The next morning, as soon as the sunlight shone into the pipe opening, the familiar calls of volunteers and the rustling of cat food bags could be heard outside.
Several kittens, who had regained some energy, were immediately attracted and timidly peered towards the pipe opening.
Shu Bai had already woken up and was squatting high up deep inside the pipe, coldly watching the commotion outside.
Li Yuheng lay prone near the entrance, his ears perked up alertly.
"This is it!" came the voice of the girl they had led here yesterday. "The smart calico cat and beagle should be inside too."
Several volunteers appeared at the entrance of the pipe, carrying portable cat cages and food.
“Little ones, don’t be afraid, we’re here to help you.” One of the older volunteers knelt down and said gently into the pipe, “A kind person saw the news and wants to give you a home.”
They carefully led the kittens out and placed them in a cushioned cage.
Seeing the kittens being safely taken away, Shu Bai breathed a sigh of relief almost imperceptibly.
Li Yuheng muttered to himself, "So these people are still somewhat useful."
Meanwhile, the volunteers chatted as they packed up their things.
"How's the sterilization process going in this area?" the young girl asked.
An older volunteer sighed, "Not ideal. We've done most of the work with the relatives we could catch. The rest are the most wary and difficult ones."
His gaze inadvertently swept deep into the pipe, meeting Shu Bai's eyes.
“Take that black and white cat, for example,” the volunteer said in a low voice, with a hint of helplessness, “it’s been around here for at least three years. It’s incredibly agile and never lets anyone get close. We’ve tried several times, but we can’t even touch a single hair.”
Another volunteer chimed in, "And that beagle from yesterday, it must be new here."
The air suddenly became quiet for a moment.
The eyes of several volunteers turned to Li Yuheng and Shu Bai inside the pipe.
Li Yuheng's dog-like face froze instantly.
Its sparse white tail suddenly straightened, and its fur almost stood on end.
An extremely ominous premonition enveloped both of them at the same time.
The next second, the older volunteer seemed to have made up his mind and said to his companions, "This is a rare opportunity. They're both here now, in a relatively enclosed environment... Why don't we give it a try today?"
Li Yuheng suddenly turned his head to look at Shu Bai.
But Shu Bai reacted faster than him.
Almost the instant Li Yuheng looked over, Shu Bai leaped down from the height, like a black and white lightning bolt, rushing towards the other exit of the pipe, leaving only a low growl behind:
"Stupid dog! Run!"
Before Li Yuheng could even think clearly, his body reacted before his brain could, digging his four paws into the ground and following closely behind.
"Wait for me!"
One second they were maintaining a cool and arrogant image in the pipe, and the next second they were fleeing in a sorry state.
"They ran away!" came the exclamation from behind.
"Quick! Stop them over there!"
Li Yuheng had never run so fast in his life. All he could hear was the whistling wind and his own heavy breathing.
He followed closely behind the nimble black-and-white figure ahead, frantically weaving through abandoned pipes and piles of debris.
He should have felt nervous, or even annoyed.
Being chased by a group of two-legged creatures with cages is definitely not a pleasant experience.
However, just as he exerted his strength and leaped over a pile of collapsed bricks, a strange sense of exhilaration overcame the last remaining tension in his heart.
His lips twitched upwards uncontrollably, and then the grin widened.
That tongue, always causing trouble, also followed this sudden impulse and stretched out in a flash, meeting the gust of wind brought up by the running.
The wind felt cool, carrying the scent of dust and the dryness of sun-baked air, as it brushed against his tongue.
It's itchy.
Then he laughed.
A pure laugh welled up from deep in his throat, mingling with his heavy breathing, low yet revealing an almost unrestrained joy.
What is he laughing at?
Laugh at the volunteers' futile efforts? Perhaps a little.
But more than anything, it was a resonance that even he himself had not anticipated.
He, the prince of the underworld, fled to the human world to live as a stray dog because he was tired of discipline and responsibility.
This stubborn, aggressive cow-cat demon is also using all its strength and cunning to resist being tamed or destined for a different fate.
One of them came from the depths of hell, possessing an innate noble status that they avoided at all costs.
Born into the mire of the world, recognizing no one but himself, he stubbornly guards the freedom that others see as worthless.
Despite their fundamentally different circumstances, they have now reached a surprising consensus on this desperate escape.
They all refused to be easily defined or incorporated into any kind of order.
Those volunteers may have had good intentions, and sterilization is indeed a scientific means of controlling the number of stray animals and reducing their suffering.
Li Yuheng rationally understands this.
But understanding and accepting are two different things.
Just as he understands his father's desire for his son to succeed and understands that the underworld needs an heir, it doesn't mean he's willing to immediately and willingly be fitted with that heavy bridle.
He chose,
It's this moment, running against the wind.
It is based on one's own will to decide where to go.
It's about fighting with the equally stubborn cat beside you, using your claws and sharp tongue to compete and defend the life you want.
Even if this kind of life seems miserable and full of uncertainty to outsiders.
He turned his head to look at the black and white figure in front of him that was always half a body length ahead of him.
This stinky cat, despite his sharp tongue, bad temper, and tendency to brandish his claws at the drop of a hat, lives authentically and thoroughly.
He never concealed his likes and dislikes, nor did he ever bow to any force that tried to restrain him.
This almost obsessive self-centeredness actually seemed somewhat pleasing to Li Yuheng.
Fighting against "the world" alongside a guy like that... doesn't feel so bad.
It's even a little addictive.
He looked away, grinned again, and sped up to catch up.
As for the future?
To hell with the future.
Let's enjoy this chase game to the fullest first.
Finally, after squeezing through a low, broken wall and winding through several alleys piled with garbage, the sounds of pursuit and shouts behind them gradually faded into the distance.
The two stopped in a corner piled with discarded tires, collapsed on the ground, and gasped for breath.
Li Yuheng felt like his tongue was about to fall to the ground, and his heart was pounding wildly.
Shu Bai's condition wasn't much better; his chest heaved violently, and his once smooth fur was now covered in dust, making it look drab.
After catching his breath, Li Yuheng finally managed to catch his breath. He looked up at the equally disheveled Shu Bai and couldn't help but curse:
"Phew... Damn... Is it really necessary to chase after someone so aggressively..."
"...Otherwise what? That's... the Galeme Group..."
"Pfft—" Li Yuheng almost burst out laughing again after catching his breath. "Gale Me Group? What genius came up with that name?"
"...Why do you care so much?"
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