C22 The Hunt Begins!(1)

"Master Shu, what's that smell?"

"That's to throw the hounds off our scent," the short, sleazy old man replied, donning a mouse mask. "We had a Chongqing hotpot with Ling before coming here."

"Where's Ling?" Rui asked, looking around but not spotting her other companion.

"She couldn't handle the spice, went to get some Wang Zai milk."

Rui's stomach growled; she hadn't eaten since noon and was feeling the pangs of hunger. She was out of cash, and her phone was still Shen Xiang's—the unlock code remained the same, though he'd changed the payment password.

Indeed, Rui had contemplated using his money to grab a bite, but... that plan had fallen through.

"Could you get Ling to bring me some dried fish?" she asked, quickly adding, "I need to eat to keep my energy up for work."

"Ling, did you catch that? Rui's asking for dried fish," Master Shu relayed into his wireless Bluetooth earpiece, then after a pause, he responded, "No more dried fish. How about shredded squid?"

"Make it three packets, not two," Rui said decisively. "I'll pay her back later; my phone's with Ann."

Master Shu moved closer to Rui, both of them concealing themselves at the alley's corner. "Our target's still down there."

"Hasn't moved?"

"It has," Master Shu said, pulling out his phone. "Fed it a mouse with a tracker, but the signal's spotty in the pipes."

"What's the status of the creature?"

"As for this old man, I'm clueless," Master Shu admitted with an awkward smile. "Rats aren't exactly conversationalists. They won't tell me much, but... it's devoured over a hundred since this afternoon. Rui, once we find this thing, what's your plan?"

Just then, a rustling from a nearby tree preceded the descent of three packets of shredded squid. Rui caught them, tore open the plastic with her teeth, and while snacking, mused, "I'm not sure. If it can be saved, I'll take it in."

"Like you did with me and Ling back in the day?"

"Exactly."

Master Shu chuckled. The leader, seemingly cold and unfeeling, had a tender side after all. Back then, he and Ling, the bird, had been holed up in a rice storehouse, gorging on rice in a frenzy. But evolution demanded more energy than mere grains could provide; what they really needed was blood food.

So, the two of them had this absurd idea of eating each other. But when a mouse and a bird go head-to-head, it's a pathetic sight – neither could land a decisive blow, and their skirmish remained inconclusive.

Later, Rui, who had already transformed into a human, showed up. At first, she feared she might become Rui's next meal, but instead, Rui brought a feast of fish for her and Ling to enjoy. It was after this meal that she finally overcame the last obstacle in her evolution and took on human form.

Animals aren't known for their logic, but they do possess instincts, like feeling an innate fondness for the first human they see after transforming. That's what led to the creation of their unnamed organization, dedicated to blending into human society.

He was just a mouse, after all. Mice love to eat, and human cuisine is so varied. Most animals are afraid of fire and loathe cooking, and he had no real interest in violence – he just wanted to enjoy some good food and live in peace.

And then there's that silly bird overhead.

Master Shu glanced up and remarked, "That one's a real piece of work, the epitome of vanity and a love for beauty, always dreaming of stardom. All the hard-earned money goes straight to a new wardrobe."

He's a pro at splurging on clothes but would never dream of going Dutch on a hotpot meal.

"Master Shu, if you stare at me one more time, I'll peck your eyes out!"

"Hey, silly Ling, we haven't even settled our dinner tab yet."

"Well, I haven't settled with you either! Your messy eating stained my brand-new skirt, and now I've got to figure out how to get it dry-cleaned!"

"Enough, you two, cut it out." Rui popped the last strip of squid into her mouth, wadded up the wrapper, and expertly tossed it into a distant trash can. She was well aware of the ongoing tension between the two, likely stemming from a past altercation, but it was all bark and no bite.

"It's time to get moving. Let's draw this guy out again, toward the factory district. With the Spring Festival approaching, it's practically deserted. We'll handle things there. Master Shu, it's your move."

"Ling, cover the cameras if you need to."

With a swift acrobatic move, Rui leaped onto the rooftop ahead, surveying the area from her elevated vantage point. The current calm was deceptive; she sensed the turbulent undercurrents hidden beneath.

In the sewers below, swarms of rats launched an assault on their target. Their attacks were harmless, but enough to provoke irritation, much like humans swatting at a relentless onslaught of mosquitoes – too many to kill, prompting a retreat to a different spot.

Birds soared above the city, their keen eyes shielding it from the prying lenses of surveillance cameras at the slightest hint of disturbance.

She tuned into the whispers of the wind, patiently awaiting the arrival of her unsuspecting prey.

"Clang!"

"Rui, check the manhole cover a hundred meters to your six!"

"Rui, by the auto factory warehouse!"

Both the bird and the mouse reported in unison. At the sound, Rui was already in motion, leaping from her perch. Her tail, unable to contain its excitement, slipped from her pocket and swished animatedly.

"Wuu..."

Her throat emitted a low, resonant hum, akin to the rumble of an engine, accelerating the flow of blood in her veins, elevating her blood pressure, electrifying her cortical neurons, and enhancing her physical agility.

Her gaze, marked by striking blue vertical pupils, zeroed in on the mud-caked monster below.

With claws extended and a burst of speed, Rui moved silently, her presence as imperceptible as a shadow, her breath and footsteps soundless.

"Hohoho."

A creature, resembling an orange tabby the size of a car, burst from the manhole cover onto the street, its fur teeming with countless squeaking black rats. It rolled on the ground in a fit of rage, seemingly trying to crush the persistent vermin with its sheer mass.

The creature bore no resemblance to the orange tabby Shen Xiang once knew. Its fur was patchy, its exposed skin marred by ruptured blood vessels, oozing fresh blood. It growled, a sound far removed from any feline's cry, as it furiously swatted the rats from its body.

Seizing a handful of fleeing rats, it stuffed them into its gaping maw, the stench of blood filling the air. What it had consumed during its disappearance remained a mystery.

In an instant, a shadow darted past. The "big cat," oblivious to the change, continued to gnaw on the rats it had plucked from its flesh. It was only when a deep, bone-revealing gash suddenly appeared on its hind leg that it exploded in a flurry of fur, leaping up to confront the unseen threat behind it.

Rui flicked her hand, casting off the remnants of flesh and blood, and peered down at the grotesque creature with a furrowed brow.

It was enormous.

She had experienced evolution firsthand and witnessed it in others. This was yet another cycle of absorption and re-evolution. Initially, their size would gradually increase, but at a certain point, both human and animal traits would emerge. Following a period of rest, their hair would shed, their bones would reshape, and their animalistic features would recede. Eventually, they would emerge anew, fully grown into a naked humanoid form.

However, the process of enlargement wouldn't be overly exaggerated. At most, the creatures would grow to the size of an average human. Due to variations in age and individual size, their lengths would differ. She knew that the most sizable individual, a black bear, had evolved to stand 2.1 meters tall. Smaller mammals, like Master Shu and Ling, would measure somewhere between 1.45 meters – Ann was simply too young, only a few months old at the time of evolution, which is why her transformed stature resembled that of a child.

Yet, the orange tabby before her was excessively large. She estimated that not even large feline species like tigers or lions could begin to anthropomorphize at such a size. The cat was comparable to a small car, and showed no signs of human-like features. On the contrary, its body was covered with revolting growths.