Numb Tail Admits Fault

Chapter 30: Numb Tail Admits His Mistake

Inside the Bloodline Chamber, the bottle of red-black liquid had already been picked up.

The youth on the stone platform remained unconscious.

The White Tiger Cub curled up in the iron cage, a low whimper constantly escaping its throat.

Meow Meow lay hidden behind a crack in the stone, his gaze gradually turning cold.

He had originally planned to watch a little longer.

But now, he couldn't.

The Middle-aged Soul Master had already unsealed the bottle stopper, and a pungent odor wafted from the red-black liquid.

Jianbing suddenly lifted his head inside the Calming Bell.

"He can't be allowed to pour it."

"I know."

Meow Meow's voice was very soft.

The next moment, the Calming Bell let out a faint ring.

Ding.

The sound didn't spread; it merely rippled gently through the Bloodline Chamber.

The youth on the stone platform twitched his brow.

The White Tiger Cub in the iron cage also quieted down for a moment.

The Middle-aged Soul Master paused slightly, as if sensing something, and frowned as he looked around.

"Who's there?"

No one answered.

Several Soul Masters in the Bloodline Chamber immediately went on alert.

The Black Eagle Soul King raised his hand to rest on the short blade at his waist, lowering his voice. "Sir, what's wrong?"

"There was a fluctuation of soul power just now."

The Middle-aged Soul Master swept his gaze across the room.

"It might be that the Sample is unstable again."

The Black Eagle Soul King looked toward the cub in the cage, found it was indeed trembling, and didn't think much of it.

Meow Meow, hiding in the shadows, breathed a sigh of relief.

The Calming Bell could only buy a single moment.

To stop this live test, he would have to rely on the array.

He lowered his head to look at the patterns on the floor of the Bloodline Chamber.

The formation here wasn't particularly sophisticated.

But it was vicious enough.

The array patterns on the stone platform were responsible for channeling the White Tiger Bloodline, the nearby bottle of Black Water was meant to stimulate soul power, and finally, both energies would be forcibly pressed into the youth's body.

In simple terms, they were treating a person as a container.

A glint of fire flashed in Meow Meow's eyes.

"Since you want to pour, then let you pour into an empty vessel."

He extended his claw, and the phantom of the Ten Thousand Array Diagram gently materialized beneath it.

A wisp of Holy Fire slipped through the cracks in the stone and burrowed into the ground.

The array patterns inside the Bloodline Chamber barely changed at all.

Only a few fine lines at the very center quietly shifted half an inch off course.

That half an inch was enough.

The Middle-aged Soul Master didn't notice anything unusual.

He once again poured the liquid from the bottle into the drainage channel beside the stone platform.

The red-black liquid flowed into the channel, and the array patterns lit up immediately.

But the energy that should have converged toward the youth's body was subtly diverted by Meow Meow midway.

Most of it flowed into the base of the stone platform instead.

The youth only received a slight impact from the energy, his face turning a bit pale, but he wasn't truly contaminated.

"Hm?"

The Middle-aged Soul Master frowned.

"Something's wrong."

Black Eagle Soul King asked, "Failed?"

"The bloodline didn't enter the body."

The Middle-aged Soul Master's face darkened.

"There's something wrong with the array pattern."

Meow Meow listened from the shadows, his tail flicking lightly.

You guessed right.

But it's too late.

The Middle-aged Soul Master clearly wasn't willing to give up. He took out a second bottle of red-black liquid.

"One more try."

Meow Meow's gaze hardened.

Again?

Do they really think this kid is a bucket?

He was about to make his move when a faint rustling came from above.

A grayish-yellow head poked out of the ventilation shaft.

Meow Meow's pupils contracted.

Numb Tail?

How did this guy follow me here!

Numb Tail clearly hadn't expected to poke his head out and see so many people. The cat froze in the vent.

He still had half a piece of jerky in his mouth, stolen from who knows where.

Meow Meow nearly laughed in exasperation.

Good grief.

After all that training, he's still bringing snacks on a mission!

And Numb Tail's commotion wasn't small.

A bit of dust fell from the edge of the vent.

Black Eagle Soul King immediately looked up.

"There's something up there!"

Numb Tail flinched in fright, and the jerky dropped.

Thud.

The jerky landed right by the Middle-aged Soul Master's foot.

The Bloodline Chamber fell silent for a moment.

Meow Meow: "..."

No choice now but to act.

Black Eagle Soul King roared in anger. The black eagle phantom behind him spread its wings and struck directly at the vent.

Numb Tail let out a terrified "Meow!" and turned to flee.

Seizing the chaos, Meow Meow instantly activated Moon Mark Time Slow.

The movements in the Bloodline Chamber slowed by a beat.

He darted out from the stone crevice, the Ten Thousand Array Diagram spreading beneath his claws. Using the array pattern he had altered earlier, he forcibly opened a small Teleportation Crack.

The target wasn't far.

Just the bushes outside the stone house.

Short-range teleportation.

Saves energy.

And less likely to be detected.

Meow Meow first pounced onto the stone platform, using the Calming Bell to suppress the youth's spirit, then swept the Holy Fire around the youth's chest.

The lingering contamination was burned away.

Then, with a claw, he tore off the bindings.

The youth's figure was swallowed by the Teleportation Crack.

The next moment, he rushed to the iron cage.

The White Tiger Cub saw Meow Meow, a red flash in its eyes, and nearly lunged to bite.

Jianbing immediately let out a low growl.

"Don't move!"

The voice was not loud, but it carried the suppression of White Tiger bloodline.

The cub froze.

Meow Meow seized the chance to slap the iron cage lock open, shoving both cage and beast into the crack.

Once that was done, his form flickered, and he slipped out as well.

The moment he left, the Bloodline Chamber returned to normal.

The Black Eagle Soul King's soul skill shattered the vent.

Numb Tail shed feathers as he fled.

The Middle-aged Soul Master turned to look at the stone platform, his face changing instantly.

"Where is he?"

"Where is the Sample!"

The Bloodline Chamber fell into chaos.

But Meow Meow had already landed in the bushes outside the stone house.

The youth lay in the grass, his breathing still steady.

The White Tiger Cub huddled in the iron cage, the red in its eyes slowly receding.

Jianbing sighed in relief inside the bell.

"It's still alive."

"Mm."

Meow Meow caught his breath.

That short-distance translocation just now had taken no small toll.

He had still borrowed the power of the Bloodline Chamber's formation array.

If he had to tear open a spatial rift out of thin air, he would probably have collapsed on the spot.

"What about Numb Tail?"

Jianbing asked quietly.

Meow Meow's face darkened.

"Save the life first, settle the score later."

He shook the Calming Bell.

Three chimes in a row.

This was the signal agreed upon with Qian Renxue.

Three bell chimes meant they could no longer wait.

In the Clear Radiance Pavilion.

White Dew suddenly lifted her head.

Qian Renxue also stood up in an instant.

She did not ask any questions, immediately putting on Xue Qinghe's expression and summoning her personal guards.

"There is unusual activity at the Royal Academy Back Mountain Beast Garden."

"Take people to investigate."

"Do not make a fuss."

"Yes."

The Crown Prince's Mansion personnel moved quickly.

At the same time, Meow Meow dragged the youth to a more concealed tree hollow, then had Gray Ear go ahead to guide the way.

Gray Ear smelled the blood and was startled.

But he followed Meow Meow's instructions, quickly running toward the direction from which the Crown Prince's Mansion guards were coming.

The White Tiger Cub was temporarily stowed by Meow Meow into the outer space of the Calming Bell.

The contamination on it was severe; he could not let it run loose outside.

Jianbing stayed nearby, quietly soothing it.

The cub seemed to feel close to Jianbing's aura and actually began to calm down slowly.

Before long, the Crown Prince's Mansion guards arrived.

They only saw an unconscious youth lying beside the tree hollow, with a cloth corner stained with the Black Eagle Crest next to him.

Gray Ear stood on a tree, let out a cry, then ran off.

The guards exchanged glances and immediately understood—this was the person His Highness wanted them to bring back.

The youth was taken away.

And Meow Meow had already returned to the vicinity of the stone hut.

He did not go back inside.

The Bloodline Chamber was already in chaos.

The Middle-aged Soul Master and the Black Eagle Soul King were blaming each other.

"Someone moved the formation!"

"Didn't you say this place was foolproof?"

"The sample is gone, the person is gone. When the esteemed guest comes to ask tomorrow, can you bear the responsibility?"

"Seal off the information first!"

"It's too late to seal it. There are people from the Crown Prince's Mansion outside!"

Hearing this, Meow Meow's heart stirred.

Qian Renxue had arrived quickly enough.

Now, the Royal Academy could no longer pretend nothing had happened.

He did not get greedy.

Being able to rescue the person, rescue the Young Beast, and let the Crown Prince's Mansion intervene legitimately—this trip was enough.

If he stayed any longer, he might end up blocked by the Soul King.

Meow Meow turned and left.

Halfway, a gray-yellow shadow rolled out from behind a tree.

Numb Tail was covered in dust, with a bit of dried meat crumb still stuck to the corner of its mouth.

When it saw Meow Meow, the whole cat froze.

Meow Meow stared back at it.

Cat and cat stared at each other for a long moment.

Numb Tail cautiously lowered its head.

"Meow..."

Meow Meow's face was expressionless.

"And now you show up?"

Numb Tail shrank its neck.

Meow Meow stared at the dried meat crumb by its mouth.

"No stealing food during a mission."

Numb Tail grew even more guilty.

"No following without permission during a mission."

Numb Tail was nearly curling into a ball.

"No sticking your head out of the vent during a mission."

Numb Tail simply lay down flat.

Seeing it like this, Meow Meow found it hard to keep scolding.

Strictly speaking, this guy had messed things up.

But because of its disturbance, the Bloodline Chamber had been in chaos for a moment, giving him the best chance to act.

Still, merit was merit, and fault was fault.

They couldn't be mixed together.

"You'll be punished when we get back."

Meow Meow finished speaking, turned, and left.

Numb Tail quickly followed.

After a few steps, it let out a small meow again.

"Meow?"

Meow Meow looked back.

"Don't ask about food."

Numb Tail shut its mouth.

By the time they returned to the Crown Prince's Mansion, the sky had not yet brightened.

The Youth had already been sent by the personal guards to a Side Courtyard, where Qian Renxue had arranged for a trusted physician to examine him.

The result was not too bad.

He was merely temporarily unconscious, struck by the effects of the sleeping drug and the polluted aura.

He's still alive.

That's the best outcome possible.

Meow Meow returned to Clear Radiance Pavilion and first placed the White Tiger Cub into the small space of the Calming Bell to nurture it.

Jianbing lay to the side, watching it gently.

"Will it be okay?"

"I don't know."

Meow Meow said.

"But at least now they won't keep feeding it that stuff."

Jianbing nodded.

White Dew came over and gently rubbed against Meow Meow.

Only then did Meow Meow turn to look at the corner.

Numb Tail was crouching there, his tail flat against the ground, his expression pitiful.

Qian Renxue glanced over.

"Is this the cat you said stole food during the mission?"

"Yeah."

Meow Meow sighed.

"Today he both earned merit and made a mistake."

Numb Tail couldn't understand everything, but he could tell the atmosphere was off.

He let out a small meow.

Meow Meow sat down in front of him.

"Numb Tail."

"You almost got yourself killed today."

"And you almost got others killed too."

Numb Tail lowered his head.

Meow Meow continued.

"But you also stumbled into helping."

"So there'll be punishment, but meals still as usual."

Numb Tail's eyes lit up.

"Don't get too happy."

Meow Meow pressed a paw on his head.

"For the next half month, no solo missions."

"Every day, learn stealth from White Dew."

"Learn surveillance from Gray Ear."

"Learn retreat from me."

"And."

He paused.

"During missions, jerky is confiscated."

Numb Tail looked like he'd been struck by lightning.

White Dew let out a soft call, as if saying the punishment was well deserved.

Even Qian Renxue couldn't help but smile.

Numb Tail lay on the ground, as if his entire cat life had gone dark.

Meow Meow looked at him like that and softened a little inside.

"Alright."

"Stop playing dead."

"If you don't mess up for half a month, I'll give you a feast."

Numb Tail immediately lifted his head.

"Mew!"

Meow Meow's eye twitched.

This guy really only understood the part about food.

But whatever.

A Cat Net starting from ordinary cats was never going to reach its goal in one step.

With Numb Tail as a negative example, the other cats actually learned faster.

Qian Renxue walked over to the table and set down the new information she had obtained.

"The rear mountain of the Royal Academy is already under surveillance by my people."

"But they reacted quickly."

"That Middle-aged Teacher has gone missing."

Meow Meow frowned.

"Fled?"

"Yes."

"The Soul King from the Black Eagle Family is still there, detained by the academy under the pretext of an investigation."

"But it's uncertain how much we can get out of him."

Meow Meow nodded.

"Keeping the Soul King is already good enough."

"For the Middle-aged Teacher to flee so fast means someone behind him tipped him off."

Qian Renxue's gaze turned slightly cold.

"There's more than one person inside the Royal Academy."

"This thread isn't over yet."

"Of course it's not over."

Meow Meow looked at the White Tiger Cub inside the Calming Bell.

"The live test was interrupted."

"But they haven't given up on what they want."

"The Star Luo Caravan, Prince Xue Xing, the Royal Academy—there will definitely be more moves behind this."

Qian Renxue nodded.

"I'll continue investigating."

Meow Meow thought for a moment, then added:

"After that youth wakes up, don't rush to question him."

"He was likely captured too."

"And if he's a collateral branch of the Star Luo family, he probably doesn't know much."

"Save him first."

Qian Renxue glanced at him.

"You're soft-hearted."

"It's not soft-hearted."

Meow Meow shook his head.

"Some people are evidence."

"But first and foremost, he's a person."

Qian Renxue said nothing.

She simply nodded lightly.

The Clear Radiance Pavilion fell quiet for a while.

Outside, the sky was gradually brightening.

Meow Meow finally felt exhaustion wash over him.

Last night: short-range teleportation, modifying formations, rescuing people, saving the cub, and dealing with that glutton Numb Tail.

Busy as a real overworked cat.

He flopped onto the cushion, about to sleep, when he suddenly remembered something.

"Qinghe."

"Hm?"

"Keep recording Notting."

"Don't let the information on Tang San and Xiao Wu break off."

Qian Renxue looked at him.

"You're still thinking about Notting now?"

"Yeah."

Meow Meow kept his eyes closed.

"Heavenly Dou's side is about to meet up with the main plotline."

"Notting's side will grow fast too."

Qian Renxue couldn't grasp the true meaning of the word "plotline."

But she already understood that Meow Meow cared about those two children.

"I'll make the arrangements."

"Good."

Meow Meow let out a yawn.

"And Numb Tail."

Numb Tail had just thought this was over, but he lifted his head again.

Meow Meow spoke with his eyes still closed:

"Have it tell Gray Ear and the others about what happened today."

"The consequences of stealing food during a mission must be learned by the entire Cat Net."

Numb Tail: "..."

This time, it was truly over.

White Dew lowered her head, her tail swaying gently.

Qian Renxue also tilted her head, as if letting out a faint smile.

Meow Meow finally settled down to sleep in peace.

And in the Side Courtyard of the Crown Prince's Mansion, the youth who had been rescued moved his fingertips slightly.

On the back of his hand, a very faint White Tiger Mark flickered once before vanishing.

Inside the Calming Bell, Jianbing suddenly lifted his head.

"He's awake."