Chapter 76: Jiuhua Mountain, Appearance of the Cat Demon

Mount Jiuhua is situated on the border of Fang County, right next to Qi County. It's just over a hundred *li* from Qi County city and serves as the ancestral temple for hundreds of Divine Cat Temples throughout Qingyang Commandery.

Over sixty years ago, Fang Lianshan received enlightenment from the Divine Cat on Mount Jiuhua. He then established the world's first Divine Cat Temple there. However, as Fang Lianshan's four disciples disappeared and time passed, Mount Jiuhua became increasingly perilous and rarely visited. Consequently, the Divine Cat Temple gradually fell into disrepair and was eventually deserted. It was also at this temple on Mount Jiuhua that Fang Lianshan sacrificed himself to quell the cat demon calamity.

Following Zhuo Qingfeng's analysis, Gu Mo and his group, including Mo Qingxian, decided to travel to Mount Jiuhua to verify Zhuo Qingfeng's theory.

"Brother," Gu Chodong, driving the carriage at a gallop, asked, "Actually, I don't quite understand the point of this trip."

"What do you mean?" Gu Mo asked.

"Think about it," Gu Chodong said. "If Commander Zhuo's conjecture is correct, and Fang Lianshan didn't die, and the four sect leaders truly went to Mount Jiuhua to investigate and then disappeared, would the cat demon — or rather, Fang Lianshan — still be waiting on Mount Jiuhua? If the four sect leaders really betrayed him back then, and he's now successfully exacted his revenge, he would surely have vanished into the martial arts world. We wouldn't find anyone on Mount Jiuhua!"

Gu Mo said, "There are two reasons. First, if Fang Lianshan is seeking revenge, we might still find the four sect leaders on Mount Jiuhua. Ideally, they'd be alive, but it's more likely to be their bodies. Second, even if we find neither the four sect leaders nor the cat demon, we might still uncover clues. If we find relevant traces there, it would prove Commander Zhuo's theory correct. At that point, we could involve the authorities. Don't underestimate the government's power. The biggest problem right now is the lack of any evidence. Once we have traces, combined with Commander Zhuo's speculation, the government's resources would surely allow them to uncover more information, follow the leads, and solve the mystery of the cat demon."

Gu Chodong suddenly understood, saying, "So that's how it is."

Gu Mo nodded. "If this were within Linjiang Commandery, it would be simple. Commander Zhuo could act on behalf of the authorities, and even without evidence, he could use official power based solely on his speculation. But the problem is that this is Qingyang Commandery. Commander Zhuo cannot even appear openly. Without any evidence, it's very difficult to mobilize official power based merely on a theory; he would only cause himself trouble."

Gu Chodong frowned, saying, "Some of the government's rules are truly meaningless."

Gu Mo chuckled. "It's because we view things from a different perspective, which makes many rules seem inhumane. But from the court's perspective, rules are crucial. Once a rule, no matter how minor, sets a precedent, the subsequent reactions can be enormous. For example, if Commander Zhuo secretly handles a case across jurisdictions, and the authorities know but don't punish him, then officials in various regions might stop following rules and arbitrarily cross jurisdictions. Wouldn't that also allow officials to shirk their responsibilities? And for those who hold positions without doing anything, wouldn't it give them an excuse to remain completely inactive?"

"That's true!"

Zhuo Qingfeng rode on horseback, while Gu Mo and Mo Qingxian traveled by carriage. Their pace was relatively slow, and even though they traveled as fast as possible, it was already dark by the time they reached Mount Jiuhua. Fortunately, they were prepared. They ascended the mountain with torches.

All five individuals were skilled in martial arts. Even Mo Qingxian's servant was a second-rate martial artist in the *jianghu*. Though Mount Jiuhua was steep, it felt like level ground to them.

When they reached the mountainside of Mount Jiuhua, they saw a dilapidated temple in the distance. It was the ancestral Divine Cat Temple. The vermillion paint on the temple gate had long peeled off, revealing a mottled wooden door. The bronze rings on the door were heavily rusted and produced a dull thud with a slight touch, echoing through the empty temple, making it seem even more desolate. The mountain was overgrown with weeds and felt utterly desolate.

Zhuo Qingfeng leaped onto a large tree, surveying the surroundings. The moonlight was good that night, allowing him to get a clear sense of direction.

"Over there." Zhuo Qingfeng pointed eastward and said, "I found a record of Fang Lianshan's tomb in the local gazetteer of Fang County. It's located to the east of the Divine Cat Temple, built right next to it."

Thorns and weeds were everywhere, and it was hard to see clearly at night. The group then entered the Divine Cat Temple. The Divine Cat Temple was not large, consisting of a small courtyard and a few buildings. Although the walls were still standing, it was severely dilapidated.

The group quickly exited the Divine Cat Temple. Indeed, to the east, they saw a tomb, resembling a silent small hill. Under the erosion of time, it exuded a heavy and solemn aura. The tomb was constructed from thick bluestone slabs, each more than half a person's height, with rough, mottled surfaces faintly covered in moss.

Zhuo Qingfeng circled the tomb and suddenly exclaimed, "Here, there are indeed signs of disturbance!"

The others immediately came closer. Sure enough, several large bluestone slabs in the middle of the tomb showed signs of having been moved. It wasn't obvious, but upon closer inspection, it was definitely discernible.

Zhuo Qingfeng chuckled softly, "It seems we're very close to the truth. We can basically confirm that the four sect leaders came here. It's just unknown whether they found the answers they sought inside this tomb. Now it's our turn to find the answers..."

"Meow!"

Just then, a shrill cat's cry suddenly pierced from inside the temple. The sound was sharp and drawn-out, tearing through the silent night sky with an unspeakable eeriness. It seemed to carry endless lament, like a desperate shriek trapped in a hopeless situation, reverberating continuously through the empty mountainside.

Hearing the sound, everyone spun around sharply, their gazes uniformly fixed on the rooftop. There, a scrawny black cat stood on the ridge of the roof. Its fur bristled in the night wind, outlining an eerie silhouette. Its figure was elongated by the moonlight, resembling a phantom clawing its way out of a dark abyss.

Following that, under the watery moonlight, a horrifying scene slowly unfolded. First, from the corners of the eaves, then from the tops of the walls and window frames, countless cats seemed to emerge from underground, appearing like a surging tide. Their sizes varied, and their postures differed, yet without exception, they all exuded a cold and eerie aura.

"It seems there isn't just an answer here, but also demons!" Zhuo Qingfeng immediately drew his long sword and stated gravely, "We only came to look for clues, but it turns out the main culprit is right here."

In an instant, the swarm of cats howled in unison. Their shrill cries tore through the silent night, like sharp steel blades piercing directly into the depths of everyone's souls.

"I see it, I see it again!" Gu Mo shielded Gu Chodong behind him. In that moment, light seemed to flicker in his previously empty eyes. Because he saw it again: above the ink-blue night sky, silvery moonlight spread freely like a veil. In the very center of this dreamlike moonlight, a white cat materialized out of thin air, both eerie and shocking.