Chapter Seventeen: Witness My Power

With tear-streaked cheeks, I looked up in astonishment to find Han Mingxuan standing before me in my home, dressed in his usual mismatched attire, exuding the air of a rakish scoundrel.

“How did you get in here?!”

Instantly, every hair on my body stood on end as I stared at this uninvited guest.

“Apologies for dropping by unannounced. I just happened to be passing through,” he replied.

Xiaoyun, who had never seen Han Mingxuan before, glared at him with hostility. “Don’t pretend it’s a coincidence! Who are you, and why would you ‘pass through’ someone else’s house?”

Han Mingxuan gave a seductive smile, stepped forward and grasped Xiaoyun’s chin with a speed so swift it was nearly invisible.

“You’re a pretty little thing—far better than your feline form. I wonder how the other one compares?”

I narrowed my eyes, watching Han Mingxuan. Xiaoyun shook off his hand, and Han Mingxuan laughed, then nonchalantly sat beside me.

I retreated a few steps, but he caught hold of my forepaw.

“Tut tut, you’re covered in blood but still so energetic. Clearly, you weren’t tired enough today.”

I stared at him, bewildered. “What do you mean?”

Han Mingxuan smiled again, “Nothing much. Everything’s under control.” With that, he released my paw and reached to embrace me.

Before he could, Xiaoyun swiftly scooped me into her arms, eyeing him warily.

“Who—who are you, really?!”

Han Mingxuan sighed, “Must you two little cats be so hostile? I helped you last time, didn’t I? Why treat me like an enemy now? It’s truly heartbreaking...”

Recalling his previous help, I felt a pang of embarrassment. Xiaoyun, however, looked at me in confusion and whispered, “Who is this man?”

Covering my face with a paw, I replied, “He’s the one who produced four portions of spirit essence last time…”

Xiaoyun’s eyes widened, and she stepped back, “What are you here for?”

“Guess,” Han Mingxuan’s smile never faded as he rose and advanced toward Xiaoyun.

His tall, imposing figure cast a shadow that enveloped both Xiaoyun and me, creating a suffocating sense of pressure.

Xiaoyun clutched me and retreated until she was cornered, one hand holding me, the other raised like a claw toward Han Mingxuan.

“I’m warning you, don’t come any closer! I’ll scratch you! Qianqian will scratch you too—”

“Haha!” Before Xiaoyun could finish, Han Mingxuan’s arrogant laugh cut her off. He pointed to the clock. “Twenty minutes left.”

Xiaoyun’s face darkened immediately. “Who are you?”

Han Mingxuan smiled, “Someone who can help you.”

As we struggled to decipher his meaning, Han Mingxuan spun his palm and conjured three pale blue spheres before my eyes.

I stared wide-eyed at the sparkling blue balls. These were the same as the spirit essence orbs we expelled whenever we met Wangchuan!

Xiaoyun blinked, even more wary. “How do you have these?”

Han Mingxuan pursed his lips, amused. “Just tell me—do you want them or not?”

“Yes!” Xiaoyun answered.

“No!” I replied.

Our voices overlapped, Xiaoyun honest in her desire, and I, though not dishonest, remained cautious.

After all, today had yielded nothing. Xiaoyun still owed two portions of spirit essence, I owed one; if we returned empty-handed to Wangchuan, the punishment was inevitable.

Xiaoyun, eager to avoid trouble, was the first to hope for rescue.

Han Mingxuan reached out and stroked Xiaoyun’s cheek. “Good girl, I like honest kittens.”

I saw Xiaoyun blush and quickly struggled. “Xiaoyun, don’t trust him! He’s a playboy!”

Xiaoyun snapped back to reality, but after a long pause, the temptation of spirit essence won out. “What do you want in exchange?”

I shrank my neck, watching Han Mingxuan, sensing things wouldn’t be so simple.

Yet Han Mingxuan’s answer was unexpectedly straightforward. “Just eat it. You don’t need to do anything. Remember you owe me three portions of spirit essence—consider it repayment for my heroic efforts among the ladies… tut tut…”

His blatant words made us both uncomfortable, but Han Mingxuan seemed unaffected. He promptly fed two of the spirit essence balls to Xiaoyun.

Xiaoyun eagerly opened her mouth, swallowing them like a child craving candy.

As the pale blue spheres disappeared into her mouth, Han Mingxuan teased, “Tasty? Can you taste me in it?”

Xiaoyun’s cheeks reddened further; she nodded, then shook her head, her mind nearly disoriented.

“Haha—such a good girl! With looks to match, you truly please me,” Han Mingxuan praised, then turned to me. “But you’re different—contrary. Do you want it or not?”

I looked from Han Mingxuan to Xiaoyun and shook my head.

“I don’t want it.”

“Hmm? You’re stubborn, aren’t you?” Han Mingxuan glanced at the clock. “Fifteen minutes left. If you don’t make it back, you don’t know what punishment awaits. That master is merciless to his cats—poor things.”

Xiaoyun shuddered and pleaded, “Qianqian, just say you want it. This gentleman hasn’t said anything bad.” She whispered in my ear, “It’s free, after all. If you don’t take it, you’ll be punished again. Why be so stubborn?”

I looked at Xiaoyun and gave a bitter smile. “Xiaoyun, you go back. I’m not returning, so it doesn’t matter if I bring spirit essence. If he’s kind, let him give you this one too. Maybe it’ll help you redeem yourself, and you won’t need to search for an extra soul fragment.”

Seeing my dejection, Han Mingxuan suddenly clapped his hands. “Ah! That’s right, when I came in you were crying! What’s wrong? Tell your brother.”

I ignored him; I didn’t want to complicate things further.

Even if I, as the elder sister, lacked the strength to protect my sister in this critical moment, I wouldn’t divulge anything, nor let everyone know.

Han Mingxuan seemed to sense my reluctance and reached out with a finger to lift my chin. “Come now, tell me. Maybe I can help.”

Xiaoyun watched his gesture, but I shook off his hand and scratched him fiercely.

As before, I left no mark. He was as tough as iron—impossible to hurt.

It was nothing like Wangchuan’s gentle touch; I felt only irritation and didn’t want anyone else to touch me.

Wangchuan had said, with the collar on, I was his cat, and I adhered to my duty. No one else would ever touch me.

Not until death.

Han Mingxuan looked at me in surprise. I was obviously in low spirits, not even intending to return to Wangchuan.

Even if he were to execute me, I’d willingly accompany my sister down the path of the afterlife, hoping to be her sister again in the next life.

Yet I couldn’t bear to betray Wangchuan’s immense kindness.

Still, I didn’t want to speak, but Xiaoyun, unafraid of this rogue-like Han Mingxuan, explained, “Sir, she’s in a bad mood. Since you know we’re soul-devouring cats, you must know we can see evil spirits and bound souls.”

“Indeed—” Han Mingxuan tilted his head. “But what does that have to do with her mood? Is she dying? Aren’t soul-devouring cats all transformed from the dead?”

“I…” Xiaoyun began, but I interrupted her.

“Xiaoyun, go back. Don’t say anything!”

Xiaoyun ignored me. “It’s because Qianqian’s sister has recently been plagued by bound souls; her death seems imminent. We’ve had three dangerous warnings just today.”

“So you forced a resolution?” Han Mingxuan looked at us with interest. “Did you succeed?”

Xiaoyun nodded. “But we must return to our master by midnight or face punishment. Qianqian fears that if she leaves, her sister will be in danger again…”

“Tsk tsk…” Han Mingxuan shook his head, clicking his tongue. “You’re naive. Do you really think two little cats can alter a person’s fate and lifespan?”

Xiaoyun and I fell silent.

Though we could see warnings and dangers, I was a living example—no matter how many times Xiaoyun tried to save me, I still died because of Old Godmother. That was irrefutable.

Yet Xiaoyun tried to argue, “I remember someone said—if you survive seven days, you’re safe…”

“Foolish girl.” Han Mingxuan tapped her forehead. “Then there’ll be another seven days, and another after that—will you guard her forever?”

Xiaoyun was speechless. I looked at Han Mingxuan and gave a bitter laugh. “Even if I can’t change anything, I’ll stand guard.”

Han Mingxuan hadn’t expected my answer. He shook his head and told Xiaoyun, “Hold her tight.”

Xiaoyun, unsure what he meant, obeyed and gripped me tightly. I immediately struggled.

“What are you doing! No—I won’t eat—”

Han Mingxuan pried my mouth open and forced the spirit essence orb inside.

I shook my head violently, but couldn’t avoid swallowing the orb; his fingers were so strong they nearly broke my teeth.

“Isn’t it delicious?” Han Mingxuan teased as he stuffed it in. “Your brother worked hard for this—savor it, don’t waste it.”

After swallowing, I continued to struggle and protest, “I still won’t go back! I want to stay with Xin’er!”

“A pair of fools.” Han Mingxuan’s comment seemed to include Xiaoyun as well. With a wave of his hand, an entrance identical to the chaotic rift appeared in the room. He instructed Xiaoyun, “Leave the child to me. You have five minutes—take her and return.”

Xiaoyun was stunned. I struggled even harder, “I won’t go back!”

Without further ado, Han Mingxuan scooped Xiaoyun up and flicked both our foreheads.

“Stop struggling. Remember your brother’s kindness. Next time, I’ll show you what I’m truly capable of! Hehe! Off you go!”

With a slight exertion, Han Mingxuan hurled us both into the rift’s entrance.