Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Guardian

When he awoke, Wu Jue felt as though he were lying on muddy ground, his body oddly sore and numb, yet not as though he had been shattered into pieces.

Strange—he had survived after all. Could it be he was not dead yet?

Wu Jue raised his head and glanced around, about to take in his surroundings, when he unexpectedly saw a furry face.

A small yellow kitten was curiously inspecting him, one paw stretched out as if it wanted to touch his face.

When it saw Wu Jue awaken, it swiftly withdrew its paw and turned around to leave.

The kitten’s familiar movements were difficult to believe from a creature scarcely the size of a palm. Wu Jue sat up, finding the little cat quite suspicious.

What kind of place was this? Everything felt so strange.

He examined his surroundings more carefully and could vaguely make out what seemed to be a garden, filled on all sides with various flowers and plants. A narrow path led to the garden’s end, where the small cat continued to walk ahead.

So he got to his feet and tried moving. To his surprise, he could still walk, so he followed after the kitten.

Before long, he seemed to see a door appear ahead, and the kitten sat at the threshold, lowering its head to lick its paw.

The door was likely locked tight, impossible to open, so the kitten waited there in frustration. Wu Jue couldn’t help but walk around the cat, curious to see what lay beyond the door.

Unfortunately, the door was fastened with an ancient bronze lock. As Wu Jue reached for the lock to examine it, the kitten tugged at his pant leg, as if to warn him off.

Wu Jue nearly laughed aloud—this kitten was so humanlike! Did it know what he was doing, or was there some danger beyond the door that it didn’t want him to discover?

He crouched down and faced the kitten, asking, “Kitten, do you know where I am?”

The little cat shook its head, mewing innocently. As Wu Jue was pondering this oddness, he felt a breeze brush over his head.

He looked back to see a man in a silver suit sitting atop the wall, smiling as he gazed down and said, “Liang’er, you’ve kindly brought me another guest, haven’t you?”

With that, the man floated down, gave Wu Jue a courteous bow, and said, “My apologies if my pet has caused you any inconvenience. Please don’t take it amiss.”

From the effortless grace of the man’s descent, Wu Jue could tell he was no ordinary person. He bowed in return and replied, “You’re too kind. Perhaps your kitten even saved my life.”

The man smiled faintly and beckoned to the kitten. “Liang’er, come here.”

Obediently, the kitten trotted over, climbed into the man’s hand, and settled upon his shoulder, meowing once toward Wu Jue.

The man’s brow furrowed slightly. “More guests have arrived.”

Wu Jue sensed others intruding as well. Turning, he saw several people approaching, shouting, “Ming, stop hiding! Even if you flee to the ends of the earth, someone will still come for you. The world’s already at its end, yet you still guard humanity’s great treasure, refusing to hand it over?”

Each of the newcomers brandished firearms, aiming menacingly at Ming and his kitten, Liang’er. Clearly, they had come seeking vengeance.

Wu Jue quietly drew a breath, adjusting his own energy. If it came to a fight, things would not be easy.

Even so, he moved forward a step, positioning himself in front of Ming, intending to help.

But Ming simply gestured, saying, “Guest, there’s no need for you to worry. I’ll handle matters here.”

Wu Jue found himself unable to control his body, which moved aside on its own, as Ming turned to the intruders, waving a hand. “Do you really think you can force your way in here?”

“Why not?” the leader retorted, snapping off the safety on his pistol. But as he tried to fire, his body froze where he stood, powerless to act.

A faint smile played across Ming’s lips as all the assailants halted at a distance. He spoke: “Within these walls lies a treasure called Eden. Not just anyone can barge their way in. Even you mercenaries, ruthless as you are, cannot.”

“Liang’er, go,” he commanded.

With a roar, the yellow kitten on his shoulder suddenly grew to many times its size, leaping forward in a blur and devouring the killers one by one, leaving no trace behind.

In the blink of an eye, the battle was over. Liang’er let out a satisfied burp, shrank back to kitten size, and hopped back onto Ming’s shoulder.

Ming stroked its head fondly. “Good job. Next time, don’t wander off.”

Wu Jue watched in awe—this was nothing short of miraculous. Neither the man nor the cat was ordinary. Could they both be wielders of supernatural power?

Ming turned to Wu Jue, smiling with deep meaning. “Normally, no one who comes here is meant to survive. But you are destined to enter the treasure. For the sake of humanity’s future, you must live on.”

“Wait—what is this place, and who are you?” Wu Jue’s curiosity burned. The man’s power, his mystery, and the treasure he protected were all beyond his reach.

“You’ve heard of the First Emperor’s tomb—the legendary treasure of myth,” Ming replied with a graceful smile. “But that is only the tip of the greatest treasure in the world, the source of human civilization since the dawn of time. We call it the Miracle.”

“There are several scattered sites of these miracles across the world. In the West, they call it Eden, or Solomon’s treasure. In China, it’s the Tomb of the First Emperor, the Great Wall. The treasures open at different places and times each year, and I am their guardian.”

“You may call me the Guardian.” Ming drifted back atop the great door, sitting quietly. “Wherever the treasure opens, I will appear.”

“Then why did you save me?” Wu Jue still could not comprehend all he had experienced. “The world outside is already in chaos, yet you still guard treasures no one can enter.”

Ming was silent for a moment, then said, “If you think yourself worthy to enter, you are welcome to try at any time. Until then, learn to strengthen yourself.”

With a wave of his hand, Wu Jue felt a powerful force propel him, and in a heartbeat, he was flung far away.

He seemed to fly a great distance, and when he landed, he felt momentarily dazed.

He found himself once again in a strange place—a familiar cityscape, the groans of zombies, and the sounds of battle in the air.