C9 Cat Soul

When I regained consciousness, I found myself in the hospital. It turned out that Wu Yi had brought me there. I inquired about what had happened, and he just shook his head, saying he was hoping I could tell him. Apparently, I had texted him to come to my rescue. By the time he got to our office, I was out cold by the elevator doors, so he immediately called an ambulance. Thankfully, it wasn't anything serious, though the doctor mentioned a nasty bite on my calf.

I was puzzled, thinking I was nearly gone at that point—how could I have possibly managed to text anyone? I nodded, then pressed Wu Yi for details about the others.

Wu Yi looked at me, confused, and asked what I meant. Wasn't I the only person in the building?

A sense of dread washed over me. I hastily removed my IV and insisted that he come back with me. Upon arriving at the office, Ms. Liu was there. She was concerned about my well-being, but I assured her I was okay and asked her to accompany us to the second floor.

Ms. Liu wanted to know exactly what had transpired. I told her she'd understand once we got there. But when we reached the second floor, the place was deserted. I had expected to find the woman who'd arrived with the blond man still bound inside, but there was no one. The sunlight was streaming in through the windows, brightening the entire building. My heart raced as I wondered if those two had taken her and fled.

Ms. Liu and Wu Yi gave me blank stares, clearly at a loss. I had no choice but to recount the previous day's events in detail, concluding that the culprits must have fled and that we needed to alert the authorities.

Wu Yi asked skeptically if I was certain they had gone up to the second floor.

I replied with a scoff, "What, you don't believe me? Then how do you explain this wound on my head?" I gestured to a chair and pointed to the bloodstains on the floor. "See, this is my blood. That scrawny thug nearly did me in yesterday."

Wu Yi responded without emotion, "But the doctor said there was no injury on your head, everything checked out fine, except for the infected bite on your calf. It's not serious, though. It's possible that the blood is from that wound."

I let out a wry smile and said, "How could that be possible?" I felt around my head but, sure enough, there was no wound. I was bewildered. Surveying the area, I could see the remnants of yesterday's scuffle still present, but... the injury on my leg was definitely from a man-eating crow's peck, that much was certain. Yet, I clearly remember that skinny monkey hitting me on the head. If there's no wound, then where did all this blood come from?

Wu Yi gestured for me to stay calm and came over to take a look. In a hushed tone, he asked, "Ms. Liu, what's your take on this?"

Ms. Liu had been silent the whole time, arms folded and her expression frozen. Her gaze felt like an interrogation. "Lee Fan, do you have any evidence that someone broke into the facility yesterday?"

Her voice was sharp, almost accusatory. I met her gaze and, with a slight smile, replied, "If you don't believe me, check the surveillance footage. The cameras won't lie."

Ms. Liu fell silent for a moment and then, without another word, she left the second floor.

After she was gone, Wu Yi inquired, "Did you notice anything else unusual yesterday?"

I was about to delve into my memories when a sharp pain in my head struck. This only confirmed that the residual ache from that skinny monkey's blow hadn't faded. Massaging my temples, I shook my head and asked for some time.

Wu Yi was heading to the stairwell when he suddenly looked back at me and said, "I believe you."

I was taken aback. He then pointed to his left arm and added calmly, "The surveillance records were deleted, which is why Ms. Liu is so upset."

Before I could protest that I wasn't the culprit, Wu Yi had already descended the stairs. Back at school, I was still trying to piece together the events of the previous night. They seemed so elusive in my mind. If only I could find those two thugs, perhaps I could get to the bottom of it.

Three days later, Wang Tao called me. He wanted to know if I was busy and if I had time for a chat.

I agreed. Truth be told, I was eager to confront him face-to-face and uncover whatever game he was playing.

As soon as I saw him, I landed a punch on him. Oddly enough, Wang Tao didn't fight back but instead smiled and said, "Go on, hit me. Once you've calmed down, we can discuss the important matters."

I retorted, "To hell with your 'important matters.' Are you plotting to kill me or what?"

Wang Tao dabbed the blood from his lip and replied, "I'm trying to save you. Do you have any idea how many people are after your life right now?"

I shot back, "Yeah, I know, and you're one of them!"

Wang Tao pleaded, "Brother, hear me out. The Soul Devouring Jade is actually meant to help you. Your birth chart is Yin, with all five pillars dominated by malevolent Earth Fiend stars. Liu Rong didn't just randomly offer you a job; she did it because of your unique destiny. Why do you think she asked for your birthday? She was planning a hell wedding for you. You once asked me how to escape her clutches, and I suggested one solution, but secretly, I was working on another way to save you! The Soul Devouring Jade is an antique, and as you know, antiques are imbued with spiritual energy. Mishandle them, and you're in for bad luck. But this jade can conceal your soul. Think about it: for a hell wedding to proceed, the groom must be alive and well. If you're missing a soul, you're no longer ordinary, and the wedding can't go on. You get it now, right?"

I clicked my tongue in disbelief, "So your plan was to kill me? Without my soul, I'd be no better than a vegetable. What's the point of living then?"

Wang Tao, visibly frustrated, retorted, "How can you be so dense? The Soul Devouring Jade can hide a soul, but that doesn't mean it can't restore it. If I wanted to harm you, I'd just stab you in the back or curse a voodoo doll with your birth details and have demons torment you. Why would I bother with such an elaborate scheme?"

Skeptically, I said, "Spare me. I don't believe you're without an ulterior motive!"

Wang Tao admitted, "I have one, of course. And I don't mind sharing it with you. I'm currently in a state of borrowing a corpse to return the soul. My life force is unstable, my Yang energy is dangerously weak, and I could die at any moment. Saving you is essentially saving myself because only you can save me. If you die, there's no finding another person with such a cursed destiny. Enough talk. Did you go to the second floor yesterday?"

"What difference does it make if I did say it?"

Wang Tao lit a cigarette and passed it to me with an apologetic smile. "Brother, take it easy. I've explained everything. Even if I had grand plans, we're in this together now. There's no need to get worked up and spoil the camaraderie."

I thought to myself that I had no camaraderie with him, but outwardly, I feigned composure. "What's the important matter you wanted to discuss?"

Wang Tao blew a smoke ring and regained his serious demeanor. "Do you want to know what's so peculiar about the second floor?"

"Yes, it's crucial," Wang Tao nodded. "Your life hangs by a thread. The five pillars protect you with a fierce star, and your soul is guarded by a Pixiu. The soul-eating jade I gave you struggles to absorb your soul, meaning you're at risk of being forced into a hell wedding at any moment. Would you like to marry a ghost? I certainly wouldn't. After my narrow escape from death, I'm not keen on dying! There might be something we both need on the second floor."

I inquired about the fierce star protection, Pixiu guarding, and the five pillars. Wang Tao, showing a hint of impatience, dismissively explained that he deduced all this from my birth date.

"I need a detailed explanation," I insisted.

With a sigh, Wang Tao relented. "Fine. A person's destiny is set at birth, according to our ancestors' wisdom. Based on the birth date, we calculate the heavenly stems, earthly branches, five pillars, and birth hour. Most people have a guardian beast, akin to a zodiac but hidden. The heavenly stems and earthly branches don't impact one's entire life, but the five pillars and birth hour reveal much about a person. You have a Pixiu as your protector, making your fate strong and your soul hard to exploit. That's why Liu Rong saw potential in using you to alter the state of this building."

I nodded, eyes narrowed in understanding. "So, knowing my birth date wouldn't make it easy for others to exploit me, right? Then the idea of someone using my birthday to craft a paper effigy and summon spirits to harm me doesn't hold water, correct? I'm familiar with the Pixiu. Many wealthy individuals buy them crafted from gold-threaded wood to attract wealth and ward off evil."

Wang Tao's complexion shifted from dark to a sickly green, his mouth twitching involuntarily. "If you want to stay alive," he insisted, "you'll need to work with me. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement. What's there to lose?"

I couldn't help but sneer at his lifeless expression, hands casually tucked into my pockets. "I'll consider it," I replied coolly.

Visibly irate, Wang Tao glared at me, but managed to feign courtesy. "Look, I don't have time for games, brother. I'll get straight to the point. Upstairs, there are two cat spirits. Cats are said to have nine lives, but those who become cat spirits are even rarer. Someone's definitely pulling strings in the shadows, nurturing them with something. It's as abominable as raising a ghost, a violation of natural laws. However, I suspect there's something involved that could fortify a person's soul, or even something more forbidden."

I shrugged nonchalantly. "And what's in it for me?"

By now, I had become adept at playing the game, tailoring my words to the audience. There was no need to beat around the bush with someone like Wang Tao, whose impatience for quick gains and self-centered nature were all too clear. The memory of being used by him was still fresh and decidedly unpleasant.

With a shake of his head and a look of feigned resignation, Wang Tao continued, "Brother, if you're trying to pry information out of me, just be upfront about it. This structure—no, more accurately, this ancient estate, as they used to call it—holds many secrets. Each one could potentially alter the course of history. Those who reside here are merely clinging to survival. They can't leave because they're bound by a contract with the estate, much like Liu Rong. She may seem alive, but she's long been devoid of flesh and blood, a walking corpse, all due to her pact with this place. You've not been here long; theoretically, your only contract is with Ms. Liu. Yet, there may be secrets on the second floor that could help you break free from these binds."