Chapter 108: An Earring Can Save a Life

Trembling, I listened to the series of explosions outside, my heart seized with panic.

I was all too familiar with these sounds; they were the hallmarks of every demonic ambush on the rift. It made me deeply suspect that Youluo was still hounding me relentlessly. How could he have struck again so soon? I had been back for less than two months... Was he planning to sacrifice me during the winter? Was that why he refused to let up?

"Do not be afraid. I will go and take a look; I will be back shortly," Wangchuan said, pressing a gentle kiss to my lips as if to comfort me. He added, "Stay inside the room and do not wander off."

I nodded. In truth, I didn't feel terrified, merely flustered. After all, I was of no help in this situation; my only goal was not to become a burden to him.

Once Wangchuan left, the air filled with various explosions, roars, and sharp, shrill cries. To be honest, I loathed those terrifying blasts. Every time one went off, I felt as though I could see a certain little kitten lying on the ground, drenched in blood. The mere thought of it made me shudder. Even if Wangchuan’s cat could not truly die, it would still suffer. For us, it was merely an accumulation of infinite agony.

I turned on every light in the room, straining my eyes, waiting only for Wangchuan’s return. Outside the Chongye Palace, countless large and small green specters were clawing at the air, their sharp teeth gnashing against something unseen with a grating sound. Their faces seemed scorched, billowing black smoke into the sky. I assumed Wangchuan had cast a powerful barrier around my room to keep the demons at bay. Yet, even knowing they couldn't enter, the sight of them set my nerves on edge.

I huddled under my blankets, watching those hideous ghosts circle my room, howling incessantly. The piercing, sharp sounds made me feel sick to my stomach.

Just then, a sharp, piercing feline cry cut through the air! It was a long, howling "Awoo" that sounded even more terrifying than the demons themselves—it didn't even sound like a cat anymore, but rather like a large bird of prey, perhaps a vulture!

Fear finally took hold of me. Then, I heard the click of the door.

I hadn't turned on the lights in the main hall because the lamps were too far from the entrance. With Wangchuan away, I didn't want to take any extra steps, preferring to cower in the room and keep myself safe. But to my surprise, after the door opened, I heard the soft sound of paws walking across the floor.

The footsteps were very light. Aside from Rebecca, who else could possess such grace? But Rebecca was in the forest—how could anyone have gotten in?

I fantasized that perhaps Wangchuan had transformed into his giant cat form and returned. But a second later, I dismissed the thought. He was so massive; how could he possibly fit through the door?

I bit my lip, stepped down in fear, and poked my head out to look.

The first glance revealed nothing.

The second glance, however, caught a pair of eyes in the pitch-black living room—shining like night-pearls—that shot toward me in a flash! The speed was like lightning, and those glowing eyes left a trail in the darkness like a streak of light!

I rushed to close the door, but it was too late!

The creature was incredibly fast. It wasn't until it lunged into the room that I realized it was a small cat. It was a deep yellow, even darker than Yubao's coat. I recognized this cat—it was Youyan, whom I had met before.

"What are you doing here?" I retreated a few steps, backing against the bed.

My last encounter with Youyan had not ended well, and I knew for certain that she was in league with Rebecca. What I couldn't fathom was why she was still here after Rebecca had been dealt with, and how she had managed to enter my room amidst such chaos.

Youyan stepped closer, her eyes glowing with a terrifying intensity. I knew her capabilities; last time, she had fought Yubao to a stalemate for quite a while. Not only could she hold her own against him, but even after Yubao unleashed his most powerful moves, she had managed to retreat unscathed and continue the battle. In my eyes, her combat prowess far exceeded that of a guardian cat.

So, I kept backing away, asking, "What is it you want?"

"What do I want?" Youyan laughed heartily. "To kill you, of course."

"Why?"

"Why ask so many questions? Just accept your death."

I didn't understand. Was this for revenge on Rebecca's behalf? But Rebecca’s influence was gone; anyone with half a brain wouldn't be colluding with her, let alone seeking vengeance for her. Was there some secret bond between Youyan and Rebecca? That seemed unlikely, as there was no hatred in the way Youyan looked at me. She didn't seem like an avenger; she seemed almost deranged.

"Aren't you afraid Wangchuan will come back and deal with you?" I gritted my teeth and challenged her.

"If I were afraid, I wouldn't be here!"

"He will deal with you once he returns!" I tried hard to sound authoritative. With Wangchuan as my only pillar of support, I had to use his name to intimidate my opponent.

But Youyan didn't seem frightened. She sneered, "Though the Master loves you, he cannot be everywhere at once. As the saying goes, every gain has its downside, a fact you must accept. Take this situation, for instance: this barrier slightly obscures his perception of you. Furthermore, he is busy fighting those demons; when would he have the time to look after you?"

I trembled at her words, realizing they were likely true. With such a vast barrier and such chaotic circumstances, the chance of Wangchuan being able to monitor me was slim. Otherwise, he wouldn't have chained me up after casting the barrier last time to keep me from wandering off.

But in this situation, losing my nerve meant losing my life. I couldn't back down!

I put on a show of disdain and shouted, "Wangchuan will still know who did it when he returns! He knew it was Rebecca just by scent last time, and he will know it was you this time! Even if I die, you will be buried with me!"

Youyan, however, was even more dismissive. "Do not compare me to that fool, Rebecca. Just because she lacked a brain doesn't mean everyone else does."

"What do you mean?"

Seeing the effortless smile on Youyan’s face, I suddenly felt a chill, as if I were being calculated so thoroughly that I had no room for counterattack.

"Once you are killed, if I handle it properly, no one will know what happened. The world is filled with the stench of demons right now; even with his keen nose, it will be useless."

She began to pace, explaining with a bright, mocking smile to a stunned me.

"A keen nose means all scents enter the nasal cavity and are magnified. When one scent becomes unnaturally strong—and happens to be one he detests—it interferes with his ability to analyze other scents. Do you understand?"

"I don't believe you!" I retreated in anger. "Did you lure the people from the Netherworld here?!"

I hadn't forgotten that for the Netherworld to enter the rift, there had to be a massive opening, and an inside traitor to coordinate! With Rebecca—the former traitor—in the forest, Youluo couldn't have silently breached the rift and stirred up this storm without a new accomplice.

"Enough. There is no point in talking," Youyan said, refusing to answer my question. She curled her lips into a smile again. "Blame only the fact that your existence makes me feel such rage!"

"What do you mean?!" I tried to run, but Youyan lunged at me again!

Her claws crackled with fine, lightning-like arcs, much like the energy that surrounded Wangchuan. It looked terrifying. I wasn't as fast as she was, but when those fearsome sparks hit me, I only felt a sharp pain in my ear.

I realized the earring had protected me. I let out a long breath, only to see her also exhale, smiling as she looked at her own claws.

"Well, I studied it last time. This earring can only save your life once. Now that the spell is broken, let's see who can save you!"

With that, she lunged at me once more.