Chapter 102: The Water-Crossing Gourd Cat

Five minutes later, in the villa’s kitchen.

The two men and a cat were indulging in a feast.

RIO cocktail bottles were scattered everywhere; the floor was littered with bags of marinated snacks and treats. It looked as if the house had been ransacked or a wild party had taken place...

Glug, glug.

The chubby cat demon, who called himself “Master Bear,” held a bottle with both paws and chugged it straight down.

After finishing, he smacked his lips and patted his soft, plump belly with his furry paws, clearly satisfied.

“Hey, tell us about yourself. How did you learn to speak human language?” Fu Yang asked curiously, gnawing on a marinated chicken foot.

Both he and Ah Huang were very interested in this peculiar creature. Seeing it posed no harm, they had let it stay. In fact, they had even “joined forces” to enjoy the villa’s food and drink.

After all, they had helped this wealthy family solve their “evil spirit” problem, so their prized ornamental fish and birds would no longer go missing...

Master Bear propped his two short, stout furry front paws behind his head, leaning against the cabinet like a human, and spoke in a world-weary tone.

“Sigh, it’s a long story. One hundred and sixty years ago, I was tricked by a super villain and did something incredibly foolish. On a full moon night, the sect leaders from Maoshan, Longhushan, and Laoshan united to hunt me down...”

*Pat, pat, pat!*

Fu Yang reached out and patted the furry head of the creature three times hard.

“Meow! Hey, Fu kid, what the hell? I’m a precious panda! Can you afford to pay for injuring me?”

“Yeah, sure! Keep bragging. You’re so fat you get out of breath after a few steps, a weak little demon who can’t even escape a basic trap. And you’re telling me you fought against top Taoist masters? I might as well be the ruler of the underworld…”

“Ah, forget it if you don’t believe me. You two look alright to me, so I’ll give you a chance to take care of me! From now on, I’m sticking with you. You’re responsible for my food, drink, and… everything else.”

Master Bear stood up on his two hind legs like a human, folded his front paws on his chest, and declared arrogantly.

What followed was a beating from Fu Yang and Ah Huang, after which he lay on the floor, barely alive, cursing.

“Ow, my belly’s about to burst… Damn it! How dare you hit a panda?”

Fu Yang and Ah Huang simply ignored him.

This creature probably knew he looked very much like a panda and always fancied himself one. If you didn’t look closely, you might actually be fooled.

“Ah Huang, you’ve been a Taoist for a few years now, seen a lot. What kind of cat do you think this is? I don’t recall ever seeing one like it.”

Fu Yang was curious about the breed of this shameless “Master Bear.”

Ah Huang shook his head, indicating he didn’t know either.

“Oh, so you’re just a rookie? I thought you guys would have caught me by now, must be some awesome Taoists. Looks like I misjudged you. I told you, I’m not a cat, I’m a panda! Look at these classic black circles around my eyes, aren’t they super cute?”

As he spoke, he hopped excitedly up to Fu Yang and Ah Huang, standing on his tiptoes and pointing with his paw to the rings of black fur around his eyes to show off.

Not only shameless, but also a total chatterbox...

“Screw you!” Ah Huang slapped his own forehead, and Master Bear glared at him, shooting daggers with his eyes.

“Wait! I just remembered! I know what breed this shameless cat demon is!”

Ah Huang stared at Master Bear for a moment, then suddenly shouted excitedly, his eyes glowing green and looking terrifying.

“You… what are you planning? I’m telling you, Master Bear here is on par with the top Taoist masters... Ah! Let me go, you bastard! Meow, meow...”

Master Bear cried out in a pitiful voice.

Ah Huang had grabbed the big, fat cat’s short, thick legs and started running toward the yard.

“What are you doing?” Fu Yang followed curiously.

Meanwhile, Master Bear shouted and struggled, “You little bastard! Let go of your Master Bear, or I’ll scratch you! Meow, meow...”

But the struggle was futile.

Ah Huang ran to the pond and plunged the big cat’s head underwater with excitement and fanaticism.

Fu Yang was shocked.

“Ah Huang, what’s gotten into you? Suddenly so righteous you want to kill the cat demon? It hasn’t done anything bad, surely not necessary...”

“Don’t talk nonsense! I just want to test my theory and see if this thing can breathe underwater.”

Breathe underwater?!

Fu Yang was stunned, incredulous. Watching Master Bear’s short legs struggle desperately, he really feared Ah Huang might kill the creature!

After all, though this fat cat demon was foul-mouthed and liked to curse, he seemed basically good-natured, not an evil spirit.

Two minutes, five minutes...

Master Bear didn’t move.

“Hey Ah Huang, you didn’t actually drown it, did you?”

Seeing Master Bear motionless, his neck fur drifting in the water, Fu Yang was uncertain.

His expression was awkward.

“No way, killing it would be a huge sin. Killing innocents breaks the Taoist heart, and cultivation would plummet.”

Ah Huang anxiously pulled Master Bear out.

“Master Bear? Master Bear! You’re not dead, are you?”

He poked the white, plump belly hard.

*Pfft...*

Master Bear suddenly opened his mouth and sprayed a huge mouthful of water, soaking Ah Huang’s face and head!

Fu Yang and Ah Huang were stunned on the spot.

“Hahaha! Take that, little Huang! I’m powerful and mighty, just gave you a lesson.”

Master Bear laughed uproariously, his voice lascivious and shameless, rivaling the sleaziest male actors in Japanese adult films.

Damn it!

Ah Huang was furious but then thought better of it, turning to Fu Yang and shouting, “I was right! This thing can breathe underwater and won’t drown. It’s one of the legendary Nine Mystic Cats—the Water-Gourd Cat!”

Water-Gourd Cat?!

Fu Yang couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the goofy name.

Master Bear, still shaking the water from his head, was surprised.

“Damn! Didn’t expect you little Taoist to have some real knowledge despite your weak cultivation. Longhushan’s foundation is solid. You even know about the Nine Mystic Cats?”

This time, he didn’t argue about being a panda or deny Ah Huang’s claim that he was a Water-Gourd Cat.

“What are the Nine Mystic Cats? And what is a Water-Gourd Cat?” Fu Yang asked, genuinely curious.

After all, he was still new to this world and knew little of its secrets and lore.

So Ah Huang began to explain the legend of the Nine Mystic Cats...