Chapter 60 Part 2

According to the elderly woman, the kitten was only five or six months old, with all black fur, at the age of peak playfulness and mischief. It had gone missing that morning during a walk when she opened the door.

“I’m just afraid it got eaten by a Devil,” the old woman said worriedly.

After hearing this, the Masked Man went out to search. Zhong Nian stayed to chat with the elderly woman a bit longer, but when the man didn’t return, he grew concerned.

He said as much and went out.

He thought the Small Town wasn’t big; finding a cat might be hard, but finding such a large man should be easy. Unexpectedly, he didn’t find the man but first encountered the elderly woman’s Little Black Cat.

The Little Black Cat moved nimbly and darted away in a flash. Zhong Nian chased after it.

Halfway through the chase, the little cat suddenly stopped on its own, crouching with its limbs tucked into a corner. Zhong Nian quickly grabbed it and held it close, discovering it was trembling.

Zhong Nian thought he had scared it and stroked it a couple of times.

The little cat tucked its ears and head into the crook of his arm, clearly anxious and afraid, yet it didn’t struggle—it was seeking protection from a human.

“What happened?” Zhong Nian frowned, stroked the little cat’s puffed-up back, and turned to head back. His footsteps halted.

The once peaceful Small Town was again shrouded in thick fog.

In the gray haze, Zhong Nian carefully took steps, sticking close to the walls.

Unfortunately, he heard suspicious noises following closely behind.

Under the oppressive pressure that shadowed him like a ghost, Zhong Nian gritted his teeth and quickened his pace, but the footsteps behind grew closer—from two meters away, almost to his heels.

These footsteps were unusual, like a massive beast dragging its body, inching along the ground.

The surrounding fog swirled faintly, growing thicker. A glance back revealed only a wall of leaden gray.

The unknown was the most terrifying.

Zhong Nian couldn’t tell what was following him. He could only grip his Dagger tightly and hold the cat even closer.

Thin sweat beaded on his skin, his red lips parted with rapid breaths, and his eyes flickered with panicked moisture. Fleeing through the fog, he looked like a small animal in peril.

The little rabbit, cornered by the beast, suddenly spotted a faint light in a “dead end” and ran toward it without hesitation.

Upon closer inspection, Zhong Nian realized he had arrived at the Church.

The Church exterior seemed shielded by an invisible barrier that kept the fog at bay, making it especially conspicuous—like a moth to a flame for those lost nearby, drawing them unwittingly.

Zhong Nian looked at the Church’s imposing open doors and hesitated.

But the approaching footsteps behind left no time for delay. The kitten in his arms mewed weakly, and he stepped once more into this ambiguously evil domain.

It was ironic: this Church worshipped the Devil’s incarnation, the “Goat.” Its master was the Priest, a powerful Devil, yet it was also the Players’ “path to survival.”

It could expose other Devils’ true faces and offer a sliver of protection.

Because of the previous shadow, Zhong Nian didn’t dare go too close. He huddled by the iron gate’s boundary, waiting for the fog to lift.

Feeling safe, the little cat poked its head out from his arm and mewed softly at him.

Zhong Nian poked its head. “See if you dare run off again.”

After the scolding, he couldn’t help but smile bitterly at himself.

He too had let his guard down due to the Small Town’s temporary peace, being too careless. He came out to find someone and ended up trapped here again.

The Masked Man would worry…

“Meow.” The little cat seemed to understand, blinking its bright green eyes. It pawed at his clothes and rubbed its forehead against his chin.

His chin itched, and Zhong Nian laughed involuntarily, pressing it down with his hand. “Alright, Baby, stop moving…”

“Baa—”

Suddenly, a loud goat bleat made Zhong Nian’s smile vanish.

Even after seeing it many times and preparing himself mentally, Zhong Nian still trembled involuntarily at the sound, struggling to control himself from turning to look directly at the man and goat that appeared out of nowhere in his peripheral vision.

He clearly felt two scorching gazes upon him. He unobtrusively hid the little cat more securely, blocking it with his arm like an ostrich burying its head.

“…Baa.”

The goat couldn’t hold back, trotting over on its four little hooves toward Zhong Nian. With tinkling bells, it reached him and bit his clothing corner, vying for his attention.

Hearing the jingle, Zhong Nian glanced down despite himself.

Compared to yesterday, the Black Goat had grown larger, reaching his waist. Its curved horns were tough as blades, shedding the tender cuteness of the initial Little Lamb. It had become a robust adult goat.

If in a herd, it would undoubtedly be the leader.

Yet mismatched with its aura was a large red bow around its neck, complete with bells that jingled crisply with every movement.

The curly fur on its head had been trimmed, not a messy clump, styled neatly.

“Baa, baa, baa!”

The Black Goat bleated at him nonstop, glaring at the little cat trembling in his arms with eyes full of resentment and grievance.

As a shadow approached, Zhong Nian turned his head again and froze.

The Priest wore a new robe Zhong Nian hadn’t seen before—not the somber black, but pristine white with ornate gold edging.

Perhaps due to the Holy Robe, the cold gloom between the Priest’s brows and the faint evil aura had softened considerably. His presence was less intimidating.

Seeing the man and goat dressed festively, Zhong Nian wondered if the Church was holding some important ceremony or feast.

A Devil’s event—it surely wouldn’t be anything good.