Chapter Thirty-Two: The Insect-Fire Cat

Atop the stone pillar, the black cat bathed in crimson light sat immovable as a mountain, radiating overwhelming dominance while howling incessantly at us. Its cries thundered like the beat of a demon’s gong, echoing the summons of spectral soldiers with a surge of ghostly energy and a sky-shattering wave of blood.

Though I was no feline, the emotion and intent woven into its voice were unmistakable to me—clear as day. That soul-rending howl was both a trumpet for attack and an outlet for the King of Lanterns’ fury and deep dissatisfaction.

Under its wrathful command, the swarm of fireflies that had been crawling around us suddenly sprang to life. Like soldiers obeying their general’s orders, they buzzed feverishly. At first their noise was faint, a whisper like flowing sand or water, but it swelled as each insect pushed itself to shine with all its might, resonating like the clash of drums and bells.

Amid this clamor, the swarm began to rise, hovering in the air and resonating with the “blood insects” at the King of Lanterns’ tail—like scattered stars beneath a crimson curtain.

To our surprise, the insects did not attack us directly but swarmed toward the black cat perched atop the stone figure’s head. Spiraling beneath it, they seemed to armor the King of Lanterns in a luminous shell, moving faster and faster around it until they formed a dazzling sphere of light. That sphere engulfed the cat, casting us all into stunned silence.

As I gazed at the extraordinary union of insects and cat, it dawned on me: could this be the legendary “assembly of spectral soldiers”? What would these “soldiers” do under the Lantern King’s command?

I could not foresee what would unfold, but as I stared at the chilling sphere, I instinctively knew that to wait for its assault would mean certain death.

So I turned and pushed Zhao Hong, whose face was drained of color, gesturing—what should we do?

Zhao Hong was clearly shaken by the spectacle, but he seemed to know more than I did. Staring at the cigarette in his hand, he suddenly spoke, “Insects fear fire. Let’s set the forest ablaze!”

His words, no less shocking than the black cat’s display, suggested a desperate, scorched-earth tactic. I was dumbstruck by the idea. Little Ah Si, badly injured, shook his head, “No! Burning the forest is a crime—we’d go to prison, the forestry law says—”

“Forget the law!” Zhao Hong grabbed Ah Si, handed him a cigarette, and growled, “Do you want to die like a dog, or just do some jail time?”

Zhao Hong’s reasoning left none of us with objections. The memory of Dudu the black dog’s gruesome demise was too vivid—devoured alive by the swarm, a punishment more horrific than slow slicing. He was right; there was no better option.

Resigned, each of us lit at least two cigarettes and edged toward the clearing. Using the smoke as cover, we carved a path through the swirling insects and reached the forest’s edge, preparing to ignite our jackets.

But just then, the King of Lanterns—charged with energy—finally exploded into action. Sensing our escape, it broke free from the sphere of fireflies, streaking toward us with glowing green flames and a furious roar.

This King of Lanterns was nothing like before. Turning, I saw it surrounded by ghostly green poisonous insects, burning around it like nether fire, turning its body—except head, tail, and limbs—into a blaze of eerie green.

Beautiful, yet chilling.

Amid the infernal flames, the King of Lanterns charged at us like a mythical beast immersed in fire, its eyes blazing with red fury.

I shouted, “Zhao—!”

Zhao Hong spun around at my call, hurling his freshly ignited jacket toward the charging King of Lanterns.

At once, a bright wall of fire blazed between us and the demonic cat. Triumphant, old Zhao howled, “Burn, you bastard! Goodbye!”

He snapped some leafy branches off nearby trees and tossed them onto the burning jacket, thick smoke billowing as the fire spread rapidly.

Faced with what seemed an impassable wall of flame, our spirits instantly eased. For all the King of Lanterns’ ferocity, it was still just a beast—a mere messenger at best, no match for the human mind.

Through the fire, I watched the King of Lanterns continue its charge, amused. I wondered—wasn’t it supposed to be formidable? Come on then! Let’s see whether its nether fire or our wild blaze is stronger!

The King of Lanterns answered me in action.

To my astonishment, it did not retreat, but plunged straight into the smoke and flame.

So uncanny!

Outside the fire barrier, all three of us were stunned. The fireflies—normally terrified of fire and smoke—not only refused to flee, but madly threw themselves onto the flames around the King of Lanterns. For every insect that died, ten or twenty more replaced it, swarming with wild devotion, shielding their black cat master and helping it cross the wall of fire unharmed.

A surge of ghostly green flame, streaked with blood-red light, burst forth amid the smoke and fire.

In the midst of wailing and shrieking, it was as if a demon lord had descended.

The King of Lanterns’ leap through the fire shocked us to our core, and what followed was deadly.

Once across, the King of Lanterns transformed again into a glowing sphere, the fireflies swarming around it and launching at us like a violent storm.

The first target was Zhao Hong, closest to it.

The sphere bounced on the ground, then suddenly slammed into Zhao Hong’s chest. Amid a surge of green light, I heard a guttural cry. The fat Zhao Hong was thrown five or six meters, crashing through several small trees before coming to a halt.

When he steadied himself, I saw his shirt torn where the sphere struck, fireflies clinging to the wound, voraciously gnawing at his flesh.

Zhao Hong groaned, thoroughly incapacitated.

In a panic, little Ah Si grabbed a burning branch and hurled it at the King of Lanterns.

Yet the “nether fire sphere” surrounding the King of Lanterns did not evade, but opened a “mouth” in its center, swallowing the smoky torch whole. The sphere’s color shifted from green to purple.

When the purple glow faded, the sphere spat out the charred branch, striking little Ah Si in the body.

With a shriek, Ah Si was hit and sent flying, landing hard and unable to rise.

Two attacks, two men down.

As if to demonstrate its power, the King of Lanterns emerged from the nether fire, its cat head glaring at me with bloody red eyes, letting out a piercing cry—a reminder that fire was now useless.

But I did not cower. Instead, a surge of rage overtook me.

Zhao Hong’s injury filled me with fury; Ah Si’s sacrifice gave me a chance to strike back.

They were my comrades, bound to me like insects on a string. Especially old Zhao, who had been dragged into this disaster because of me, risking everything for my sake and now gravely wounded.

Such loyalty left me deeply indebted, and that guilt transformed into the strongest anger.

Driven by rage, all I could think of was vengeance. This intent burned as fiercely as the King of Lanterns’ fury—equally terrifying.

At last, I found renewed resolve.

Abandoning all fear, my heart blazed with a single purpose: vengeance for Wang Hou and Zhao Hong.

Avenge my comrades! Avenge myself!

I glared at the King of Lanterns, now a spectral monarch, and shouted, “Come!”

You harm my comrades, I’ll destroy your power! You kill my brothers, I’ll annihilate your army!

In a flash, I seized a thicker burning branch and charged at the King of Lanterns!

This time, the King of Lanterns did not dodge or attack; it faced me head-on, emerging from the nether fire with its black head and bloodshot eyes, howling at me.

Its cry, like a command, sent its surrounding insect swarm quivering violently.

Immediately, the insects surged at me like a tidal wave, devouring half my body in an instant.

Assailed by the storm, I watched in horror as my sleeves were torn apart by the swarm, bullets of insects ripping at my flesh.

The pain was soon replaced by numbness.

There is truth in the saying: enough bites, and the pain fades.

At first, I could burn swathes of insects with my torch. Though the swarm, driven by the King of Lanterns’ will, no longer feared fire, that didn’t mean they were immune to its flames. Some, addled by smoke, lost direction—even when crawling onto me, they wandered aimlessly instead of attacking.

For a while, thanks to my torch, I managed to avoid the worst of the bites despite being surrounded—at most, my limbs suffered dozens of wounds.

Even so, the damage was dire. I knew the insects carried toxins that could numb nerves, rapidly draining my strength.

After ten seconds or so, I was barely holding on. As my torch dwindled, I swung it at the swarm, forcing them back for a moment, and retreated several steps toward the fire wall.

The heat gave me a brief reprieve.

By now, the flames behind me were waning, but the smoke remained thick.

Glancing back, I realized that in the humid summer forest, fire would struggle to spread.

When the wild fire died, so would we.

No more delays! This was my last chance!

Before the swarm could regroup, I grabbed the largest, hottest log and unsheathed my army knife, charging desperately at the King of Lanterns!

...Seven or eight meters ahead stood the King of Lanterns, its demonic silhouette still protected by the round “nether fire,” its eyes and tail glowing like searchlights.

Seven or eight meters back, I was hunched and scarred, toxins clouding my mind, unable to curse aloud—only able to scream hysterically.

Between us lay a curtain of insects, surging like a tidal wave to crush me.

With smoke billowing, I had no retreat; in the sea of spectral insects, no lifeboat.

For everyone’s sake—fight to the death!

With fire and blade flashing, I charged ahead.

My target: the King of Lanterns!