Chapter 177: Chapter 177: The Cat That Knows Magic_1
The mont the shadow disappeared at the well’s mouth, the well cover dropped back under the force of gravity and landed precisely over the well mouth. The surface of the earth returned to normal as if nothing had happened.
Below the well cover, a cluster of purple flas lit up the darkness, dispelling the all-consuming blackness.
Ye You perched steadily on Qin Sisi’s shoulder, extending a claw and using the light from the Ziwei Heaven Fire to illuminate the surroundings.
The well was roughly three ters deep. Its well wall was constructed out of red bricks and cent. Because it was underground for so long with water flowing inside, the wall was damp.
In the confined sewage well reeking of foul odors, Qin Sisi covered her nose, scarcely able to breathe.
On both sides were sewage pipes over a ter in diater. The farther downward they went, the thicker the stench beca, and about twenty to thirty centiters above the ground was filthy mire.
Qin Sisi stood in the dirty water; her shoes were soaking wet. The filthy water had leaked into her shoes, sending chills up her feet and into her body.
Seeing Qin Sisi’s discomfort, Ye You was full of remorse. But this wasn’t the ti for apologies or sentintalities. Only by finding the ghost soon could they leave this place.
Ye You said in a deep voice, "Bear with it a bit, I’ll try to find him as soon as possible."
Qin Sisi responded with a frown, "It’s okay; I can endure."
Ye You gave Qin Sisi a deep look and closed his eyes, quickly mobilizing the magic within him and employing his spiritual sense to detect traces left by the ghost.
The weather had grown cold, and the underground space was even more spooky. Distinguishing solely based on temperature changes was already difficult. Thus, they had to diligently pursue faint atmospheric fluctuations.
A few minutes later, Ye You opened his eyes and pointed towards a sewer pipe on one side, saying, "Let’s go this way."
Without uttering a word, Qin Sisi carried Ye You in her arms, bent down, and crawled into the sewer pipe that Ye You indicated.
"Be careful," Ye You nestled against Qin Sisi, whispering a reminder. However, even he felt it was superfluous.
If he were powerful enough, why would he let his beloved woman suffer in such a filthy and dirty place? When would he be truly able to take care of her, pamper her, avoiding any danger or hardship for her?
A profound sense of guilt was tearing Ye You from within, he felt an intense pain that made breathing difficult.
With all her attention on the sewer pipe, Qin Sisi was not aware of the intense emotions stirring within Ye You. She responded lightly, proceeding carefully down the sewer pipe.
The narrow space, the stench, the murky water, and the darkness that seed endless.
Qin Sisi walked slowly within the pipe, bending at her waist. Her feet splashing the dirty water, the noise resounding within the confined space.
Ye You stayed silent, and Qin Sisi kept moving forward. She had no idea how far she had gone, only that her bent back was numb from the excruciating pain while her feet were growing increasingly numb from the icy water.
Feeling a sudden emptiness above her head, Qin Sisi looked up, an imnse sense of relief washed over her as she gradually straightened her back while holding onto the edge of the sewer pipe.
She had reached another sewer well.
The city’s sewer pipes crisscrossed, forming a large underground maze hidden away in darkness.
Unable to give a thought to cleanliness, Qin Sisi leaned her back against the damp and filthy wall of the well, panting heavily while rubbing her aching waist with both hands.
Looking deeply into Qin Sisi’s eyes, Ye You’s own eyes, illuminating the darkness with their purplish glow, flickered with a tinge of pain. He said, "Let’s go back."
Qin Sisi started, "Go back? Why? We haven’t found the ghost of the little boy yet!"
"We’re not looking anymore." Again, Ye You responded in a firm manner. He extended his claw towards the well cover on the surface, ready to open it using his magic.
Qin Sisi quickly grabbed Ye You’s claw and asked anxiously, "What are you up to? We’ve been searching for such a long ti; why quit halfway?"
"No reason, I just don’t want to look anymore," Ye You brusquely replied, then once more raised his claw.
Qin Sisi felt slightly irked. She held Ye You up, looked into his eyes, and asked, "And what if I insist on searching?"
Ye You silently maintained eye contact with Qin Sisi. Pain and warmth were entangled at the depths of his heart. After a long while, he murmured in a low voice, "Sisi, I’m sorry. I can’t bear to see you suffer."
Qin Sisi understood Ye You’s intentions, her heart softened. In a gentle voice, she reassured, "I told you I’m fine. So what if I’m a little dirty? I’ll wash it off after we return ho."
The stronger Qin Sisi’s insistence, the more heartbroken Ye You felt.
"But I..."
Just as Ye You was about to persuade Qin Sisi to give up, his words were cut off. His tender gaze, filled with affection and regret, turned icy as he looked past Qin Sisi.
Noticing Ye You’s sudden change in deanor, Qin Sisi quickly whirled around.
A pale, round little face peeked out from the sewage pipe behind them. His lips were as red as fresh blood, and his bright, sparkling eyes were like stars in the sky.
The atmosphere around them was cold, but the chill radiating from the little boy was eerier. Illuminated by the Ziwei Heaven Fire, his body didn’t cast a shadow.
It was evident that he was a ghost.
Both Qin Sisi and Ye You had an inkling of who he might be, but Qin Sisi remained silent for fear of startling the boy and causing him to run away.
Ye You didn’t move, though he had a golden cord ready in his hand. If the boy tried to escape, he was confident he could capture him.
The boy was silent too, just holding onto the edge of the sewer pipe, observing Qin Sisi and the black cat with flas around its claws, a trace of cautiousness in his eyes.
After a long while, Qin Sisi flashed the boy a brilliant smile and asked softly, "Hey there, kiddo. How did you end up here?"
The boy seed to be touched by Qin Sisi’s smile. He took a step forward, erging from the sewage pipe and stood in the sewer well.
Upon closer inspection, Qin Sisi confird that he was exactly as Xia Ruoyan described—around five or six years old, dressed in a white sleeveless shirt and denim shorts with shoulder straps.
If not for his overly pale complexion and exceedingly red lips, he would undoubtedly be a handso little boy.
The boy looked up at Qin Sisi and Ye You and asked in a babyish voice, "Big sis, why does this cat’s hand have fire?"
Qin Sisi’s eyes glead, and in a mysterious tone, she replied, "Because it’s a magic cat."
"A magic cat!?" The boy’s eyes widened in astonishnt, his pale face shimring with lively spirit.
Assured by the boy’s less guarded look, Qin Sisi lowered herself to his height and asked softly, "Hey kiddo, what’s your na?"
"I’m called Lele," the boy’s crisp voice sounded encouragingly fresh.
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