Chapter Eleven: Fishball Is a Handsome Cat

The moment we saw what was happening, the two of us immediately took off, running for our lives without a thought for anything else! I could feel my four little paws nearly sparking from the friction, my tail flailing so wildly it might just fly off into the sky, yet those two kept chasing us relentlessly!

Fortunately, we weren’t caught. Unfortunately, the alley we were in was straight—no matter how we ran, there was nowhere to turn! We kept running, breathless and exhausted, our legs barely holding us up. The two pursuers were astonishingly fast, and the woman was still shouting from behind, “Brother Wang, catch them!” I couldn’t help but sigh—how long was this alley anyway?

It was our fault for not scouting the area. I didn’t dare imagine what would happen if we reached the end and found ourselves in a dead end. What would we do then…?

As I was worrying, the road ahead suddenly became blocked—not by a dead end, but by a stretch of wire mesh. The edges seemed wired, probably put up just for us. I trembled all over, unsure whether to press forward or… Suddenly, a few strangers approached, holding nets like those used to catch dragonflies. Long bamboo poles swept past us, whistling through the air. A crowd had gathered, but none stepped forward to help.

Pressed from all sides, I hopped and darted, unable to escape. Carefully, I reached out a paw to touch the intimidating wire mesh… Sure enough, the moment I touched it, an electric jolt made me shudder violently! All four limbs stiffened as I collapsed, my tongue tingling, while several people reached for me…

At the same time, Xiao Yun was trapped, frantically darting inside the mesh! “Kitty, be good, come home with big brother,” the tattooed thug cooed, trying to coax Xiao Yun. I glanced at their sneering faces, knowing they were sent by Brother Wang.

But we had no quarrel—was this really necessary? Just because I was a talking cat? Did he not suspect I had some kind of speaker on me, and yet he was so certain we were conversing?

It was useless to argue. Under Brother Wang’s domineering gaze, they’d already grabbed two of my paws and my tail. I sensed there was no escaping this time.

But Xiao Yun suddenly went quiet. Just as the man thought she’d become docile and lifted her out to cradle her, she took advantage of his carelessness—pushed off with her hind legs, leapt into the crowd! The crowd scattered in fear, chaos erupted, and the thugs frantically searched among them for Xiao Yun’s shadow.

The other thugs, still gripping my tail and paws, realized a cat had escaped and tightened their hold—they wouldn’t let me get away now. I didn’t know where Xiao Yun had gone or how I could escape, only that I couldn’t let them catch me!

Driven by some strange impulse, I dug my claws into the electric mesh! Instantly, the shock nearly made me smoke, my eyes bubbling with sparks! But the thugs weren’t spared either—the current passed from my paws to theirs, making them howl and twitch.

For the first time, I watched people get shocked—unable to let go, trembling and shrieking, their eyes bulging.

Truth be told, I was suffering, but my heart sang with joy! Let them cling to me now—if we must die, let’s die together! If one cat takes three men down, that’s a win!

Just then, a figure emerged from the crowd—a beautiful girl with two loose ponytails, dressed in an old-fashioned blue cheongsam, white socks and black shoes, a classic 1980s Shanghai student look. I squinted, seeing her wielding a long bamboo pole, charging toward us like a pole vaulter! In a flash, before the thugs could react, she struck them aside one by one, sending them tumbling!

As I wondered who she was, she suddenly jabbed the pole at me! Not only did she pry me off the electric mesh, she scooped me up like a tennis ball and sent me sailing over the wire!

Numb all over, I barely felt the impact as the bamboo struck me. I only knew I was flying like a tennis ball, crossing the wire in utter humiliation.

Then I crashed to the ground with a thud, letting out a feeble cry. Surely, every bone was fractured! I felt my entire skeleton crackle.

Usually, when I fell, I’d spin my tail to reduce air resistance and soften the landing—a trick Xiao Yun taught me, common among cats. But this time, shocked and numb, my body couldn’t react—I hit the ground hard!

It took ages to catch my breath, thinking I might not survive. Looking back, I saw the thugs still twitching from the shock, and Brother Wang kicking one of them, urging him to get up.

He glared at me with the hunger of a lion denied its prey, eyes promising a roar. But instead of roaring, he pulled out his phone, dialing and gesturing emphatically.

Only then did I realize he was probably a gangster. How else could so many armed thugs appear out of nowhere, set up an electric net, and wait for us?

Clearly, they’d coordinated. If he finished that call, more would come for me.

All this for a cat—wasn’t it overkill?

I wanted to run, but hesitated—Xiao Yun had vanished, and if I left, who knew what would happen to her?

I glanced at Brother Wang’s fierce face through the wire but decided to flee for now. Soul-eating cats carry a unique scent; if I hid, the men wouldn’t find me, but Xiao Yun might.

Limping away, my paws felt like walking on cotton. Brother Wang watched me escape, unable to cross the wire since his thugs were unconscious and unable to dismantle it.

I ran far and finally reached a crossroads—this alley was endless, never again, I swore…

I hurried down the most open path, searching for somewhere to hide. Soon, I found a place with stacked tombstones—a marble workshop storing gravestones. Each bore names and eerie black-and-white photos, none smiling. Even passing by made my paws tremble.

I’ve always been timid, so I quickly hid behind a gravestone, covering my eyes, shivering uncontrollably. I wasn’t sure why—either residual spasms from the electric shock, or fear from the photos.

Trembling behind the tombstone, I occasionally peeked at the polished black marble reflecting my battered form.

Once, I was a fluffy, silvery-white kitten. Now, my fur was yellowed and matted, caked with dirt and debris, my ear torn and bleeding.

Seeing myself like this, I wanted to cover my face and cry—maybe tears would ease the pain in my heart.

Where had Xiao Yun gone? Had the thugs caught her?

It was all my fault—if I hadn’t selfishly run first, she wouldn’t have lagged behind. If I’d protected her, maybe she wouldn’t have gotten lost.

She was my only friend in the rift, yet because of me, she suffered—either punished or hanging by her tail with me.

Even if Xiao Yun survived, she’d likely be injured. Who knew if we’d gather two soul fragments in time, or if our master would punish us when we returned?

All because of me, all my fault…

Why go on living? I was a burden to others, and might never return to my original human form.

If living meant such sorrow, perhaps it was better to die and be reborn anew.

Despair filled my heart. Shaking, numb-pawed, I crept forward.

Ahead lay a broken tombstone—if I rammed it, dying would be easy.

Resolved, I dug my paws into the dirt, gathering strength, then charged at the jagged tombstone!

But instead of pain, I heard another cat’s cry! It was knocked against the wall nearby.

“Meow—what strength you have!” A clear boyish voice made me open my eyes in disbelief, nearly sobbing.

“Fishball! Wu wu wu—Xiao Yun is lost because of me!” I rushed over to check if I’d hurt him.

Fishball stood, shook himself, then patted my head with his paw, comforting me as he looked at my bedraggled state.

“It’s alright, it’s alright—Xiao Yun sent me to find you. She’s fine, don’t worry.”

His gentle tone eased my heart, though I still whimpered, “You don’t know how sad I am—I thought Xiao Yun was dead…”

For the first time, I found Fishball so handsome.

He chuckled, then turned to face behind me, tail high, looking past me.

“You’re sad, not because you fear for Xiao Yun, but because someone else is affecting you—aren’t you coming out?”