Chapter 53: He Is the Nether King of the Underworld Carnival of Explosive Updates for the Grand Launch! (1/8)

Tsk—if you want to know why a grand eunuch will never become the Empress, it’s because of women with hearts as venomous as a serpent’s like her.

Now I could be certain that Rebecca was completely in league with Claudia. That meant Claudia’s very first appearance had been under Rebecca’s orders.

In other words, although Ningning didn’t like me back then, at least she confronted me openly, showing her hostility to my face.

But this one—she’d been hiding behind others, stirring up trouble from the shadows all along.

As I watched Rebecca walk away, I shook my head, feeling a bit nervous.

The main thing was, I’d never done anything like renting a room before. Before that day, I hadn’t even taken on human form. Even if I booked a room, what could I have done? Would I have just lain on the bed, rubbing my belly and gurgling, then fallen sound asleep, just like when I was with Wangchuan?

The very thought made me want to laugh, but now Wangchuan’s expression looked… rather grim. Was he angry?

I peeked at him from behind, watching until Rebecca brought out a roll of tape.

She handed it to Wangchuan, who turned it over in his hands before tossing it aside with a snap.

“No need to look further.”

Rebecca froze, her claws still outstretched, not knowing what to say, but in the next instant, she joined forces with Claudia.

Just like when Youluo had demonstrated on the car window, the spot Rebecca’s claw pointed at suddenly began to play the footage, forming a shimmering curtain of light.

That curtain was like a grand projection screen, and what played was the scene of Xiao Yun and me being brought to a large hotel!

But where was Xiao Yun? Where had she gone?!

Youluo had turned her back to the surveillance camera, and because of a blind spot, Xiao Yun must have been blocked from view. I was sprawled awkwardly on the flimsy bed, limbs stiff—five in total, counting my tail—all sticking up in the air.

Damn it!

I glared furiously at Rebecca and the others. This was the segment where Youluo was talking to us!

Then Xiao Yun and I had jumped down together, but the surveillance hadn’t caught Xiao Yun—just me!

There I was, in the corner, pacing, then returning to speak with Youluo.

There was a gentle, tender smile on Youluo’s face, as if she were reuniting with a long-lost lover.

“Ah! It’s actually him…” Several of the usually high-ranking Soul-Guarding Cats gasped in shock.

I was on edge—did they all know Youluo?

When Wangchuan saw the footage, I could feel the dark aura around him shudder and expand. He really did look furious!

Oh dear… I didn’t understand why Wangchuan was angry.

But I was frightened, wanting to retreat a few steps!

Maybe because the electric collar left me so miserable last time, just the thought of his anger now made me tremble uncontrollably, my body desperate to back away.

But at that moment, Rebecca grabbed me threateningly. “What’s this? Now that your secret’s exposed, you want to run?”

I shook my head. “No, no, I didn’t want to run!”

Still, I never would have guessed that Youluo was actually a Soul Hunter from the Underworld!

How could that be possible?!

No—Xiao Mi had mentioned before that she’d smelled the aura of an Underworld Envoy in that car!

“I never had any contact with a Soul Hunter! Really! Master, let me explain! That day he killed Ningning… and took me away!”

I wasn’t as flustered as I might have been, because I’d already explained everything about the incident with Ningning to Wangchuan.

He knew exactly what had happened that day, so I could explain myself with a clear conscience.

But why did he still look so angry, his eyes narrowed in fury as he stared at me?

“Yes—you didn’t contact a Soul Hunter from the Underworld. You contacted the Third Nether King,” Rebecca said, her voice dripping with malice, then pointed at the person frozen on the screen.

That gentle, watery smile looked just like a prince’s.

Yet this prince who’d saved me so many times had now made it impossible for me to lift my head in front of everyone!

“You said… the Third Nether King?”

“That’s right! There are Five Nether Kings in the Underworld, each with their own domain. Ha, don’t tell me you didn’t know?” Rebecca sneered.

“I… I really didn’t know.” I truly hadn’t.

“Don’t play dumb—you’re so scared you’re practically wetting yourself. Clearly, you knew!” Claudia chimed in.

I frowned, feeling utterly unable to refute them.

Why had Youluo become the Third Nether King of the Underworld? And what did that even mean?

Wasn’t she supposed to be a Soul Hunter?

Why, when Rebecca brought this out, did she first say Soul Hunter, and then suddenly switch to Third Nether King?

Did she know that if she said Soul Hunter, Wangchuan wouldn’t pay attention? That only by confronting him with the truth could she claim victory?

“Heh… you’re clever, you really are,” I laughed coldly. “All this trouble for a nobody like me—you’ve gone to great lengths.”

She even stole the hotel’s surveillance footage!

Now I could be certain—it was Rebecca controlling Ningning all along!

How else could we have been tailed the moment we stepped out, with Ningning sneaking along, only to be killed? Rebecca, seeing someone of high status, must have followed in secret.

Then she returned and accused me of killing Ningning, but Pei Mu’s interference prevented her from succeeding. Next, she started plotting to accuse me of colluding with someone from the Underworld—branding me a traitor!

So, the one who lured the evil spirit into the rift—was it her, not me?

But she never expected that, after all her scheming, Wangchuan would still trust me!

But now? Did Wangchuan still believe me?

I—remembered clearly, I told him it was just an ordinary person, that I didn’t know who it was!

Oh heavens—it was Han Mingxuan!

I narrowed my eyes, thinking back. Han Mingxuan had cast a fiery shield over me that day, probably to keep Wangchuan from detecting Youluo’s scent!

Why would Han Mingxuan do such a thing?

I was getting more and more confused, feeling as if everything had become hopelessly entangled!

In the end, Wangchuan sat high above, looking down at us. He rubbed his brow and waved his hand. “Take her. Lock her back in the cat room.”

I stared at him, but this time, I didn’t resist.

I was completely at fault, and they were clearly using the pretext of me “renting a room with a Soul Hunter from the Underworld” to frame me for contact with the Third Nether King!

Rebecca’s smile was utterly wicked. As she passed by me, those sea-blue eyes were full of disdain.

That look spoke more than a thousand words.

Yes—she meant she’d won, utterly and completely.

I was taken back to the cat room, sitting in a corner, thinking through everything that had happened.

The Five Nether Kings of the Underworld—what were they?

What was the Third Nether King?

Wasn’t it supposed to be a Soul Hunter? Why did it suddenly become the Third Nether King?

The King of Hell?

As I thought of this, a possibility occurred to me. Otherwise, how could a lowly Soul Hunter—like a mere government clerk—have the power to hand over more than a thousand souls to me, just like that?

The mention of souls reminded me that there was still one inside my belly.

Wangchuan had sent me to find it, but I hadn’t had a chance to return it. Now, thinking back, it seemed like that was just a ruse.

He simply wanted to send me out on some random task, so that on the way back, I’d be caught by Xiao Yi.

It was all part of his plan, so the existence of this soul no longer mattered.

Still, he had saved me just now—so… thinking of that gentle face, the way he’d told me to be careful crossing the street, I felt a warmth in my heart.

I opened my mouth and spat out the soul—a clear, sparkling emerald green, pure and transparent.

Souls weren’t bound by the restrictions of the Void Rift. Once released, they would naturally leave this place.

Just like the soul I’d lost last time, they would drift away, leaving the rift behind.

I gazed at the gleaming thing in my paw, blew gently, and sent the soul floating far away.

This soul belonged to someone kind-hearted, but unfortunately with poor health and bad luck, falling victim to evil spirits on the road. I hoped that in the next life, he’d be born with a silver spoon, without so much hardship.

With that prayer, I watched the soul drift higher and higher, rising like a sky lantern into the clouds.

It carried my wishes, floating out of the cat room.

But—just as it was about to leave, it was yanked back!

I leapt up, trying to catch it with my claws, but it sped up, a flash of pure white streaking past my eyes!

Whoosh! The soul was swallowed in an instant!

When I looked again, there was Rebecca, elegantly licking her paw, mouth curled in a smug smile.

“What a delicious soul! Seems like he did a lot of good deeds. Such a fine soul—how could you throw it away? Lucky for you I’m so considerate, helping you digest it.”

The sight of her acting so smug made me so angry I could barely contain myself—I wanted nothing more than to pounce and claw her!

But behind her stood Claudia and all those little cats who managed the cat room and helped her spread lies.

Even if I’d been gifted with divine power by the Jade Emperor himself, how could a tiger best a pack of wolves? In the end, I’d still be bullied!

So I decided to swallow my pride.

A gentleman’s revenge can wait ten years—no need to rush.

I’d never wanted to make enemies, but now they’d driven me into a corner. No one could be expected to swallow such a bitter grudge.

I narrowed my eyes at them, but they came at me, step by step, with clear ill intent.

“What are you planning?” I watched them, calculating in my mind.

If it really came to a fight, I’d grab Claudia and beat her with all my strength!

I’d heard someone say, if you’re fighting a group, you can’t hope to win, but your only chance is to go all out against the toughest one!

Even if I got hurt, she wouldn’t get away unscathed!

I counted it up—there was no way I could defeat Rebecca, and taking out the little minions was pointless!

So Claudia would be my target!

She noticed my predatory gaze and looked nervously toward Rebecca.

But the next moment, Rebecca gave no one any time—she raised her paw and lunged straight at me!