Chapter 28: The Unseen Predator and an Unlikely Contradiction

“Evil creatures… yes, they are indeed a reality.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Bai Zhi’s features as she turned her gaze to the black cat, Bastet.

“But how did you come to know this? Surely, no one would have informed you.”

“Such matters require no telling; I can sense them perfectly well. The nauseating stench of malevolent power emanating from that young girl is practically overflowing.”

Bastet’s expression swelled with pride. “A cat’s sense of smell is exceptionally keen – though, I am not actually a cat.”

“Hmm… is that truly the case?” Bai Zhi’s brow arched subtly, a nuanced expression gracing her face.

“Yet, when Ranxin was stroking you earlier, you appeared to be in a state of blissful contentment, betraying no hint of experiencing any ‘nauseating malevolent power’.”

“That was merely a figure of speech; it did not imply I was on the verge of retching.” Bastet cast a sidelong glance at Bai Zhi, letting out a soft huff.

“Nevertheless, it is true that I sensed something amiss with her from the very beginning. Initially, I suspected the issue lay with the young girl herself, but after observing your reactions, it became apparent that this was not the case.”

“After all, setting aside your own unique circumstances, one of the other two is a devout follower of the Holy Light, for whom the eradication of evil creatures is practically a sacred duty.

The other is a warrior dedicated to mental discipline, harboring an intense aversion to any malevolent entity born from self-corruption and decay.

It defies all logic that an evil creature would, on a whim, dare to undertake such an immense risk by lurking in their vicinity.”

“What exactly do you mean by ‘setting aside your own unique circumstances’? I cannot shake the feeling you are subtly disparaging me.”

“My intention was to suggest that your demeanor is far too gentle, utterly at odds with the image of someone capable of felling a person with a single punch.”

“I had presumed you were implying my own dullness, my inability to detect malevolent creatures lurking in the shadows.”

Bai Zhi scratched her head, a hint of self-deprecation tinged with embarrassment in her tone.

“For you were, after all, lounging about before me for half a day, and I genuinely believed you to be nothing more than an ordinary feline, harboring not the slightest shred of suspicion.”

“Hahaha, how could that be!? That was most likely merely a momentary lapse in your vigilance, certainly not due to any deficiency in your knowledge, which would render you utterly clueless in all areas save for your exceptional combat prowess.”

Bastet chuckled dismissively, deliberately overlooking the displeased glare Bai Zhi directed her way, before deftly steering the conversation back to its intended course.

“In any case, if there is no inherent issue with the girl herself, then some ‘entity’ has undoubtedly fixed its gaze upon her.”

“Therefore, Guardian, could you enlighten me on the precise circumstances? My curiosity is piqued.”

Bastet tilted her head, a gesture of inquiry.

“…Very well. As I had intended to inform you eventually, your own discernment merely spares me a modicum of effort.”

Bai Zhi nodded, her voice acquiring a newfound gravity.

“Shadow Beasts – have you ever heard of them?”

“Those monstrous entities that dwell within the shadows? I have indeed encountered some records concerning them. Are you suggesting that the young girl has been targeted by a Shadow Beast?”

“Precisely as you surmise.” Bai Zhi confirmed with a nod. “Thus, for the past few days, we have endeavored to remain constantly by Ranxin’s side, lest she encounter peril during moments of solitude.”

“Then she is truly to be pitied.” A mournful expression settled upon Bastet’s face. “There exists no documented instance of a victim targeted by a Shadow Beast successfully escaping its clutches. That child, I fear, is undoubtedly doomed.”

“Is the situation truly so dire?” Bai Zhi could not help but inquire.

“It is precisely that dire.”

Bastet’s countenance grew grim as she articulated each word with deliberate precision.

“It is generally held that only two paths exist for liberation from a Shadow Beast: one, the demise of the prey; the other, the destruction of the Shadow Beast itself.”

“Then, could we not simply devise a method to eliminate the Shadow Beast that has fixated upon Ranxin?”

“Alas, that is an impossibility.”

Without even a flicker of hesitation, Bastet promptly dismissed Bai Zhi’s notion.

“Even if I were to intervene, it would prove impossible?”

“Even should you intervene, it would remain an impossibility.”

Having delivered her resolute answer, Bastet let out a helpless sigh.

“That is precisely why I declared the child beyond salvation. While a Shadow Beast’s inherent combat prowess may not be considered paramount, it possesses an exceedingly troublesome characteristic: an immunity to virtually all forms of attack.”

“Allow me to illustrate with your own example, Bai Zhi. Your strength is undeniably immense; even the most formidable champions of Granzenias would likely succumb to your might. Yet, could even you obliterate your own shadow?”

Bai Zhi contemplated for a moment, arriving at a conclusion, before slowly shaking her head.

“A Shadow Beast is precisely such an entity. It is, in essence, composed of an innumerable host of shadows, rendering it impervious to direct interference and incapable of being slain by conventional means.”

As she spoke, Bastet deliberately paused, allowing Bai Zhi to fully absorb the weight of her words before she continued.

“Naturally, given their shadowy nature, abilities such as Holy Light, which can instantly generate intense illumination, can suppress Shadow Beasts to a certain extent.

So, having Rena, a follower of the Holy Light, stay by the young girl’s side can indeed protect her safety.”

“However, that can only achieve expulsion at best, not truly eliminate a Shadow Beast. And Shadow Beasts, on the other hand, are extremely persistent and patient creatures; they are willing to wait for months, even years, solely to ensure the demise of their prey.”

“And do you possess sufficient energy and patience to dedicate an entire lifetime to safeguarding that young girl?”

“…Rena will, one day, need to return to her original world. Nevertheless, I can protect Ranxin indefinitely; if it merely involves emitting strong light, I should be capable of that.”

Bastet’s feline tail struck the floor with a resonant thud, before she posed a profound, soul-searching question.

“If that is the case, what then becomes of the young girl? She would be compelled to remain perpetually by your side, effectively bound by your presence. Would she willingly consent to live out her entire life in such a manner?”

“This…”

Bai Zhi was rendered utterly speechless by the pointed inquiry.

“Furthermore, even if you were to reach a consensus, offering uninterrupted, twenty-four-hour protection to that girl, would there not inevitably come a time when weariness sets in, leading you to relax your vigilance?

At that juncture, the girl would still be devoured by the Shadow Beast… what meaning, then, would all your arduous efforts have held?”

“……”

Bai Zhi’s mind completely seized, leaving her unable to utter a single word for a prolonged moment. Observing her distraught state, Bastet’s expression softened with a touch of pity.

“If I were to offer counsel, rather than allowing that child to cling to unrealistic hopes, it would be far more compassionate to reveal the truth to her, enabling her to spend her remaining time in as much joy as possible.”

“But… I have already promised Ranxin that I would save her…”

“I have already stated that it is an impossibility! Even for you, it remains so.”

“But I… still refuse to abandon her. I must save her!”

“Bai Zhi, you are not a deity. Even a god cannot rescue every single individual.”

Bastet calmly articulated the stark reality, her countenance serene.

“Moreover, to aspire to accomplish everything is, in itself, an act of profound arrogance. Oh, Guardian of this world, you undoubtedly wield immense power; perhaps no adversary is worthy of mention before you.

But what of those dilemmas that cannot be readily resolved through mere combat?”

“…Even then, one should not disregard someone crying for help right before them! If I did, what right would I have to be called a ‘Guardian’?” Bai Zhi murmured softly.

“That is not disregard; it is merely being beyond one’s capacity.” Bastet offered a comforting tone. “This city has been exceptionally well-protected by you. No one will fault you.”

“But all this was originally because of me…”

Suddenly, an unsettling quiet enveloped the room. The lone person and the cat within it both fell into a synchronized silence.

Bai Zhi bit her lip, her face etched with a look of fierce unwillingness.

Bai Zhi’s rationality impressed upon her that everything Bastet had just articulated was undeniably true, and that Ranxin was indeed destined to perish, merely a question of when.

She could even resort to comforting herself with platitudes such as ‘all humans must eventually die’.

Yet, her emotions vehemently refused to accept such a narrative.

Bai Zhi’s mind incessantly replayed the scene of her first encounter with Xia Ranxin, recalling how the outwardly strong girl had wept and pleaded for succor, remembering the myriad experiences they had shared over the past few days…

She simply could not reconcile herself with making the cruel decision to passively watch Ranxin meet her end.

In a sudden flash of insight, Bai Zhi realized she seemed to have overlooked some crucial aspects all along. It was these seemingly insignificant details that reignited her unwavering confidence in saving Ranxin.

“…Bastet, let me confirm once more: you stated that a Shadow Beast is a creature formed from aggregated shadows, and aside from its vulnerability to intense light, there exists no other means to inflict harm upon it, correct?”

“Precisely. That is why I declared the child beyond salvation,” Bastet affirmed.

“And… members of the Crimson Moon Clan are essentially formidable warriors; they should not possess any means of generating powerful light, should they?”

“At least I have never heard of them possessing such abilities.” Bastet’s brow furrowed. “Why do you suddenly inquire about this?”

“Because, if that is the case, a most peculiar contradiction arises.” Bai Zhi clapped her hands together excitedly, her spirits rekindled.

“In truth, Rena and I only came to know Ranxin after she had already become entangled with a Shadow Beast. Prior to that, the Shadow Beast had, in fact, already attacked Ranxin.”

“……”

“According to Lin and Ranxin’s own verbal accounts, Ranxin was walking home when she was suddenly assaulted by a Shadow Beast concealed within the shadows, and then…”

Bai Zhi drew a breath, articulating each word distinctly.

“Then, ‘Lin engaged in a fierce struggle with the Shadow Beast, and Lin successfully repelled the Shadow Beast’.”

“Wait! That’s impossible!”

“Indeed, it is impossible.” Bai Zhi’s lips curved slightly upward. “And that, Bastet, is the very contradiction I wish to bring to your attention.”

“If we adhere to your previous description, Lin actually possesses no inherent capacity to repel a Shadow Beast, and thus, naturally, could not have ‘fiercely struggled’ with one.”

“Could Lin have been fabricating the story…?”

Bastet ventured a guess, though it was clear that even she found this rather preposterous notion difficult to believe.

“What you propose is certainly a possibility, but I believe the likelihood of it occurring is rather remote.”

“Is it because you trust Lin’s integrity?”

“That is only one facet of the reason.” Bai Zhi nodded. “The more pivotal evidence lies in the fact that Ranxin survived her initial confrontation with the Shadow Beast and met us completely unscathed.”

“!”

“It seems you’ve realized it too.” Bai Zhi smiled.

“According to your description, none of Lin’s attacks would have had any effect on a Shadow Beast. Therefore, it could have utterly disregarded Lin and leisurely ‘devoured’ Ranxin right before her eyes.”

“…Yet, the actual circumstances were quite different. Despite facing no substantial danger, the Shadow Beast still fled, granting that unfortunate child an opportunity to seek your assistance.”

Bastet seamlessly continued Bai Zhi’s line of thought.

“But why would it have done that?”

“Only one possibility can be deduced.” Bai Zhi analyzed. “Under those specific circumstances, some unknown factor emerged, and it was this very factor that compelled it to flee.”

“Specifically, what do you mean?”

Facing Bastet’s question, Bai Zhi revealed a confident smile, leaning closer to the feline.

“Actually, I already have an idea. However, it might require your cooperation…”