CHAPTER 28

Sheng Qing returned to Qiu's residence in the lower city, looking disheveled. Suspecting that Blake or something else might be following him, he deliberately took a long detour.

The autumn residence, which should have been quiet and peaceful at night, was brightly lit at this time.

Could something have happened?

Thinking of this, Sheng Qing quickened his pace.

"Why does this wound look so strange?" Qin Feiyu's voice could be heard coming from the living room from afar.

"What wound? Who's injured?"

"Sheng Qing, you're finally back." Qin Feiyan turned around and looked at him.

Only upon closer inspection did one see Du Huiru's deathly pale face and the gruesome wound on her left arm.

The wound itself wasn't large, but it had a strange color, and something seemed to be moving around the open wound like a living thing.

It was so strange, yet Sheng Qing felt it looked somewhat familiar.

It seems quite similar to those strange substances in the body that are almost integrated with the blood?

Doesn't this mean that Du Huiru is also about to be turned into a cat?

Qing couldn't help but touch the two clearly protruding cat ear-like shapes on the top of her head.

How ironic!

I wonder if the strange fragrance emanating from the aura can lure this thing down?

"Prepare a basin of warm water." Sheng Qing decided to give it a try.

"What's your idea?" Qin Feiyan asked suspiciously, turning to have someone bring water.

"Immerse the wound completely in warm water." Sheng Qing said, drawing his breath from his sea of ​​consciousness to his fingertips, then immersing his fingertips in the warm water.

The breath danced on his fingertips, and in an instant, the strange substance at the wound actually started to move, eagerly rushing towards Sheng Qing's fingertips.

Seizing the opportunity, Sheng Qing yanked Du Huiru's arm away from the warm water the instant the strange substance detached from her arm.

The strange substance was completely drawn to the scent left in the water, and like a vicious dog pouncing on its prey, it sucked the scent clean.

"Burn it."

The basin and water were burned to ashes by the flames.

"Those strange substances really disappeared!" Qin Feiyu looked at Sheng Qing in shock and asked, "What did you do?"

Just as Sheng Qing was trying to come up with an excuse, a commotion arose outside the door.

Seriously? Did it summon some kind of monster in such a short time?

"An uninvited guest? I'll go check it out." I'll deal with the mess I made.

"Qin Feiyu, you go." Stopping Sheng Qing, Qin Feiyan ordered her brother without any politeness.

Qin Feiyu pouted, stretched, and reluctantly walked towards the door.

"Sister is so caring." Sheng Qing leaned affectionately against Qin Feiyan.

"Where have you been? You stink. Go wash up and go to bed." Qin Feiyan pretended to be disgusted.

Sheng Qing chuckled dryly and briefly recounted his encounter with Meng Yunxi and Miss Mouse in that magnificent palace.

Only then did he get up to wash up.

After washing up, Sheng Qing rubbed her stomach, which hadn't eaten all night, and leisurely went to the kitchen. Finally, she returned to the living room with a plate of pastries and fruits.

The Qin siblings stood in front of the phone, their faces serious.

Sheng Qing also leaned over, and on the other end of the phone was Meng Yunxi's familiar and calm voice.

Seemingly hearing his own name called, Sheng Qing slowed down his chewing.

"She's here." Qin Feiyan glanced at Sheng Qing, then handed the receiver to her shortly after. "The captain has something to say to you."

"Me?" Sheng Qing pointed to himself, mouthing the question, then pointed to the food in his mouth.

"She's eating," Qin Feiyan explained helplessly.

There seemed to be a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, before something else was said.

"The captain wants you to answer the phone." Qin Feiyan handed the receiver over again.

Sheng Qing quickly finished a pastry, clapped his hands, and then answered the phone.

"Captain?" Could he be here to interrogate me? Sheng Qing recalled the mess she had created and felt a headache coming on.

"Are you alright?" After a long while, Meng Yunxi's muffled voice finally came.

"I'm fine." Sheng Qing breathed a sigh of relief, relieved that it wasn't a scolding.

"Did I disturb your meal?" Meng Yunxi's voice sounded strange on the phone.

"Haha, how could that be?" Sheng Qing chuckled dryly, knowing he would do it again next time.

"What's going on between you and Blake?" Meng Yunxi's tone still sounded strange.

Why does it sound like an interrogation? Did releasing that strange fragrance really cause some trouble?

But this kind of thing isn't suitable to discuss in public, Sheng Qing glanced at the Qin siblings.

As I hesitated, Meng Yunxi's voice came from the other end of the phone again.

"Your arrest warrant has been revoked."

"An arrest warrant?" Sheng Qing was puzzled at first. "How could that be?"

"I don't know the specifics; it was arranged by Miss Sissi."

"The Miss Mouse who's with you?"

"What Miss Mouse?" the Qin siblings murmured, their ears perking up.

Meng Yunxi seemed to be stunned for a moment before speaking, "Yes, Miss Mouse." She added, "Don't overthink it, I have other purposes for approaching it."

Sensing that Meng Yunxi's next words would be important, Sheng Qing spoke in advance and pressed the speakerphone button.

According to Meng Yunxi's guess, the Rat King, the father of this Miss Rat, is the key figure in unlocking this secret realm.

However, for some unknown reason, the Rat King has not appeared in public for many years.

Like other rats, the Rat King has long lived in another place called the Sky City.

As its name suggests, the city is suspended in the air and can only be reached through special channels.

The conflict between humans and cat-people, and the so-called class issues between the upper districts, are nothing more than playthings for the rats to play with.

"How did it suddenly jump to the Rat King?" Qin Feiyu muttered, which was overheard by Meng Yunxi, who had sharp ears.

"Humans can be transformed into cats through modification surgery, and by the same token, cats can be transformed into mice through some method."

"To break through the secret realm, we need to see the Rat King, and to see the Rat King, we need to transform into a rat before we can go to the Sky City. The prerequisite for rat transformation is cat transformation. Does this mean we are still stuck in the same place?" The Qin siblings exchanged a knowing glance, looking troubled.

"Report, my cat ears have grown back," Sheng Qing interjected. "Is it too late to apply for a second modification surgery?"

After a long while, Meng Yunxi's voice finally came from the other end of the phone.

"The side effects of cat-ification are that it weakens the original memories and personality, and may even affect the manipulation of elemental power. Rat-ification is very likely to have similar side effects."

"Huh?" The Qin siblings hesitated.

Sheng Qing nodded in agreement repeatedly, which was also the reason why she wanted to avoid surgery in the first place.

"Then, Captain, aren't you...?" Qin Feiyan realized and pressed for an answer.

“There’s already a reaction, so you all need to stay alert.” Meng Yunxi maintained his calm tone, as if it had nothing to do with him.

Meng Yunxi outlined his plans, explaining that he would try to include all the Zero Team members on the list of those heading to Sky City.

As for what the method would be, Meng Yunxi didn't say, only telling everyone to be prepared to leave at any time.

Finally, he specifically instructed Sheng Qing not to run around.

That makes it sound like Sheng Qing wanted to run away on her own initiative, but wasn't she just being held hostage by that guy Blake!

Sheng Qing slept very restlessly that night, feeling unbearably hot all over. Could he be sick? Could it be such a coincidence?

I tossed and turned all night until dawn broke before finally drifting off to sleep.

When I woke up again, the sun was high in the sky.

Sheng Qing wondered why no one had called her as she shakily got up.

"Ah! Ah! Ah!"

Sheng Qing felt the entire room shaking, but that was not enough to alleviate her shock.

"What are you yelling about?" Qin Feiyu's voice came from the doorway.

"Are you alright?" came Qin Feiyan's voice next.

Sheng Qing opened the door expressionlessly.

"What the hell?"

The Qin siblings weren't much better off; they were so shocked that they took a half-step back.

Why did it transform into the complete form of the cat-man overnight?

I can't wear my original clothes anymore, I feel inexplicably itchy all over, and I have this feeling that I'm going to shed fur anytime, anywhere.

"Tsk tsk tsk, what exactly have you been doing behind our backs? Why are you so eager to respond to the captain's call?" Qin Feiyu muttered, circling around Sheng Qing.

"Bullshit!" Sheng Qing rolled her eyes and cursed inwardly.

"By the way, that boy came looking for you earlier, but I didn't let him in," Qin Feiyan said, frowning. "Who is he to you? Why is he keeping bothering you?"

What? Could it be Blake? How did he find his way here? Sheng Qing was shocked.

"He didn't do anything, did he?" Sheng Qing couldn't figure out Blake's personality, especially since he had just tricked him yesterday.

Could it be that they came specifically to confront me and demand an explanation?

"He didn't say much, just asked me to pass on a message to you, and then he's been waiting there." Qin Feiyan's brows relaxed for a moment, then furrowed again. "However, you know he's quite handsome, well, likable. There are already quite a few young girls gathered outside the gate."

He didn't seem very angry, otherwise Blake wouldn't have been at the door, but at the bedside.

Then let's wait a little longer.

"Who goes there? Come out!" Qin Feiyan shouted sharply at the top of the stairs, making a move to attack.

"It's me, it's me. Don't hurt your own people." Qiu Zhizhan's big belly was exposed even before his face.

"Who's on your side?" Qin Feiyu muttered to herself.

"What are you doing hiding here so suspiciously?" Qin Feiyan moved a step to block Sheng Qing's view.

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop, I just happened to be passing by." But Qiu Zhizhan's guilty tone made it completely unbelievable.

“But I do have an invitation from a big shot in the Upper City, or rather, from Sky City.” But in an instant, a smug look appeared on his face.

"Sky City?" Sheng Qing, who had originally planned to satisfy his appetite, stopped in his tracks.

"Did you eavesdrop on our conversation yesterday too?" Sheng Qing peeked out from behind Qin Feiyan and asked.

"Hehe." Qiu Zhizhan was used to the cat head and just chuckled twice. Then, as if he felt hot, he took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead. "I overheard it by accident, by accident."

"What invitation? Explain yourself." Qin Feiyan had no time for idle chatter.

"You probably all know my sister, Qiu Zhishui, right? She currently resides in Sky City. For certain reasons, she may need the help of some extraordinary individuals in the near future," Qiu Zhizhan said with a raised eyebrow and a smile. "I see that you are all experts in this field; perhaps a chat would be beneficial to everyone."

Sheng Qing and the Qin siblings exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously.

"Talk to you?" Qin Feiyan asked.

"No, no, no." Qiu Zhizhan quickly waved his hand. "I don't have that ability. I'm only responsible for making the connection. My sister, Qiu Zhishui, will discuss the details with the three of you."

"Alright, go and pass on the message. We'll consider it after we talk." Qin Feiyan waved her hand, and Qiu Zhizhan understood and withdrew.

The three of them pondered that since there was still no news from the captain, there was nothing they could do but wait. They might as well listen to what Qiu Zhishui was up to.