Transmigrated Into the Body of a Sickly Villain's Kitten - Chapter 25

“Shi Yao!”

“Demoness!”

“How dare you come here?!”

Shi Yao was clad in black, her face bearing a mad and bewitching smile. Her pitch-black pupils reflected the panicked expressions of the crowd as she stared unblinkingly at these sanctimonious cultivators, as if she wished she could tear them apart limb from limb.

Her tone was arrogant, showing no regard for these people: “Did you think setting up a barrier would keep me from finding you? Save that pitiful spiritual energy for your next life.”

Ling Que had already collapsed motionless on the conference table. Shi Yao’s hands were covered in blood, and as she raised them, the blood instantly decomposed into sharp threads shooting toward the hearts of everyone present.

Qi Wushuang stepped in front of the others, and the blood threads hung in the air before suddenly falling to the ground, seeping into the carpet.

Shi Yao curled her lips into a smile: “Not bad. You can actually block this move. I underestimated you.”

“Shi Yao! Do you really intend to fight here?!”

This was the top-floor conference room of the company building owned by the cultivation world. If Shi Yao were to truly engage in battle with Qi Wushuang, the entire building might be destroyed.

“I’m not here to fight you. I’m just here to kill. Why must you take it so seriously?”

The cultivators present had all witnessed Shi Yao’s massacre centuries ago. They knew she had broken through the barrier and expected her to seek revenge immediately after destroying it, remaining on high alert at all times. Yet, Wuqi Mountain had remained eerily quiet.

This meeting had been convened to discuss how to deal with the great demoness Shi Yao, but no one expected her to launch a sudden attack, catching them completely off guard.

Fortunately, Qi Wushuang was here. Surely even Shi Yao would have to show some restraint in her presence.

Qi Wushuang detested Shi Yao’s disregard for human life the most. Frowning in anger, she shouted, “The world today is nothing like it was centuries ago. Back then, you acted recklessly, but now there are living people everywhere. Aren’t you afraid of harming the innocent?! Have all these years on Wuqi Mountain failed to cleanse the evil from your heart?!”

“Innocent? Evil?” Shi Yao’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “God Wushuang, you have quite a silver tongue. Let me ask you, what crime did Youyou commit? She was refined into a weapon by those you protect, cursed and manipulated. The evil in my heart was born from the greed and ignorance of people like you. Don’t forget, I am the God of Evil. Asking me to purify my evil thoughts, isn’t that asking too much?”

As she spoke, Shi Yao scanned the eyes of every cultivator present. When her gaze fell on Hua Yufeng, her expression darkened further.

At the mention of Youyou being refined, a flicker of disbelief crossed Qi Wushuang’s brow.

Whether refining a physical body or a spiritual form, it was considered dark magic by all orthodox sects. Could it be that Youyou had not been reincarnated but had instead been refined?

She turned to look at Hua Yufeng, who sat there calm and composed, her eyes filled with doubt and scrutiny.

Hua Yufeng sat there with an air of calm composure and said, “Divine Lord Wu Shuang, you mustn’t fall for her words. Demons always find excuses to absolve themselves, claiming innocence. Shi Yao, wasn’t it you who, back then, used a fragment of your soul to prevent Yun Mi the Immortal Lord from reincarnating, forcibly preserving her spirit? Even if I hadn’t ordered Luo Xiu to refine her, you would have exhausted all means to bring her back, wouldn’t you? I merely did what you wished, shouldn’t you owe me a favor for that?”

“What a favor, Hua Yufeng. Your skill in distorting the truth is something I truly admire. However, Luo Xiu’s refining technique is remarkably potent. Could it be that you are of demonic descent? How else would you master such dark arts?”

Shi Yao’s gaze fell upon Luo Xiu’s face. Luo Xiu lifted her eyes, her talent for shifting blame equally impressive: “Without your soul fragment as a catalyst, I could never have refined Yun Mi the Immortal Lord so easily. Moreover, the methods and processes of refinement are recorded in my clan’s secret texts. Do not falsely accuse me.”

In essence, it was Shi Yao who had provided the opportunity.

Meanwhile, the onlookers began to murmur among themselves: “Refinement? What is refinement? What have they refined?”

“A dark art, not worth discussing.”

“If they refined someone close to the demon, wouldn’t that be a righteous act?”

“Indeed, anything that can serve our purpose is inherently good.”

Shi Yao found it rather amusing how these immortal cultivators, having lived so long, seemed to have developed some peculiar quirks in their thinking.

Growing impatient with the delay, she was about to take action when Hua Yufeng stood and declared, “Luo Xiu’s techniques are imperfect. Yun Mi the Immortal Lord must now be tormented by the chaotic energies within her. Shi Yao, let us each take a step back. I will reveal the method to dispel the curse on her, and you will refrain from acting here today. How does that sound?”

“Whether you die sooner or later, does it really matter where it happens?”

Shi Yao’s arrogant tone was enough to ignite fury in anyone’s heart, yet no one present could do anything to stop her.

Hua Yufeng approached Shi Yao and handed her a small bell.

“This is the Yingniao Bell, capable of stabilizing the soul. Ring it once every three hours for seven days, and the chaotic energy within Yun Mi the Immortal Lord will gradually dissipate, restoring her clarity of mind. Shi Yao, we shared decades of camaraderie once, I never intended to harm you.”

Shi Yao took the bell and rang it twice in front of everyone.

As expected of a divine artifact, even a gentle ring caused the immortal cultivators to cover their ears, unable to withstand the impact.

If even they struggled to endure it, how could Youyou possibly bear it?

Yet Youyou’s constitution was different from the others. Regardless, having a solution was better than helpless anxiety.

Having learned from her past dealings with Hua Yufeng centuries ago, Shi Yao was no longer willing to trust him easily.

“Hua Yufeng, I can only take half of what you say at face value.”

While Qi Wushuang was still deep in thought, Shi Yao manipulated the water from the teacups on the conference table, weaving it into an invisible thread that sliced through the air, cleanly severing the right arms of everyone present.

At the critical moment, Qi Wushuang could only protect Hua Yufeng beside her. Everyone present were prominent figures in the cultivation world, yet their right arms had all fallen to the ground. The scent of blood filled the room, and beside each person lay a severed arm. In an instant, agonized screams echoed everywhere.

Shi Yao laughed heartily twice, her expression one of pure delight. “A nobleman’s revenge is too slow even if it takes ten seconds. Without seeing blood, my heart remains unsettled. Otherwise, wouldn’t my trip today have been in vain?”

She shot Qi Wushuang a subtle glare, then turned and walked away, shaking a bell as she went, her figure quickly vanishing from sight.

Qi Wushuang turned to look at the cultivators clutching their empty right sleeves. Recalling Shi Yao’s earlier mention of refinement, she slowly furrowed her brow.

This was no less than purgatory.

“Wushuang, Goddess Wushuang, save us! Please save us!”

Unable to bear the pain, some knelt on the ground, begging Qi Wushuang for help. She raised her hand and waved it dismissively. “I can only stop your bleeding. She used a spell, in two hours, your severed arms will decay and cannot be reattached.”

“What?!”

“That demon has ruined us!”

“If only we had acted faster, this wouldn’t have happened!”

“Leader Hua! Why did you give her the Yingniao Bell?”

Hua Yufeng showed no trace of anxiety or sorrow. She walked over to Luo Xiu and glanced at her empty sleeve, a flicker of pain quickly passing through her eyes before she calmly explained, “The formation we used required the Yingniao Bell to be placed at the highest point. Ascending the mountain easily was impossible, so this was the only way to make her take it up herself. Don’t worry, once the demon is dead and her spiritual power dissipates, as long as your cultivation is sufficient to ascend to immortality, you can reshape your physical bodies. What’s such a small matter?”

The cultivators, their pain temporarily eased by Qi Wushuang’s spell, sat in silence. As Qi Wushuang prepared to leave, Hua Yufeng hurried after her. “Goddess Wushuang, do you believe what she said?”

Qi Wushuang’s expression remained indifferent. “Whether I believe it or not isn’t important. I helped you because I disapprove of her actions, not for the sake of the cultivation sects. I hope you understand that and don’t take everyone for fools.”

“Yes.” Hua Yufeng bowed her head obediently, but as she watched Qi Wushuang depart, a trace of resentment slowly seeped into her eyes.

…

Upon returning to Wuqi Mountain, Shi Yao headed straight for the medicine hut.

It was already late at night. After the lightning and thunder, rain began to fall, the sound of droplets pattering against the window.

Fu Rou still lay on the long couch inside the medicine hut, her brow furrowed as if she were sleeping restlessly. Shi Yao raised her hand and used her spiritual energy to inspect the Yingniao Bell, ensuring it bore no trace of demonic energy before lifting it and gently shaking it.

Divine artifacts have no inherent good or evil, it all depends on the heart of the one who wields them.

The clear, crisp sound of the bell spread through the air, and Fu Rou’s furrowed brow gradually relaxed.

Unexpectedly, the bell actually worked.

“Go rest now. I’ll watch over her.”

Ke Fan had been channeling his spiritual energy the entire time Shi Yao was away. Now that Fu Rou had finally calmed down, he felt relieved, but after using his energy for so long, his lips had turned pale.

Ke Fan was indeed struggling to hold on any longer. He stopped his efforts, the swirl of green spiritual energy still revolving around Fu Rou.

He said to Shi Yao, “Zhou Ping came by earlier. He mentioned that the various immortal sects are currently frantically searching for all the divine artifacts that were lost in the mortal realm ages ago. They’ve also created a new formation that doesn’t require much spiritual power, just placing the artifacts in their designated positions. He said they’re confident they’ll capture you this time and hopes you’ll be extra cautious.”

Shi Yao was somewhat surprised.

Would Zhou Ping really gather intelligence for her and come to inform her about the immortal sects’ activities?

Glancing at the Yingniao Bell beside her, Shi Yao instantly understood many things.

She lowered her head with a sigh and said to Ke Fan, “In seven days, there might be a great battle here. My power is something you definitely can’t withstand. Take her, Zhou Ping, and Guan Jin to find He Qingye. Go stay there for now.”

“My Lord, in seven days, your body will be at its weakest. I dare not leave your side so easily. And the Lady, she’s currently…”

“The person I care about most in this life is her. You and Guan Jin have stayed by my side for so many years; I ought to arrange for your safety properly. Zhou Ping’s intention to surrender is clear, he only wants to cultivate and hasn’t committed any real wrongs. Let it be so.”

Shi Yao’s resolve was firm. Knowing further persuasion was useless, Ke Fan walked to the other side of the medicine hut and handed her a vial of medicine.

“My Lord, your eyes still have a few years before they return to normal. This is a potion I prepared. Since I won’t be able to personally attend to everything this time, please remember to cover your eyes with silk cloth without fail, they must not be exposed to light.”

“Mm.”

Shi Yao took the vial from Ke Fan. He glanced once more at Fu Rou lying on the bed, his heart filled with countless words left unspoken.

Back in the day, Ke Fan was merely a small demon who had caught a distant glimpse of the Demon Emperor. Her head of white hair had been so brilliantly dazzling that it left a lasting impression on him.

Who could have imagined that a little white cat from a thousand years ago would turn out to be the Demon Emperor?

What had she gone through all these years?

After Ke Fan left, Shi Yao took Fu Rou’s hand from under the blanket and held it in her own.

“Once I’ve finished watching the show they’re putting on, I’ll come to accompany you. Whether you recover or not, I will always be by your side.”

Shi Yao could guess the purpose behind the immortal realm’s collection of divine artifacts. This time, she had indeed acted impulsively, rushing off to confront them without proper preparation, merely managing to sever one arm.

She had hurried back as soon as she obtained the Yingniao Bell, thinking she must first ensure the safety of the few demons on the mountain and Fu Rou.

When her period of weakness arrived, those people would likely surround the mountain. Then they would see who the real fool in this play was.

Fu Rou’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, but she still did not wake.

She remembered many things.

“Youyou” was the childhood name her parents had given her. The bloodline of the Demon Emperor would end with her generation, so her parents hadn’t placed high demands on her. Perhaps foreseeing the demon tribe’s fate, they hadn’t pushed her cultivation progress much either, as long as she was happy and enjoyed herself, that was enough.

Yet Youyou’s innate talent was perfectly suited for cultivation. She achieved immortality in just a few hundred years and reached divinity in a millennium, all while feeling utterly bewildered by her own progress.

She once spent some time wandering in the celestial realm, where many immortals resided. It didn’t seem much different from the demon realm, except that no one governed them. Yet, they could cultivate joyfully on their own, living happily every day, doing whatever they pleased.

Youyou went back and asked her parents why the celestial realm didn’t need governance. Her father sighed and said with profound gravity, “They are immortals with clear hearts, inherently inclined toward goodness, and they know how to manage themselves properly. But the demon realm is different. Some children are born without such innate understanding, so they need guidance.”

Back then, Youyou didn’t fully grasp the meaning of those words. It wasn’t until her parents were killed by demons on the battlefield, and some members of the demon tribe turned traitor due to rumors deliberately spread by the demon clan, that she gradually began to understand the true distinction between demons and immortals.

From that moment on, she held a single wish in her heart.

She hoped that the demon tribe could stand on equal footing with the celestial tribe.

To achieve this, Youyou paid a tremendous price.

After becoming the Demon Emperor, she executed many demons who committed evil deeds. Some among the demon tribe called her cruel, accusing her of being merciless even toward her own kind. Youyou merely smiled and said, “I am only teaching you the difference between good and evil. If you can’t remember, then let blood serve as the proof.”

Later, she indeed managed to govern the demon realm quite well. Many admired and worshipped her.

She was finally able to start doing what she truly wanted.

But in the end, it seemed she had fulfilled her long-cherished wish, yet she was left with many regrets.

The decline of immortals and demons was an inevitable trend, and the gradual dwindling of the demon tribe might have been foreseen by the Heavenly Dao.

Youyou suddenly felt that her hands were stained with too much blood, and the demon tribe’s current plight was all her doing. Yet, everything was merely the cycle of the Heavenly Dao, she just happened to be caught in it.

So, Youyou did not die. Instead, she transformed into a cat and went to the mortal world to perform good deeds.

The hundredth task was a tribulation she had to undergo in this lifetime. She thought it would be difficult, but being by the mermaid’s side turned out to be quite enjoyable.

Little did she expect that later, she would end up sacrificing everything for it.

Only now did Fu Rou understand that both she and Shi Yao were undergoing tribulations.

The tribulation of life is easy to overcome; the tribulation of love is hard.

Succeed, and you continue to live. Fail, and you dissipate into the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Never to meet again.