Chapter 10: Foolish Disciple!

The village lay silent under the darkness. Only with the sounds of the villagers gone did the strangest thing about it become apparent. It was too quiet. Besides people, there were no other living creatures in this village whatsoever.

Feng Xixing sat within the shadows by the window, his gaze fixed on the door of Xin Changfeng’s house next door.

Yet the unexpected began from outside the village. A blood-curdling scream tore through the night, startling the entire village awake, and likewise jolting the Little Black Cat who had just barely dozed off.

Lin Chuyun scrambled in a panic, burrowing into Feng Xixing’s arms, meowing incessantly in a tiny voice, “Meow meow meow meow meow?”

Wh-wh-what’s happening?!

Feng Xixing shielded the Little Black Cat securely, then flipped sideways over the window frame and out. On the other side, households throughout the village had been roused by the scream, and candlelight flickered to life one by one.

“What’s going on?!” Xin Changfeng hurriedly rushed out his door, his clothes clearly thrown on haphazardly, one sleeve not even properly pulled through.

Feng Xixing strode quickly toward him, a look of alarm on his face as he began, “Brother Xin, just now…”

“Quick, go see what’s the matter!” Xin Changfeng’s gaze didn’t shift toward him in the slightest. He walked right past Feng Xixing, ordering the villagers outside to head to the village gate.

The expression on Feng Xixing’s face froze. He watched Xin Changfeng with a scrutinizing look and made no further attempt to speak.

Gathered outside were the village’s young and able-bodied men, armed with farming tools meant for the fields. Each face carried a trace of panic, creating a chaotic clamor of voices speaking over one another.

“Enough bickering! Follow me out to see what happened.” Xin Changfeng cut off their speculations and led the group toward the village entrance.

Throughout the entire procession, he made no mention of Feng Xixing, as if he had completely forgotten there had been a guest staying the night.

“Meow…?” Lin Chuyun gently pawed at Feng Xixing twice with his claws, then pointed in Xin Changfeng’s direction, obvious confusion clear in his cat pupils.

Feng Xixing took that small white paw in his palm, stroking it lightly a couple of times. “He cannot see me.”

Regarding the scene unfolding before him, Feng Xixing had already formed some conjectures, but he still needed to observe further. Only, thinking of that dust-covered room, he feared the scenes to come would not be pleasant.

Would Lin Chuyun… be afraid?

Feng Xixing hesitated for a moment, then reached up to rub the tip of the Little Black Cat’s ear. “Shizun, how about… you rest here for a while, and this disciple will go first to investigate the situation?”

The little black cat frantically shook his head, his tail wrapping tightly around Feng Xixing’s wrist, demonstrating through action his absolute refusal to be left alone.

Especially staying in this possibly haunted house!

His little disciple’s presence was far more reassuring. Lin Chuyun pressed himself firmly into Feng Xixing’s embrace, hooking his tiny claws into the collar of the Ice Void Robe, attempting to pass himself off as an accessory attached to the garment.

Seeing his determination, Feng Xixing could only helplessly tuck the Little Kitten further into his arms, cautioning, “You may follow, but no matter what, do not show your head.”

Lin Chuyun assumed he was worried about being discovered and nodded obediently. It was only after Feng Xixing looked away that he realized—wait, he was the master here, why was he obeying so readily?!

However, looking at Feng Xixing’s grave and cautious expression, Lin Chuyun blinked and swallowed the meow that was about to escape his mouth.

Forget it. His little disciple was just concerned about him.

Lin Chuyun was nestled quite comfortably in Feng Xixing’s arms and didn’t feel the slightest jostle of movement. After a short while, he sensed Feng Xixing come to a stop. He had no idea where they were hiding; the surrounding area was utterly silent, not a single sound to be heard.

Lin Chuyun perked up his ears and listened for a long time, catching only Feng Xixing’s faint breathing and… right next to his ear, a completely unmistakable heartbeat.

It was like someone was madly drumming right beside his ear.

Previously, Lin Chuyun had always curled up near Feng Xixing’s collarbone. This time, for some reason, Feng Xixing pressed him downward twice, pushing him directly against his chest.

A cat’s ears are naturally sensitive to sound, and Lin Chuyun was practically pressed against it, listening directly. Within moments, the thundering beat made him dizzy and disoriented; his little paws desperately wanted to press down on Feng Xixing’s heart to stop it.

“Meow meow meow…” Lin Chuyun could no longer bear it and could only meow softly while struggling to poke half his little head out of Feng Xixing’s arms. Then he abruptly froze.

The scene before him was akin to hell on earth.

Bloodstains were scattered across the ground. In the impenetrable darkness, something was surging. The villagers fled in panic, only to realize with shock an instant later that a hole had appeared in their chests.

The hearts that should have been beating there had vanished, too.

Lin Chuyun had only taken one glance before Feng Xixing swiftly covered his eyes. Yet that split-second image was deeply etched into Lin Chuyun’s eyes.

The little black cat in his arms lay stiffly, as if paralyzed with fright.

A flicker of regret flashed through Feng Xixing’s eyes. He had thought that by sealing off sound, he could prevent Lin Chuyun from perceiving the events around them, but he hadn’t anticipated that Lin Chuyun would suddenly poke his head out.

No longer caring to observe the surrounding situation, Feng Xixing turned around so that the little black cat in his arms faced away from the carnage behind them. He soothingly stroked the top of the Little Black Cat’s head and coaxed in a low voice, “It’s alright, Shizun, don’t be afraid.”

The little black cat’s tail dropped limply. His large cat pupils blinked mechanically twice before, as if suddenly snapping back to his senses, he began to tremble uncontrollably.

“…Meow?”

As if afraid of being discovered, the little black ball’s cry was so faint it couldn’t be heard without careful listening.

Feng Xixing realized what Lin Chuyun was afraid of and rubbed the tip of his ear. “It’s fine. They cannot hear us speak.”

Only then did Lin Chuyun stop holding back. He lunged forward against Feng Xixing’s chest, gazing into his pale-colored eyes, and meowed without stopping. Yet in truth, those meows held no meaning at all; Lin Chuyun just felt as though he wanted to ask something, but didn’t know how to voice it.

He meowed until his voice grew somewhat hoarse before finally calming down gradually.

Feng Xixing frowned. He condensed an Ice Crystal in one hand, and before Lin Chuyun could react, he directly pushed it into the little black cat’s mouth.

The icy sensation soothed the stinging pain in his throat wonderfully. Lin Chuyun sat stunned for a moment before looking at Feng Xixing with slight exasperation. “Meow…”

What are you doing…

Slender fingers pressed against the little black cat’s mouth. Lin Chuyun subconsciously twitched his whiskers and, inexplicably, quieted down.

“It’s just a single Ice Crystal,” Feng Xixing said with a nonchalant smile. “Shizun’s voice is more important.”

After all, that milky little meow would be too great a shame if he could no longer hear it.

Lin Chuyun rolled his eyes, thinking his disciple might be a bit foolish.

Even if his throat hurt, it would just mean he couldn’t speak for a few days. Feng Xixing, however, was about to undergo Core Formation, practically within the next couple of days. At a time like this, instead of preparing diligently for Core Formation, he was expending Spirit Power just to soothe a cat’s throat.

Foolish disciple!