Chapter 45: The Cat’s Transformation

Under the hazy moonlight, on a street in Husu City, two figures and a long shadow enacted a chase—one fleeing, the other in relentless pursuit.

“Fox Maiden, didn’t you say you wanted a bout with me? Why are you running now?”

“A clever fox doesn’t fight with a rat!”

“You little wretch, just wait till I catch you—I’ll make you regret it!”

A night watchman happened to be passing by, banging his bronze gong as he patrolled.

“Dry weather, beware of fire—oh my!” The watchman was suddenly enveloped in a fragrant breeze; before he could see anything, someone brushed past him, knocking him to the ground.

“Sorry!” The scent faded away, leaving only a delicate feminine voice behind.

“So it was a woman—no wonder the air was fragrant! But how did she vanish before I even got a good look?” Still seated, the watchman sniffed the lingering perfume on his hand and muttered to himself.

Just then, the earth trembled as a huge, elongated shadow swept by.

“At this hour, whose ox—oh heavens, that’s a monstrous rat!” The watchman saw clearly this time, shrieking in terror.

“Who’s shouting?”

“Sounds like it’s coming from Xinglong Alley—let’s go!”

Soon after, several officers in dark uniforms arrived, lanterns in hand, following the cries. They found the watchman collapsed on the ground and asked, “What were you shouting about?”

The watchman, trembling, pointed westward. “A—an old—monster!”

“An old monster?” The officers exchanged alarmed glances. Their leader slapped his forehead, suddenly enlightened: “Perhaps it’s that creature again! You, and you—go back and inform Magistrate Cui at once!”

“Yes, sir!”

Midnight had passed, yet the county office in Husu remained ablaze with light. Magistrate Cui Shen sat upright in the main hall, accompanied by several officers and the precious mirror laid out on the table before him.

One officer spoke, “We don’t know if the Rakshasa Ghost will appear tonight. Magistrate, why must you keep vigil? You’d be better off resting at your residence. If our men discover the ghost’s whereabouts, I can inform you at once.”

“The Rakshasa Ghost has already claimed several lives in Husu. If more tragedies occur and I fail to rid us of it or offer the people an explanation, my official cap won’t stay on my head for long!” Cui Shen concealed his worries, but spoke with firm refusal: “The Rakshasa Ghost has appeared night after night—I refuse to believe it will skip tonight.”

The words had barely left his lips when two officers rushed in from outside. As soon as they entered, they shouted, “Magistrate, the monster has appeared in Xinglong Alley!”

“Oh? Did you see it yourselves?”

“Magistrate, it was a patrolling watchman who saw the monster, but we heard his cries clearly!”

“Monster?” Cui Shen was puzzled. How did a monster suddenly enter the fray? But upon reflection, he reasoned the watchman might not distinguish between a demon and a ghost, and so dismissed his doubts. His spirits lifted; he strode to the table, picked up the precious mirror, and issued commands: “Follow me to Xinglong Alley to eliminate this menace!”

“But Magistrate, the monster has already left Xinglong Alley.”

“What? Do you know where it went?”

“According to the watchman’s directions, it headed towards Jiukang Alley in the west of the city!”

“Very well, we shall go to Jiukang Alley!”

Meanwhile, in another corner—

“Xie Ziping, pull yourself together! You’re half dead and dragging you is exhausting. If you keep this up, we’ll die here for sure!” Zhou Hongxian, having managed to outpace Yu Erlang by a considerable margin, slowed her speed to catch her breath, yet grew anxious at Xie Qiao’s disheartened appearance.

Xie Qiao didn’t even look at Zhou Hongxian, but his words nearly made her spit blood in fury: “Lady Zhou, don’t worry about me. Escape on your own! Don’t let me burden you any further!”

Zhou Hongxian barely restrained herself from cursing. She retorted angrily, “Xie Ziping, how heartless of you! If not for Qianniang’s plea, would I bother dragging you so far? You’ve been nothing but a wreck—all along the way. Qianniang was harmed by Songpo’s old ghost and Yu Erlang, and as her husband, you show no desire for vengeance, only drowning in sorrow. If I were you, I’d have dashed my head against a wall!”

Xie Qiao gave a bitter laugh, finally glancing at Zhou Hongxian. “Lady Zhou, then teach me—what can I do to save Qianniang?”

“I—” Zhou Hongxian was tongue-tied. If she knew how, would she be fleeing so desperately?

“Do I need to teach you? Aren’t you an advisor under Magistrate Cui? Can’t you come up with anything? If you want my advice, first think about surviving this ordeal, then, when you have time, seek out a master to exorcise the demon. If nothing else, you could apprentice yourself and learn the arts. The more you refuse to give up, the deeper your love for Qianniang will prove!”

“Exorcise the demon?” Xie Qiao was stunned, staring intently at Zhou Hongxian.

Zhou Hongxian was slightly annoyed. “Why are you staring at me when I mention exorcising demons? Though I am a demon myself, I am righteous. All you need to focus on is avenging your wife!”

Xie Qiao seemed suddenly awakened. He shook his head. “Lady Zhou, you misunderstand. Your mention of exorcising demons has inspired me! Can you take me swiftly to the county office?”

“You won’t get anywhere!” Yu Erlang’s shrill voice drew near; he had closed the gap while Zhou Hongxian slowed her pace.

“Must you be so persistent?” Zhou Hongxian groaned inwardly.

“Hehehe, Fox Maiden, isn’t dragging a mortal tiring? With your meager magic, I pity you. If you want to give up, why not rest in Yu Erlang’s embrace?” Though Yu Erlang’s body had become a giant rat, his lasciviousness remained undiminished. Seeing Zhou Hongxian’s fatigue, his teasing grew bolder.

“Xie Ziping, if we don’t escape this time, I’ll die with you,” Zhou Hongxian knew there was no good outcome if caught by Yu Erlang, and her weakening powers only deepened her worry.

“Lady Zhou?” Xie Qiao gazed at her delicate profile, momentarily lost.

Jiukang Alley, the hub of taverns in Husu City—though the establishments were shut for the night, the streets were still infused with the faint aroma of wine.

Suddenly, the air and ground around Jiukang Alley began to tremble.

“I’ve caught up to you, Fox Maiden! Let’s see where you run now!” In the moonlight, a whip-like rat tail swept through the air, flinging both figures aside.

Zhou Hongxian and Xie Qiao tumbled to the ground, groaning—both badly shaken.

The giant rat pounced on Zhou Hongxian, its forepaw pressing her shoulder, tapping the ground as if toying with prey, its pointed face twisted in a sinister smile. “Fox Maiden, didn’t I tell you you couldn’t escape? You scorned Yu Erlang, and like Qianniang, favored the same mortal. Tonight, I’ll kill you both in the most delightful way!”

Though trapped, Zhou Hongxian refused to yield. “A rat’s mouth spits nothing but filth!”

“Still so defiant? Fine, I’ll eat this pretty boy first, right in front of you, then torment you!” The giant rat’s tail wrapped around Xie Qiao’s ankle; no matter how he struggled, he was dragged closer. Its mouth opened, revealing rows of blood-stained, fetid fangs.

“Meow—”

At that moment, a cat’s cry rang out from nowhere. The giant rat shuddered, its grip on Zhou Hongxian loosening.

Sensing her chance, Zhou Hongxian found it hard to wriggle free in human form. She gritted her teeth, then, in a flash, her body contracted into her garments. Moments later, a small red fox darted out, escaping the rat’s paws.

The giant rat, enraged, roared, “Fox Maiden, how dare you play the cicada’s shell trick!” But suddenly, pain seared its tail. The red fox had circled behind, scratching open its tail, forcing it to release Xie Qiao.

“Xie Ziping, run!”

Seeing Xie Qiao about to escape, the giant rat grew furious, charging wildly to chase him down. Just then, another cat’s cry—its enormous body trembled in terror.

On a rooftop in Jiukang Alley, a black cat crouched quietly, moonlight glinting off its silky fur, casting cold reflections. Its emerald eyes fixed on the street below, waiting intently.

“Xie Ziping, follow me! There’s a small path here—Yu Erlang’s current form can’t get through!”

Ignoring the fox and the man below, the black cat’s true target finally appeared—the giant rat, as big as an ox. As it hurried below, the cat arched its back, leapt, and landed on the rat’s back.

“Meow!”

The giant rat shuddered, then, seeing the cat was ordinary, began to roar, “Where did this foolish cat come from? Do you think I’m any common rat?”

The black cat ignored him, a mocking smile flickering in its emerald eyes. Suddenly, it bared its fangs and bit down on the rat’s nape.

“Damn cat, you dare bite me? I’ll deal with you!” The rat stopped its rampage, its body morphing back into Yu Erlang’s naked human form. He reached back to seize the cat.

But the cat leapt lightly back to the rooftop, gazing down at Yu Erlang with playful eyes.

“You’re dead, cat! I’ll devour you!” Yu Erlang’s gaze turned vicious, but then his face grew strange, panic overtaking him.

“What’s happening? Why is my magic ebbing away?”

His body shriveled, collapsing like a deflated ball, shrinking until he was just an ordinary mouse. As the black cat jumped down from the rooftop again, his eyes were filled with terror.

“No, please, Cat Grandfather, it’s my fault!” His voice broke into sobs.

The black cat wasted no time, snatching the mouse up and leaping back onto the roof. With a flick of its head, it tossed the mouse in a perfect arc, catching it smoothly in its jaws.

The cat’s body swelled, then returned to normal after a long moment. Gazing up at the moon, it suddenly spoke in human speech: “With these two hundred years of cultivation, I need no longer remain just a spirit cat before the Buddha’s seat, hahaha—” The black cat slipped away along the rooftop, leaving not a trace in the night.

From the shadow beneath the eaves, Zhou Hongxian’s voice softly called, “Xie Ziping, did you see all that?”

“Yes. The rat demon is dead, but a cat demon has been born. Whether it’s good or evil, I cannot say.”