By noon the next day, Zeng Shen groggily opened his eyes, catching a glimpse of a slender figure with black pointed ears, wearing a sexy black leather outfit, resembling Zhu Zhuqing, leaning obediently at his bedside.
Startled, he opened his eyes fully.
It was just Little Black, the adorable kitten with golden eyes, lying on the bedside. There was no cat-girl in black leather.
"Meow~"
Seeing Zeng Shen awake, Little Black meowed happily.
Zeng Shen chuckled, "Little darling, when did you sneak onto my bed?"
"Meow..."
"I've never checked before, are you a boy or a girl? Let me see."
Zeng Shen said, picking up Little Black and checking.
"Wow, a girl! When you become an intelligent race, you'll be a beauty serving your master."
Little Black tilted its head, eyes round with curiosity.
"You didn't object, so I'll take that as a yes."
Laughing, Zeng Shen carried Little Black outside.
Little White, sleeping in its doghouse, sensed him and happily wagged its tongue, rubbing against his leg, barking "Woof woof."
Zeng Shen picked it up and checked, despite its protests.
"Woof woof."
"Ah, a boy."
"Awwooo~"
Little White barked louder, struggling.
"Stupid dog, stop barking!"
Zeng Shen scolded, dropping the squirming Little White onto the sofa, then grabbed a bag of cat and dog food from his backpack, filling their bowls.
"Meow~"
"Woof..."
Little Black and Little White happily ate.
Heading to the bathroom, Zeng Shen checked his phone for messages from Li Yuqing.
Li Yuqing: "Morning, hubby."
Li Yuqing: "We talked until 4 AM and I only slept five hours before my mom woke me for the ancestor worship."
Li Yuqing: "So tired, I'll be busy now."
Zeng Shen replied: "Haha, wife, I just woke up. Rest after the worship."
After a brief wait with no reply, likely due to her being busy, he washed up and returned to find Little Black and Little White had finished eating.
"Little Black, let's visit your mom."
He picked up Little Black and headed to the door.
Little White tried to follow, but Zeng Shen stopped him with his foot.
"Little White, you scared Little Black's family at the hospital with your barking yesterday."
"So today."
"You stay home and guard the house."
With Little White looking confused, he closed the door and pressed the elevator button.
He thought he heard a sad "Woof woof" from inside.
...
[The host, skilled and brave, rested safely in an apartment occupied by a powerful Tier 3 Curse Deity and her followers. Survival points +10.]
[The host calmly crossed a beast-occupied sidewalk without disturbing the powerful deities there. Survival points +10.]
[The host, bold as a lion, traversed a perilous commercial street unscathed. Survival points +10.]
[The host bravely advanced without provoking the hostility of a Tier 3 Fire Deity in the park square. Survival points +10.]
Zeng Shen quickly crossed the sidewalk, commercial street, and park square.
"Not bad, 40 survival points."
"Today, I'll tame all those wild cats and explore new areas for more points, aiming for a second ten-draw."
Planning his day, Zeng Shen approached the abandoned hospital.
Upon reaching the gate, a different warning sounded.
[Warning! A ferocious Tier 2 Demon Deity is active in this area. Lead your followers away immediately. Discovery means certain death.]
"What? A Tier 2 Demon Deity? Someone's in the hospital?"
Confused, Zeng Shen climbed the gate, rushing towards the shattered glass doors with Little Black.
As he neared the doors, frantic cat cries and a young man's laughter echoed from the hall.
"Look, these wild cats are trying to rescue the kittens."
"Send some gifts, and I promise none of these annoying cats will escape."
Peering inside, Zeng Shen saw a young man in a floral jacket, holding a phone on a stand, shouting into the camera, his back to Zeng Shen.
In his other hand, he held a two-meter pole with ropes tied to five kittens' back legs.
Around him, Little Black's mother and other wild cats growled in anger.
Ignoring them, the young man smiled, lifting the pole.
The kittens dangled, crying in terror.
Furious, Zeng Shen charged into the hall, shouting, "Let them go!"
He jumped and kicked the young man's back before he could react.
The man staggered but tried to rise, only for Zeng Shen to grab his shirt and slap him hard.
"Do you think this is fun?"
The young man, seeing his attacker was about his age, tried to fight back, shouting, "Who do you think you are, hitting me?"
"Don't you know I make a living with my face..."
"Smack."
Zeng Shen slapped him again, shouting, "You abuse my cats and ask who I am?"
"A living with your face, huh? I'll give you enough."
"Smack, smack..."
Zeng Shen held him down, slapping his face until he was dizzy and begged for mercy.
"Stop, stop! I won't do it again."
"Please, not my face, I make a living with it."
After over ten slaps, Zeng Shen stopped, glaring at the swollen-faced young man before dragging him and his phone outside.
"Get lost. See you again, and I'll beat you again."
The young man clutched his swollen face, grabbed his phone, and ran.
[The host, though weaker, subdued and defeated a Tier 2 Demon Deity, successfully rescuing the Buster Cat Tribe. Survival points +3000, gained favor from the entire tribe.]
Hearing the system prompt, Zeng Shen paused, then checked his survival points.
"Wow!"
"Really got 3000 points!"