Guardians of the New Moon: The Year of the Rat by Eric Huang and Phùng Nguyên Quang

Author:Eric Huang and Phùng Nguyên Quang
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Little Tiger Press Limited
Published: 2025-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

Ming groaned. They needed help from someone who knew how to banish ghosts. Miaow. She dashed off to get him.

Ming returned from the Drum Tower with Miaow close behind. As soon as he spied the spirits, he lunged! Sensing the presence of a temple cat, the ghostly forms shrieked. But when they realised their pursuer was just a rat, the watery waifs fell into puddles of laughter.

Ming had to do something. She rushed into the fray and shot balls of fire at the spirits, but it was no use. They were evenly matched, fire and water cancelling each other out until both sides were exhausted.

A soaking-wet Ming, Miaow and Su crouched together, surrounded by the spirits. “I didn’t mind getting wet when I was a rat,” Su said. “But being a wet cat is the worst!”

“You have to find your inner cat to vanquish these ghosts, Su!” Ming declared.

“How?!”

“Miaow will teach you!”

Miaow shook his head. “Su doesn’t take anything seriously.”

“Because it won’t work,” Su added. “I’m just a rat. I’m scared of sea spirits!”

Ming persisted. “Please try, Miaow. You know it’s our only chance.”

Miaow nodded in reluctant agreement. “Fine. To vanquish a spirit, you have to look them in the eye.”

Su closed her own eyes and shook her head. “I don’t want to look at those spooky spirits!”

“Once they make eye contact, pounce!”

Su protested. “They’ll just look away!”

“Not if you caterwaul.”

“Cater-what?!”

“Caterwaul, a cat’s howl,” Miaow explained. “It compels spirits and ghosts to look you in the eyes.”

“Then what happens?” Su asked. “Will I become … possessed?” The hair on her back stood up.

“Breathe,” Miaow directed. “Focus your thoughts on sending the ghost home. Then howl from deep within your gut.”

“OK,” Su mumbled. “Deep breath … focusing … focusing…”

“You can do this!” Ming encouraged her, noticing a sea spirit creeping closer. They looked curiously at what the strange cat and rat were doing. Su could’ve easily made eye contact but her eyes were still shut tight.

“Open your eyes!” Miaow shouted.

Su took another deep breath. “I can do this!” she said. She opened her eyes, stared at the sea spirit and summoned her most terrifying caterwaul ever.

“Meow?”

The sea spirit spilt to the floor in uncontrollable laughter.

Su collapsed as the terror took over, shouting, “Ghost! GHOST!” while covering her eyes with her paws. At the same time, a group of monks had spotted Miaow. “There’s the rat!” they shouted and cornered him in one of the halls. Ming watched her friends in alarm. One was cornered and one was cowering – it was all up to her!

Summoning her magic, the nine-tailed fox transformed into her human girl form and pushed her way confidently into to the middle of the group. “Excuse me, that’s my pet rat!” she announced and walked right up to Miaow. She picked him up, then hurried away without waiting for a response. As soon as they were out of sight of the gobsmacked monks, Ming ducked into the secret corridor that Su had shown them earlier.

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