Ming Xiaoyu didn't find his previous words strange at all, walking straight toward the direction of the cat's den. The plain had undergone slight changes over the three or four days of wind and rain, different from when they first arrived. The grass had grown taller, the bushes denser, making the task of finding the rocky hollow where the pregnant female wildcat had hidden quite difficult.

Xiaoyu wandered aimlessly across the plain, occasionally using the sickle in his hand to lift the low grass covering the ground, searching for the hidden cat burrow. Xiao Shu stood far off to the side, observing her strangely acting "friend," feeling that his every move and gesture now differed greatly from before. He seemed less like a mature high schooler and more like a ruthless executioner, especially the look in his eyes while searching for the wildcat and the way his mouth was pursed into a waning crescent shape. Having spent so much time together, having faced life and death side-by-side, when had she ever seen such an expression on him? If she had to pinpoint a time, it was only now—or more accurately, from the moment everyone thought Xiaoyu was dead, and he unexpectedly reappeared by the pond—that an elusive persona, not entirely his own, seemed to have possessed him. Xiao Shu couldn't quite name it; it held a resemblance to Wang Jue's behavior at that time, yet it wasn't identical. At least this current Xiaoyu hadn't completely severed ties with his past self; he seemed to retain memories of bygone events, unlike Wang Jue, who had been wholly occupied by another soul, memories sealed away until his awakening, leaving him unaware of his own actions.

The search was not going well. Xiaoyu had swept half the plain with his sickle but hadn't found a single strand of cat fur, let alone the den. The hollow that seemed right before his eyes had vanished without a trace now. Xiaoyu grew frustrated, swinging his sickle wildly, hacking indiscriminately at the thickets of bushes, his violent nature starkly revealed. Xing'er, frightened, quietly hid beneath the small tree, daring not to utter a sound, lest any slight misstep might trigger the tyrant's nerves, drawing his attention toward her again.

While Ah Li trembled for refuge beneath the tree, Xiao Shu suddenly felt something soft and furry gently rub against her bare ankle. She looked down to see two large wildcats accompanied by four or five kittens standing docilely at her feet. It was evident that after Xiaoyu and Xiao Shu left, the family had thrived; not only had the difficult birthing process been resolved, but the pair had welcomed many new members. Ah Li was overjoyed to see the cats and immediately squatted down to stroke their backs, smooth as jade, almost letting out a cry. Had Xiao Shu not reacted swiftly and covered her mouth, she might have reported the family's appearance to the raging Xiaoyu.

The wildcat family was equally pleased to see Xiao Shu and Ah Li. One kitten, entirely black without a single misplaced hair, let out a soft meow in a tender voice toward the two of them. Hearing the sound, Xiao Shu immediately placed a finger to her lips, signaling silence, and gently stroked the small kitten twice with her other hand.

However, that soft, delicate meow did not escape the Demon Lord's ears. Xiaoyu, who was still recklessly hacking at the undergrowth, paused upon hearing the meow. He turned, glancing toward the spot where Xiao Shu and Ah Li were huddled beneath the tree. Sensing that something had appeared, he gripped his sickle and strode toward them, radiating a destructive murderous intent.