【Ping! You have been cursed.】 Zhang Yuanqing heard the spiritual realm's notification sound in his ears. Cursed? Did I not simply accidentally drink the cat's fur from Pan Jinshen... he thought with a quiet sense of humor. Subconsciously reaching for a skill, he found himself unable to use any abilities and completely lost sensation toward his inventory. After transforming into a cat, all his abilities had vanished. Cursed—this must be the power of the Wugushi (Witch-Druid) profession, with its elements of yin and yang, which makes sense in the context of the team-based combat dungeons, where evil-aligned classes are present. But when exactly was I cursed? I have no sense of it at all. The tea issue? No, both the Queen and Li Chunfeng had not drunk tea. As this thought came to him, he turned to his six companions. The Fire-Deity Star Army's cat was standing there, fluffed up and agitated, while the cat form of Li Chunfeng kept glancing around, constantly meowing, still clearly shaken by the shock of his transformation. Lili, however, was curiously examining her own body, her expression serious, yet not at all The queen cat sat on the ground, her scattered clothes and shoes scattered around her. Two silver rings hung from the tips of her pointed ears, and her cat paws continuously rubbed against them as she meowed anxiously. Were the earrings props? It seemed they were useless—no matter how early they were removed, they would still be sealed. Zhang Yuanqing turned to Guan Ya. Guan Ya, the most composed of all, had quietly retreated on all four paws even as the old housekeeper called out, "My dear!" "My dear, come out now. I've brought you two lovely young women. Finally, someone to ease your restless charm—your constant desire for the company of women has brought you to this pass." "These two are so delicate and graceful, my dear. What are you waiting for?" The old housekeeper's voice was hoarse and thin, echoing like a call to summon spirits. "Click—!" On the other side of the courtyard, the closed door swung open, and the crowd—no, the entire group of cats—immediately lifted their heads to gaze in that direction. Through the open doorway, it could be seen that a coffin was raised in the center of the room on two wooden stools, its surface painted a deep crimson. Scattered on the floor were strands of red thread and a purple talisman. These threads and the talisman had been used to bind the contents within the coffin—something that had just been released when she entered the room. As a scout, Guan Ya-mao immediately deduced this detail. Zhang Yuan felt a chill run down his spine, sensing a threat deep within his genes, instinctively arching his back, gritting his teeth, and emitting a series of hissing sounds. The other companions mirrored the same reaction. The large cat moved with graceful steps, its fierce gaze fixed upon the seven of its kind gathered in the hall. Zhang Yuan said, "Meow... meow... meow... (We've triggered the plot—we must kill this monster cat to leave)." The six companions stared at him in confusion. Though they had transformed into cats, they could not understand cat speech. At that moment, Guan Ya, who had been continuously observing the blood-red large cat, gave a clear, alert meow: "Meow! (Be careful!)" Immediately, the blood-soaked large cat surged forward, transforming into a streak of red light, and launched itself toward what appeared to be the most vulnerable, Li Chunfeng. Li Chunfeng demonstrated the agility befitting a cat, raising his tail and leaping like a dart to one side. Yet the large cat moved faster, swiftly closing the distance, catching up, and then plunging forward with a powerful leap and a bite that secured Li Chunfeng's neck Li Chunfeng gave out a piercing cry. The black cats, embodying the Fire Star Army, shrieked loudly as they leaped into the air, pouncing on the larger cat. Crack! The tail, studded with bone spines, whipped like a whip, striking the smaller cat and sending him skidding to the ground, convulsing. The disparity in strength was vast—before this large cat, the smaller cats appeared frail, like mice. As Li Chunfeng seemed about to be torn apart at the neck, Zhang Yuancheng darted out, dodging the reach of the large cat's tail, and launched himself forward. He landed on the large cat's neck, opened his sharp teeth, and bit firmly into its ear. "Aaaah!" The large cat cried out in pain, loosening its grip, and Li Chunfeng tumbled down, his neck fur stained with blood. He fled to one side, trembling with fear. When he reached the wall, his adrenaline subsided, and he collapsed weakly, his gaze growing dim, emitting soft, mournful moans. It was only one round, and one of their team members had already nearly perished. The large cat shook its head twice, but couldn't dislodge Zhang Yuanqing. Immediately, it lowered its head, lifted its padded feet, and with sharp claws, slashed fiercely. Blood streaks immediately appeared on Zhang Yuanqing's back, flowing out in rich, bright red. He had to release his grip and fall from the large cat's head, scrambling away with limbs like wings. The large cat's ears were now streaked with blood, furiously chasing Zhang Yuanqing. Suddenly, its tail stung—caught by the lotus root that had bitten into it. "Aaaah!" The large cat turned around and bit into the lotus root's neck. Yet, the lotus root was a slightly plump orange cat with thick skin and dense flesh, and its sharp teeth failed to immediately pierce through. The large cat lifted its head again and shook its head once more. At that moment, Zhang Yuanqing launched back, charging toward the large cat's back, while the Queen cat and Guan Ya cat attacked from the left flank, and the Huidexing troops and Li Li Yuan Shang Cao advanced from the right. The flocks of cats surged forward—there was no room to retreat. This human-cat had barely The face-cat carried the plump orange cat upright and strode forward, its padded feet launching sharp claws that pressed down firmly on the queen-cat and the "Lily of the Field." Then it flicked its tail. "Crack!" Zhang Yuanqing, leaping high, was struck hard like a tennis ball against the wall. He landed heavily, blood gushing from his mouth and nose, with several holes appearing in his chest and abdomen, bubbling with blood. Guan Ya, untouched, slashed the face-cat with her sharp claws, leaving streaks of blood. The Fire-Deity army bit fiercely into the face-cat’s abdomen, tearing off a small piece of flesh. The face-cat screamed in agony, spinning its body and using its tail to lash the black cat, then biting at Guan Ya’s head. But Guan Ya, with her tail raised, skillfully retreated, narrowly avoiding the face-cat’s sharp teeth. The face-cat had no choice but to retract its head, expelling the nearly lifeless orange cat, and then, gripping the "Lily of the Field" with its right paw, shook its head vigorously. A crisp "crack" sounded as the "Lily of the Field This sharp crack sent a jolt through every cat's heart. The face-cat casually tossed aside the "Lílí Yuán Shàng Cǎo." The grass wilted to the ground, its limbs twitching, its abdomen heaving with labored breaths—its life slipping away within minutes. Zhang Yuanqing, lying against the wall, felt his heart sink to the very depths. Li Chunfeng was now breathing in and out with growing difficulty; the "Lílí Yuán Shàng Cǎo" had been severed at the neck, likely to die faster than Li Chunfeng. The Fire-Deity army troops, poked by the spines, were severely wounded and could no longer fight. His own condition was no better. Only Guan Ya and the Queen remained unharmed—though the Queen was now pinned beneath the cats' paws, leaving only Guan Ya capable of active defense. The fate of total defeat was now clear. After severing the "Lílí Yuán Shàng Cǎo"'s neck, the face-cat did not immediately attack Guan Ya. Instead, it lowered its head, continuously sniffing the Queen's body, its nostrils flaring. What was it The next instant, her intuition came true. As the face-cat gently sniffed, a deep red organ pushed out from the swollen abdomen of her belly—her face-cat was now in heat, an utterly repulsive sight. The queen-cat seemed to sense something, writhing violently and emitting a piercing scream. Black cat Huidexing, struggling to rise, could not stand due to blood loss and pain, only managing to emit angry, helpless cries. At this moment, Wang Po, standing below the courtyard and observing, smiled and said, "Miss, don't resist. My son has lived here for many years—he's been lonely. Just let him have a little amusement; he won't kill you. All of these people will die, but you need not." The queen's piercing scream echoed, her eyes filled with helplessness and despair. Guan Ya arched her back, ready to spring forward. The face-cat snapped its teeth at her, threateningly, while arching its back and drawing its lower body closer to the queen. Guan Ya moved to pounce, but the face-cat immediately stopped and snapped its teeth again at her. They went into a standoff. Guan Ya kept glancing at Zhang Yuanqing. If she charged now, the fate of the queen might fall upon her shoulders. The size, speed, and strength of the feline creature were currently unbeatable to them. She was buying time—was she asking me to find a way? Zhang Yuanqing understood her intent, but his thoughts raced swiftly; still, he couldn't immediately see a way out. The props couldn't be used, or else the purifying power of the Fumigation Staff could break the curse. A physical confrontation also seemed hopeless. The spiritual realm interface showed no indication of the curse's duration—meaning the curse had no time limit and would persist indefinitely. He was desperate, yet the more he pressed, the more he struggled to find a solution. At that moment, Zhang Yuanqing noticed Li Chunfeng, nearly lifeless by the wall, slowly turning his head and lifting it to indicate the feline corpse suspended from the ceiling beam. The feline corpse? A flash of inspiration struck him like lightning. What is the origin of the curse? The guide to Yin-Yang Town mentions no curse transforming people into cats, unlike what Wang Po claims—originating from the descendants of the Yin-Yang hermits. What is the medium of the curse? Even teammates who didn’t drink tea have turned into cats, so it can’t be the tea. Is it the cat corpses hanging on the beams?! Zhang Yuanqing, bracing against pain and exhaustion, pushed himself up and staggered toward the pillar, his padded feet revealing sharp claws as he struggled up the shaft. Wang Po, below in the courtyard, gasped, shouting, “Son! Quickly! Quickly! Kill him!” The human-faced cat lifted its head, gazing at Zhang Yuanqing climbing the pillar, then glanced at the queen, and with a gentle flick, leapt onto the pillar, swiftly catching up with him. “Damn it!” Zhang Yuanqing felt a jolt of shock as the crisis of death surged adrenaline through his body—he launched himself into the air. As he jumped, the spot where he had just stood was instantly taken over by the human-faced cat. Zhang Yuanqing stretched his limbs out into the air, his sharp claws gripping the body of a cat whose skin had been stripped away—just barely, barely avoiding a fall. He quickly climbed up the cat's body, snapping the hemp rope with a crisp "click" of his sharp teeth. Both cats plummeted downward. As the cat bodies fell, an invisible array seemed to be disrupted, and a cold, gusty wind began to blow through the living room. "Ooooh—" The humanoid cat on the pillar tumbled down, rolling in pain. Its human features rapidly transformed into a complete, monstrous cat. The rationality that had already been scarce in its eyes was replaced by frenzy and bloodlust. Bone spines sprouted densely throughout its flesh. Within seconds, it grew more fierce and terrifying. It slowly rose to its feet, shook its head, and emitted a low, mournful growl from its throat. Wang Po’s face paled, and she trembled as she rushed over: “Son, hurry! Hurry back into the coffin!” The face-cat—no, the fierce, monstrous cat—heard the sound and snapped its head around, charging at Wang Po and biting fiercely into her neck. Crack! Her cervical bones shattered, and bright red blood gushed out. The large cat paw pressed down on Wang Po’s body, tearing and gnawing at will. Wang Po’s limbs convulsed, and soon she went still. At that moment, Zhang Yuanqing felt his own bones crackling with sound; the cat fur gradually retracted into her pores, and her paw pads slowly transformed into hands. Guan Ya picked up her clothes and ran off, turning her head to see the queen-cat curled up on the ground, shaken and dazed. She then dragged her clothes forward and gave the queen-cat a firm slap. Only then did the queen-cat awaken, sensing her body beginning to restore itself. She immediately picked up her clothes and followed Guan Ya through the courtyard, rushing into the room. It was finally over… Zhang Yuanqing lingered, chasing after the silhouettes of her two A few seconds later, his limbs transformed, his toes and fingers becoming distinct, and he resumed his human form. The curse had lifted! Li Chunfeng by the wall, the "Lilu Yuan Shangcao" by the courtyard, and the "Hede Xing Jun" at the table all returned to human shape, now completely bare. Yet their injuries remained unchanged—they were still barely breathing. "Ahhh…" The large cat sensed the changes behind it, turned around with a mouth full of blood, and saw Zhang Yuanqing rising. Instantly, it snapped its teeth, the once-white, sharp teeth now stained red with blood, strands of flesh dangling from them. It pushed aside the body of Wang Po and surged forward in a blurred form. At that moment, it seemed astonishingly weak. Zhang Yuanqing stepped forward, gripping the large cat's neck with one hand, and with the other summoned the Blood-Drinking Blade. But as he prepared to plunge the blade into the monster cat's head, he suddenly remembered the magus's words—If I can withstand beauty and the act of killing, perhaps I can awaken the hidden quest… Beauty is understandable, but what does it mean to withstand killing? Can this copy be spared from killing? Certainly not referring to the casualties between the Lawful and Chaotic factions—otherwise, the Dragon King wouldn't survive, and the mission of Yin-Yang Town couldn't be completed. Spared from killing—does that mean not killing the monsters within the副本? Zhang Yuanqing lifted a monster and slammed it hard onto the ground. The creature instantly went still, its chest and abdomen rising and falling, entering a semi-comatose state. At that moment, Guan Ya and the Queen stepped out of the room, both still dressed in their garments. They glanced at Zhang Yuanqing’s naked form before turning away. Guan Ya quickly approached and walked straight toward Li Chunfeng. She knelt beside the nearly lifeless Li Chunfeng, now holding a syringe filled with a pale golden liquid. She inserted the syringe into Li Chunfeng’s neck vein, administered half of the liquid, then injected the remaining half into the Fire Deity Army and the person who was eating lotus roots. "Why didn't you save him?" Zhang Yuanqing asked, looking toward the grass on the verge of dying. The wood spirit youth groaned, opened his eyes, and sat up, saying, "I don't need it—I have a recovery skill. When a wood spirit is on the verge of death, it automatically revives, but only once per day." He turned his neck with a series of crisp clicks, "I've already revived several times. Sorry—I was just pretending to be dead earlier." At that moment, Li Chunfeng, the Fire Deity Army, and the three who had been eating lotus roots all rose. "Life essence—you actually have life essence! Even though it's diluted, this is a strategic resource of the Five Elements Alliance," Li Chunfeng said gratefully. "Thank you so much." The woman must hold a high position within the official ranks. "Good thing I didn't die! This is supposed to be an A-tier dungeon? Then what's an S-tier like?" The Fire Deity Army didn't dwell on it much, just muttered under his breath and then thanked Guan Ya. "I owe you my life—I'll repay you handsomely." Guan Ya glanced around at the group of bare-chested men, smiling. "Hurry up and get your clothes on—being a few caterpillars “….” After the group had dressed, the queen took a deep breath and approached Zhang Yuanqing, speaking softly, “Thank you. If it weren’t for you breaking the curse, I truly couldn’t have imagined what had just happened to me.” You just need to overcome any psychological hesitation toward men—Zhang Yuanqing didn’t boast, simply saying, “It was Li Chunfeng’s hint.” Li Chunfeng replied, “The medium of the curse is the cat corpses; they’ve formed a magical array. I’ve known this all along, but unfortunately, you’ve been too busy dealing with this monster, and no one paid attention. By the way, what are you still doing with it? Kill it.” “Hold on to it for now. I’d like to conduct an experiment.” Zhang Yuanqing glanced around at the group. “So far, I haven’t received any messages from the spiritual realm. Any of you?” The teammates shook their heads. “It seems there will be no messages at all. That’s the most troublesome part of this quest.” Zhang Yuanqing sighed. Guan Ya pulled out a doll from her pocket and said, “We discovered this in the room just now.” The doll is woven from straw, crudely crafted, with numerous fine needles inserted throughout its body. A sheet of paper is affixed to its front, reading: "Xu Xiuer." Xu Xiuer... Zhang Yuanqing paused, then said, "In my first S-rank realm experience, the副本 information required the realm traveler to deduce and decrypt it on their own—this Yin-Yang Town appears to be no exception." "Good thing the information provided by this old woman is quite comprehensive. Let's go over it together. However, I'd like to conduct an experiment first." Saying this, he picked up the nearly lifeless large cat and walked toward the room. What was he going to do? The others exchanged glances, then hurried to follow.