Madam Ming

"Meow-ow—"

The Cat Spirit seemed to be searching for something. Its pair of dead, terrifying mismatched pupils swept around, and with a light leap, it stirred up billowing yin wind. The direction of its flight was precisely the Ming Estate's inner residence.

Naturally, Chu Liang would not allow it to proceed. Something so steeped in resentment would surely harm people if left in this world.

"Sword Control Technique! Go!"

With two fingers pointed skyward, the flying sword turned into a streak of light and shot away.

"Awwooo—"

The moment the sword light flew out, the cat demon let out a strange cry. Its mismatched pupils glanced at Chu Liang, and it sprang forward in a black blur, dodging the flying sword before whirling back for a pounce!

This strike was retaliation for Chu Liang's sword. It came swift and vicious, carrying towering bloodlust—ferocious and razor-sharp!

Chu Liang flashed aside, barely evading the pounce. Even so, a tear still appeared in his clothes.

Hiss—

The Cat Spirit landed, carving two bloody trails into the ground.

But a streak of sword light followed like a shadow—the flying sword had already caught up!

Whoosh—

The sword light slashed past swiftly. The Cat Spirit's body suddenly bent into a bizarre arc, dodging the fatal sword strike. "Aow—"

It had dodged it, but not entirely.

The sword light still carved a deep wound across the Cat Spirit's body.

In an instant, black blood qi gushed from the wound, making the waves of blood around the Cat Spirit surge even more violently!

This was bad.

Chu Liang frowned.

This Cat Spirit, layered with special enhancements, possessed the traits of an Infant Spirit. Any damage it suffered would be transformed into new strength—the more grievously it was wounded, the stronger it became! If one sword could not kill it, he had to be prepared to face an even stronger enemy!

In this Cat Spirit's case, that meant it had become faster!

Whoosh—

Almost like a black flash invisible to the naked eye, it streaked out like two bolts of lightning. In the next instant, it was already behind Chu Liang.

Chu Liang reacted at once, summoning the flying sword back into his hand, but no matter what, he could not defend against an attack from behind!

His hair stood on end. Though there was no sound at all, he knew the Cat Spirit's claws were about to fall!

At the critical moment, Chu Liang suddenly released his right hand and shouted, "Bind!"

A red light shot from his sleeve like a nimble serpent, instantly tying up the Cat Spirit just as it reached Chu Liang's back and prepared to strike with its claws.

Turtle Shell Bind!

Demon-Binding Rope!

"Meow-ow—" The Cat Spirit shrieked miserably, but its body uncontrollably crashed to the ground.

What worked best against an enemy with exceptionally high agility?

Control!

And Chu Liang happened to have the Demon-Binding Rope he had acquired just the day before yesterday.

Yet even with a magical treasure, success was not guaranteed. It was precisely to cast the Demon-Binding Rope from closer range that he had taken the dangerous gamble of allowing the Cat Spirit near him.

If he had been even a fraction slower in releasing the Demon-Binding Rope, the outcome of this battle would have been reversed. If he had failed to keep his composure and the distance had been insufficient, the Cat Spirit might have dodged the magical treasure as well.

No matter what, he had won. Turning around, he casually flicked his hand; the sword rose and fell.

Hiss.

One sword slew the demon.

Spirit bodies were formless. Once slain, they left nothing behind. Only a golden phantom drifted down with a faint glow onto Chu Liang.

The dust settled.

It had been a brief yet perilous battle. Compared to the spider demon from the day before yesterday, this Cat Spirit layered with special traits had clearly been harder to deal with.

Letting out a long breath, he had yet to notify anyone when chaotic footsteps sounded from over there. Under Estate Master Ming's lead, a crowd of Ming family servants ran out.

"Ah, Young Master Chu is mighty!"

"I said Young Master Chu would definitely manage it."

"Young Master Chu is incredible! He killed that evil thing in just a few moves!"

"..."

Flattery burst forth from every direction.

Looking at the victory-celebration procession, Chu Liang was also surprised by how practiced they were at suddenly vanishing and reappearing.

The next morning.

After resting for the night, Chu Liang woke up refreshed and clear-headed. Once he had washed up, a maid came to summon him, saying that Estate Master Ming had prepared a banquet to celebrate Young Master Chu's success.

"I'll be there shortly," Chu Liang replied warmly.

Then he took a turn around the rear courtyard, passed around the covered corridor, and arrived before an ornate door. It was Estate Master Ming and Madam Ming's bedroom.

Knock, knock, knock. He knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" A soft woman's voice sounded from within.

"This one is Chu Liang. I heard Madam was unwell, so I came to pay a visit," he answered.

"..." Silence fell inside for a moment before she said, "So it is Young Master Chu of the Shushan Sect. It is inconvenient for me to receive guests at present. I appreciate your kindness, but please return."

Entirely unlike the warm Estate Master Ming, Madam Ming's voice carried a trace of coldness.

"This one possesses a secret Shushan method. Perhaps it may be effective for Madam's ailment. I can wait here until Madam finds it convenient, then come in to examine you."

After a pause, footsteps sounded, followed by a creak as someone opened the door.

Madam Ming looked weary. She wore no makeup, only a brocade robe for lounging at home. Yet her skin was still fair, and her features delicate and lovely. She truly was a beauty.

She led Chu Liang inside and seated him before a folding screen. The room was somewhat dim, so she lit a red candle and poured two cups of tea before saying, "I was merely frightened. Since Young Master Chu removed that demon last night, I will naturally recover in a day or two. There is no need for you to trouble yourself further."

"That is good, then." Chu Liang nodded, then added, "However, regarding last night's Cat Spirit... there are some things I would like to tell Madam."

"Oh?" Madam Ming furrowed her brows. "What does Young Master Chu wish to say?"

"Only a few speculations..." Chu Liang said slowly. "The Cat Spirit last night was rather strange. It was both a Vengeful Spirit and a demon spirit, as well as an Infant Spirit. That made me quite curious. So I wondered what it had come to your Ming Estate for..."

"Do evil things need a reason to harm people?" Madam Ming asked.

"They do. If it is a Vengeful Spirit, the first person it will seek is surely the one who killed it... If it is an Infant Spirit, the first person it seeks will be its own mother..." Chu Liang continued. "And this Cat Spirit gradually advanced through your estate for three days without harming a single person, as though it were looking for something..."

"Looking for what?" Madam Ming's gaze seemed to turn unfriendly.

"I was wondering as well. Estate Master Ming said your family accumulates good deeds and has never harmed animals. Then... could it have been looking for its own mother? But it was a demon spirit, so could its mother also have been a demon?"

"And ever since that Cat Spirit appeared, the only person in the estate who has not dared show herself has been you, Madam..." Chu Liang's gaze was gentle as he looked into Madam Ming's eyes.

Madam Ming gave a scornful laugh. "Surely Young Master Chu is not saying that I am a demon?"

"Whether you are or not, one test will reveal the truth," Chu Liang said.

"You have a Demon-Viewing Mirror?" Madam Ming's brows rose, as though she did not believe him.

For demons and devils to reveal their true forms, either they had to actively use demonic arts and expose their demonic qi, or one needed some special divine ability or method—but Chu Liang's cultivation was not yet sufficient to learn such techniques—or one needed a specialized magical artifact. The most famous of these was the Demon-Viewing Mirror.

Yet Demon-Viewing Mirrors were exceedingly rare. It was said that the imperial palace of the mortal dynasty possessed one, Cloud Tower Temple of the Buddhist sect possessed one, and the Shushan Sect indeed possessed one as well. But whether they would allow a low-ranking disciple to carry one down the mountain was highly doubtful.

"No." Chu Liang shook his head. "But it is close enough."