Cat Demon Raising Manual - Chapter 14

The accidental marks left by the kitten on the rice paper had become part of the painting. Shen Qingyan was quite satisfied with this piece, it was the first time in years she felt her hand guided by inspiration.

And all of this was thanks to a little cat that had unexpectedly wandered in.

Shen Qingyan’s gaze fell on Hua Wangxuan, who was now full of energy again, scratching at the corner of the table, trying to sharpen her claws.

Shen Qingyan effortlessly stopped her and coaxed, “If you behave, I’ll prepare something delicious for you.”

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Hua Wangxuan, as if understanding her, stepped forward and gently kissed Shen Qingyan’s fingers, her eyes gleaming with anticipation for the treat.

Shen Qingyan chuckled softly; she had never seen such a greedy little cat.

The studio, tucked away in an alley, was actually a renovated ancient residential building. At the back, a small door led to the courtyard where Shen Qingyan lived. She had placed an order for fresh meat, vegetables, and fruits, arranging for a delivery service to bring them to her door.

Carrying bags of various sizes, Shen Qingyan’s slender wrists were marked with clear red lines from the strain. Hua Wangxuan curiously followed behind her, sniffing incessantly. Catching the scent of meat, she wagged her tail excitedly, acting more like a happy puppy than a cat.

Shen Qingyan had never prepared cat food before, but common sense told her that plain, unsalted ingredients should suffice.

She pureed the chicken and beef, finely chopped the pumpkin and apple, and even sampled a piece of apple with a toothpick, it was juicy and crisp. Hearing the sound, Hua Wangxuan grew restless, circling around and meowing anxiously.

Shen Qingyan, amused by her own efforts, paid little attention to the kitten. She continued blending the meat, mixing it with the fruits and vegetables, and finally added an egg to the paste, which now resembled dumpling filling.

Taking a moment to glance at Hua Wangxuan, she reassured her, “Don’t worry, I won’t shortchange you. I’ve used plenty of ingredients, more than enough for you, you little glutton.”

After calming Hua Wangxuan, Shen Qingyan added a bit of water to the meat paste and steamed it in a pot. As for the remaining ingredients, she decided to make a soup for herself.

She cut the beef into chunks and soaked them in cold water to remove the blood.

The difference between humans and cats is that cats love the taste of raw fish, while humans prefer to eliminate any fishy odors.

Shen Qingyan blanched the beef in cold water, adding slices of ginger, scallions, and cooking wine. As the water came to a rolling boil, she frowned and skimmed off the foam with a spoon to get rid of the unwanted smell.

Those who cook often don’t have much appetite for eating, and Shen Qingyan was no exception. Though she had little desire to eat, cooking was one of the things that brought her joy.

After removing the impurities, she refilled the pot with water and let it simmer over low heat. She added corn, lotus root, and carrots one by one. As time passed, the water bubbled in the pot, and the amber-colored broth simmered with a gentle gurgle.

The aroma was so enticing that Hua Wangxuan began clamoring at her feet.

Shen Qingyan bent down, the tasseled pearls on her accessory swaying in the air. With her crimson-tipped finger, she pressed it gently against Hua Wangxuan’s nose and said in a husky voice, “Quiet now. Haste makes waste, and you can’t rush a good meal.”

As expected, the next moment, Hua Wangxuan chomped down on Shen Qingyan’s finger.

Hua Wangxuan didn’t bite hard, and Shen Qingyan could clearly feel the kitten’s wet tongue licking her fingertip, its sharp teeth gently nibbling on her finger.

Annoyed, she pulled her finger away, a glistening strand of drool stretching and dripping to the floor.

Shen Qingyan expressionlessly turned on the faucet to rinse her hands. Hua Wangxuan seemed to sense her mood, guiltily letting out a low, soft “meow.”

I know I was wrong, but please don’t withhold my food.

Hearing Hua Wangxuan’s coaxing voice, Shen Qingyan snorted lightly and raised her fingers to inspect them closely. Fortunately, the skin wasn’t broken.

She lifted the lid of the steamer, and steam billowed out. Her striking features flickered in and out of view within the mist, like an enchanting ghost.

She poured the meat along with its broth into a cold celadon bowl. Placing the bowl on the cutting board to cool, Shen Qingyan thought to herself that she wouldn’t take her anger out on a little creature by letting it near scalding hot food right out of the pot.

Once the heat had mostly dissipated, Shen Qingyan touched the side of the bowl with her fingers, warm, just right.

Hua Wangxuan had been waiting for a long time. The moment the bowl was placed in front of her, she eagerly lowered her head, her tongue swiftly scooping up the steamed meat. She made delighted “nom nom” sounds as she ate, splattering broth everywhere, her whiskers trembling with each bite, thoroughly enjoying the meal.

Shen Qingyan chuckled softly. As a chef, seeing a diner enjoy their food brought her a sense of satisfaction, even if the diner was just a cat.

Hua Wangxuan slurped up the broth, panting with a “hiss” when the food was too hot for her tongue, yet she couldn’t slow down. In no time, she finished the entire bowl and let out a satisfied burp, still craving more.

Shen Qingyan scooped up a spoonful, blew on it gently to cool it, and took a small sip. Her eyes relaxed with contentment.

Just then, she suddenly felt something furry wrap around her bare calf. Looking down, she saw Hua Wangxuan rubbing against her leg with her tail, putting on an ingratiating act.

“What, still not full?” Shen Qingyan ignored the cat’s presumptuous intimacy, thinking only how easily this cat could be coaxed. If she ever encountered someone with ill intentions, she would have been harmed long ago.

Shen Qingyan spaced out for a moment, only to realize she had been staring at the cat’s tail for a while. The fur looked incredibly soft, and she imagined it would feel nice to touch. She reached out and stroked it, but as her fingers left the tail, she noticed a few strands of orange and black fur stuck between them.

“Little calico, you’re shedding quite a bit, huh?”

Hua Wangxuan, who had been floating on cloud nine from the petting, immediately bristled at Shen Qingyan’s remark. She stretched out a paw, gesturing wildly in the air, meowing loudly as if cursing vehemently.

Hua Wangxuan hated nothing more than people commenting on her shedding. Every single strand of her fur held significant meaning to her. Seeing the obvious clumps of cat hair on Shen Qingyan’s pale, glowing palm, her heart ached, and she twitched her mouth in distress.

“Shedding is normal this season. With fur as thick as yours, you probably won’t go bald,” Shen Qingyan teased, intrigued by Hua Wangxuan’s strong reaction.

This great feline ruler will never go bald! Hua Wangxuan shot a remarkably human-like glare at Shen Qingyan, proudly lifted her chin, and withdrew her fluffy tail.

With her belly full, Hua Wangxuan felt it was time to attend to some serious feline business.

She walked out of the kitchen and into the courtyard. In the center of the yard stood a peach tree, lush and thriving, its branches heavy with budding blossoms. The tree was tall and flourishing, some branches even stretching beyond the fence.

Hua Wangxuan’s cat eyes darted around, her tail held high as she strutted over to the base of the peach tree. She found a spot where the soil was soft and began scratching at it with her paws.

Shen Qingyan, who had also just stepped out, looked at Hua Wangxuan’s actions with confusion. Her peach-blossom-like eyes, usually captivating, now held a trace of bewilderment. Seeing Hua Wangxuan squatting with her butt pressed against the ground, her small face scrunched up like a longevity peach, Shen Qingyan sensed trouble and hurried toward her.

“No defecating or urinating anywhere! Filthy creature!”

A creature is at its most vulnerable when answering nature’s call, and cat demons are no exception.

Hua Wangxuan stared in terror as Shen Qingyan stormed toward her, looking as if she were about to launch a tirade. Her buttocks clenched, and she felt the onset of constipation.

Dragging her bottom, she retreated step by step, trying to evade Shen Qingyan’s grasp.

“Stinky cat, what are you doing in my yard?” Shen Qingyan could tolerate Hua Wangxuan’s mischief for a while, but she couldn’t stand the idea of her defecating or urinating in her home.

What was she doing? Couldn’t she see she was pooping? Why was she being so harsh? Didn’t humans poop too? Hua Wangxuan chirped and chattered, letting out short, sharp cries to express her indignation.

“Stinky cat, get out of here!” Seeing that Hua Wangxuan showed no remorse and was even cursing at her, Shen Qingyan grew furious. She grabbed a broom leaning nearby, intending to drive Hua Wangxuan away.

For a moment, chaos erupted in the yard. A flurry of floating fur, white, orange, and black, littered the bluestone pavement, starkly visible.

Hua Wangxuan leaped onto the wall in one swift motion, licking her paws with a pitiful expression, her face full of despair as she gazed down at Shen Qingyan below.

Vicious woman! Malicious tigress!

She’d made her lose so much fur.

Shen Qingyan’s face flushed slightly. It had been a while since she’d exercised, and the scuffle had made her break a sweat. Noticing her disheveled hair and damp forehead, she suddenly laughed.

She tossed the broom aside, looked up at the somewhat smug Hua Wangxuan, crossed her arms, and sighed helplessly. “Hey, I won’t chase you away anymore. Come down.”

“I’ll find you a litter box. If you promise not to relieve yourself randomly, I’ll provide you with food long-term,” Shen Qingyan said in a negotiating tone.

Hua Wangxuan lay sprawled on the wall, tilting her head slightly. Still fuming, she turned around, pointing her rear end in Shen Qingyan’s direction, clearly not ready to reconcile so soon.

Shen Qingyan’s eyes flickered, and she walked away.

Hua Wangxuan’s ears perked up subtly as she listened to Shen Qingyan’s fading footsteps. She snorted softly.

No sincerity at all, running off so quickly.

Her tail drooped, her eyes half-closed, and her little head hung low, a wave of melancholy washing over her.

But soon, her nose twitched involuntarily as Hua Wangxuan caught a whiff of something incredibly fragrant.

She turned her head toward the direction of the house and locked eyes with Shen Qingyan.

It turned out Shen Qingyan had gone to the kitchen and brought back a bowl of beef soup, returning to stand beneath her.

“Little flower cat, I’m sorry. Don’t be angry, okay?” Shen Qingyan smiled, her face blooming like a peach blossom, her eyes sparkling like dewdrops, clear and bright.

Hua Wangxuan blinked, still somewhat distrustful of Shen Qingyan.

Such a moody woman. But for the sake of delicious food, the Cat Queen would let it slide for now.

Hua Wangxuan jumped down from the wall. The moment her paws touched the ground, she let out a charming, coquettish “Mmm~”.

She wiggled her hips and approached Shen Qingyan awkwardly, her eyes tinged with caution, wary that the other might suddenly turn hostile again.

Seeing this, Shen Qingyan set the bowl aside and retreated over a meter away, squatting by the doorstep with his knees hugged to his chest.

Only then did Hua Wangxuan eat the beef soup in the bowl with peace of mind, seemingly having forgotten the earlier commotion. For a moment, the atmosphere turned serene and tranquil.

Shen Qingyan observed Hua Wangxuan’s every move, resting his chin on one hand, lost in thought.

This little flower-like cat seemed almost as if it had gained sentience, understanding human nature.

After finishing the meal, Hua Wangxuan cleverly patted its bottom and leaped onto the wall. A glint of mischief flashed in its eyes as it turned back to let out a “meow” toward Shen Qingyan before scurrying away.

“Hey, are you coming back?” Shen Qingyan frowned. Having squatted for too long, his knees had gone numb all at once. Leaning against the door with one hand, he called out.

Unfortunately, by the time Shen Qingyan stood up, even the cat’s shadow had vanished.

With a displeased expression, Shen Qingyan picked up the bowl and remarked in a gloomy tone, “Licked it clean, huh.”