VESSEL - Extinction Countdown 936: Cat’s Tale of the End

As Ye Shisan stole a glance backward, Yi Qing’s eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, both catching the uncanny sight of Hong Lin, the black cat, crouched solemnly on the back seat, licking her dark paw.

Yi Qing grew alert. “Weren’t you supposed to be resting? Why sneak onto the jeep?”

“First, I boarded openly, no stealth involved,” Hong Lin purred. “Second, I need a private word with father—though your presence, I suppose, is tolerable.”

Ye Shisan asked directly, “What’s this about? If it’s murder or arson, forget it—this is a lawful world, far from your ancient chaos.”

“Humans, so soft now!” Hong Lin huffed disdainfully. “Spare petty rats, and they’ll plague the world!”

Yi Qing interjected: “That’s not weakness—it’s civilization! No one claims a life here; the law metes out justice to the wicked.”

“Tch, a mere child! A few decades lived, and you think you’ve grasped the world? Too green—I’ve no time for your bickering.”

With a fluid leap, Hong Lin landed on Ye Shisan’s lap, her purr a velvet whisper: “Father, do you know Vanilla’s background?”

“Background? What are you getting at?” With a furrowed brow, Ye Shisan couldn't help but wonder—why would Hong Lin suddenly ask this?

“Why live with a child of unknown roots? Could it be… you’re fond of her?”

Hong Lin’s blunt probe stumped Ye Shisan. “Well… it’s a long story. Like or not…”

Yi Qing shot a look. “Like? Men think with their lower half!”

Ye Shisan winced awkwardly. “It’s not that wild!”

Yi Qing smiled faintly. “If you found a ugly, filthy beggar at your shop and tossed them a meal, that’s mere pity. But taking Vanilla home, guarding her like kin? This is fondness—a sentiment wrapped in love. Would you agree?”

Ye Shisan scratched his head, puzzled: “How did you know I took her in?”

“I’m a proper police officer,” Yi Qing said. “Street cameras don’t lie. But Hong Lin’s words got me curious…”

“About what?”

“There’s no trace of Vanilla—no missing person reports, nothing.”

For reasons unknown, Ye Shisan let out a quiet breath. “Actually, I’d planned to ask you to track down Vanilla’s family, but it seems unnecessary now. If she has no kin, I’ll take responsibility for raising her.”

“Thinking big, huh?” Yi Qing teased. “Got a Hikaru Genji Plan brewing?”

“A what plan?”

Yi Qing huffed, switching gears. “I’m not sure what’s wrong with Vanilla. Just have a gut feeling something’s off. As for the specifics, let Honglin explain—she schemed for a private word, so it’s definitely something secretive.”

The black cat hissed at Yi Qing, clearly displeased by her belittling remarks. Then, as if seeking favor, it rubbed its head against Ye Shisan. “If father likes Vanilla, tonight I’ll possess her, make her obey…”

Ye Shisan’s face darkened. “Hong Lin, Zhu Qiu may stir within me, but I’m not that kind of person! Don’t try to please me with this!”

“But father, keeping Vanilla by your side will always bring disaster!”

Ye Shisan frowned. “Explain clearly, or I’ll just assume you’re targeting her out of jealousy.”

Hong Lin chuckled. “Father, your daughter has no reason to envy her. To me, Vanilla’s but a hollow shell, a pretty vessel!”

“Hong Lin! What’s going on?”

“I wouldn’t dare lie to you, father. Vanilla, in some respects, seems to share your Void Deity constitution, but she can’t merge with a Spirit to become Deity. She’s neither entirely a Void Deity nor a human—she is something in between…”

Ye Shisan listened, his heart pounding, and Yi Qing felt no different, unable to resist interjecting, "Honglin, how do you know all this?"

Honglin chuckled, "That's precisely why I chose to possess the black cat. I can sense things far beyond what most who have Divine Arts can."

Yi Qing nodded. “That sheds light on Vanilla’s street-bound fate—a half-formed Void Deity, neither fully human nor capable of ascending to Deity. Perhaps, like Ye Shisan, she lost control and destroyed her own kin.”

Hong Lin widened her luminous eyes, neither confirmed nor refuted the grim theory.

Ye Shisan exhaled deeply. “Is that all? Hong Lin, I think you should focus on getting Zhu Qiu out sooner. Then you’ll have your true desire, not me.”

Hong Lin pressed her face fiercely against his hand, her voice unwavering. “You and Zhu Qiu are one, inseparable now. I’ll remain by Daddy’s side, forever, until your heart yields!”

Hearing this, Yi Qing grew uneasy. “Things haven't reached that point yet! Don't forget, Ye Dongsheng once found a remedy for the Pseudo-Spirit!”

Ye Shisan added, “Exactly—you want Zhu Qiu, not me.”

Hong Lin shook her head. “From what I know, the hand that appeared behind you in the Wonder Realm is Zhu Qiu’s Divine Art, proof you’re fused as one. You’re my father, my eternal beloved!”

Her words, blunt and final, pierced Ye Shisan’s heart, stirring a pang of futility for their efforts. He opened his mouth to protest, only for Yi Qing to slam the brakes with jarring force.

With swift reflexes, Ye Shisan caught Hong Lin in his arms, her delighted purr followed by a playful lick on his hand.

The roar of engines shattered the air. Looking ahead, a pack of imposing Land Rovers surged forward, their tires screeching in reckless drifts, encircling the jeep in a menacing trap.

From the lead car stepped a figure, arm swathed in bandages—a swaggering Three-Ring Shamate, none other than Master Hao, the overbearing rich brat from a few days ago, strutting around arrogantly and barking orders at everyone.

Master Hao’s lips twisted into a malevolent grin as he waved his uninjured hand, summoning dozens of thugs from the surrounding vehicles, each brandishing baseball bats and steel pipes, their eyes glinting with feral menace as they fixed their gaze on the jeep’s occupants.

Master Hao strutted with brazen arrogance, stomping the jeep’s bumper, leaping onto the hood.

He jabbed a finger at Ye Shisan, his voice dripping with smug defiance:

“You, get out!”