Volume One: The Graveyard of Eight Coffins Chapter 58: Possessed by the Cat Demon

I dared not look at her again. Turning my head, I saw Third Uncle had already stepped into that room. Xu Ruoxi seemed unconcerned by his entrance, so I followed him inside.

I shone my flashlight on the floor first, searching for the bloody footprints the attendant had described. There were none, which eased my mind a little. But when I saw what Third Uncle did next, my heart tightened once more.

Third Uncle, his peachwood sword tucked at his waist, freed his hands to grasp the corner of the bedsheet, clearly intending to lift it. He must have noticed something amiss to act so decisively.

Before I could react, he yanked the sheet up. The bed hadn’t been used in ages, a layer of dust covering it. As the sheet came off, dust billowed into the air, making both of us cough.

Third Uncle hurriedly tossed the sheet aside, and our flashlights swept across the bed at the same time.

“A cat!” The beams converged on the center of the bed—a black cat crouched there, startling me into a cry. At that moment, a cat’s yowl echoed behind me, accompanied by a gust of chilling wind.

The sudden cold told me trouble was near. Clutching the peachwood sword, I instinctively swung it backward.

Luckily, my strike forced Xu Ruoxi—who had lunged at me from behind—to retreat. Third Uncle and I spun around. Xu Ruoxi crouched low, baring her teeth, emitting a guttural howl like a cat stalking its prey.

Damn, was this woman possessed by a cat demon?

That was the only thought in my mind.

After a brief standoff, Xu Ruoxi attacked again. She sprang from the floor, arms outstretched, launching herself at us.

For someone who looked so frail, it was shocking to see her leap so high. I stood behind Third Uncle, and when I turned, I was facing Xu Ruoxi directly. Unsurprisingly, I became her first target.

She was nearly upon me when I, terrified, thrust the peachwood sword at her. But as I moved, I hesitated. I was aiming at Xu Ruoxi herself—even though she was no longer in control, her body was still her own. If my aim was true, I might kill her outright, leaving no hope of salvation.

That fleeting thought slowed my action. Xu Ruoxi seized the opportunity, dodging the sword in midair and lunging for my throat.

I realized these malevolent entities always seemed to target the throat, as if by agreement.

Our throat is our fatal weakness; a bite there means death or crippling injury.

Suddenly, a dark shadow flashed before my eyes, striking Xu Ruoxi squarely.

With a loud smack, she was knocked from midair to the floor.

A mournful cat’s cry escaped her lips. I saw it was Third Uncle—he had unfastened his Black Tiger Knot and wielded it as a whip, landing a blow on Xu Ruoxi’s waist. It was our first time using the Black Tiger Knot, and its effect was astonishing.

Xu Ruoxi crouched, seemingly wanting to lick her injured waist, but no matter how she strained, she couldn’t reach it. She let out another low growl at us, but the presence of the Black Tiger Knot kept her from advancing.

Third Uncle said, “Don’t use the sword. Use the Black Tiger Knot. Drive the cat demon out.”

He stepped to block the doorway. I hurriedly tucked the peachwood sword at my waist and unfastened my own Black Tiger Knot.

With our flashlights and knots, we surrounded Xu Ruoxi.

Her body trembled as if she were a frightened cat.

“Go!” Third Uncle shouted, charging forward, swinging his knot at Xu Ruoxi.

She shrieked, retreating to evade his attack. I rushed in as well, my knot raised.

Xu Ruoxi leapt toward the window.

“Don’t let her escape!” Third Uncle sprinted after her and landed a solid blow on her back with the knot.

With a smack, she was knocked down again.

Third Uncle pounced, mercilessly whipping her with the Black Tiger Knot.

At first, I didn’t understand—when had Third Uncle become so ruthless? Even if he disliked Xu Ruoxi, she was still one of our own. It couldn’t warrant such brutality.

Then it dawned on me—he was forcing whatever resided within Xu Ruoxi’s body out.

Realizing this, I no longer hesitated. I joined him, lashing Xu Ruoxi as well.

Each wretched cat’s howl made my scalp tingle and my limbs weak.

But I saw Xu Ruoxi kneeling, her trembling growing ever more violent, until she was nearly shaking herself apart.

Her neck extended unnaturally, like a turtle’s.

Seeing this, Third Uncle signaled me and increased the pace of his strikes.

Finally, Xu Ruoxi’s body went limp and collapsed onto the floor. At that moment, a cloud of clear vapor rose from her head, swiftly flying toward the window.

Such vapor would be nearly invisible in daylight or under lamps. But our flashlights, concentrated beams, created columns of light in the dark room, making the vapor stand out.

I had no idea what it was, but Third Uncle seemed prepared. As Xu Ruoxi collapsed, he flung another dark object toward the window.

It didn’t seem to hit anything, merely struck the glass with a thud and fell.

Third Uncle rushed over and grabbed it.

Only then did I see it was a net, woven from glossy black thread.

He stared at it for a long moment, then stamped his foot. “Damn, a step too late. It got away.”

“What got away?” I asked.

He waved his hand. “Forget that for now. Let’s focus here—there’s another one.”

Of course—the cat still crouched on the bed.

We turned to look, but the black cat remained unmoved, its posture unchanged.

I cursed inwardly. Tonight, we truly seemed locked in battle with black cats.

Since the cat didn’t move, neither dared we.

By rights, after our ordeal with Xu Ruoxi, it should have reacted. Yet it hadn’t.

(End of chapter)