Is this what a zombie is?

23. Let's play hide-and-seek!

Jiang Chen said nothing and followed the prison guard out.

He could sense that the gazes directed at him had lessened in their playfulness and malice, and were replaced by scrutiny and assessment.

To gain a foothold in this chaotic place, making an example of someone to establish authority was the fastest way, so he did not choose to remain silent.

Why did you hurt him?

"His eyes were so lewd, that kind of gay look made me feel nauseous, can you imagine?"

"Um……"

The prison guards understood that everyone was feeling stifled, but there was nothing they could do about it.

"The Ai family contacted us and asked us to 'take good care' of you."

The captain snorted and stubbed out his cigarette.

"But taking care of people is not the same as indulging them. This is Blackrock Prison, not someone's backyard."

"No matter how powerful you are, you still have to follow the rules here, understand?"

"clear!"

I'm a troublemaker now, so I need to be disciplined, otherwise the prison guards won't have any authority.

"You understand. You've caused trouble. According to the rules, you'll be locked up for 24 hours. Go inside and reflect on your actions."

So Jiang Chen was taken to a small, confinement room.

Jiang Chen didn't mind being confined; having his own space was good for him.

At least it's quiet, and I don't have to worry about being picked up by soap.

He had no resurrection incense on him and no appetite, so he chose to sit down and enter a standby hibernation state to reduce energy consumption.

After all, we don't know how long we'll be staying here, so we should save where we can and spend where we can.

At the same time, he was meditating, operating on his own according to the visualization in his mind, drawing energy from the air that could be transformed.

It has very little energy, but it's better than nothing.

All he has to do now is wait.

Waiting for the night to deepen and for Cat Master to arrive.

After an unknown amount of time, all the lights in the prison cell area were turned off.

When it was time, the prisoners all went to bed to rest on time.

The footsteps of the patrolling prison guards in the corridor came closer and then faded away, finally disappearing completely.

The entire Blackrock Prison fell into a deathly silence.

Jiang Chen, who had been in a dormant standby state, opened his eyes at this moment.

In his field of vision, it began to swirl and surge above the corridor, like boiling water constantly bubbling.

This undercurrent, unknown to most people, made him wary.

It seems something... has arrived.

Jiang Chen approached the door and peered out through the small viewing window.

At the end of the corridor, a slender shadow stretched very, very long.

She walked this way with graceful, cat-like steps, neither too fast nor too slow.

That silhouette, that posture, those triangular ears, and that wagging tail…

It's a cat, no doubt about it!

Jiang Chen felt relieved; Cat Master had arrived with the package.

However, as the shadow drew closer, Jiang Chen sensed something was amiss.

The shadow was not elongated by the light.

It's just that big...

The footsteps were silent, and the figure slowly approached. Jiang Chen could not hear the footsteps, but he could hear the purring of a cat, a sound as powerful as an imperial engine.

It's a cat, there's no mistake.

As it approached the iron door of the solitary confinement cell, wisps of gray air surged forth like ocean waves, their intense and undisguised malice making Jiang Chen gasp for breath.

Jiang Chen's heart sank.

It's a cat, but not Cat Lord!

Cat Master wouldn't have such strong negative emotional energy. This was the first time Jiang Chen had encountered it. He picked up his guard, held his breath, and slowly backed away, making sure to create a safe distance first.

The next second, a huge, clear amber eye pressed against the small window without warning.

Within its enormous pupils, a vertical slit slowly narrowed, meeting Jiang Chen's gaze from inside the door.

After the two met, the cat took a few steps back, allowing Jiang Chen to get a full look at it.

That was indeed a cat.

A huge calico cat, its size comparable to an adult Siberian tiger.

Its color scheme is quite complex, including orange, yellow, white, black, and brown, and its eyes are heterochromatic.

One was the amber color we just saw, while the other was a deep blue.

A calico cat with heterochromia; if you run into one outside, you'll be running out of luck.

But that's for delicate kittens that you want to raise.

Siberian tigers are so big, and they exude malice from head to toe, so it's best to keep your distance.

Jiang Chen didn't want to provoke it, but it was clearly targeting him.

The giant cat stared at Jiang Chen, and after confirming his identity, its vertical pupils gradually enlarged and became rounder.

With its big, round eyes and kitten-like face, many people would find it cute and harmless.

However, those familiar with felines know that a cat in this state is actually excited and has already prepared its hunting gear.

Awaken, it's time to hunt!

Under Jiang Chen's gaze, it grinned, revealing a human-like smile.

"I...found...you..."

Its voice is clear and tender, like a child's, with a touch of innocence.

But the feeling it gave Jiang Chen was completely different from that of Cat Master. There was always a kind of uncanny valley effect, making him feel uneasy and shuddering.

Who is it looking for?

Looking for me?

Why?

Just because I'm a newbie, I'm being targeted on my very first day. Doesn't this place have a protection period for newcomers?

At this moment, Jiang Chen had many questions in his mind, but the giant cat did not give him time to continue thinking.

It seemed to be annoyed by the obstructing iron gate, and raised one of its huge front paws to give it a casual pat.

"Bang--!"

The iron door of the solitary confinement cell, along with the entire door frame, was slammed open and almost hit Jiang Chen.

After slamming the iron gate, the giant cat shrank in size, gradually shrinking from the size of a tiger to that of an adult cheetah.

It walked in with graceful, unhurried steps.

Just as Jiang Chen was on high alert, the giant cat tilted its head and suddenly said.

"Let's play hide-and-seek!"

ʢ⊙ᴗ⊙ʡ?

Hide and seek?

Jiang Chen was a little doubtful, wondering if he had misheard, otherwise he really would have a hard time explaining this unexpected turn of events.

A giant cat, in the dead of night, banged on the door of the solitary confinement cell, just to find me and play hide-and-seek?

If I tell the prison guards this tomorrow, will they believe me?

Before Jiang Chen could agree, the giant cat announced the rules of the game on its own.

"I'll count to one hundred, then I'll come and catch you. If I haven't found you by dawn, you win."

"What if I lose?"

The giant cat did not answer.

It simply grinned again, its smile even more ferocious than before, revealing its fangs.

The punishment is self-evident.

Without giving Jiang Chen any room to bargain, the giant cat turned around, covered its eyes with its paws, and began to count, word by word.

"1..."

"2..."

"3..."

The childlike and innocent voice echoed in the small space.