Shuisheng clearly saw the black cat’s two fangs—sharp, thin, three or four centimeters long, and black as ink, sending an involuntary chill through him.
Elder Longmei had been watching the cat too, and when it bared its fangs, his face paled. He shouted at Shuisheng, “Get back, careful—”
But it was too late.
With a “whoosh,” the black cat lunged at Shuisheng, its razor-sharp fangs aiming straight for his throat.
Shuisheng froze in terror.
“Swish—”
At the critical moment, a golden needle sliced through the air, striking the cat’s head.
With a pitiful yowl, the cat fell to the grass, twitched twice, and died.
Elder Longmei strode over, smacking Shuisheng’s bald head, scolding, “I told you to be cautious about everything—how do you listen? If the little brat hadn’t acted fast, you’d be dead.”
Shuisheng snapped out of it.
“Dr. Ye, thank you,” he said, then glanced at the cat’s corpse, muttering, “I didn’t expect a cat to be so vicious.”
Elder Longmei explained, “This isn’t an ordinary cat—it’s a spirit cat.”
Spirit cat?
Curious, Ye Qiu stepped closer, observing it. The black cat looked almost identical to a Garfield, just tiny—maybe one or two pounds, covered in thick fur. Without those sharp, lethal fangs, it’d be downright lovable.
“Huh?” Ye Qiu let out a surprised sound. “I get it—the skeleton we saw on the mountainside was probably killed by this thing.”
Elder Longmei nodded. “Spirit cats are rare ferocious beasts, native to primeval forests. They look like cats, but their fangs carry deadly venom—one bite, and you’re done.”
“They’re incredibly resilient. Most animals, once targeted by a spirit cat, are as good as dead.”
“Don’t let their size fool you—even tigers, lions, and leopards run for their lives when they see one.”
“But…” Elder Longmei’s face grew grave.
“But what?” Ye Qiu pressed.
Elder Longmei said solemnly, “Spirit cats don’t usually act alone. They’re pack animals—and they hold grudges.”
Hm?
Ye Qiu’s brow twitched, and he scanned their surroundings.
Soon, faint rustling sounded nearby. Moments later, over a hundred spirit cats emerged from the grass.
They lined up, meowing at Ye Qiu and the others. The sound was cute, but each one bared its black fangs menacingly.
“Uncle Master, what do we do?” Shuisheng, pale with fright, hid behind Elder Longmei.
“What else? We kill them. Spirit cats are vengeful—if we don’t wipe them out, they’ll stalk us forever.”
Elder Longmei turned to Ye Qiu. “Little brat, strike fast—don’t let their fangs nick you.”
“Mm,” Ye Qiu replied, cautioning, “You and Shuisheng be careful too.”
“No worries, I’ve got protection,” Elder Longmei said, pulling a flame talisman from his robe sleeve. He muttered an incantation and tossed it to the ground.
Whoosh!
The talisman ignited, forming a fiery ring around him and Shuisheng.
Ye Qiu noticed the hundred-plus spirit cats retreat a few steps, fear flickering in their eyes as the flames rose.
They’re scared of fire?
Surprised, Ye Qiu suggested, “Old man, why not use the flame talisman to burn them all?”
Elder Longmei shook his head. “Spirit cats are too quick—before the fire catches, they’d scatter. Quit yapping, take them out.”
“Fine!”
Ye Qiu unleashed the Six Meridians Divine Sword.
“Boom!”
One sword qi blast took out dozens of spirit cats.
The survivors sensed the danger and bolted, their speed impressive as they darted into the grass, cunningly using it for cover.
But Ye Qiu’s sword qi was faster.
Swish!
It cut through the air, striking instantly.
“Boom!”
“Boom!”
Two more blasts finished off the rest.
Elder Longmei gaped at Ye Qiu. “Where’d you learn the Six Meridians Divine Sword?”
“Master Du’e taught me,” Ye Qiu said.
“That old bald donkey! I begged him for a peek at the sword manual, and he refused—then he gives it to you? Infuriating!”
“I didn’t see the manual. Master Du’e just taught me one move, told me to visit Tianlong Temple for the full text when I’ve got time.”
Elder Longmei’s expression shifted. “So you learned the Six Meridians Divine Sword in just a few days?”
Ye Qiu smiled faintly. “More like a few hours.”
Elder Longmei was floored.
Could that offhand divination I fed Old Ye be true? Is this kid really the Chosen One?
How else could he be so freakish?
Hmph, Chosen One or not, it’s no big deal—our Longhu Mountain has a born sage too.
He glanced back at Shuisheng.
The boy cowered behind him, still shaken from the spirit cats.
Fury flared in Elder Longmei. He backhanded Shuisheng’s head.
Smack!
Shuisheng winced, looking aggrieved. “Uncle Master, why’d you hit me?”
“You annoy me just by existing.”
Elder Longmei turned to Ye Qiu. “Cats are highly spiritual, especially spirit cats—far more than house cats. They wouldn’t just show up here randomly.”
“What’re you saying?”
“I read in ancient texts: where spirit cats appear, there’s bound to be treasure.”
Treasure?
Shuisheng’s eyes lit up, scanning the area. Besides rocks and grass, nothing stood out.
“Uncle Master, this treasure you mentioned—it’s not these rocks, right?”
“You think so?”
Shuisheng nodded. “Yeah!”
“Yeah, my foot!” Elder Longmei raised his hand again.
This time, Shuisheng wised up and dodged.
“Old man, if you’re right about treasure, there’s only one possibility,” Ye Qiu said.
He and Elder Longmei exchanged a look, a silent understanding passing between them. They stepped toward the pond together.
The pond was half a meter deep, crystal clear.
Aside from water plants and stones, it held nothing else.
“Was I wrong?” Ye Qiu frowned.
Just then, a flash of silver streaked through the water.
