Chapter Forty-Three: An Impossible Mission

I glanced at the car—its occupant was none other than Youluo, the same person who had killed Ningning last time and captured Xiao Yun and me.

Sure enough, the car door swung open. Long legs stepped out, then the rest of him, standing neatly before us with a smile.

“You... Youluo...” I was stunned, unable to speak. Xiao Yun managed to call out, while Xiaomi darted away at lightning speed.

Perhaps Xiaomi had never encountered him, never seen him, so she simply sensed danger and instinctively bounded far away. But the two of us were rooted in place, as if he only wanted us.

Just like last time, one in his left hand, one in his right, two stiff, plaster cats were scooped up and placed on the car’s back seat.

The car didn’t start; instead, the doors were shut tightly. The moment they locked, we seemed to be released, able to move again, trembling beneath the seats.

“Come out, scaredy-cats,” Youluo said, smiling as he reached in, pulling Xiao Yun out, then me.

We stared at him wide-eyed, as he took out a pale green bottle. It was filled with pale green stars, looking—so much like souls.

“What is this...” I gaped at the little bottle.

“These are souls. You’ll never collect the rest within a day; what’s in here far exceeds what you lost.”

“How do you know I lost souls!” I flailed my paws, desperate to escape. My neck felt cold, as if someone was gripping it.

“Don’t worry about how I know you lost them. Just tell me: do you want them, or not?” Youluo’s eyes were dark and shining, as if enchanted, fixing on us.

In an instant, we both forgot to struggle, dumbfounded, staring at him.

Youluo chuckled, amused by our stunned little cat faces, and gave the bottle a shake.

We swayed in time with his hand, only coming to our senses after a while.

Could he be trusted? Last time he saved us, asking nothing in return. Would it be the same this time—would he help us willingly?

No, who would willingly give their soul to another?

Xiaomi had told us: souls, except those properly collected by the reaper and placed in the underworld, are snatched away or devoured by all manner of creatures. For a human to reincarnate is a rare fortune.

But Youluo was right—there were simply too many souls left. It was a pipe dream to gather them all in one or two days. If we didn’t find another way, some shortcut, the task would remain impossible.

“Unless you can convince us—how do you know the souls were lost?” I still couldn’t trust him, so I gritted my teeth and asked.

Youluo smiled calmly, then gestured for me to look at the rear window.

Outside, Xiaomi was circling the car, seemingly wanting to enter. Nothing else was visible.

When I tried to look back again, Youluo brushed his hand over the window, transforming it into a mirror-like surface, rippling like water, then shifting to a state reminiscent of the rift.

As I was lost playing with the ball, a white shadow darted by. Suddenly, all the souls in the room were released, spreading out like jellyfish, flying everywhere.

I swallowed hard, recalling that day still left me uneasy.

Who was that white shadow?

I sensed its speed—so swift, it was impossible to see clearly! White, not multicolored...

Rebecca?

Was it her? Was it?

I looked at Youluo, troubled, but he seemed to read my thoughts, and suddenly everything slowed down, like watching in slow motion.

I was almost motionless, and the other cat—was a long-haired one! I couldn’t see its eyes, but its back bore traces of calico.

Not Rebecca, but Claudia! The cat who’d been meddling with me all along!

Xiao Yun and I exchanged shocked glances. Xiao Yun seemed a bit calmer, her gaze darting about.

Was she afraid? Why would she be? I didn’t understand.

But it didn’t quite look like fear, more as if she knew something.

I looked at Xiao Yun, but her expression and movements returned to normal, and I wondered if I was imagining things.

Xiao Yun had always treated me well; she wouldn’t keep secrets from me.

So I turned back to Youluo. “What do you want in exchange?”

Youluo smiled, pressing his lips together, and shook his finger, then hung the little bottle around my neck.

“One thousand souls, for a favor. You said last time, a favor owed must be repaid.”

“Then I owe you two favors,” I insisted on keeping things clear.

“The first one’s already settled—take care of yourself. As for this one, I’ll let you know when I think of it.”

He reached out and cupped my cheeks. My face was reflected in his dark pupils, still round, still carrying a hint of reverence.

Listening to Youluo, I suddenly felt an overwhelming admiration for him.

No one else would experience falling into the abyss only to discover a celestial smiling down at them.

That’s how I felt now—like I’d met my savior.

I felt a warmth I’d never known, not even from Wangchuan, a sense of being cherished.

And this celestial didn’t even seem to expect anything in return—like a benevolent Bodhisattva!

“Go on, return to your master,” Youluo said with a smile.

At that moment, my heart gave a jolt, and a phrase flashed through my mind: there’s no such thing as a free lunch.

But I looked down at the bottle hanging from my neck.

Even so, I could only choose to trust him!

I gazed at him, nodded firmly. “Thank you!”

“Heh, no need to thank me,” Youluo waved me off, letting me go.

I turned, resolved to return and explain everything to Wangchuan, to persuade him not to be angry.

Even though I released those souls, it wasn’t intentional, and I was framed by another cat!

It’s only been three days, yet that cat is already eager to target me. I fear my days ahead won’t be easy!

If I don’t make things clear to Wangchuan, she’ll surely continue to scheme against me next time!

And the odd thing is, though I don’t know why she’s targeting me, I know deep down that I never provoked her, never even met her!

So the truth is obvious—someone else must be directing her!

Who could it be? Rebecca? Or some figure lurking in the shadows?

Rebecca’s recent behavior has been strange—she’s been kind to me, yet brought Claudia, causing chaos in just three days and nearly condemning me to eternal damnation!

That grudge, Bai Qianqian shall remember. If I ever get the chance, I’ll never let her go, not even in death!

I scratched at the door with all my might, finally managed to open it, glanced back at Youluo, who smiled with curved lips, then hopped out.

Xiao Yun followed behind me, jumping down, and Youluo’s car sped away in a cloud of dust.

Outside, Xiaomi saw us emerge and dashed over.

“You scared me to death! Who was that?” Xiaomi looked around nervously, then at the car. “There’s a netherworld talisman—I couldn’t get in!”

“What talisman?” I asked, confused.

“A reaper! That’s a reaper! Wait, what’s that on your chest?” Xiaomi exclaimed, noticing the bottle.

I looked down. “He gave it to me—one thousand souls.”

“Wow!” Xiaomi’s eyes widened. “We risked everything, and only found twenty or so!”

“Exactly!” I grinned, feeling a weight lifted.

Thinking of it, it felt like a blessing from heaven—a dead tree blossoming anew; I’d been reborn after death! No need to face punishment in the dreadful soul prison, no need to feel guilty before Wangchuan!

The three cats hurried back to the rift. With the bottle hanging from my neck, I finally felt some dignity in facing Wangchuan.

But a thousand souls were heavy—so heavy, swinging against my chest, clinking against the ground.

I was so frightened, I puffed out my chest and raised my head all the way, terrified the bottle would hit a sharp stone and shatter—then I’d truly be in despair.

So, swaying every few steps with the bottle, all I wanted was to hurry back to Wangchuan and clear my name!

Let him know—it wasn’t my fault! It was another cat’s doing!

My heart raced, burning for resolution, but when I returned to find Wangchuan, he wasn’t in the Hall of Shadows.

Wangchuan usually stayed there, reading books or scrolls, sometimes petting Rebecca.

What was wrong today? Had I really angered him?

Xiao Yun and Xiaomi exchanged glances, shaking their heads—they hadn’t seen Wangchuan either.

“Should we split up and search?”

“Alright.”

We parted ways. I lingered near Wangchuan’s hall, wandering for a while.

Unable to find his trace, I rested beside a small platform, catching my breath.

The bottle on my chest clinked against the stone as the wind blew. I quickly cushioned it with my paw, only to realize a large shadow was cast over me.

Terrified, I turned and saw Wangchuan, along with several cats transformed into humanoid forms.

I recognized them—they were from the cat house! Two of them had hung the chain around my neck last time!

“Master! What’s happening!” I retreated a few steps, wanting to flee, unable to understand why Wangchuan was suddenly so fierce.

Even the lazy smile on his face was gone, replaced by anger!

Was he still angry?!

But he didn’t answer my question. He simply murmured, “Take her. Lock her up in the cat house.”