Chapter Ten: Striving Desperately for Vital Energy

In the blink of an eye, I saw a long-haired calico cat, adorably fluffy, stroll out from behind the cabinet. Her chest was puffed out and her head held high, a posture that clearly showed she knew we had noticed her, yet she made no attempt to hide. Instead, she sauntered out leisurely, swinging her tail and looking at us with a sly smile.

Around her neck hung a collar bestowed by our master, a symbol that, like me, she served under our master’s command. I didn't know this cat; though we sometimes crossed paths while reporting to our master, there were many I had never seen before.

The only thing setting her apart was her collar—it marked her as a Soul-Calming Cat, a rank above ours. But what did that matter? The pride in her eyes showed she had no intention of treating us kindly.

So, without caring what those two humans nearby were up to, I bristled, arched my back menacingly, and let out a furious yowl at her.

“Mee-ooow—!”

The threatening cry made her curl her lips in a mocking smile.

“Where did that cat come from?!” Brother Wang jumped up in shock, staring at me and the other two kittens as we bristled and threatened on the floor.

The woman beside him pressed him back down onto the bed, tracing circles on his chest. “What playful little cats—looks like a fight’s about to break out. Let’s enjoy the show.”

Brother Wang calmed down only then, pinching her cheek with a lascivious grin. “Whatever you say, my darling.”

I fluffed out my tail in defiance, and asked in a voice so low the humans could barely hear, “Did you steal our fetal souls?!”

The long-haired calico gave me a contemptuous look, licking her paw. “No, I didn’t steal your fetal souls. I simply scattered them, that’s all! Ha!”

“You—!” I unsheathed my claws in rage, fur standing on end, barely able to stop myself from leaping at her.

Xiaoyun suddenly brushed my tail, whispering, “Let’s just go, Qianqian… She’s Xiaorui, a Soul-Calming Cat. She’s not someone we can provoke…”

I scoffed. “So what if she’s a Soul-Calming Cat? They have their own business, and this territory was assigned to us by the master. What gives her the right to be here? Why did she scatter our fetal souls?!”

Though I spoke to Xiaoyun, my eyes remained locked on that unreasonable cat before me.

Xiaorui’s eyes narrowed in amusement, as if she’d just heard a hilarious joke. “This is the human world, not the Rift. I came out to fetch souls—of course, slips and accidents do happen.”

So she’d come to stir up trouble on purpose, then?

I didn’t indulge her antics, immediately bringing up the earlier incident with the prostitute. “Back when those two were making a deal, it was you who scattered the fetal souls, wasn’t it? You claim it was an accident—twice? Do you really think the master will believe that?”

“Haha!” Xiaorui let out a cold laugh, her voice deliberately loud, seemingly unconcerned about the humans overhearing. “So what if it was an accident? There are plenty of Soul-Devouring Cats who eat fetal souls—how could we compare with the rare Soul-Calming Cats? Even if I did it on purpose, the master wouldn’t care about a couple of insignificant Soul-Devouring Cats.”

“So, in other words, the powerful get to bully the weak, cats oppress cats?” I chuckled, looking at her with contempt.

She sneered right back. “Who told you not to follow the rules? Weren’t you warned not to curry favor with the master? And yet you, a mere Soul-Devouring Cat, keep flattering the master time and again, ignoring our words?”

I narrowed my eyes, finally understanding her motives and whose orders she was following.

There was nothing more to say—no matter how little we Soul-Devouring Cats might matter, we wouldn’t just let ourselves be bullied in silence!

So without another word, I sprang at her, claws and teeth bared in a furious attack!

Xiaorui clearly hadn't expected a little Soul-Devouring Cat like me to strike first, and she froze for a split second. Only when my fangs sank into her neck did she snap out of it.

She wailed in pain and retaliated with a bite of her own.

Having lived among cats for a long time, I knew well that Soul-Calming Cats were stronger than Soul-Devouring Cats because of special powers granted by the master. Though I’d never witnessed those powers myself, in a physical fight, it was never certain who would win.

We tumbled together, her teeth like lightning, making it hard for me to fight back. Xiaoyun, summoning her courage, leapt in to help me. Three cats became a whirling mass, rolling and clawing across the floor!

Yet Xiaorui seemed utterly unconcerned about the humans’ reactions. She snarled, “Don’t mistake my patience for weakness!”

Xiaoyun retorted in a small but angry voice, “You started this! We didn’t provoke you!”

Brother Wang, hearing Xiaorui’s words, cried out in alarm, “Did you hear that? That cat is talking!”

The woman’s eyes widened in disbelief, staring at the incredible scene before her as if lost in a dream. She pinched her own arm, yelping in pain.

I turned my head, astonished we’d been exposed as talking cats—when suddenly I felt a jolt of electricity at my neck as Xiaorui bit down! My limbs shot up, paralyzed, every nerve screaming in pain!

She had actually used the special power the master had given her?!

I was stunned—she dared to use such power in front of humans? Wasn’t this strictly forbidden by the master?

But my whole body was numb, rigid, splayed out helplessly on the ground, teeth clenched in agony!

It was as if I’d been bound by invisible ropes. No matter how hard I struggled, it was hopeless.

“Qianqian!” Xiaoyun cried in terror, rushing to nudge my body, trying to help me stand.

Brother Wang was startled yet again, shouting from the bed, “That cat can talk too?!”

After a long, dumbfounded moment, the woman smacked Brother Wang hard. “Brother Wang! Catch them! They’re worth money!”

That one simple command sent Brother Wang—hulking and coarse, though quick to tire in bed—charging off the bed and lunging straight at us with his brute strength.

Xiaorui’s eyes lit up, and with a sly smile, she vanished in a flash!

Only then did I notice the door was open! I realized at once that Xiaorui wanted the humans to catch us. After being shocked by her power, I’d be paralyzed and easy prey.

What a cunning move—killing two birds with one stone! What had we done to her to deserve such suffering, even death?!

The more I thought about it, the more furious I felt. My body trembled uncontrollably, then suddenly, with a snap inside my head, as if a nerve had snapped, I flipped over and bolted for the door!

Rage drove me to chase after the Soul-Calming Cat who wanted us dead—Xiaorui!

We were only minding our own business, collecting our allotted fetal souls. Why did she have to be so merciless?

A fight was one thing, but to try to kill us—wasn’t that too much?

In a few strides, I caught up to her, with Xiaoyun panting close behind. The two of us blocked her path.

“Well, well, little kittens are tougher than I thought—able to break free of my binding.” She paused, smiling, then clicked her tongue in mock regret. “But even if you risk your lives, you may still not be my match.”

“Then let’s find out,” I replied with a cold smile, then leapt to attack, biting down hard!

A life without parents had honed in me a determination and survival instinct different from others. When faced with someone who not only came to provoke us but intended to destroy us, if we didn’t fight back now and simply endured it, next time she would only escalate her cruelty.

Cats are born of human souls, and the cats before me were, like me, once human.

Humans are greedy and insatiable, relentless in their pursuit of what they desire, no matter if it’s good or bad. The strength of human will can overcome anything.

We became a tangle of fur and claws, biting and scratching as a crowd gathered to watch, following our battle from one end of the street to the other.

With so many people around, Xiaorui dared not use her powers again. Soon, we had her pinned to the ground.

Xiaoyun and I clamped our jaws tight around her neck, our claws digging deep into her flesh, holding her fast.

She glared at me, blood in her eyes. “If you dare kill me, the master will ensure you die without a grave!”

I smiled, refusing to let go, chuckling through clenched teeth. “But if we don’t kill you, won’t you just come back and ensure we die without a grave?”

That threat meant little to me, but Xiaoyun, always timid, faltered—her grip on Xiaorui’s neck loosening for a split second.

In that heartbeat, before I could react, Xiaorui broke free, tearing herself from our grasp, and vanished in a flash, heedless of the flesh my teeth had torn from her neck.

Xiaoyun stared in shock at Xiaorui’s fleeing tail, her voice quivering, eyes brimming with fear. “Qianqian… will we… will we be punished by the master for this?”

Spitting out a mouthful of fur and blood, I sneered, “She was the one who acted unjustly first. We’re justified in our response. I refuse to believe the master would judge solely by rank, ignoring right and wrong!”

Xiaoyun still trembled. “But she’s a Soul-Calming Cat… what about us…”

I glared at her sharply. “Can’t you see she came here just to make trouble? If we didn’t fight back, you’d have no chance of collecting any fetal souls today! Or would you prefer being hung by your tail while you sleep?”

That thought made Xiaoyun shudder at once. “I don’t want that!”

“Then stop worrying and get some rest. Once you’ve recovered, go gather new fetal souls. There’s still time!”

I took a few deep breaths, looking down at my disheveled fur, battered from the fight, not even feeling up to licking it smooth.

Chastened, Xiaoyun stopped fretting, gulping down air and trying her best to compose herself.

But before we could settle our nerves, footsteps thundered behind us, followed by a woman’s shrill scream.

“There they are—those two cats! Brother Wang, catch them!”