The Record of Unusual Creatures

As a werehusky, Lily was the absolute drama queen. Even when half-asleep, the idiot could still stir up everyone in the house with just a few words. In the next half an hour, she and Rollie both received a good scolding…

The dumb cat had already calmed down by now. It slouched on the sofa quietly, the “whiskers” still on her face. In front of the cat girl, Vivian put her arms on her hips and lectured, “You, can’t you be little more sensible? Look at your face, what exactly is that…”

The cat girl’s head sagged further down. “They’re my whiskers…”

“Shut up!” Hao Ren and Vivian yelled in unison.

“How can an animal that cultivated and attained a human form be so dumb?” Hao Ren massaged his temples. “I was wondering why she suddenly asked me for a pen just now? I thought she was finally going to start studying.”

The cat girl muttered, “I didn’t become like this from cultivation…”

“Shut up!” Vivian scolded.

Hao Ren looked at the cat girl, curling into herself on the sofa, and thought she looked ridiculous and funny. He sighed. “When she was a cat, I thought she was quite smart, running around town all the time and even fighting me over snacks. I thought, damn, she’s almost human—and now that she really is, why is she so dumb?”

Vivian rolled her eyes. “Of course she is. You treated her as a cat back then, of course you thought she was smart. By human standards, however, she is at most a functional retard.”

Lily was crouching beside Rollie on the sofa, listening halfheartedly to the lecture. Suddenly, a friendship borne out of rebellion seemed to be blossoming between the cat and dog. Lily muttered under her breath, “How long do you think Battie’s going to go on for?”

“I don’t know meow… Big Dumb Cat, why do you keep wagging your tail? Are you looking for a fight?”

“Who’s looking for a fight with you? It’s just a greeting!”

“… Are you crazy? Greetings are done like this, listen—growl, growl.”

“Are you looking for a fight?! Why did you growl at me?!”

It seemed that the budding friendship would take some time to develop…

Hao Ren and Vivian were still discussing intently on the cat girl’s future education when they heard her suddenly meowed sharply. They turned just in time to see the cat girl pounce on Lily’s head and scratch viciously. Lily the useless fool was instantly defeated, lying on the sofa helplessly. The werehusky had overcome most of her fear of Rolly when she turned human, but she was still subconsciously afraid of the cat, and now she could not even put up a fight.

Hao Ren and Vivian had to halt their discussion on the cat girl’s education to stop the fight between the cat and the dog. As they pulled both ladies away from each other and inquired further, the reason for the fight became clear to them. Hao Ren slapped himself in the forehead. “You two, how could you even… I can understand why Rollie is ignorant, but Lily, as a vet, shouldn’t you have known why cats and dogs fight? Why do you still fall for it?”

Lily combed through her hair and mumbled, “Now I remember… Besides, she started it.”

“You two should stay away from each other.” Hao Ren glowered at the two dumb animals. “Both of you lack common sense. The two of you together will just become a bunch of nonsense!”

Vivian waved tiredly as she made her way to the kitchen. “Forget it. I’m not wasting anymore time with the brainless duo. I’m going to prep the next meal.”

Hao Ren pushed Rollie towards the kitchen as well. “Please wash her face — the ink is all dried up, I can’t wipe them off now.”

Rollie was about to raise an objection when Nangong Wuyue came out of the washroom. The lady siren seemed to be waiting for this exact moment. She dragged Rollie eagerly by the tail towards the washroom. “Go do your cooking, Vivian! I’ll get her washed up! I’ll get her all washed up!”

Rollie screamed like the end of the world. “Help! Help! Big Boss Cat, save me! I’m not going…”

Her screaming stopped abruptly as she disappeared into the washroom with Nangong Wyue, leaving behind Hao Ren and Lily as they exchanged a look of bafflement. Hao Ren asked curiously, “What’s with Wuyue these days? Why does she look so excited when I said Rollie needs a washing?”

“How do I know?” Lily crossed her arms and turned away defiantly. “I’m just a dumb idiot, after all. Go ask someone smarter!”

In the end, Hao Ren was abandoned to himself in the living room. It was the quietest part of the day — the Nangong couple were out working; Y’zaks was probably outside collecting used electrical appliances; Vivian was cooking in the kitchen; Wuyue was torturing Rollie; Lil’ Pea was taking a nap; Lily was in a mood, and it would probably be until dinnertime before she got over it; the last one, Nangong Sanba was… too bored that he went out to help some people trap ghosts, and would only return for dinner.

After going through everyone in the house, Hao Ren realized in surprise that none of the rowdy bunch in the house were here to disturb him.

That was a little deflating. Hao Ren was usually annoyed by all the ruckus caused by the people in the house, but now that everyone was busy with their own thing, he felt bored all of a sudden.

After making a few pointless rounds in the living room, Hao Ren decided to head out.

It was still a few hours until dinner time. Ever since Vivian got her Divine Artifact-level kitchenware, she ached to try her hand on all kinds of dishes — she would prepare a handsome meal every night, spending a few hours at least to prepare the dishes.

“It’s getting warmer.”

Out in the open, Hao Ren sighed with emotion.

The sun was already near the horizon, shining lazily on the old streets. Old trees growing by the roadside were sprouting new shoots, while bushes were starting to look greener. The cool night breeze still had hints of winter in it, but one could already feel the beginnings of spring.

Hao Ren watched the scenery and suddenly realized something — he had missed the new year celebration.

He had spent the almost an entire month at Coldpath, and half a month after that at Athens Sanctuary listening to the old demons squabble. Through it all, he had missed the year’s most important celebration without noticing it.

He heard the IDT’s voice quietly in his mind. “Didn’t you realize earlier when your boss, Raven, gave you your annual bonus?”

“… I did not.” Hao Ren scratched his head. “There were so many the events and information related to the goddess of creation to keep up with that I didn’t have time for other things… To think that I missed something as important as the new year celebration!”

He spoke with an odd tone and looked down with an unreadable expression that looked something like regret.

The IDT vibrated gently in his arms. “You should learn to get used to this — even the average worker could miss the celebration because of their job, much less someone with your job of saving the world on a daily basis. Besides, you’re still in your third year. When you reach three hundred years or three thousand years… You will understand Vivian’s perspective better.”

Hao Ren did not reply to the IDT, but simply stroked his chin in deep thought. The IDT panicked at his response. “Hey now, don’t be so upset. You always acted like a dog, why so emotional all of a sudden…”

Hao Ren looked at the IDT. “Do you think the new year sale is still on at the mall?”

“… Is that what your f*cking silence was about?!”

“What else could I be thinking about?” Hao Ren shrugged. “It’s been over a month since the new year. Come on, let’s head to the city. The official celebration is over, but we should buy something back to celebrate with everyone.”

The IDT was quiet for a few moments before replying in a mumble. “Your strange ideas should make you fit well with the cat and dog at home.”

The city was some distance away from the northern suburbs. It will take them at least two hours to and fro via public transport. Hao Ren did not have the time, so he had the IDT teleport him there. After making sure that no one was around them, the IDT transported Hao Ren to a corner in an alley. The latter stepped out to see the familiar shopping mall right in front of him.

He was here to do some shopping, but the sight of the mall reminded him of something.

“Liu Sheng… and Zhao Xi, they’re probably at work in there, right?”