Legend of the Demon Cat 2019

In this eerie retelling of Yang Guifei’s tragic demise, the fabric of reality is woven with threads of supernatural intrigue. The narrative commences with Chunqin, the wife of a powerful army commander, striking a Faustian bargain with an enigmatic talking black cat. In exchange for the cat’s voracious appetite for fish eyes, she is rewarded with a cache of coins which she shares with her husband. This initial transaction sets the tone for a tale replete with otherworldly machinations.

As the story unfolds, a Japanese Buddhist monk named Kukai arrives at the imperial palace to assist Emperor Xuanzong, who is afflicted by a mysterious and debilitating curse. The Emperor’s untimely passing amidst the haunting echoes of cat wails only adds to the sense of foreboding. It is during this somber moment that Kukai crosses paths with Bai Letian, a poet whose magnum opus, “Chang hen ge” (Song of Everlasting Sorrow), chronicles the life of Emperor Xuanzong’s favored concubine, Yang Guifei.

Meanwhile, Chunqin has lapsed into a coma-like state, her fate eerily mirrored by the commander’s wife. As Kukai and Bai Letian delve deeper into the mystery, they discover an otherworldly visage of Chunqin reciting a poem on the rooftops. Kukai believes this apparition to be that of a demon cat, foreshadowing the malevolent forces at work.

The investigation leads them to Yang Guifei’s abandoned residence, where they encounter Chunqin’s ghostly visage once more. This time, she reveals her true identity as Yang Guifei’s beloved feline companion, who was buried alive but managed to escape and exact a terrible revenge by becoming a demon cat.

As the narrative unfolds, Kukai and Bai Letian uncover the dark history behind Chunqin’s transformation into a malevolent entity. The commander, now possessed by this demonic force, ultimately kills his wife before succumbing to madness. This haunting tale of retribution and supernatural despair serves as a chilling testament to the enduring power of ancient curses.

As Bai Letian pored over the pages of his magnum opus, Everlasting Sorrow, he became increasingly consumed by the imperative to unravel the enigmatic tale surrounding Yang Guifei’s demise. His quest for truth led him and Kukai on a journey to uncover the facts, starting with a visit to Qin Yi, the lady-in-waiting of the fabled concubine. However, their hopes of gaining insight into Yang’s final moments were dashed when they discovered that Qin was not present at her passing. The duo’s investigation took a darker turn when they encountered the demon cat, whose malevolent presence claimed Qin Yi as its next victim.

Undeterred by this gruesome discovery, Bai and Kukai pressed on, seeking out the diary of Abe no Nakamaro, the Japanese envoy who had played a pivotal role in the events surrounding Yang Guifei’s death. Through his widow, they gained access to the journal, which revealed a shocking truth: during the chaos that engulfed the royal residence as imperial soldiers closed in, a plan was hatched to save Yang Guifei’s life by feigning her demise through an acupuncture technique that would render her appear deceased for a short period. The intention was to revive Yang once the soldiers had departed, leaving her safe and sound.

As Bai Letian and Kukai delved deeper into the mystery, they discovered that this plan had been put into action, with devastating consequences. Yang Guifei’s lifeless form was placed in a coffin, only to be buried alive within a tomb, accompanied by her faithful black cat. The revelation of this heinous act sent shockwaves through their investigation, as it became clear that the Emperor’s supposed rescue plan was nothing more than a ruse designed to alleviate his own guilt and avoid responsibility for Yang Guifei’s fate.

Ultimately, Bai Letian and Kukai found themselves standing before Yang Guifei’s tomb, where they uncovered the dark truth: the concubine had been buried alive, her life extinguished by the very plan intended to save her. The marks on the coffin walls told a gruesome tale of Yang Guifei’s final moments, as she succumbed to the same fate that had driven Kukai and Bai Letian to seek out the truth in the first place: the unrelenting pursuit of justice for those silenced by the cruel whims of history.

As the solemn rituals conclude at Yang Guifei’s grave, her loyal attendants, Dan Long and Bai Long, stand vigilantly beside their beloved leader’s final resting place. It is then that Dan Long reveals a chilling truth: he was privy to the plan to deceive Yang Guifei and lace her wine with poison, thereby ensuring her eternal slumber. The revelation sends shockwaves through Bai Long’s very being, as if the weight of his friend’s treachery had awakened a long-dormant sense of outrage.

Undeterred by the danger that surrounds him, Bai Long elects to remain steadfast at the grave, even in the face of overwhelming adversity. His unwavering commitment ultimately proves costly, for he sacrifices his mortal coil and imbues his spirit into a majestic black cat. As his essence merges with that of the feline, Bai Long acquires a newfound understanding: Yang Guifei was not, in fact, deceased, but rather buried alive.

The demon cat, now a vessel for Bai Long’s restless soul, returns to the palace and unleashes a malevolent curse upon the Emperor. Kukai and Bai Letian soon find themselves at the tomb, where they are joined by Dan Long, who has since renounced his secular life in favor of a monastic existence. However, their somber reunion is disrupted by the demon cat’s arrival, which sets its sights on Dan Long.

The former attendant stands firm, revealing that he had recovered Bai Long’s lifeless body and interred it beside Yang Guifei’s remains. The demon cat, undeterred, prepares to deliver a fatal blow, only to be thwarted when Bai Long’s spirit manifests as a radiant white crane, which soars away, leaving the feline fiend to meet its demise.

In the aftermath of this bizarre and unsettling encounter, Kukai and Bai Letian are seen strolling through the city streets, with the latter expressing his determination to maintain his artistic integrity, despite the criticism that may be levied against him. Meanwhile, Kukai makes a pilgrimage to the revered Great Qinglong Temple, as instructed by his master. There, he presents Dan Long, now a humble monk, with a sacred sutra and inquires about the latter’s progress toward uncovering the secret to a life free from sorrow.