Chapter Forty-Nine: The Matter of the River of Oblivion Project

Wangchuan glanced at me, pursed his lips, and gave a strange smile before leisurely picking up his cup to take another sip of water.

Outside, Little Yun was still calling out. My heart suddenly began to race uncontrollably—I had no idea what had happened to Fishball.

Wangchuan remained utterly composed. In contrast, I was on the verge of springing out to see what was happening.

Yet Wangchuan stayed seated, gazing at his cup with a trace of a smile, as if calculating something.

Little Yun’s knocking on the door grew louder and more desperate, her voice tinged with sobs and verging on hoarse.

I could no longer sit still. I looked at Wangchuan, reaching out to tug at him, “Master—”

But I had scarcely spoken when Wangchuan flicked my nose, raising a finger to his lips to signal me to be quiet, as though he disliked my chatter.

I gazed at him somewhat resentfully. Was he really so cold-blooded? Could he just stand by and watch his own cat in trouble, indifferent and unmoved?

But before I could devise a countermeasure, Wangchuan set down his cup and gestured for me to listen to the sounds outside.

Puzzled, I wondered what was going on. Wasn’t it just Little Yun outside?

On tiptoe, I jumped to the floor and crept to the main door to listen quietly.

Sure enough, Little Yun’s knocking had stopped, and another cat’s voice sounded from outside.

“Stop knocking. I told you, the master isn’t home.”

That voice was familiar—silky, with a strange intonation. It was Claudia.

That foreign cat again! What was she up to this time?

Knowing Claudia was standing outside, every hair on my body bristled. I arched my back, itching to open the door and scratch her face!

This stupid, venomous cat had landed me in this predicament, and now she was out there spouting nonsense!

Little Yun’s voice came through, “What do you want? Stop following me!”

“Just telling you the master isn’t home, that’s all! Ha ha—” Claudia’s laughter was wild and arrogant.

Though I couldn’t see Claudia’s face, I could imagine the disgusting, infuriating grin she must be wearing.

Little Yun seemed at her wit’s end, her voice trembling with rage as she shouted, “Get lost! Don’t stand next to me!”

“Ah ha ha—” Claudia’s claws clicked as she seemed to circle around. “The master’s been gone for three days. None of the cats have found him these past days. Did you really think that by knocking on the door, the master would come out? You’re dreaming!”

Little Yun gave no reply, but I stood there, stunned.

Yesterday, I had been thrown into the death cell by Wangchuan right before Claudia, then dragged out and tormented all night. How could Claudia now claim Wangchuan hadn’t been home for three days?

And Wangchuan clearly had food and drink—someone must have been tending to him.

The fresh meals—if the master wasn’t home, why would the little cat who fed him still prepare his food?

Until just now, I’d thought Rebecca was still making those meals!

But now, thinking back, even if Rebecca and Claudia weren’t working together, they were certainly an ill-matched pair of accomplices.

If Rebecca hadn’t made the meals, perhaps Claudia didn’t know Wangchuan was home.

But why should Claudia care whether Wangchuan was home or not?

And why, having seen Wangchuan just yesterday, would Claudia claim he’d been gone for three days?

Was she trying to fool Little Yun?

I couldn’t figure it out, but that explanation didn’t hold water. Yesterday, Little Yun and I had gone our separate ways searching for Wangchuan. Even if she hadn’t seen him herself, she knew I’d been caught by him.

She knew Wangchuan was here yesterday.

Both cats knew it. So why were they at the door now, claiming Wangchuan hadn’t been home for three days?

My mind was a tangled mess. I looked at Wangchuan, who still lounged, sipping his water, paying no mind to the two kittens at the door.

The kittens continued their conversation. Little Yun was probably shaking with anger, while Claudia paced leisurely beside her, claws clicking against the ground.

After a while, it seemed Little Yun left. I rushed over to Wangchuan and asked anxiously, “Why are they saying you haven’t been here for three days?”

Wangchuan glanced at me, expressionless, but I caught a glimmer of disdain in his eyes.

Was he looking down on my intelligence? But I truly couldn’t figure out what was going on!

Wangchuan smiled, “I find it unfair. If you want to know something, you’ll have to trade something for it.”

“Trade what?” I was frantic. My mind spun in circles, but I couldn’t think of anything I could offer.

“A soul, perhaps. Just one. That shouldn’t be too difficult, should it?” Wangchuan held up a finger, as if granting me a great favor.

But for me, catching a soul on my own was sheer torment! If not for Xiaomei last time, I might not have caught even a few!

Catching souls was much harder than secretly eating fetal spirits! My skills weren’t yet up to the task of returning quickly!

But right now, Little Yun was crying that something had happened to Fishball. I wanted to know what, and I didn’t want to wait even a second!

“Is there any other way?” I pleaded, hoping Wangchuan would show some mercy.

“There is—” he drew out the syllables, swirling his cup as the water caught the light, dazzling my eyes.

I could almost guess what he’d say next. My heart pounded as his crossed leg slid to the floor.

Suddenly, I sprawled out and crashed to the ground with a thud!

“Ugh…” I raised a paw, “Master, I’ll go catch a soul!”

“That’s a good kitten,” Wangchuan smiled, the corners of his mouth tilted. Then he glanced meaningfully outside.

I had no idea what scheme Wangchuan was plotting; two possibilities came to mind:

First, Wangchuan was in complete control, orchestrating a grand design. Every kitten, good or bad, was a piece on his board, a toy for his amusement. Until the day the truth was revealed, no one could guess what game he was playing.

Second, Wangchuan simply didn’t care. As their master, he enjoyed himself and accepted the souls the kittens brought. What they did privately was of no concern to him. Perhaps, with a spirit of mischief, he even stirred the pot for his own entertainment.

I couldn’t tell which was true, but I hurried off toward the mortal world.

Wangchuan wouldn’t let me go out freely; he’d made a little door for me at home. He said, as long as I returned through the proper rift after catching a soul, it was fine.

I had no idea what he was up to, but I dashed to the human world without delay.

Once on the city street, I crouched on the roadside to scout things out.

Wherever the crowds were thickest, I looked most closely.

I searched for anyone shrouded in black mist.

This was a skill I’d acquired after becoming an advanced guardian cat and receiving the bead from Wangchuan!

I watched intently, but today, strangely, nearly everyone was bound in iron chains—the kind who were near death and about to be taken by the ghost messengers, their souls off-limits.

Frustrated, I pounded my paw on the street, gnashing my teeth, until a man picked me up.

“Little cat, it’s dangerous on the road,” he said, smiling gently, though his face was pale.

I struggled a bit, but seeing his kindly, squinting smile, I sensed no threat. I flipped over and nestled into his arms, pretending to be an ordinary housecat.

Only when I snuggled into his embrace did I notice the coils of black mist swirling around his feet!

This was a third kind of person—one marked by an evil spirit!

I looked up at his face again. He noticed and scratched my neck affectionately.

I purred in reply, just like a normal cat.

He carried me away from the busy road and set me down, waving his hand. “Go on, off you go.”

A kind-hearted man, but doomed by the evil spirit’s attention. Was this my chance?

Wagging my tail, I darted into the bushes, pretending to leave. When the man shook his head and turned back, I snuck after him.

He walked with a slight limp, visibly exhausted.

An invisible black hand pressed at his back, making him unsteady. Thinking he was dizzy, he rubbed his forehead.

In that instant, a huge box truck roared down the street, horn blaring.

Ordinarily, the man would have been nowhere near its path, but suddenly his hood was yanked tight from behind!

That black hand pulled hard!

A fraction of a second—chaotic traffic—I leapt!

The man was doomed. Rather than let the evil spirit succeed, it would be better for me to take him myself.

As the hood was jerked, he lost his balance and fell backward.

The truck was already too close to brake in time—a screech of tires, and the man was crushed beneath its wheels, his chest flattened!

Blood and flesh flew; his soul left his body in that instant.

There was little pain—he died peacefully enough. Judging by his pallor, he’d been ill for a long time.

In a flash, I pounced and absorbed his soul, then bolted!

Behind me came the furious howls of ghosts—the evil spirit, realizing its prey had been stolen, screamed and gave chase!

Though I was a cat, I still had a body. In the middle of the road, I feared being run over myself!

Heart pounding, I dashed across, caring for nothing but reaching the rift’s little door!

The wails of countless souls echoed behind me. The evil spirit pursued relentlessly.

Wind roared in my ears; I had no idea where the strength in my paws came from as I raced headlong into the rift!

The evil spirit was not one of Wangchuan’s cats, so it crashed against the rift’s threshold, howling in rage.

I barely had time to catch my breath before, as I entered the rift, a cat darted out and blocked my way, a sharp blade pressed to my throat!