Chapter Twenty: The Lying Cat Was Devoured by the Wolf

But that small, fragile voice was utterly lost amidst the terrified yowling of the other cats.

“Stop this at once!”

A sharp voice rang out, seeming far too loud for its source, tearing through the chaos with a force that demanded attention.

Only then did a few cats notice the little one standing at the entrance, pausing their claws and turning to look.

After a moment, Xiao Yun, breathless, stood before the crowd and spoke to me.

“Qian—Qian Qian! The master says you’re to go to the Yinluo Hall!”

The conversation was nearly identical to the one before, leaving me almost stupefied, paw suspended in indecision: “What did you say?”

“Hah, the same old trick?” Ning Ning and the others snorted in disbelief, clearly doubting Xiao Yun’s words.

“Believe it or not!” Xiao Yun mimicked the defiant stance Dong Dong had just used when she came for me, lifting a paw as if to say, take it or leave it, but bear the consequences.

A few cats cast mocking glances at Xiao Yun: “You expect us to believe you just because you said so?”

Xiao Yun didn’t reply. Instead, I scoffed, “No need to believe. Come, let’s continue the fight.”

Though their claws had just torn into my flesh, seeing Xiao Yun’s determined expression convinced me she spoke the truth.

The kittens exchanged uncertain glances, hesitating over whether to trust her.

Xiao Yun didn’t explain further, instead raising her tail and turning away: “Qian Qian, let’s go.”

I curled one side of my mouth in a smirk, clicked my tongue, and prepared to leave with Xiao Yun. But Ning Ning darted in front of me, blocking the path.

“You’re not going anywhere!”

“What’s the matter?” I teased, my smile bright: “Have you learned how harming others only harms yourself? The kitten who lies gets eaten by wolves.”

Time seemed to still; no cat dared speak, and Ning Ning’s dark green eyes bore into us with unkind intent.

“I’ll go with you.” She finally squeezed out the words, as if conceding.

“Haha!” Xiao Yun laughed, “Glad you came to your senses!”

“What do you mean?” Ning Ning was puzzled by Xiao Yun’s laughter.

After so much time together, all the cats knew Xiao Yun was typically timid, shy, and disliked speaking.

No one expected her to stand up for me so boldly now.

Xiao Yun winked at me, cocked her head, and said to the others, “The master just gave the order—all kittens are to gather at the Yinluo Hall. If you’re stubborn, I won’t notify you. Imagine if you miss it, you’ll—”

She deliberately left her words unfinished, but Ning Ning’s eyes narrowed sharply, and she barked at the group: “Follow me!”

A crowd of cats, tails raised, formed ranks and marched toward the Yinluo Hall.

Only Xiao Yun and I remained in the dilapidated bamboo hut.

I looked at her in surprise, baffled by what the master could possibly want. Was it a feline assembly?

Xiao Yun stuck out her tongue and yawned lazily. “You’re blessed by fortune; just like that, you tricked them all away.”

“What?” I was taken aback. “You lied?”

---

Xiao Yun nodded, then shook her head. “Not exactly a lie—the master did give an order, but low-level Soul-Eater Cats aren’t obliged to go. I only lied about the master calling your name.”

I laughed and tapped her head with my paw. “You’ve got guts! But if you weren’t notified, how did you know?”

“Yu Bao told me!” Xiao Yun said, then lifted her tail and turned. “Come on, let’s go see the commotion!”

Following her, we quickly arrived at the Yinluo Hall.

Inside, a sea of cats filled the space—red, white, tabby, yellow—every conceivable color and pattern!

Their collars varied as well. Even now, I couldn’t distinguish their colors, only noting the pleasing combinations.

All the cats sat quietly now, mouths shut, gazing at the empty seat, awaiting the master’s arrival.

“Here we meet again.” Ning Ning flicked her tail, arrogantly squatting before me with her gang.

I cocked my head. “Did I just see you?”

“Glad you’re sensible!” Ning Ning seemed pleased with my response, smiling as she ordered, “When the master arrives, if you dare flatter again, you won’t be so lucky next time!”

“Sorry,” I replied, not looking at her. “I didn’t say I hadn’t seen you for your sake, but because I simply don’t bother remembering trivial people or things.”

“You—” Ning Ning seemed about to lose her temper, but seeing that the hall was full of Soul-Warding Cats, she restrained herself. “Just remember, keep your distance when this is over. Don’t let me see you.”

I was about to retort when a paw landed on my shoulder, almost like a human slinging an arm around a friend, greeting me.

“Hey!”

Startled, I turned to see Yu Bao, and relaxed.

Ning Ning saw Yu Bao and bowed her head slightly—a gesture of respect.

Looks like this tomcat held no small status!

“The Soul-Warding Cats are waiting up front. Aren’t you going?” Not fond of his touch, I awkwardly twisted away and darted to the side.

Ning Ning noticed my friendly rapport with Yu Bao, glared at me, but said nothing and left our sight.

“Aren’t you going to let go?” Though I didn’t hold a grudge over last time, I still minded Yu Bao’s overly familiar approach, making me lower my gaze.

He awkwardly shook his paw, then stood firm on the ground before speaking slowly. “I don’t really want to attend. It’s just the selection for Guardian Cats.”

“Guardian Cats?”

The term had floated through my mind earlier, but I hadn’t had a chance to ask what it truly meant.

But now, events unfolded before my eyes, making it clear enough.

I gazed at the throng of cats, many of whom I’d never seen—Soul-Warding Cats who rarely returned, mostly roaming the mortal world.

If not for Wangchuan’s great summoning, I wouldn’t have had the fortune to witness so many rare Soul-Warding Cats.

Yet even after a long while, Wangchuan hadn’t arrived. A few kittens arrived late, wide-eyed, relieved the master wasn’t present, and slipped into the crowd.

Soon, all the Soul-Warding Cats relaxed, playing with their paws and tails, chatting among themselves. We joined in.

“What’s a Guardian Cat?” Though I could simply wait and see, curiosity knows no bounds—especially since becoming a cat!

---

Given the chance, I wasn’t about to let it slip by. I could hardly wait a second, so I grabbed Yu Bao, the only Soul-Warding Cat I knew, and asked.

Even Xiao Yun didn’t know, her eyes wide as she looked to Yu Bao for answers.

Yu Bao sighed and explained simply: “Guardian Cats are just a batch of kittens chosen each year, the master’s favorites, to guard him during his monthly soul-molding ritual.”

“Soul-molding?” Xiao Yun and I echoed.

“That’s right!” Yu Bao nodded. “Didn’t you see the master’s appearance in the mortal world last time? He’s transparent—a soul, not a normal body. His physical form is different from ordinary humans, needing a lot of energy to sustain and absorb.”

“Is the master’s real form human?” My curiosity was insatiable.

Yu Bao shook his head. “I don’t know. They say he’s a huge cat—a very big cat.”

“A big cat?” I tilted my head, imagining. “Could he be a transformed tiger?”

Yu Bao laughed. “Not just a tiger, I hear he’s some kind of divine beast! Some Guardian Cats have seen it—one with horns, apparently. That’s why all kittens want to be Guardian Cats: to glimpse the master’s true form! But—who dares gossip about the master? There’s never a consensus.”

“A divine beast?” My mouth hung open in shock, unable to close for a long time. “Not human…”

I’d never eaten pork, but I’d seen pigs run—mythology and ancient tales were familiar enough, so I began to understand.

No wonder Wangchuan was so beautiful, so perfect in every way. If an animal became human, it might consciously perfect every aspect of itself.

His stunning appearance now made perfect sense.

“You seem disappointed,” Yu Bao observed, amused. “But there’s really no difference—all souls have emotions and desires…”

I nodded. He was right. No matter what, Wangchuan was the master of this rift, idolized by all kittens.

Perhaps the only one who didn’t idolize him was Yu Bao.

It was obvious—Yu Bao was male, and likely wouldn’t worship a male master. Otherwise, well—hehe.

“Yu Bao, why are you male?” I finally voiced a question that had lingered.

Yu Bao chuckled. “Because I have a ‘peepee,’ so I’m male.”

His blunt answer made Xiao Yun awkwardly shake her paw and look away, but Yu Bao didn’t mind, smiling at me.

“That’s not what I meant,” I said, embarrassed. “I mean, why are you the only male?”

Yu Bao pondered for a long time, then answered seriously, “Because so many female cats are waiting for me to bless them, I naturally…”

Before he finished, I smacked him with a paw. “Quit boasting!”

“Hahaha!” Yu Bao laughed heartily. “Qian Qian, you’re a funny cat, so silly—”

I lowered my eyes, a little unhappy. How was I silly? Why did everyone say so?

As I was mulling this over, a commotion stirred among the cat crowd.

“Quiet, quiet! The master is coming, everyone squat down—”