Chapter 3: Counterattack

We quickly ran to the place where Lu Xi had found the bronze sword, searching for any usable weapons. In the end, I only found a short dagger, while Zhang Yi was even more unfortunate—he only managed to get his hands on a pitch-black ebony sword.

"With this delay, can we still find them? And cats run so fast," Lu Xi said worriedly.

"We can find them." I pointed at the faint traces of fluorescent powder on the ground. "We'll take torches but keep them unlit for now. Under the cover of night, we'll follow the trail of fluorescent powder. We'll definitely find them."

I poured a pot of oil from Daxiong's oil lamp and carried it with me, while Zhang Yi and Lu Xi each took a torch. The three of us followed the trail of fluorescent powder out of the village.

"Why are you bringing oil? Are you worried the torches won't light? I checked them; they should be fine." Lu Xi was meticulous, even checking the torches in advance.

"You'll see soon enough." I smiled mysteriously.

"Look, the trail leads up the mountain," Zhang Yi pointed ahead. We followed his gaze and indeed saw a faint glowing path winding under the moonlight, leading straight to Wildcat Mountain.

"Wildcat Mountain… That's where Elder Wang and the others were attacked." My heart wavered. Moments ago, my blood was boiling with the urge to hunt that black cat, but now, standing at the entrance to the demon cat's lair, I couldn't help but feel uneasy. The three of us—could we really do this?

I glanced at Lu Xi and Zhang Yi, noticing hesitation and nervousness on their faces as well. But at this point, retreating was not an option. That black cat was vengeful. If we backed down, not only would Daxiong be in danger, but we would likely become its targets too, living in constant fear. With that thought, I took a deep breath and decided to boost everyone's confidence.

"According to Daxiong, these demon cats aren't that strong. The villagers were just unfamiliar with their ways and got ambushed when the golden rake-wielding cat revived. Now that we know their weaknesses, as long as we're cautious, we can take them down." I spoke with forced confidence.

"Let's go." With that, I stepped forward, and Lu Xi and Zhang Yi followed closely behind. Among the three of us, I was the most physically robust, Lu Xi was second, and Zhang Yi was the shortest. In terms of personality, I was thoughtful and reserved, Lu Xi was dependable and hardworking, and Zhang Yi was quick-witted but impulsive. It was like when we practiced basic sword techniques—Zhang Yi was the first to give up, unable to endure the training; I didn't practice much but thoroughly understood the theory; Lu Xi, on the other hand, practiced diligently without complaint.

"By the way, Lu Xi, Old Master Yu said the basic sword technique is crucial. Zhang Yi and I barely practiced it. How far have you gotten?" I asked as we walked.

"Uh, I've reached the second level. I can identify human acupoints and weak spots and accurately hit vital areas on a scarecrow," Lu Xi scratched his head. "But I don't know how many levels there are or if I can even hit a demon cat in battle. A cat isn't a stationary scarecrow."

"That technique has three levels. I've only reached the first." I sighed internally. I had read the entire manual but only practiced up to the first level. If we survived this, I would need to train harder. If the demon clan truly invaded, saving others would be out of the question—I'd struggle to even protect myself.

"You're already amazing. I believe in you. When we get back, we need to train even harder." I patted Lu Xi on the shoulder.

"I'm not training. I really hate that stuff." Zhang Yi pouted, showing no interest in the tedious sword techniques.

As we talked, we followed the fluorescent trail to a cave entrance. The glowing traces continued deep inside, faintly illuminating the path. The cave was pitch black, with a foul stench lingering in the air, making us gag. We cautiously stepped forward, our torches barely lighting the way.

After about twenty paces, we reached the first bend. The ground had scattered ashes and a few crude wooden tools. Could the demon cats use fire and tools? There were signs of habitation, yet no demon cats in sight.

To avoid unsettling the group, I kept my doubts to myself and moved forward. Suddenly, a flicker of firelight flashed ahead before vanishing into darkness.

"Something's off—stay alert!" Lu Xi whispered, quickly moving closer to me.

We pressed on and soon reached the second bend. I bent down to examine the ashes and found them still warm, as if the fire had just been put out.

"Watch out!" I barely finished speaking when a shadow lunged from the darkness. In the torchlight, I saw a furry feline face—it was a demon cat! Though Daxiong had described them before, seeing one in person was terrifying.

The demon cat pounced at my torch. Startled, I dropped it. As I reached down to grab it, I noticed another demon cat crouching opposite me, staring menacingly. I froze, unsure of my next move.

Neither I nor the cat moved. The torch flickered on the ground, reflecting off its cold green eyes. This stalemate couldn't last—I glanced at Lu Xi, signaling him to attack when the time was right. Hopefully, he understood my cue.

I suddenly sprang into action, grabbing the torch and rolling to the side. The demon cat's claws struck where I had just stood. At the same time, Lu Xi thrust his sword forward, piercing the demon cat precisely.

"Nice one!" I thought, feeling relieved.

"Ah!" Zhang Yi's scream shattered the moment, and his torch went out. As expected, the demon cats had superior night vision. They were trying to extinguish our light, forcing us into a disadvantage. The earlier flicker of firelight had been them deliberately snuffing out their own fire after hearing us approach.

"Get to me!" I held my torch high, the sole beacon in the darkness. Zhang Yi ran toward me, while Lu Xi struck another demon cat behind him. A pained screech echoed as it fell.

"Look out!" Before I could relax, a powerful force slammed into me from behind, sending me sprawling. Fortunately, I held onto the torch. Lu Xi was too far to help. As the demon cat pounced again, he could only shout, "Ah Zheng!"

I shoved the demon cat off, my clothes soaked in its blood. As it lunged once more, I grabbed my dagger and stabbed with all my might. The cat had no time to dodge, impaling itself on my blade with a wretched shriek before collapsing lifelessly.

"Are you okay?" Lu Xi and Zhang Yi rushed over to help me up.

"I'm fine." I shook my head, picking up Zhang Yi's fallen torch and relighting it.

Beyond this bend, the cave widened, allowing us to walk side by side. Soon, we entered an open space. A bonfire burned in the center, casting long shadows. Beside it, a golden demon cat stood gripping a rake, staring at us coldly.