Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Treasure-Seeking Rat

The group stared blankly for a moment as the fat cat gave chase, then burst into roaring laughter.

Ye Wushuang shook his head and smiled as well. "Alright," he called out to the others, "let’s gather the Spirit Medicine first."

At his words, the group reined in their smiles and turned to get back to work.

"Wait, something’s not right!" Qiu Mo, who had just turned around, suddenly seemed to recall something. His eyes flickered as he stared in the direction the fat cat had disappeared, muttering as if trying to place a memory, "Wushuang, that rat from a moment ago... I feel like it looked a bit like the legendary Treasure-Seeking Rat."

"Treasure-Seeking Rat? Are you sure?"

Ye Wushuang was taken aback as well. He had heard of the Treasure-Seeking Rat, having read about it in some Ancient Texts. The creature had a special sense for the aura of treasures, capable of locating precious items in ruins and Secret Realms. It was a natural-born master of finding treasure!

If a Cultivator were to encounter a Treasure-Seeking Rat, it would mean never having to worry about finding treasure while exploring Secret Realms and ruins ever again!

’But this kind of magical creature is rare even in the records. Could one really have appeared right in front of us?’

Qiu Mo continued to rack his brain, and then his gaze sharpened. Looking up at Ye Wushuang, he exclaimed in delight, "I remember now! The three-colored halo around its body is the Light of Three-Colored Destiny. That’s the sign of a Treasure-Seeking Rat! It has to be one."

No one knew exactly what the Light of Destiny was.

However, possessing the Light of Destiny meant one was blessed with great fortune!

This was also what made the Treasure-Seeking Rat so special!

Hearing Qiu Mo’s explanation, Ye Wushuang’s heart stirred. ’If it really is a Treasure-Seeking Rat, then this is an incredibly lucky day.’

However, when he thought of the Dragon Cat chasing after it, Ye Wushuang’s heart sank. ’If the Dragon Cat catches the Treasure-Seeking Rat, the consequences...’

"I’ll go take a look!"

Anxious, Ye Wushuang activated Floating Light and Shadow and gave chase. Just as he was catching up, he saw the Dragon Cat dive into a thicket of bushes and vanish from sight.

He stepped into the thicket and discovered a narrow, rugged cave hidden behind it.

’It seems they went through here. I’ll leave a mark so Jian Bufan and the others can find this place when they arrive.’ After a moment of thought, Ye Wushuang unleashed a flash of his saber, obliterating the thicket and exposing the cave entrance.

Then, he chased after them into the cave.

The cave was a natural, winding tunnel. Its walls were lined with jagged, strange-looking rocks, and it was only wide enough for one person to pass through.

After a long time, Ye Wushuang finally emerged, his figure landing in a forest of withered trees.

Towering Ancient Wood reached for the sky, but they were bare of lush branches and leaves. All that remained was a sense of desolation, decay, and a trace of bleakness.

The fat cat stood four hundred meters ahead of Ye Wushuang, looking all around, but the Treasure-Seeking Rat had vanished without a trace.

"Where’s the Treasure-Seeking Rat?" Ye Wushuang walked up and asked.

"Lord Cat is looking for it too!" the Dragon Cat said, its shifty eyes darting around. It searched everywhere, but after a good while, there was still no sign. It had clearly lost the trail.

The Dragon Cat grumbled resentfully, "Kid, there was a rat and you didn’t even give Lord Cat a heads-up!"

Ye Wushuang sneered. "And what good would that have done? Were you actually going to eat it?"

’Ye Wushuang knew this glutton’s character all too well. Its mind was solely focused on pilfering Spirit Medicine. No matter how delicious anything else might be, it held no interest for the creature.’

’Sometimes, Ye Wushuang even wondered if this thing was truly a cat.’

"Heh heh!" Exposed by Ye Wushuang, the Dragon Cat was completely unfazed, chuckling as it said, "Lord Cat heard from the Beast World Master that a cat catching a mouse is a sacred and great undertaking. Lord Cat just wanted to see what it felt like!"

’Sacred and great?’

Ye Wushuang couldn’t be bothered to deal with the creature and turned to head back the way he came.

The Dragon Cat trotted happily behind him, occasionally pulling out a Spirit Medicine or two to munch on.

SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK!

Suddenly, before the man and cat had gone very far, a familiar cry rang out!

Ye Wushuang’s heart skipped a beat. He spun around to see a three-colored streak of light rushing toward them. As it got closer, he realized—what else could it be but the Treasure-Seeking Rat that had disappeared?

SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH!

Behind it, however, figures cloaked in black flickered into view, spreading out in a fan formation and closing in on it.

"Gahaha, little rat! Looks like you’re in trouble! Come over to Lord Cat, and Lord Cat will protect you!" The Dragon Cat’s shifty eyes lit up at the sight of the Treasure-Seeking Rat, and it cracked a wide, menacing grin.

This instantly scared the Treasure-Seeking Rat into turning and bolting!

It was an instinctual fear, and the Treasure-Seeking Rat was no exception. It was terrified of cats!

But the moment it turned, the group of black-robed figures closed in, leaving it with nowhere to run. Trapped between enemies on both sides, it scurried around in a frantic panic.

In the end, it turned toward Ye Wushuang, squeaking and sending out a wave of Spiritual Sense.

"Save me!"

A small, childish plea for help echoed abruptly in Ye Wushuang’s mind, causing him to frown and look toward the Treasure-Seeking Rat.

The Treasure-Seeking Rat nodded its head repeatedly, squeaking insistently.

"Come here!"

After a moment’s hesitation, Ye Wushuang called out.

Hearing his call, the Treasure-Seeking Rat glanced fearfully at the Dragon Cat for a moment before transforming into a three-colored streak of light and landing on Ye Wushuang’s shoulder.

"Surround him, quickly!"

As the figures shifted, a cold, commanding voice rang out.

SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH!

Following the order, the figures maneuvered to his flanks, encircling Ye Wushuang.

Ye Wushuang took a closer look. There were fifteen large men in total, all clad in black robes and wreathed in a murderous aura. Their strength was considerable; most of them were at the True Essence First Layer.

WHOOSH!

Seeing the situation, the Dragon Cat vanished in a flash, running off yet again!

SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK!

The Treasure-Seeking Rat squeaked, signaling for Ye Wushuang to be careful. After all, he was facing more than a dozen men by himself.

The burly men all stared at the Treasure-Seeking Rat before turning their vicious, bloodthirsty gazes upon Ye Wushuang.

"Young Master Xie Yun, the Treasure-Seeking Rat is on that kid," said one of the burly men in front of Ye Wushuang, stepping aside and bowing.

A young man in a blood-red robe then stepped forward, his entire being suffused with a violent, bloodthirsty aura.

This was not a cultivated aura, but one that could only be acquired after killing a great many people.

Clearly, this young man was bad news.

What was even more bizarre was the enormous, blood-colored spider crawling on the back of his right hand. It was an exceptionally ghastly sight.

Xie Yun looked up at Ye Wushuang, his scarlet pupils glinting with a cold light.

"Kill him first, then seize the Treasure-Seeking Rat. Remember to hack him to pieces. Take his heart and feed it to my precious," Xie Yun said casually. He then gently stroked the blood-red spider on the back of his hand. "Precious, you’ll get to feast again in a moment!"

"Yes!"

The burly men responded in unison, turning to Ye Wushuang with cruel smiles, as if they could already picture his dismembered corpse.

In an instant, Ye Wushuang’s heart turned to ice. ’I’ve only just met this Xie Yun, and without a single word, he’s already decided to kill me—to have me hacked to death and have my heart dug out!’

’It’s completely senseless. To declare he’ll kill you just like that, and to say it so casually... how utterly vicious!’

"Kill!" The black-robed men drew their long sabers and slashed through the air. Blades flashed with a bone-chilling cold as countless streams of Saber Qi descended upon Ye Wushuang from all directions, just as the youth had ordered—a storm of blades meant to hack him to pieces.

"Killing people? You think you’re the only ones who know how?!"

Ye Wushuang took a single step, and his body dissolved into the void, vanishing completely and leaving the burly men without a target.

"Huh?"

Xie Yun let out a sound of surprise, completely taken aback.