Chapter 525

Where exactly did something go wrong?

Could it be… I suddenly thought of a possibility.

At that time, in Cangwu Mountain, the Sān jiǎo yā hid inside the egg, and later, during Nirvana, he should also have been hiding inside the egg.

So his success in Tribulation Hitching came not just from using me, but more from using the egg to help him undergo the tribulation?

Did he secretly absorb a lot of the Mana that had built up in the egg?

The more I thought about it, the more I felt the possibility was huge, and the more I felt heartbroken and guilty.

I'm really incompetent; I only just realized this now!

The mystic cat seemed to sense my guilt, rubbing against me nonstop to comfort me.

As it kept rubbing, it suddenly froze.

Then, as if disbelieving, it began frantically sniffing my right hand.

After figuring something out, it started yelling at me nonstop, each cry higher than the last, looking urgent, as if it wanted to speak.

The commotion was so loud that even Li Qingying, who was busy in the back, heard it and rushed over to ask what happened.

The mystic cat was still calling.

Not only was it calling, it also started crying.

Two streams of bloody tears flowed down its dark‑green cat eyes, looking especially miserable and sorrowful.

When Li Qingying first entered, she wanted to scold it, but seeing its state, she felt heartbroken and wanted to come over and hug it to comfort it.

But the mystic cat dodged her, and it kept yelling at me nonstop.

I was stunned at first, but I quickly realized and looked at my hand; the mystic cat seemed to have reacted after smelling something on my hand.

I had just held many things with this hand— which one caused such a strong reaction from the mystic cat?

I quickly took out the bronze box, opened both layers, and placed it on the table.

The mystic cat lunged onto the string of skull prayer beads, constantly rubbing its head against them, like an old friend reunited after a long separation.

Could the mystic cat actually know this string of skull prayer beads?

But this string of skull prayer beads belongs to Dì luán, who had visited the pawnshop; if the mystic cat were that close to him, it would surely have come out to recognize him.

Then there is only one possibility—the mystic cat is familiar with the original owner of the skull prayer beads.

The mystic cat originally came from a Buddhist sect; its first appearance was in the hands of a great lama.

Could it have come from the Tibetan region?

Unfortunately the little cat can't speak, and it may have forgotten the way home, but no matter how much time and space it crosses, what it loves most is still its original owner.

I reached out to pet the mystic cat, stroking from head to tail to soothe its emotions, then held it firmly in my arms: "Kitty, don't cry; we will surely help you find your way home."

The mystic cat is a spiritual entity; as its cultivation level rises, it gradually cultivates into a near‑physical state.

Although I can hold it, its bloody tears are not real; they won't actually fall to stain its fur or my clothes.

It whimpered softly in my arms, looking pitiful.

In the end, Li Qingying coaxed it, promising to offer more incense, and only then did it reluctantly allow itself to be taken away.

The room grew quiet again.

I gazed at the string of skull prayer beads, lost in thought.

Sure enough, it has quite a background.

The idea of using it to pinpoint their hideout in the Tibetan region is still correct.

Now it's up to Fang ChuanZong and Jin Wuya to come through.

After all that, I really felt a bit tired, leaning back in the chair, gently rubbing my belly, muttering: "Little guy, you'd better stay strong!"

I know I'm not physically tired; I'm feeling mentally exhausted.

After days of turmoil with the Feng Clan, I came back only to deal with these matters in full swing, yet I uncovered an even bigger pit— it seems to be constantly being filled but never filled up— how could one not feel mentally weary?

I sat for a while, then finally went onto the bed, sitting cross‑legged to meditate.

What I never expected was that this meditation would quickly put me into deep focus, immersing me in cultivation unable to extricate myself.

More importantly, after entering deep focus, I entered an illusory state of self‑lessness.

In that state, I saw the Feng Clan's seniors again.

Of course, they weren't real; they were the spiritual power and Mana they poured into my body during Nirvana, which condensed into phantoms within the corresponding cultivation system.

They took turns acting like strict masters, lecturing me face‑to‑face, urging me to quickly enter the state to learn, wishing I would forgo food and sleep to master all of their cultivation systems.

This study lasted until evening.

Li Qingying said she had come in twice midway, found me completely immersed in cultivation with a faint golden light surrounding me, and didn't dare disturb me.

She merely silently prepared the meals and brewed medicinal concoctions, waiting for me to finish so I could eat.

I was really hungry.

That long‑absent feeling of never being full no matter how much I ate reappeared; only after drinking several bowls of the medicinal concoction did I feel satisfied.

By then, the sky was almost dark.

On an early autumn evening, a breeze had risen; feeling overly full and a bit bloated, Li Qingying accompanied me for a walk by the river to relax.

We walked slowly along the riverbank, and when we were opposite the mound, we stopped to gaze outward.

Li Qingying said, "Xiao Jiu, have you noticed that Fu Wan hasn't been living in the pawnshop lately?"

I let out a surprised "eh," as if to say, "Yeah, that's right."

I rarely see her come out, so I thought she had been staying in the spirit tablet cultivating.

I asked, "Where did she go?"

Li Qingying pointed to the mound across the river and said, "She went to find General Zhao; those two are really strange— at first General Zhao kept standing at Xijiekou looking at the pawnshop, but once Fu Wan responded to him, he started avoiding her, and they've been acting nervous all day, not knowing what they're up to."

I chuckled and said, "This must be love— or perhaps a Republic‑era version, sweet yet bitter. Wanting to take a step forward, yet afraid the step is too big, which would backfire; don't be awkward, yet it's hard to let go."

Li Qingying pouted, muttering softly: "But I think love isn't like that."

I glanced at her, teasing: "Qingying sis, what do you think love is like? Sis, tell me the truth—after Grey Fifth Lord moved back in, have you two's feelings heated up?"

Li Qingying gave me a sideways glance: "Don't mention that person—it's so annoying it makes me furious; just thinking about it fills me with rage."

I couldn't help but laugh.

"Mm, this is the love of a bickering couple."

That laugh made the pent-up frustration that had been weighing on my heart these days vanish instantly, and I felt lively again.

I don't know if it's because I'm full, or because my cultivation has advanced another level.

Or perhaps it's because the person closest to me is by my side.

In short, my condition has finally improved a lot.

"Mom, what the hell is that?!"

At that moment, Li Qingying suddenly covered her mouth with one hand and pointed toward Xijiekou with the other, exclaiming aloud.

I was startled, followed the direction of her finger, and froze.

In the alley at Xijiekou, the figure of a half-grown youth stood there.

His body was facing toward the Dang Pu's main door, but… he had no head…