Cat Demon Raising Manual - Chapter 1

She comfortably curled herself into a shape resembling a…

Sunlight filtered through the leaves of the plane trees, and a figure the size of a small dog moved nimbly across an outdoor air conditioning unit, as light as a swallow.

Upon closer inspection, it was a long-haired calico cat, its soft body unevenly covered in black, orange, and white fur. The M-shaped orange patch on its forehead looked like a tiny crown. At the tips of its ears were tufts of long “wisdom fur,” which twitched alertly at the fluttering sounds of sparrows on distant branches.

This calico cat was no ordinary animal. She was the only cat demon in Maocheng who had not yet transformed into human form since the founding of the nation. For a cat demon to transform, it must endure nine levels of thunder tribulations. Those who fail will permanently lose their spiritual power, and some may even perish. Hua Wangxuan, lacking sufficient spiritual energy, had long hesitated to face the tribulations. Today, however, she was preparing to undergo the eighth level.

But the day was bright and sunny, filled with the songs of birds and the fragrance of flowers—hardly the kind of weather one would associate with thunderstorms.

Hua Wangxuan’s heterochromatic pupils contracted in the sunlight, turning into shimmering orbs of gold and green. Her left eye, a vibrant emerald, resembled a spring willow pond, while her right eye, a deep gold, evoked the image of autumn kumquats. The entire cat exuded an otherworldly beauty.

She needed to reach the mountaintop by noon to absorb the most potent and scorching innate spiritual energy, preparing for her tribulation later that night.

Today was Saturday, coincidentally Arbor Day.

Mingxi High School had decided to organize all teachers and students of the advanced placement class to visit Maocheng’s highest peak, Tutu Mountain, for a tree-planting activity. Three school buses were parked at the entrance of Mingxi. As an advanced placement class, whether specializing in liberal arts or sciences, the students were intensely competitive, and few had volunteered to participate—with the exception of Wu Wei.

She had eagerly signed up but was reluctant to wake up early.

“Wei-jie, the bus is about to leave. I saved you a front seat,” Zeng Rong called out, leaning out of the window and waving her arm at the girl who was strolling leisurely over. A smug smile played on her face.

The girl was exceptionally tall, even taller than most of the boys in her class. Dressed in oversized school uniform, she appeared as slender as a bamboo pole draped in a garbage bag from a distance. Her gait was unhurtered, yet she carried herself with an upright posture, like a sturdy pine tree, without slouching despite her height.

Hearing her deskmate Zeng Rong’s words, the girl lifted her eyelids, revealing a nonchalant gaze. Though she didn’t quicken her pace, her long legs brought her to the bus door in just a few strides. As she stepped onto the bus, she lowered her head and ducked under the doorway, casually taking the seat next to Zeng Rong.

“Wei-jie, why are you so late?” Zeng Rong asked, fawningly handing Wu Wei a bottle of mineral water.

Wu Wei let out a yawn, her eyes heavy with sleep and dark circles beneath them, clearly not having gotten enough rest.

“Stayed up late studying,” Wu Wei retorted irritably. Her wheatish complexion gave her a wild, untamed aura. The wolf-cut hairstyle, which teachers had repeatedly urged her to trim since she started school, had stayed with her throughout her three years of high school. A small bun sat at the back of her rounded head, and a Hello Kitty bandage was stuck to her face. She looked less like a top student from the advanced placement class and more like a delinquent troublemaker.

“You’re such a joker,” Zeng Rong remarked, rolling her eyes discreetly. Everyone knew that Wu Wei from Class 1, Grade 12, was an eccentric prodigy—not only highly intelligent but also exceptionally talented at basketball. She was a sports student who ranked at the top in written exams, a true oddity. Yet, she had little interest in studying and was often involved in trouble, frequently getting into fights with local troublemakers near the school.

Zeng Rong gazed at Wu Wei’s strikingly defined face—the sharp jawline, thick eyebrows, and sculpted features that blended heroic vigor with delicate refinement—and couldn’t help but sigh at nature’s favoritism. Not only had Wu Wei been gifted with exceptional academic talent and a fit, graceful physique, but she also possessed unparalleled beauty.

Yet it was a pity: when Wu Wei was ten, her parents had both perished in a plane crash, leaving her a substantial inheritance. To prevent meddlesome relatives from causing trouble, her elderly grandmother, Wan Jinhua, cut ties with the family and moved with her granddaughter from a first-tier city to Maocheng, a third-tier city, where she bought a home in the Xiangyanghua residential area.

Wu Wei rolled up her sleeves, revealing forearms the color of flowing honey, with lean, well-defined muscles that made Zeng Rong marvel. “Wei-jie, your arms are so powerful—one punch could probably send me to the heavens.”

Wu Wei effortlessly twisted open a bottle cap, took a few sips, and cast a calm glance at Zeng Rong. “The class monitor shouldn’t be promoting violence.” Then she added routinely, “Is your homework done?”

Zeng Rong glanced around furtively, placing a finger to her lips. “Shh, I know, I know. It’s in my backpack.”

Once everyone was on board, the bus soon set off. As it passed through the narrow spring streets, Wu Wei frowned slightly, thoughtfully glanced at the roof, then closed her eyes to rest.

On the roof of the bus, Hua Wangxuan stretched her coral-pink paw pads, steadying herself and accidentally leaving two faint scratches. Guiltily, she stuck out her tongue, her curled tail tip lifting and then settling as she coiled up, ready to sleep.

Climbing the mountain on her own would take too long and be exhausting. As a creature with awakened intelligence, Hua Wangxuan wasn’t foolish enough to rely solely on her four paws to reach Tutu Mountain. Using information gathered from her regular patrols, she learned that Mingxi High School within her territory was organizing a trip to Tutu Mountain today. So, she hitched a ride by boarding the bus along its route.

Soon, basking in the sunlight, Hua Wangxuan stretched lazily, her throat emitting a tractor-like purr. Her orange tail tip rhythmically tapped the roof, and her round eyes drifted between wakefulness and sleep.

The journey lasted about an hour and a half. Annoyed by the noisy human teenagers, Hua Wangxuan twitched her ears impatiently.

Stupid humans. The world is so miserable precisely because of humans.

A sudden brake sent her sliding forward, her face scrunching uncomfortably against the roof. Irritated, she bared her teeth, and her tail fluffed up like a dandelion.

Disgusting humans. Such terrible driving!

“Is there something on the roof?” the driver muttered, but paid it no mind. Then he announced to the teachers, “We’ve arrived at Tutu Mountain. Please prepare to disembark and remember your belongings.”

Zeng Rong rubbed her eyes and looked out at the spring scenery, sighing, “Grass and trees know spring will soon depart, with all blooms vying in brilliant display.”[1]

“Our class monitor is showing off her literary flair again~” a classmate teased good-naturedly.

“Whoa! I see a wildcat—it’s huge!” The previously poetic Zeng Rong gasped in shock, patting her thigh and pointing excitedly at an orange streak outside the window.

“Sister Wei, did you see that?” Zeng Rong exclaimed with excitement, clenching her fists tightly. She had always heard there were wild animals on Tutu Mountain, but this was her first time witnessing them with her own eyes.

Wu Wei raised an eyebrow slightly in the direction Zeng Rong pointed, the corner of her mouth curling into an almost imperceptible smile as she shook her head. “I didn’t see anything. You must be seeing things.”

Wu Wei had arrived empty-handed, but when she got out of the car, she was carrying bags of all sizes—all filled with snacks and drinks Zeng Rong had brought along, as if they were on a picnic.

And it pretty much felt like one.

Wu Wei glanced at the teachers who had brought their families along and was left speechless.

It was worth mentioning that Shen Qingyan, the most popular teacher at Mingxi High School, was also participating in this event.

Shen Qingyan was their art teacher, who ran a studio named after herself on Spring Street. With looks as dazzling as a TV star, she was adored by appearance-obsessed crowds everywhere.

As if sensing Wu Wei’s gaze, the woman in the linen shirt turned around. Her upturned phoenix eyes seemed veiled in an ever-present mist, and the vermilion mole at the corner of her eye disappeared into the shadows as she narrowed them.

A jade hairpin shaped like a peony was tucked into her hair, yet it didn’t come off as tacky. Instead, the jet-black strands, accented by that touch of jade green, exuded an ethereal and elegant aura.

Shen Qingyan gracefully tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her rose-red lips curving into a slight smile as she nodded toward Wu Wei. Then, with effortless poise, she thanked the teacher beside her who had helped carry her drawing board.

Tch, a femme fatale. Wu Wei averted her gaze and pursed her lips.

She didn’t know why she had taken an instant dislike to Shen Qingyan the first time she saw her, but she had always followed her own instincts.

If she disliked someone, she disliked them—no reason needed.

“Class monitor, keep up. These saplings are almost as tall as you are. You can just water them later.” Wu Wei’s words were sharp, but her heart was soft. Though she sounded dismissive, she didn’t forget to carry the heavy items herself.

Meanwhile, Hua Wangxian darted swiftly through the mountain forest, reaching the summit in just over ten minutes. She found a patch of sun-warmed grass.

Her tail held high, she slowly padded out from the shade into the sunlight. The tip of her tail tested the temperature first, then she arched her back, stretched her front paws straight out, unsheathed and retracted her claws a few times, patting the grass before finally sprawling her round, fluffy body out entirely.

She comfortably curled herself up like a flaky pastry, resting her chin on her front paws while her tail swayed leisurely, as if sweeping away fine, floating dust.

Soon, her breathing deepened, and a soft purr began to rumble, her long white whiskers twitching slightly.

Such perfect weather—ideal for a lazy nap. Hua Wangxian closed her eyes and began her slacker-style cultivation.

She had heard that other shape-shifting cat demons had fully integrated into human society. Some studied hard, took college entrance exams, pursued postgraduate studies, or even became civil servants, securing stable futures. Others, blessed with business acumen, became financial magnates, living in luxury. And some, adored for their human forms, turned into household-name celebrities, never wanting for food or comfort.

As a lone cat with no one to rely on, Hua Wangxian was quite envious. But she had always been easily content. As long as she survived her heavenly tribulation and found a few servants to cook and entertain her, she would be perfectly satisfied.

Humans were such cunning and deceitful creatures—she was afraid she might not be able to resist their wiles. So her criteria for choosing servants were simple: obedience, obedience, and more obedience.

She believed she had great feline virtue, unlike other fickle cats who were always changing their minds and desires. Even after settling in a permanent home, they still chased after novelty and yearned for freedom their entire lives. She was different—she only needed two or three regular spots to call home.

Hua Wangxuan was so moved by her own thoughts that she rolled over, exposing her snow-white belly to the sky to absorb more balanced sunlight.

So, dear heavens, please bless her and ensure she successfully overcomes her trials!