. His hair was clean but still dripping wet.

Now I understood why he was always in a bathrobe—he must truly love bathing.

Wangchuan edged away in distaste, but Pei Mu sidled closer, laying his head in Wangchuan’s lap with a playful “Don’t run away, darling.”

Wangchuan’s face darkened, but since a meeting was underway, he merely flicked his hand in annoyance without moving further away.

Afterward, all the kittens expressed their gratitude to “Mr. Qilin,” meowing and some even offering gestures akin to feline kisses. Pei Mu beamed, as red as a bursting tomato, preening under the attention. But being thanked—why did it make him blush?

Once the thanks were given, Wangchuan promptly kicked Pei Mu out. Unlike his grand entrance, he was ejected in a flurry and left wailing, “Darling, I’ll be waiting for you in the usual place this afternoon—!”

The doors were tightly shut. After the commotion died down, Rebecca coughed a few times and continued.

“As for that portal to the Underworld, since it was in such a hidden part of the rift, only someone intimately familiar with the rift—be it person or cat—could have found it.”

“This gives the master reason to suspect that some cat here may have, now or in the past, colluded with the Underworld, perhaps even acted as a traitor and lured the evil spirits in.”

At this, Rebecca glanced at Wangchuan. His gaze was oddly indulgent. He simply waved his hand, smiling as if to say she could continue as she liked.

Rebecca, eager to show her merit, nodded and coughed again. “I’ll investigate thoroughly who has had contact with the Underworld. For now, the master wishes to commend a few kittens who fought alongside us in the rift.”

She then began reading names, including mine, Cloud’s, and Fishball’s. We stood at the front, though I alone felt awkward. I didn’t quite belong here; though I had bravely fought my way back, if not for the master saving me halfway, I’d probably have died and been waiting for resurrection like the rest.

Moreover… I didn’t really fight alongside them. I’d been confined like a monk within a safety circle…

When the commendations ended, Rebecca left, and Wangchuan rose from his chair.

“All other kittens, return to your duties. Guardian Cats remain.”

The kittens, after some final affectionate gestures, filed out through the door Pei Mu had battered. Cloud cast a lingering glance my way before leaving, and even Rebecca was gone, leaving only the six Guardian Cats in the hall.

“Bai Qianqian performed admirably this time. Though a bit foolish, your dedication to the rift deserves praise.”

Hearing my master’s words and seeing his faintly mocking smile, my face burned with embarrassment.

Stupid master, as if I hadn’t caused enough trouble—did he really need to mock me like that? Hmph…

I hung my head, tail swishing in silence, until Wangchuan raised his hand. “Good cat, you deserve a reward. The rest of you as well.”

The others remained silent, eyeing me with envy.

A bead, small and red as a cherry tomato, dangled above my head. I had no idea what it was, but feline curiosity was irresistible, and I kept pawing at it. Yet the red orb refused to drop. When I leapt up, mouth wide, it suddenly shot straight into my mouth!

“Cough!” The sensation was like eating fiery sauce, burning hot!

I coughed for ages, my stomach feeling ablaze. Wangchuan merely watched, giving a single instruction.

“Try your new ability.”

Just as he had when I first became a Soul-Eating Cat, Wangchuan issued an order. I raised a paw and squeezed it, but nothing seemed different. But when I stuck out my tongue to lick it, a burst of fire exploded on my paw, sending me fleeing in panic!

“Heh…” Wangchuan gave a low chuckle.

Fishball covered his face with a paw, unable to look at me.

Had I messed up again?

I shook my paw until the flames died out, checked that my silvery claws were unscorched, and finally felt relieved.

“Of all the cats, only you lacked this power before. Now you have it—use it well.” Wangchuan then arched his lips in a slow, deliberate warning. “But don’t treat it as a reward.”

The implication was clear—still mocking me. Sob…

Yet it wasn’t over. Wangchuan looked at me teasingly and held out his hand.

After long hesitation, I spat out a single blue bead—weak and dull, lacking any brilliance.

Human fetal souls, too, vary in quality, depending on whether the person led a virtuous or wicked life. That man, perhaps because of too many illicit affairs, had a fragile fetal soul, lacking any luster.

The brightest ones I’d seen were those Han Mingxuan gave me, shining like night pearls.

“You still owe me forty-nine more,” Wangchuan said with a smile, pocketing the bead.

I froze, paw outstretched, about to protest, but he gave me no chance and continued.

“All right, off you go. Find something useful to do—go hunt some souls if you’re idle. In three days, we’ll start rotating shifts.”

With that, Wangchuan vanished on the spot, and we cats looked at one another in confusion.

I—still owe forty-nine more?!

Rotating shifts in three days?!

I really wanted to ask—what does that even mean? What shifts? Where am I supposed to stand guard?

And—am I supposed to find forty-nine fetal souls in just three days?!