A Little First Love Shock for the Demon Lord - Chapter 20.2
“Excuse me,” she said gently, stopping just behind the cat.
Startled, the white cat sprang away, back arched in alarm, glaring at her suspiciously.
“Sorry! I didn’t mean to frighten you,” Ying Ning quickly apologized. “I just wanted to ask—do you know a civet cat named Xiaoli? Do you know where she is?”
The white cat narrowed its eyes and studied her for a long moment. Then, slowly, it lowered its guard and returned to lapping at the river.
“Or maybe… a very fat orange cat? Do you know one?” Ying Ning leaned forward hopefully.
The white cat said nothing, continuing to drink as if she weren’t there.
Ying Ning scratched her head in confusion.
Was it ignoring her? Or did it simply not understand what she was saying?
She hesitated, then tried again—this time in “cat language.”
“Meow meow meow~ meow meow~ meow meow~ meow meow~”
Before she could finish, the white cat looked up with an incredulous expression and said, in fluent human speech:
“Are you… mentally unwell?”
Startled, Ying Ning blinked in surprise, but recovered quickly.
“Oh! I thought you only understood meows.”
The white cat gave a haughty snort.
“I understand humans just fine. I just didn’t feel like responding.”
Then it turned and walked away.
Ying Ning hurried after it.
“Wait! About those two cats I mentioned—do you recognize them?”
“No,” came the curt reply.
“What about other cats nearby? Maybe they know?”
The white cat stopped in its tracks and glanced back, annoyed.
“Don’t bother. None of us will tell you anything.”
“Why not?”
“You’re a stray we’ve never seen before. Why should we help you?” it said dismissively.
Ying Ning hadn’t expected cats to be so territorial and exclusive.
Still, she persisted.
“Then… can I join you?”
The white cat gave her a sideways look.
A pretty calico, true—but she was awfully thin. And they needed strong cats, not delicate ones.
“No,” it said bluntly. “You’re too weak. You’ll either starve or die of illness in a few days. We don’t take in useless strays.”
Ying Ning forced a smile.
Being insulted by a cat wasn’t on her bingo card for the day.
“Actually, I’m really strong,” she said with as much confidence as she could muster.
The white cat ignored her again.
Ying Ning slowed her steps, then reached into her cloth bag with a claw and pulled out a small ball of nepeta (catnip). She caught up and placed it gently in front of the white cat.
“If you take me to meet the others, I’ll give you this.”
“Who cares ab—”
The cat’s words cut off. It sniffed the air, eyes going wide. In an instant, it dropped to the ground and began rolling ecstatically on the ball of nepeta.
“Meooow~ Where did you get this?!?”
Ying Ning giggled.
“I picked some while gathering flowers for Minglou. I have plenty more. If you help me, you can have all of it.”
The white cat’s eyes sparkled.
“Deal! Follow me!”
________________________________________
Ying Ning was led to a small cave at the foot of a hill. Hidden by branches and leaves, it was nearly invisible from the outside.
Inside, dozens of glowing feline eyes watched her warily.
A fat orange cat lay deep in the cave, sprawled lazily on a tattered quilt.
Ying Ning immediately recognized it.
“It’s you! I’ve been looking for you! Do you know Xiaoli? Can you take me to her?”
The orange cat turned its head slowly and regarded her with disdain.
“Xiaoyu, who did you drag in this time?”
Ying Ning’s smile faltered. Last time they’d met, she had been human. No wonder it didn’t recognize her now.
“Boss, she brought catnip! Tons of it!” Xiaoyu said eagerly.
The orange cat perked up.
“Let’s see it then.”
Ying Ning moved her paw to her bag but hesitated.
“Tell me where Xiaoli is first. Then I’ll give you everything.”
The orange cat’s eyes narrowed. It stood, its bulk shifting with effort.
“This is my territory. You don’t make the rules. If you’re here, you give me your stuff!”
Immediately, the surrounding cats stood, baring their fangs.
Ying Ning took a breath, forcing herself to stay calm.
“Fine. What do I have to do for you to answer my question?”
The orange cat tilted its head, amused by her composure.
“Fight me. Beat me, and I’ll tell you.”
Ying Ning glanced at its size. Fat and sluggish—but at least it was only one opponent.
“Okay. How do we fight?”
The cat smirked and raised a paw.
“Paw wrestling. Whoever keeps their paw on top wins.”
Ying Ning blinked.
“That’s it?”
“That’s the rule. No one has ever beaten me.”
She nervously extended her paw.
The orange cat chuckled smugly.
“You’re so skinny, I’ll let you go first.”
She placed her paw on his.
“Begin.”
At once, Ying Ning pressed down with all her strength.
A crack echoed through the cave.
The orange cat yowled.
“MY PAW!!”
Startled, Ying Ning pulled back. The orange cat curled up, whimpering.
The room fell silent—then erupted into cheers.
“She won! She’s the new boss!”
Ying Ning looked around in confusion.
Wait… she won?
The orange cat growled.
“I wasn’t at my best! She got lucky!”
Xiaoyu asked, “Should we do another round?”
The orange cat smirked slyly.
“No. Let’s test her for real.”
________________________________________
The cats led her to an open space. In the center lay something mysterious.
The orange cat pointed.
“That’s a deadly monster. It’s killed many cats. Defeat it, and I’ll respect you.”
Ying Ning inched closer…
A… cucumber?
She stared at it, then called back, “This is your monster?”
“Yes! Terrifying! Go destroy it!”
Suppressing laughter, Ying Ning crushed the cucumber under her paw, then returned.
“Done.”
All the cats stared at her in awe.
The orange cat groaned.
“Fine! You win! You’re our boss now!”
Ying Ning laughed awkwardly.
Being boss wasn’t so hard—
Until all the cats lined up.
“Boss, lick us all so we smell like you!”
Yingn Nng: “…More than thirty of you?!”
“Actually, I’m in a hurry. Can I meet Xiaoli first?”
________________________________________
The orange cat, somewhat embarrassed, finally agreed and led her to a towering tree deep in the forest.
“She’s under the tree. Walk left twice, right twice, then left once. Say ‘Kitty is invincible,’ and you’ll find her.”
Ying Ning followed the instructions, then shouted,
“Kitty is invincible!”
Silence.
Then the ground disappeared beneath her feet.
She was falling—
Into a pitch-black abyss beneath the tree.
And she still had no idea what was waiting at the bottom.