Cat Demon Raising Manual - Chapter 19

Xiao Bai was originally a pet cat. Her previous owners were a heterosexual couple, and she lived in a cat bed that the female owner often cleaned, it was very tidy, and she loved it.

The female owner would gently call her name, feed her, and clean up her litter.

But after the male owner lost his job, his temper grew increasingly violent. Not only did he become physically abusive toward the female owner, but he also nearly threw Xiao Bai to her death. Eventually, they broke up. The female owner tried to claim Xiao Bai from him, but the male owner refused and kept her captive.

Since the male owner often forgot to refill her food and water while gaming, Xiao Bai couldn’t bear it any longer and seized an opportunity to escape.

Thus, Xiao Bai became a stray cat. A stray silver tabby with zero hunting skills.

Life as a stray was tough. She often went hungry, and sometimes encounters with other cats turned hostile, she might even get beaten up. Xiao Bai kept retreating to more secluded places until she found her current home.

Hei Bai was one of the few friends Xiao Bai had made. She felt that Hei Bai possessed a quality humans might call “the spirit of a ranger.” Today, Hei Bai was bringing a distinguished friend to seek her help. She heard this guest was the ruler of the entire vast district, possessing great abilities and powers. Xiao Bai felt both excited and a little afraid. She worried the other might find her ugly.

Although humans seemed to like her appearance, other cats looked down on her. That’s why she ended up as a stray. Fortunately, she hadn’t gotten unexpectedly pregnant, a small mercy amid her misfortunes.

“Duo Duo, what’s wrong? No appetite?” Seeing that Duo Duo had left a lot of cat food in her bowl, Xu Xiyun, whom the other workers referred to as “the boss”, squatted down and stroked the little white cat’s head.

Xu Xiyun wore a white hard hat, the same color as Duo Duo’s fur, which gave Duo Duo a sense of recognition. Xiao Bai, also known as Duo Duo, rubbed against the slightly rough palm of her hand.

Xu Xiyun didn’t come around often at first, but since she started feeding Duo Duo, she visited almost every day. Because of this, the workers on the construction site often gossiped behind her back.

Xu Xiyun was the chief supervisor, the core person in charge of supervision at the site. Because she now inspected the construction site daily, frequently noting quality and safety issues and ensuring timely corrections, the workers grumbled that she was nitpicking.

But they didn’t dare offend her to her face, after all, she was a high-ranking leader and represented the client. Some mid-level supervisors even reduced their visits to foot-washing parlors, and the workers below didn’t dare tell crude jokes. Rumor had it that Xu Xiyun was quite principled and not someone to mess with.

Although Xu Xiyun’s name sounded gentle and refined, she wasn’t tall but had a reassuring presence. Her ear-length short hair framed a somewhat wild-looking face with small freckles on both cheeks and skin that wasn’t particularly fair. Her demeanor resembled that of ethnic minorities from mountainous regions. She had a sturdy build, rumor had it she practiced Muay Thai and once broke two ribs of a foul-mouthed idiot with a single punch.

But in a cat’s eyes, Xu Xiyun was like a cloud radiating soft light, showering her with sweet rain and saving her from the brink of death.

This was the gift she had prepared to entertain her visitors. Duo Duo knew that stray cats often went hungry, so she cherished food all the more. She worried that Hei Bai and the distinguished guest might go hungry.

Suddenly, a familiar meow reached her ears, it was Hei Bai calling for her. Duo Duo happily raised her tail and responded with a few meows of her own.

Realizing Xu Xiyun was still nearby, Duoduo hesitated and didn’t immediately dart out from under the shed.

“Oh, so a friend has come to find you.” Xu Xiyun had clearly heard the other cat’s calls too. Seeing that Duoduo wasn’t frightened but was instead responding in kind, she chuckled cheerfully.

“Alright then, I won’t disturb your little gathering.” Seeming to understand the situation, Xu Xiyun glanced at Duoduo, who was lowering her head somewhat guiltily, teased her lightly, and then walked away from the shed toward another area.

After walking some distance, Xu Xiyun seemed to spot two swift feline shadows darting past. A quick glance revealed a somewhat familiar black-and-white cat and a large, long-haired calico.

The “neighborhood watch” of the cat world and the “Liu Yifei” of the cat world, both seemed like good cats who wouldn’t bully Duoduo. Judging them by their appearances, Xu Xiyun felt reassured.

Heibai, ever the social butterfly, immediately brushed his tail against Duoduo. In contrast, Duoduo seemed a bit reserved, offering a shy smile and not daring to look directly at Hua Wangxuan.

Hua Wangxuan sat gracefully to the side and let out a friendly meow. Duoduo flinched at the sound, taking a step back, but Heibai encouragingly nudged her head. Embarrassed by her own overreaction, Duoduo blushed.

She stole a quick glance at Hua Wangxuan, and her face flushed even more. She’s so beautiful, not ugly like me.

Would such a pretty cat really want to play with an ugly one? Duoduo’s tail drooped dejectedly.

Seeing this, Hua Wangxuan didn’t wait for the lower-ranking cat to initiate contact. Instead, she elegantly approached Duoduo. Being a size larger, she easily reached Duoduo’s head and gently licked it a few times as a gesture of goodwill.

Overwhelmed by the attention, Duoduo lowered her head, feeling Hua Wangxuan’s warmth. Tears of emotion even welled up in her eyes.

“No need to be afraid. From now on, you’re my little sister. With my scent on you, no other cat will dare bully you,” Hua Wangxuan promised. After all her years of cultivation, her aura was distinct from that of ordinary cats.

She even boasted boldly that if a tiger ever saw her, it would have to address her respectfully as the Cat Queen.

Of course, those two mad dogs were exceptions. Rabid animals couldn’t be judged by normal standards, and at the time, she had been in a weakened state, her demonic energy depleted from overcoming a tribulation.

With her energy reserves dwindling, she had used most of it to heal her body. Otherwise, her originally ugly, rat-like tail wouldn’t have regrown its fluffy fur so quickly.

Now, having recovered somewhat, Hua Wangxuan’s confidence had returned in part.

“Heibai must have told you why I’m here. I just need information about those two mad dogs,” Hua Wangxuan said solemnly.

Duoduo held her breath, her ears flattening slightly against her head, sensing that a storm was brewing. She swallowed nervously and nodded to show she understood.

“They arrived in this area about three days ago. I was hiding among the crowds and accidentally caught a glimpse of them, it made me tremble all over. At first, they would let out terrifying howls at night. Some workers searched for them but gave up when they found no trace. I heard humans say that dogs with rabies will definitely die, usually within a week. Lately, I’ve only heard occasional hoarse, strange noises. I think they’re probably close to death.”

“Alive or dead, I need to see them with my own eyes,” Hua Wangxuan said expressionlessly, though her heart tightened at Duoduo’s description.

Could it be that with no effort at all, the enemy dogs were really going to die before her?

Seeing is believing, Hua Wangxuan decided to search for traces of the rabid dogs.

Duoduo sighed and pointed in a direction, taking the lead as she ran to the nearby area.

Hua Wangxuan stopped Heibai and Duoduo from advancing further. “I’ll go ahead alone. You two go back and wait for my news.”

Heibai glanced at Hua Wangxuan with concern, knowing she was always firm in her decisions, and persuaded Duoduo to return with her.

Hua Wangxuan carefully observed her surroundings, wary of any sudden movements, ready to prevent a rabid dog from lunging at her. The terrain here was as complex as a maze, with many empty rooms. No wonder the humans hadn’t found the two rabid dogs in such a short time.

Relying on her exceptionally keen sense of smell, Hua Wangxuan detected the lingering foul stench in the air. She followed the scent as she moved through the building, her paws picking up traces of lime.

Observing the layout around her, she noted that some flat areas were too open, while certain loft-like structures had no connecting passages, making it difficult to take cover. A long-distance chase would put her at a disadvantage.

She ran to the highest point to survey every corner below. The wooden planks leaning against the walls, the nails and screws in small boxes, perhaps these could be put to use.

The rabid dogs couldn’t climb and had limited jumping ability. Hua Wangxuan’s gaze shifted elsewhere.

There didn’t seem to be any narrow passages. Otherwise, she could have lured the dogs into gaps between walls or fences, using her cat-like flexibility to slip through while the dogs would get stuck due to their size and be unable to pursue.

After assessing all possible routes, Hua Wangxuan silently formulated a plan in her mind, her steps growing even lighter. Her eyes were like searchlights in the dark, sharp and cautious.

The stench in the air grew increasingly nauseating. Whether due to rising temperatures or not, the number of flies around had multiplied.

After setting up her traps, Hua Wangxuan listened carefully. An abnormal, eerie screech suddenly pierced the air.

Hua Wangxuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, and she held her breath. The sound was coming from the direction of the underground parking lot, on the first basement level.

She needed to lure the snake out of its hole.

As she walked through the corridor, a faint green glow emanated from a corner. Hua Wangxuan darted past, seemingly hearing the sound of rodents chewing.

The temperature on the first basement level dropped abruptly, carrying a chilling, damp feeling.

As Hua Wangxuan passed by a small compartment, her eyes tightened, and her steps became even more silent. She was disgusted by the scene before her.

A gray dog lay like a discarded rag, covered in chaotic, pitch-black, filthy bloodstains. Several green-headed flies buzzed around the torn wounds. Blame her sharp eyesight, she could even see wriggling white maggots feasting on the corpse.

Clearly, the gray dog had already died. Its pale, bulging eyes stared blankly, whether from succumbing to illness or falling victim to its own kind.

The other dog, a black one, was crouched over the corpse, tearing at it frantically. Its mouth revealed a ghastly, bloodied maw with bared fangs, drool dripping everywhere. Its eyes reflected a mix of madness and dullness.

The air was thick with the stench of rotting flesh and the metallic tang of blood. Rats scurried nearby.

Even the sight of rats, which were on her diet, made Hua Wangxuan nauseous, the smell was simply unbearable.

The small stone she held in her mouth now had a purpose. With a flick of her front paw, she sent it flying, striking the black dog squarely on the head.

The black dog froze momentarily, stopping its frenzied tearing.

Seizing the opportunity, Hua Wangxuan let out a deliberately provocative, taunting meow.

Sure enough, the headless black dog was quickly provoked. Fresh prey was always more appealing than rotten meat, especially with the irresistible aura emanating from Hua Wangxuan. The black dog abandoned the gray dog and chased after Hua Wangxuan’s fleeing figure.

Following the route she had memorized, Hua Wangxuan moved as swift as the wind. Yet, fearing the black dog might lose patience and give up, she glanced back provocatively while racing ahead at breakneck speed.

As she reached higher floors, she narrowly avoided being pounced on once, pushing over stacked wooden planks to create obstacles and force the black dog to take detours.

Arriving at the trap location, Hua Wangxuan held a box filled with screws and thumbtacks in her mouth. She shook it behind her, scattering the contents all over the path.

Just as expected, the black dog following closely let out a sharp cry of pain. The agony only fueled its ferocity, making it charge even faster.

The distance between them rapidly closed. Hua Wangxuan dashed toward the empty space ahead, a gaping abyss that seemed to swallow everything. It looked as though she was walking right into a trap or being driven to the brink by the mad dog.

Only a step away, the destination loomed, a beckoning hell.

The black dog’s frenzied eyes gleamed with triumph.

It believed it was about to catch the cunning, detestable prey. It would tear her apart, rip out her intestines and organs, force her to beg for mercy, and bite off her tail while she was still alive.

The black dog reveled in its delusion.

The next moment, that delusion shattered.

Hua Wangxuan slammed to a halt, using the feline ability to shift instantly. She grabbed the elevator railing and scrambled upward.

Since the building was still under construction, the elevator shaft was empty, devoid of any installed equipment. It was essentially a tunnel stretching across three floors, with walls as smooth and impenetrable as steel.

The black dog, carried by its momentum, couldn’t stop in time.

Moreover, Hua Wangxuan had set it up deliberately. Just as the black dog was half a step from falling into the shaft, she leaped down, stomped hard on its head, and sprang back out.

Screeching claws and desperate barks echoed through the tunnel.

After what felt like an eternity, a final dull thud ended the black dog’s life.

Hua Wangxuan stood at the edge of the shaft, calmly looking down at the scene below, then leisurely licked her paw.

Soon, she heard familiar human voices growing louder and more chaotic. Seizing the opportunity, Hua Wangxuan swiftly slipped away.