Chapter 30: Why did you choose to betray me along with them?

Li Yan had been drifting into a stupor, but the moment he saw the Cat God, he became fully alert. He felt a sense of bewilderment, however—why would the Cat God be the one to save him? He didn't dwell on it for long, choosing instead to observe quietly.

The Cat God used its energy to control Bu Yao and the Boss of the Shadow Puppets, forcing them to their knees to apologize to Li Yan. The two knelt and performed a perfunctory apology, all the while secretly conspiring to coordinate an attack. They struck at the Cat God, but their assault was easily neutralized. Alarmed by the Cat God’s overwhelming power, they joined forces to summon a legion of puppets to overwhelm their opponent.

The Cat God first removed the restraints and energy-siphoning devices from Li Yan, then frowned and said, "Li Yan, close your eyes. Focus on your inner energy. Channel it and shatter your bonds." With that, the Cat God dove into battle against the puppets.

Li Yan nodded and began his attempt. At first, he could feel nothing at all. Panic set in, but seeing the Cat God taking a heavy beating, he pushed himself harder. Finally, he succeeded in breaking through his shackles and joined the Cat God in the fight. Together, they eventually defeated Bu Yao and the Shadow Puppet Boss, leaving them lying on the ground, gasping their last breaths.

The Cat God gave Li Yan a thumbs-up and said, "Go, take your revenge."

Li Yan nodded. He proceeded to force insects into their bodies and struck them repeatedly. Once he had vented his rage, he asked, "What kind of place is this? Were the stories you told me all lies?"

Bu Yao tried to keep his mouth shut, as did the Shadow Puppet Boss. The Cat God beat them until they were half-dead, finally forcing them to speak. They confessed that the Shadow Puppet organization was a sinister syndicate built on a multitude of illicit trades. Beyond the cultivation of Gu and the creation of puppets, they engaged in activities far darker than Li Yan could have imagined. There was a gambling den here, where the losers were sent to be crafted into puppets. Those with the "right" birth charts were used for breeding Gu.

Periodically, the organization would recruit apprentices. Those who learned quickly were kept as living weapons; those who failed were immediately slaughtered. Their blood was drained to feed the Gu King. Furthermore, they sold "special" dishes to anyone willing to pay, earning vast sums of blood money. The puppets and dolls were all made from living people—mostly drifters or those lured into traps, much like Li Yan. They would be thrown into cages, tortured to death, and then transformed. Those selected for Gu-breeding suffered the same fate as Li Yan: forced to endure the agony of insects until they died, at which point the Gu would burst forth to find a new host. They had been doing this for years, seeking the ultimate, most powerful Gu to make the Shadow Puppet organization supreme. Bu Yao and the Boss intended to expand this operation until it became a tool for total domination.

They also dealt in the corpses of infants, which were soaked in special jars. Many people believed these jars brought good fortune and sought them out, unaware that the infants were cut from their mothers' wombs and killed at birth, carrying immense resentment. Without exception, everyone who bought these items saw their families destroyed and suffered tragic ends.

Bu Yao had targeted Li Yan after discovering the energy within him and learning his birth date. He had consulted the Shadow Puppet Boss, and they had staged the entire scenario to lure Li Yan in. Li Yan had walked right into their trap. The stories they had told him earlier were true—they had only told him the truth to ensure he would fall for the ruse.

Li Yan was horrified. Enraged, he kicked Bu Yao twice and roared, "I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!"

Bu Yao endured the kicks passively, showing no sign of resistance. As Li Yan and the Cat God debated how to handle them, Bu Yao flashed a peace sign. The situation shifted instantly. Bu Yao and the Boss stood up, perfectly fine. Li Yan and the Cat God exchanged a glance, signaling each other to be careful.

Suddenly, the two villains began to laugh. The ground beneath Li Yan and the Cat God shook and cracked. Unable to keep their footing, they clung to each other for support. Bu Yao and the Boss underwent a transformation, growing tall and monstrous, shifting from human to beast. Standing two meters tall, they sprouted grotesque, long horns from which foul blood dripped, splashing onto Li Yan and the Cat God. They felt agonizing pain and a nauseating stench, yet they found themselves unable to muster the strength to fight back.

Realizing the danger, they tried to flee, but the widening fissures in the ground made escape impossible. Just as they were about to fall into the abyss, Li Yan found a way to break the deadlock. He and the Cat God took flight, avoiding the blood. Feeling a surge of relief, they launched a counterattack, flanking their enemies and coating their weapons in their own blood, inflicting heavy damage.

Bu Yao and the Boss reverted to their original forms. Li Yan and the Cat God racked their brains for a way to finish them off, but they found no solution and began to feel a sense of despair. They launched one more joint attack, knocking them down again, but still failing to kill them.

Just as Li Yan and the Cat God were feeling hopeless, Bu Yao suddenly lunged at the Shadow Puppet Boss and shouted anxiously to Li Yan, "I have a green potion on me! If you make him drink it, he will surely die!"

Li Yan, clearly skeptical, hesitated. After all, Bu Yao had orchestrated this entire nightmare—what was he playing at now? He stood back, observing without acting. He noticed that the Shadow Puppet Boss, upon hearing Bu Yao, looked visibly stunned before turning to him in fury, demanding, "Why are you betraying me to help them?"