Chapter Forty-Nine: The Living Dead Cat

Unusual movements, unlike ordinary people... I pondered in my heart and asked, "Are there any requirements for the person being possessed?"

Xiao Qingwan grew even more confused, unable to understand my line of thought. "Usually it's elderly women, sometimes elderly men. Why? Do you suspect someone?"

As soon as she spoke, everyone turned to look at me.

"Why is there such a requirement? Are other age groups not suitable?" I pressed further.

Xiao Qingwan scratched her head. "I don't know either. Why is that?"

"Perhaps younger people lack maturity and ability. Even if possessed, they'd hardly be able to restrain others," Old Ma said, gazing at me.

I looked at him as well, our eyes meeting with mutual understanding.

So that's it! This explains why Zhuang Xingrui searched for two days without finding any clues! From the start, he was bound by these rigid assumptions. There was indeed something strange and unnatural about this matter! If not for my unfamiliarity with supernatural things, I might never have realized it.

"Back to the village!" I said immediately.

Xiao Qingwan was bewildered, "What exactly is going on? What did you figure out?"

The others, too, wore puzzled expressions.

Old Ma’s tone brooked no argument, "Get back right away!"

The two of us chimed together, making everyone even more confused, but since Old Ma had spoken, everyone promptly turned around.

The rustling in the grass had become denser without us noticing, a ceaseless, shuffling sound, as if many sizable creatures were moving within.

A sense of foreboding settled over me—not just me, but everyone. Our expressions grew tense as we sensed something amiss around us.

"Meow—" A cat's cry rang out abruptly, sounding both close at hand and eerily distant, its echo lingering.

A violent shaking came from beside me. My shoulder was suddenly seized, and with immense strength, I was yanked backward, staggering. Almost simultaneously, a dark figure leaped from the bushes and landed on the ground. I glanced back—it was Old Ma, who had been walking behind me.

The leaping shadow was a large, fat cat, white with black spots, its ears marked with distinctive skull-like patterns. Was this the cat I’d seen at Ze Yi's place? No, it felt even more familiar.

The big cat faced away from us, its body stiff, tail drooping, unmoving. Its fur was tangled and dull.

Everyone’s gaze instantly converged on the cat as it moved its rigid paws, body upright and posture odd, slowly turning to face us.

My heartbeat quickened with its gradual turn, my scalp tingling, chills running down my spine, shock rising within me. When it finally turned fully, its appearance was revealed—I couldn't help but gasp!

The cat's face was grotesque, eyes bulging as if they might fall out, mouth agape, its tongue black and white, hanging lifelessly at the side—utterly devoid of vitality, as one would expect. Its abdomen bore a long stitched-up wound! It looked less like a surgical seam and more like a corpse sewn shut.

This was the fat cat from Huang Wenyang’s house, poisoned to death! It had been cut open by Huang Wenyang to confirm the poisoning, and now, astonishingly, it had come "back to life"!

Everyone’s faces changed. Huang Wenyang and Huang Gaoyuan were so frightened their knees shook, barely able to stand.

I fixed my gaze on the cat—it remained in place, unmoving. The sounds of movement in the grass became ever more intense, as if agitated. A terrible thought surfaced in my mind, one I tried to deny, but it was quickly confirmed.

"Meow—" With a hollow, eerie cry, the stiff fat cat leaped at us.

The surrounding vegetation shook violently. Stiff figures jumped out from the grass!

"Meow—"

"Meow—"

"Meow—" The strange cat cries rose in succession, echoing all around.

"Everyone, be careful!" Old Ma shouted.

Rigid cats leaped from all directions, clearly targeting us! The attack was sudden—watching these crazed, leaping dead cats, I barely had time to dodge. Thankfully, Old Ma dragged me this way and that, or I’d surely have been in trouble.

Master Wei Er’s skills were superb—this situation was nothing for him, especially with his two bodyguards, Left Azure Dragon and Right White Tiger, as well as Su Feiyong. The bodyguards were not only large but highly skilled. Su Feiyong, usually unimpressive, also proved quite capable. Still, none matched Master Wei Er’s prowess.

Xiao Qingwan was in better shape than me, agile and nimble, dodging left and right, her movements reminiscent of shamanic steps. No wonder she was Old Ma's disciple—very different from me.

Huang Wenyang and Huang Gaoyuan were already terrified, screaming and waving their iron shovels, frantically fending off the approaching cats. Each blow produced a dull thud, as if striking desiccated bodies! The cats showed no fear, no pain—knocked down, they would right themselves and attack again.

Several cats clung to Huang Gaoyuan’s shovel, their rigid bodies writhing oddly as they clawed and bit, producing a constant clicking sound. Huang Gaoyuan swung the shovel desperately, trying to shake them off.

Suddenly, a sharp crack sounded—the shovel snapped, the head flying away!

My heart lurched. The cats had actually gnawed through the iron shovel! My god! How sharp and strong must their teeth be! If they bit a person, the consequences would be dire!

Huang Gaoyuan, terrified out of his wits, threw away the handle and stumbled deeper into the woods!

"Don’t run! Come back!" I shouted. He was so scared, he couldn’t hear me, sprinting desperately into the forest.

A cat suddenly leapt from the bushes, pouncing on Huang Gaoyuan and knocking him to the ground. Nearby cats converged, biting and tearing at him. Huang Gaoyuan howled in agony, but his cries quickly faded—his throat must have been bitten through!

Old Ma cursed angrily, took out his gourd, sucked up some water, and rushed over, spraying it forcefully. The cats scattered at once.

But Huang Gaoyuan was already a mangled mess, motionless, completely lifeless.

Huang Wenyang grew even more terrified, nearly paralyzed. Several cats leaped at him.

I could barely manage myself, unable to help, but fortunately, Gu Yangyu beside him pulled him away just in time, saving him from disaster.

"Evil spirits, halt! Ghosts, keep away!" Zhuang Xingrui called out, flinging a handful of something from his hand, scattering it on the ground with a rustling sound—it was his bag of white rice!

The cats around us retreated as if scalded by boiling water, clearing the area wherever the rice landed.

Zhuang Xingrui threw another handful, and the cats withdrew, diving back into the grass and lying in wait. The chaos finally subsided.

Exhausted, I bent over, hands on my knees, gasping for breath. A sharp pain came from my arm. I looked down—at some point, a cat had scratched me, leaving three distinct claw marks.

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