Volume One: The Soul-Gathering Gourd and the Spirit-Igniting Lamp Chapter 93: The Midnight Ginger Cat

With a loud hum, a blankness swept through the minds of Xiao Yulou and Li Hetang.

What appeared before their eyes was nothing other than a bizarre creature—half human, half ant.

The spider caverns were already a labyrinthine, shadowy, and damp place, exuding an unsettling aura. Yet the sudden emergence of this “unexpected guest” seemed even stranger than the spiders themselves.

Examining the entity closely, one could see its height reached at least one meter eighty-five—a true fusion of man and ant. Its body was cloaked in glossy, jet-black, armored plates like those of an ant, but the muscular arms exposed beneath the carapace wielded a long, sharp spear, stained with green ichor.

Half-meter-long antennae quivered slightly above its head. Below a pair of eerie, blood-red eyes, razor-sharp mandibles gleamed coldly.

At the sight, Li Hetang’s brow knitted tightly. If the creature before them made the slightest suspicious move, he was prepared to draw his pistol and shoot without hesitation. As the “King of Soldiers” from Company 749, Li Hetang was more than confident in his strength and skills.

Since this strange being had just appeared and immediately dispatched the giant spider blocking their way, Li Hetang reasoned that an enemy’s enemy must be a friend. Yet, ever wary, he could not bring himself to lower his guard.

Xiao Yulou, recognizing the situation, also frowned and swept his gaze over the scene before striding quickly toward Gu Mo.

What could be more important than Gu Mo’s life in this moment?

With a few swift steps, Xiao Yulou reached Gu Mo, eyes blazing with concern, and knelt beside him.

At that moment, Gu Mo was fiercely shielded by a mass of dark, furry matter. Yet the air was thick with the stench of blood.

On closer inspection, Gu Mo’s skin, except for his head and chest, had turned a mottled black and purple. The athletic wear he had recently changed into was once again battered and on the verge of disintegration.

It seemed that the giant spider’s crushing blow had nearly ended Gu Mo’s life. At the critical moment, the gluttonous furball had intervened, taking the brunt of the attack and saving him from certain death.

Faced with such grievous injuries, Xiao Yulou swept aside his robe sleeve, extended two fingers, and checked for breath at Gu Mo’s nose.

“Thank the heavens, the Golden Immortal protects! He’s still breathing!”

Relief flooded Xiao Yulou’s usually sly, shifty features.

The furball let out a weak gurgling sound and, with eyes as deep as the stars, surveyed its surroundings.

With a sudden whoosh, it opened its gaping maw and swallowed the giant spider’s corpse whole. Then, the inky little creature burrowed into Gu Mo’s chest and fell into a deep slumber.

Seeing this, Xiao Yulou sighed heavily, reached into his robe sleeve, and placed a pitch-black pill into Gu Mo’s mouth.

...

When Xiao Yulou, carrying Gu Mo, returned, Li Hetang stood with his “Demon Hunter” compound bow, frowning at the strange being and questioning it openly.

“Are you man or ghost? Why did you suddenly come to our aid?”

The half-human, half-ant creature tilted its head, studying the three of them.

A crackling sound—either from joints or the hard ant carapace—echoed in the darkness of the spider cave, magnified several times over.

At last, the eerie being responded, its voice thick and muffled.

“This is no place to linger. We should find safety before we speak further.”

With that, the enigmatic figure turned and strode into the darkness, paying them no further heed.

As it turned, Li Hetang noticed several tattered cloth sacks tied around its waist.

Could this be merely a man wearing ant armor?

Impossible!

How could anyone survive in such an environment, armed with nothing but a spear coated in unknown fluids?

This microscopic world was a thousand times deadlier than the Amazon jungle! Surviving here was preposterous!

Questions tormented Li Hetang’s mind. Nevertheless, he and Xiao Yulou exchanged glances and followed the mysterious figure.

Suddenly, a great rumble echoed from behind them, the cave quaking as terrifying howls resounded throughout the spider lair.

There was no doubt—the spider horde was rallying for revenge.

Instantly, both men felt a chill down their spines and hurried to keep up.

Even if this strange being harbored hidden motives, any reckoning would have to wait until they found relative safety.

...

Who knew how long they traveled, but as Li Hetang followed close behind the eerie guide, his curiosity only deepened.

The strange figure led them through the maze of spider tunnels with the ease of someone intimately familiar with every twist and turn.

Could he truly have dared to explore such a perilous place?

The answer was undeniably yes.

...

After several more minutes, they finally escaped the spider caves.

The ground beneath their feet assured Li Hetang they were beyond the spiders’ domain, and the air itself grew noticeably fresher and more humid.

Their uncanny guide scooped up a handful of powder and scattered it at the mouth of the spider den.

Safely away from the caverns, the two men collapsed onto the soft earth, nerves that had been taut now slack, leaving Xiao Yulou’s body stiff and tingling with exhaustion.

“Damn, I’m spent!” Xiao Yulou exclaimed, flapping his robe sleeve with a mischievous grin at Li Hetang. “Brother Hetang, this place is deadly! We’ll need to renegotiate the fee!”

Li Hetang shot him a venomous glare, retorting, “We’re lucky to be alive, and you’re thinking of money? Should I burn it for you in the afterlife?”

Xiao Yulou merely waved his hand dismissively, unbothered.

A spear suddenly crashed into the ground before them, sharp and wooden.

Startled, Li Hetang immediately raised his gun, aiming at the strange being, while Xiao Yulou gripped several talismans, ready for battle.

“Who are you, and why are you here?” the creature demanded in a low, resonant voice.

Li Hetang’s face twisted with indignation. “That’s what I want to know! Who are you?”

Xiao Yulou, ever the peacemaker, quickly fished out a cigarette and laughed, “No need for hostility, friend. We’re all upstanding citizens here!”

The creature’s fists clenched, a crackling sound echoing as it clearly disliked Xiao Yulou’s words. For a moment, the air grew icy, and a new conflict seemed unavoidable.

A breeze drifted by, and at last, the stranger relaxed his fists. Perhaps it had been too long since he’d seen another living soul—or perhaps Li Hetang’s sidearm looked all too familiar.

He spoke again, voice still muffled. “My name is Min Wenhua, but you may call me ‘Big Cat’.”

At this, Li Hetang’s heart skipped a beat. The hardened soldier sprang to his feet, eyes wide as saucers, stammering, “Wha…what did you say?”

The strange man repeated himself in his sonorous voice. “My name is Min Wenhua. Why?”

Li Hetang’s face was a mask of disbelief. “Midnight Orange Cat?”

Xiao Yulou was thoroughly confused by the unusual nickname, but Li Hetang smartly holstered his pistol, snapped to attention, and saluted respectfully.

“Former 29th Army, Night Owl Special Operations, Li Hetang reporting, sir!”

Min Wenhua’s eyes widened at the mention of “Night Owl Special Operations,” and he returned the salute with military precision.

Li Hetang could scarcely believe his luck—meeting a legendary comrade in such a forsaken place!

The two men gripped each other’s hands tightly, eyes brimming with tears, unable to speak through their emotion.

Sitting dumbfounded on the ground, Xiao Yulou could make neither heads nor tails of the reunion. How could a hermit priest fathom the fierce camaraderie between brothers-in-arms? He could only watch in silence, smoking his cigarette, lost in thought.

With a deep breath, Min Wenhua removed his ant helmet. In the dim light, a head of cropped hair revealed a square, resolute face, full of righteous energy.

Thick brows, round eyes, a strong nose, and broad lips—the man radiated integrity and strength from head to toe.

A closer look revealed he was about forty years old, around one meter eighty tall. His body was a map of well-defined muscles, more than enough to fill out the homemade ant armor.

Li Hetang was beside himself with excitement, blurting out, “Brother Cat, weren’t you shot—?”

He cut himself off, embarrassed, as Min Wenhua merely smiled and waved a hand, his tone light.

“It’s all in the past. No need to bring it up again.”

With that, Min Wenhua strode over, retrieved his spear, and led the group onward into the darkness.

The air was fragrant with earth and greenery as they walked.

Xiao Yulou, still carrying the unconscious Gu Mo, brought up the rear, while Li Hetang, now transformed into an eager apprentice, stuck close to Min Wenhua, peppering him with questions.

Though both were kings among soldiers of their respective eras, Li Hetang revered Min Wenhua above all.

Driven by curiosity, Li Hetang pressed for answers, but Min Wenhua, leading the way, refused to speak of the past.

After all, Li Hetang was intimately familiar with the legend of the Orange Cat.

Min Wenhua had joined the army in ’81, his military prowess and intelligence making him a paragon among his peers. He was diligent, resourceful, and experienced—respected by all in the unit.

During weighted marches, Min Wenhua always finished first. His marksmanship was legendary—at a thousand meters, he could hit a coin with iron sights alone. His shooting stance and technique were so fluid and natural, he could reload after just twenty-nine rounds in a thirty-round magazine without pulling the charging handle.

His signature one-handed reload became a textbook maneuver after he was “killed in action.”

During one operation in the deep mountains, in full view of the company, Min Wenhua wrestled a tiger barehanded. Thus, the nickname “Midnight Orange Cat” was born.

The commander of the military district, hearing of his exploits, transferred Min Wenhua to the newly formed Night Owl Special Forces, making him captain.

It seemed his career would soar ever upward—but fate had other plans.

Not long after, the “King of Soldiers” made a catastrophic mistake, all because of a trivial matter.

Within Night Owl, an arrogant officer’s son, shielded by his family’s connections, acted with impunity, despised by all.

Min Wenhua offended him simply by not signing a leave slip. This minor slight led to repeated altercations, with Min Wenhua always prevailing, leaving the officer’s son battered and bruised.

Before joining the army, Min Wenhua had a loving wife and a two-year-old daughter in the countryside. Like many rural men, “Big Cat” dreamed of having a son to carry on the family name, and seized every home leave to try for another child.

Just before his trouble, Min Wenhua learned from a letter that he would soon be a father again—a secret he kept from his unit, quietly overjoyed.

But the officer’s son discovered the news and, exploiting local connections, enforced strict family planning laws. Min Wenhua’s wife was taken to the township for a forced abortion; both the unborn son and mother were lost due to a medical mishap and excessive bleeding.

After an investigation, Min Wenhua, consumed by rage, confronted the officer’s son in the dormitory.

The room became their battlefield, reduced to rubble in moments.

It took seven or eight comrades to finally restrain him. Though bloodied and disheveled, Min Wenhua left his rival with broken ribs.

From that day, the two were mortal enemies—hatred so deep not even divine intervention could resolve it.

Min Wenhua’s heart burned with vengeance, and he plotted a drastic course.

It was the morning of September **, 1994.

After the morning drill, Min Wenhua warned his brothers not to interfere.

A single gunshot ended the life of the officer’s son.

The shocking incident rocked the entire military district—a catastrophe beyond measure.

Using his exceptional combat skills, Min Wenhua fought his way out, grabbing a tactical pack he’d hidden in the woods and making his escape to the city gates.

Two fully armed special forces teams failed to get close; anyone who showed themselves fell to a bullet between the eyes.

His Night Owl brothers flatly refused to take part in the manhunt, defying orders.

Gunfire echoed across the city square; blood and flesh flew. Had he not run out of ammunition, the rumor of Min Wenhua’s “death in action” would never have spread...