Chapter 146: The Terrified Nine-Life Cat Demon
“Has already left…”
Consort Zhou noticed that His Majesty seemed somewhat concerned about Xu Boqing and explained, “The Western Depot has been busy with official duties. Supervisor Xu came to pay respects, had a few drinks, then greeted me before returning to his work.”
“Left, huh~”
The Emperor of Yonghe’s gaze shifted slightly, appearing somewhat absent-minded. He muttered to himself, “Minister Xu is the pillar of my great achievements. I was too late… what a pity… such a pity…”
There was an indescribable feeling of regret in his tone, mingled with curiosity, and perhaps something deeply hidden...
Jealousy!
Consort Zhou was startled upon hearing this.
She had not expected the Western Depot—or rather, Xu Boqing—to hold such weight in His Majesty’s heart.
She thought to herself that she might need to find an opportunity to consult with the Empress Dowager in Cining Palace, and perhaps also properly apologize to Xu Boqing to smooth things over.
Whether she could win him over was secondary; it wasn’t worth offending a trusted confidant of His Majesty over trivial matters.
Zhu Wenjue’s eyes also narrowed slightly, silently considering that he should seek a chance to engage with this Western Depot supervisor.
Meanwhile, Song Mingde and Liu Yuan, who sat at the same table, stiffened.
Song Mingde was somewhat better off…
After the rainy night pursuit of the Duan brothers, he had clearly realized his inferiority and, having no intention to compete with the Western Depot, did not harbor excessive thoughts.
Moreover, he knew that Xu Boqing still owed him a favor.
Liu Yuan, however, felt a bit bitter. Both were eunuchs, one the Eastern Depot supervisor, the other the Western Depot supervisor, powers granted by His Majesty…
Now His Majesty called Xu Boqing the pillar of his great achievements—what about his Eastern Depot? What about him, Liu Yuan?
Minister of Personnel Li Yongsi and Minister of Justice Qiu Yuan did not think much about it. After exchanging a glance, they quickly stood and shifted their seats aside.
Zhu Wenjue noticed and said, “Father, Minister Li and Minister Qiu have moved seats. Should we add another chair?”
“No need…”
The Emperor of Yonghe seemed to come to his senses.
He looked at the seat Xu Boqing had occupied, then smiled strangely and said, “Minister Xu’s seat is quite fitting. Very good. I shall sit here.”
With that, he directly took the seat previously occupied by Xu Boqing…
“……”
Meanwhile…
Zhu Wenjing helped Liu Henge back to her chamber, dismissed the maids who wanted to assist, then locked the doors and windows before anxiously approaching her, calling out, “Ascended Immortal… Ascended Immortal??”
“……”
Seeing Liu Henge still unconscious and unresponsive despite his calls, and with the Ascended Immortal’s true form having inexplicably slipped out of the mansion, he paced anxiously, his face darkening.
Just as his frustration peaked…
There was a knock at the door…
He had thought it was the Ascended Immortal returning, and approached with a hopeful expression. Upon opening the door, he saw it was the manor’s steward, and his face instantly darkened as he scolded, “Didn’t I tell you not to disturb me?”
The steward looked anxious and said, “I don’t want to disturb you either, Your Highness, but His Majesty has arrived.”
“Whoever comes doesn’t… wait…”
Zhu Wenjing instinctively wanted to rebuke, but then seemed to realize something. His face turned serious as he glared and questioned, “You said who came just now?”
“His Majesty… His Majesty is here, Your Highness…”
The steward, seeing his lord frozen in place, disregarded protocol and hurriedly pulled him toward the main hall. “His Majesty really has come and is asking why Your Highness left without accompanying him. You must hurry…”
“……”
Zhu Wenjing snapped back to his senses, glanced at Liu Henge, gritted his teeth, and without further thought for the Ascended Immortal, quickly hurried toward the main hall.
……………………
Xu Boqing usually enjoyed reading and had a broad range of knowledge.
He often studied a few treatises written by Zhang Tai Xu, and whether it was his knowledge, inner strength, or perspective, he had accumulated a considerable foundation.
Therefore, when studying the true essence left by Duan Hongyuan in the “Art of Spirit and Energy,” his mind seemed to record everything as if it were a machine. A single reading was enough to memorize all the techniques Duan Hongyuan demonstrated through his true essence.
At the very least…
Regarding the understanding of swordsmanship in that true essence, Xu Boqing would not claim to excel beyond Duan Hongyuan but was certainly not far behind.
For instance, at the banquet earlier, when he recognized the cat demon’s malicious intent, his sharp gaze was the “Eye Sword” technique Duan Hongyuan had discovered through comprehension of the ‘realm’…
Using the body as a sword, the eyes as the blade, and intent to kill!
When confronting those weaker than himself or dealing with demons and spirits, killing with a glance is no exaggeration…
That cat demon was shallow in cultivation and weak in power…
After being cut by the “Eye Sword,” although it mysteriously revived, remnants of the true essence of the technique remained on its body…
Xu Boqing followed that lingering true essence all the way to the southern part of the city…
Finally, in an abandoned mansion, he sensed the demon’s aura and the residual “Eye Sword” true essence.
Seeing no one around…
He silently leapt into the mansion…
Then he deployed his Heavenly Eye technique to scan the area. His gaze fixed on a withered well mouth covered by weeds…
His eyes shifted slightly, then he sneered, “With your level of cultivation, you dare wade into the turbulent waters of the Water-Land Dharma Assembly?”
“……”
Through his Heavenly Eye, Xu Boqing clearly saw the cat demon curled up like a frightened furball inside the well but it did not respond. Coldly, he said, “I’ll count to three. You can choose to come out yourself, or I’ll go down and see how many lives you have.”
“……”
“Three…”
“Two…”
“……”
Before he could say “one,” a streak of black spiritual light shot out of the well and fled…
“Trying to escape!?”
His eyes flickered as he clenched his hand in midair. The withered grass in the courtyard bowed its head, the dead branches swayed without wind, and his surging inner strength roared like a dragon!
“Return!”
The cat demon, riding the black spiritual light, fled from the mansion. Before it could rejoice, it felt as if gripped by an invisible giant hand.
Its spiritual light was crushed to pieces!
Its body uncontrollably flew back!
Recalling the terror of having one life extinguished by that vigorous eunuch’s glare, it scratched wildly with its claws, meowing desperately to break free.
Unable to escape and being pulled back to that fierce man’s feet, it was about to plead for mercy…
But to its horror, the man pressed the middle and index fingers onto its cat head!
Then consciousness vanished, and its head exploded…
Xu Boqing saw no gore or flesh scattered when the cat’s head shattered; it simply dissipated into wisps of black smoke. His gaze tightened…
Recalling the cat demon’s revival at the previous banquet, he did not release his grip, still channeling inner strength to hold the headless corpse.
He wanted to see if, now missing its head, the demon could still perform its resurrection trick…
Suddenly…
Under the Heavenly Eye’s scrutiny, the dissipated black smoke reassembled at the headless body’s neck. Soon, a new cat head grew upon the corpse!
This…
It really could come back to life!?
“Meow~~”
Xu Boqing raised an eyebrow in surprise but also interest, then summoned his sword finger and shot a fierce burst of energy at its body.
The cat demon, just resurrected and regaining awareness, saw the man’s finger descending again!
Before it could even plead, its body swelled…
Then it lost consciousness again…
Dead once more…
Last time only the head exploded, leaving the body intact. This time the entire body was shattered into wisps of black smoke.
After a short while…
The scattered black smoke seemed drawn by an inexplicable force to gather once again, coalescing into a solid form—once again a black cat!
Xu Boqing was startled, thinking this demon might truly be the nine-lived cat demon from the tales.
Despite his thoughts, his hand struck again…
“I…”
The cat demon opened its mouth but before it could speak, the man’s finger loomed larger in its vision, and its consciousness faded…
Fourth life gone…
“You…”
Fifth life…
“I…”
Sixth life…
“Plea…”
Seventh life…
“Life…”
Eighth life…
Xu Boqing struck again, puncturing the cat demon’s body, then rubbed his chin, watching the black smoke gather with keen interest…
In this abandoned mansion, he had killed the cat demon seven times in a row. Including the one at the banquet, that made eight times. Even a nine-lived cat demon must be nearing its end.
The cat demon, realizing eight of its nine lives had been lost and that the fierce man gave it no chance to speak, felt utterly desperate.
It knew…
If its ninth life appeared and was then lost, it would truly perish beyond the cycle of life and death…
In all its cultivation, it had never been so terrified…
Nor had it ever feared anyone as it did now.
At first, it wailed silently, preparing words of supplication, hoping for a chance to beg for mercy…
But this vigorous eunuch was too ferocious. It was struck down just as it revived, never given a chance to speak!
!
Not to mention begging, it was nearly dead without uttering a complete word…
Eventually, it gave up hope…
Just as its ninth life manifested and it prepared to surrender and close its eyes, it suddenly heard the fierce man’s voice: “Why aren’t you crying out anymore?”
“……”
Xu Boqing furrowed his brows, gazing at the black cat he held. Having killed it seven times, he had questions and did not immediately attack again…
The black cat stared blankly at him and tentatively meowed, “Meow?”
“……”
Xu Boqing’s cheek twitched…
The cat demon, surprised that the man did not immediately strike, had its heterochromatic eyes welling with tears. Two large teardrops slipped from its eyes…
Frightened…
It cried while folding its paws in a supplicating gesture, sobbing in a small girl’s plaintive voice, “Ascended Immortal… Master, little… little demon knows its mistake… little demon no longer begs for mercy.
But… but… little demon still doesn’t know what it did to offend you…
Little… little demon doesn’t know, please… even if you kill little demon, please let little demon die understanding why…”
“……”
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