Chapter 373

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Chapter 373: The Cat’s Trade Art – Large

Yumeko was visibly unnerved by Bai Wei’s gaze.

“Mood swings…” Yumeko murmured, her voice soft with unease.

“I’m just making sure,” Bai Wei said, his voice calm yet probing. “You didn’t lie, did you?”

“Do I need to tell lies in front of you?” Yumeko retorted with irritation, “I’m a cat, not some dog in the toilet.”

“Why Hokkaido?” Bai Wei inquired, pressing for clarity.

“Because security measures in Shikoku are too strict,” Yumeko explained. “Hokkaido is the best option.” She licked her paw nonchalantly. “Did Germany attack France? Even fools know to go around the defense line.”

“The evil god wants to expand its territory,” Yumeko continued, her tone turning serious. “It needs people, it needs land, and Hokkaido is an island that, once assimilated by the outside world, will permanently become the evil god’s domain.”

“Just like Goryeo Island,” Bai Wei observed quietly.

“Yes,” Yumeko confirmed, her voice low, “That’s why we must stop it, meow.”

“Why did it choose me?” Bai Wei asked, frowning.

“Your power has been recognized by the Lord of Yellow Spring,” Yumeko replied. “You can hurt it and deal with the evil god’s schemes, meow.”

“This is already a war,” Bai Wei said, his voice flat. “The shogun is not blind. Such a big movement cannot deceive Him.”

“So there will be diversionary tactics, and the situation in the four countries is gradually becoming tense,” Yumeko sneered. “Even the shogunate is in chaos. Do you think other places will be fine? These police officers are so naive, easily manipulated. They even mistake you for an evil god missionary and chase after you.”

“A superior heroic spirit alone can determine the outcome of the war,” Bai Wei stressed, his voice steady. “If the evil god really tries to seize the land, it won’t be just the shogun who will stop it. The Ming Country won’t just sit back and let it grow stronger.”

Demon Cat Yumeko paused, then said, “Maybe they won’t, but you don’t know what it really wants, meow… From the information we currently have, the evil god definitely has plans in Hokkaido, perhaps a means to achieve victory in one strike, meow?”

“I’m just a messenger,” Yumeko added. “It’s up to you if you want to go or not, meow.”

Yumeko wagged her tail, her eyes gleaming mischievously. “Once you go to Hokkaido, you will naturally choose to help, meow.”

Bai Wei frowned, his suspicion deepening. “What does that mean?”

“It’s a secret for now,” Yumeko said, her cat-like movements making her look somewhat seductive, though she seemed silly as a calico cat.

Bai Wei sighed deeply. “So you want to use me… Does this mean we have a temporary truce?”

“The Lord of Yellow Spring currently has no intention of harming you, and the conditions at this stage are not ripe,” Yumeko emphasized. “Actually, personally, I’m not eager to confront you. Since you’re not from Yingzhou but from the Ming Country, it’s better for you to go back earlier. We don’t have absolute conflicting interests.”

Bai Wei’s expression hardened. “I am now the one protecting the shrine. As long as you still have intentions towards Yingzhou, our war will not cease. If the Lord of Yellow Spring has a sense of responsibility, why not arrange a time and have a battle of ten thousand soldiers with me, to see who wins and who loses?”

Yumeko quirked an eyebrow. “Why? Is it because there are many pretty girls here? There are also many fun things at the Hundred Demons Party…”

Bai Wei let go of the cat and tossed her toward the ground. “I’m not interested in life-or-death relationships… You can leave. I don’t have cat food to feed you.”

Yumeko curled her tail and sat down, her eyes full of reluctance. “I still have something else to say…”

Bai Wei didn’t really want to hear it. He knew that the more enemy intelligence he gathered, the more likely it was a trap.

Yumeko, however, persisted. “It has nothing to do with the Hundred Demons Party, it’s just a personal interest.”

Bai Wei gestured for her to continue, then corrected her. “It’s a cat’s interest.”

“I want to collaborate with you,” Yumeko said, her voice taking on a more serious tone.

Bai Wei raised an eyebrow. “Is it a planned collaboration or a temporary one?”

“It’s both,” Yumeko replied, “Cats are good at circulating information and can acquire intel from different places.”

“Won’t the Lord of Yellow Spring cause trouble for you?” Bai Wei asked, his suspicion returning.

“That’s why we’ll do it secretly,” Yumeko said. “In Yingzhou, cats can’t violate the contract, and there are certain things I can’t tell you.”

Bai Wei understood the key point. “Yingzhou’s local…”

“You are from the Ming Country and won’t stay in Yingzhou for long,” Yumeko explained, “I, as a cat, can help you gather information about both the Ming Country and the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom.”

“What about Europa?” Bai Wei asked.

“That’s also possible, but it will take some time,” Yumeko hesitated, but her confidence soon returned. “I haven’t been to places that far, and Europa is also dangerous, with many schools of soul magic.”

Bai Wei pieced together the source of her information. “By constantly changing her own soul and the soul of her target, she disguises herself as small animals to gather various information. In a way, you could say she’s very sneaky.”

Demon Cat Yumeko chuckled, sitting on the ground. “So, shall we cooperate?”

A temporary exclamation mark event appeared before Bai Wei’s eyes.

[Cooperation Invitation from Demon Cat Yumeko]

[Accept/Reject]

Without hesitation, Bai Wei accepted. “Okay, I will work with you.”

The temporary event settled immediately, and Bai Wei received Demon Cat Yumeko’s information.

[Demon Cat]

[Race: Yumeko]

[Information: Soul Transference, True Self Seal, Underworld Contract, Intelligence Gathering, Role-playing…]

The information was there, but it wasn’t very complete. Besides the known details, he couldn’t see through the rest.

Bai Wei asked, “Cooperation goes both ways. You can help me gather information, so what do you want in return? Let’s make it clear: I won’t do anything that violates moral principles, public order, or supports tyranny.”

Yumeko lifted her head, her eyes gleaming. “You simply need to share information with me whenever you can. If you need to do something, just let me know beforehand.”

“Is it really that simple?” Bai Wei asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Once you know something, you usually start taking action immediately. And once you start taking action, it inevitably brings about consequences. I am also utilizing you,” Yumeko said frankly. “In this regard, we can achieve mutual benefits, and you can fully trust meow.”

Bai Wei added, “Outside of Yingzhou.”

“Outside of Yingzhou,” Yumeko grinned.

Both sides reached an agreement.

Though uncertain how long this cooperation would last, Bai Wei knew it was a good thing. Intelligence had always been a problem for him. Now that he no longer had the all-seeing Black Rose, he lacked the financial resources, mental energy, or manpower to create another system like it. Yue Ming filled this gap, meaning Bai Wei could gain a deeper understanding through Yue Ming’s intelligence-gathering abilities, such as the internal war situation in the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom.

Bai Wei asked again, “What if I’m overseas? How can I find you?”

Yumeko had prepared for this. She jumped out of the window, returning shortly afterward with something in her mouth.

She placed it down in front of Bai Wei. It was a ring with amber inlaid, the shape resembling a cat’s eye stone.

Amber was usually made from fossilized resin, but this piece was made from golden resin. It was obviously old, likely over a hundred years old.

Bai Wei picked it up, surprised. “Where did you get this?”

“You don’t need to worry about that,” Yumeko said dismissively, proud and disdainful of explaining. “Golden resin is rare but not unique. It circulates in the market from time to time, especially this product from over a hundred years ago. It’s one of the best materials for storing cat’s incense. When you need it, use it to call me, but don’t use it too often. Cats also have their own lives.”

Bai Wei accepted the amber ring, planning to toss it into his sleeve and forget about it.

Yumeko reminded him, “You need to wear it to use it.”

“There’s no such rule,” Bai Wei scoffed. “Don’t even think about tricking me or doing anything suspicious.”

“This is a contract,” Yumeko said with a wag of her tail. “It becomes effective as soon as you wear it. If you don’t believe me, forget it.”

Bai Wei paused, looking at the amber ring in his hand. Even if there were traps, he doubted it would harm the owner of the Golden Power.

He thought for a moment, walked back to his sleeping body, and pondered which finger to wear it on.

Wearing a ring on the thumb means power; the index finger means unmarried on the left hand and single on the right; the middle finger means engagement on the left hand and in love on the right; the ring finger means married on the left hand and engaged on the right; the pinky means single on the left hand and not interested in dating on the right.

He casually placed the ring on his right index finger.

“Is this okay?” Bai Wei asked, turning to Yumeko.

The ethereal creature seemed satisfied, her tail wagging in approval. “It’s fine. You can keep the ring.”

Bai Wei nodded. “Since everything’s fine now, then…”

Yumeko stretched lazily and moved toward the window. “I don’t need to be told; this kitty is leaving. As a token of our cooperation, I’ll leave you with some information.”

She spoke slowly, her voice low. “Tonight, the followers of the dark god have already started to take action. They have no intention of sparing you. Even if you hide here, you won’t be safe. Instead, it may put those sword witches at risk. You know what the dark god’s followers are best at—they are madmen who don’t care about the consequences.”

Yumeko jumped out of the window and disappeared, her movements swift.

Just as she left, Bai Wei saw a blood-red exclamation mark appear above his head.

[The event has begun.]

[You are now in the realm of spiritual contamination.]

[A pillar of the otherworldly malevolent god is watching you!]