Chapter Sixty-Three: Flames Scorch the Cat’s Tail

“Hmph...” I let out a quiet grunt that went unnoticed by those around me, all the while plotting how to escape. The dark aura in this place was growing thicker and thicker; in the end, it would inevitably lead to unchecked, large-scale death.

If I were to die here, what would become of me?

I turned to look for Little Yun, only to see that she had already been seized by one of the men. She was stuffed into a rice sack, scratching desperately but unable to escape.

Soon enough, I too was shoved into a rice sack.

Terrified, I thrashed about inside the bag. Part of me feared the chaos unfolding around us, and another part couldn't shake the sense that Brother Wang was a risk in himself.

Brother Wang grabbed the sack holding me with one hand. Where was he taking us? I dreaded being carried out of the bar by his men, yet I also felt a faint hope—perhaps they would lead us away from this place.

After all, a riot was about to break out here, and I had never experienced anything like this before. I wasn't sure if it would affect the cats.

But if I left, wouldn't the twenty souls I'd come for be lost?

So I kept kicking inside the rice sack, yearning to see daylight again, desperate to reclaim my autonomy.

I wanted to see the sun! I wanted to know what the black mist outside really looked like!

I rammed into the sides of the bag again and again until, suddenly, the opening loosened. I readied myself and shot out with a swift leap!

“Heh heh! Gotcha!”

But before I could fully escape the sack, I found myself entangled in a large net outside!

Nearby stood a small iron rack, almost identical to the one in the underworld where I’d once been hung.

There were several alcohol burners burning nearby, releasing thick black smoke.

Where was this place? It seemed we had been taken away from the bar. Yet, from the walls, I could still sense the black substance seeping through—we hadn’t gone far.

The vicious cycle began anew: I darted wildly within the net, struggling to break free.

“You little kitten, let me show you what real trouble is.” Seeing my resistance, Brother Wang picked me up and swung me by the collar around my neck.

I was flung about until I grew dizzy, cursing his ancestors all the way, though it did little good.

“Ugh—” The shaking felt as though I was trapped in a moving vehicle, and soon my stomach churned.

By now, I was nearly hysterical. Whether he meant to roast me or boil me in soup, I fought back with everything I had, clawing at him furiously!

“Damn, damn, damn—” Brother Wang’s hand was soon streaked with fresh blood.

Cat claws aren’t particularly sharp, but against human flesh, they make formidable weapons.

Once the sharp tips dig in, a simple tug will leave bloody welts behind.

Driven to madness, Brother Wang hurled me onto a nearby sofa. My head struck the cushions, leaving me dazed, and a group of young men rushed over to pin me in place.

There was a ring attached to my collar. I’d never known its purpose before, but now I realized—it was designed to cause trouble at critical moments.

One of the men produced a small chain, hooked it through the ring on my collar, and, with a quick motion, suspended me from a steel pipe.

“Heh heh, little cat—come and dance on the pole!” Brother Wang grinned, wiping away the blood I’d drawn with a tissue.

Then he snatched an alcohol burner from the table and maliciously drew it near.

---

“Meow—!!” Little Yun’s cry echoed from nearby.

My heart pounded, wondering if the burner was meant for me.

But Little Yun seemed luckier than I—she was merely hung on the iron rack; surely they wouldn’t torment her as the underworld had tormented me, binding and tickling without end.

Still, my situation was grim. Someone was bringing the alcohol burner closer and closer.

Suddenly, Brother Wang pressed the flame to my paw!

“Ow!”

I recoiled, pulling my paw back in pain!

“Hey! This little thing isn’t afraid of fire!”

Brother Wang looked at me as though he’d discovered a new world, marveling at how my fur hadn’t been singed by the flame. But the pain was real—this fire was nothing like the flames I could conjure myself; it burned my paw with agonizing heat!

He brought the burner near my tail again, and I howled.

“Meow—ow ow ow—!”

My cry was full of threat; I glared at him, warning him not to come closer.

But it was useless. They treated me as nothing more than an ordinary cat, nothing to fear.

Brother Wang’s gaze was different, though. He raised his bear-like hand and smacked me on the head.

“There was something strange last time! Why don’t you dare speak now?!”

I lifted my head and finally understood—he meant the last time he’d heard me speak human language!

All thanks to Claudia. If she hadn’t forced us, would we have spoken?

Now Brother Wang, greedy as ever, wanted to capture us.

By threatening to burn my tail, he was clearly trying to make me speak.

After all, I wasn’t afraid of fire—though it hurt, I could endure.

But reality was harsh, and despite my mental preparation for torture, the pain was overwhelming, stars flashing before my eyes.

What was he planning?

Brother Wang opened one of the burners and poured its alcohol onto my tail!

Damn, damn, damn! Was he going to roast cat meat?!

Wasn’t it supposed to be for soup?

I flailed my paws desperately, unable to resist the cold splash of alcohol on my tail.

My tail lashed back and forth in panic; Little Yun meowed anxiously, as if worried for me.

Damn! This hurts! It hurts!

My whole heart thundered with the thought—it was like a child facing an injection, but what awaited me now was torture.

Damn this unlucky cat!

I squeezed my eyes shut and watched helplessly as Brother Wang grinned and set my tail ablaze!

---

“Meow—ow—!”

In an instant, fear seized my entire body, and I convulsed involuntarily!

From the tip of my tail to its base, my silver-white tail whipped wildly, now transformed into a burning stick.

Everyone scattered, afraid the sparks might land on them.

“I told you this cat is special—look, even after burning, it only turned black at the surface! We’ve found a treasure!”

Brother Wang was delighted—though he kept the fact that I could speak to himself.

“Put out the fire,” he ordered with a wave.

“Yes.” Someone splashed my tail with a small basin of water.

With a sputter, I collapsed, utterly spent.

The iron chain suspended from my neck squeezed the breath from me, and the pain from the burnt tail pierced straight to my soul!

These people were the scum of society—utter trash!

Yet even now, they smiled as Brother Wang turned to fetch a razor from a drawer.

I struggled, knowing exactly what he intended.

He realized the fire couldn’t burn off all the fur, so he would shave it instead.

But I couldn’t escape.

I watched helplessly as they shaved my tail clean.

A pink, bald, pig-like tail appeared before my eyes.

If I could die at that moment, I certainly wouldn’t choose life.

This was the most humiliating thing I’d ever experienced!

But in the next instant, Brother Wang poured more alcohol onto my tail, preparing to ignite it again.

I prayed silently, wishing I could strike him dead with my tail!

But I couldn’t speak human words—this was my final boundary.

So, as my tail was about to be set alight once more, all I could do was resign myself to fate.

Little Yun tugged at her iron rack, shaking it in worry.

Just as the alcohol burner was about to descend, one of Brother Wang’s men approached him.

“Brother Wang, the boss is here!”

“The boss?” Brother Wang was startled, then quickly capped the burner.

I exhaled in relief, my heart nearly stopping.

Brother Wang hurried to greet the newcomer with a broad smile.

A deeply familiar male voice echoed from the doorway: “Wang, how’s business at the bar these days?”