Douluo Dalu: Starting With Tom Cat

"Shui Yue'er, do you know you're supposed to knock before entering someone else's room?" Shen An glared at Shui Yue'er, who stood before him smiling brightly, as he clutched his blanket.

Shui Yue'er remained completely unfazed and giggled. "I just wanted to take you out for a bit of fun."

"Alright, alright, go out first. I'll get dressed and wash up, then I'll come with you," Shen An said, twitching slightly at the corner of his mouth.

Having Shui Yue'er in his room always made him feel a bit unsafe. Even a boy had to know how to protect himself.

"Shen An, where's Tom?" Shui Yue'er didn't seem to hear him at all and began scanning the room curiously.

Shen An casually pulled out a cat-shaped disc from under his blanket and tossed it to her. "Here. Go play with it outside."

Shui Yue'er blinked her large eyes and accepted the 2D version of Tom with a puzzled expression. "Isn't this just a drawing? Although... it does look a lot like Tom."

"Ahhh! Why is the picture moving?" Shui Yue'er shrieked in surprise.

Tom blinked his big eyes, then stuck his tail into his mouth and blew into it like a balloon.

The once-flat Tom quickly inflated and whooshed into a floating cat-balloon, drifting slowly into the air.

Upon bumping into the ceiling, he began to flail uncontrollably like a deflating balloon, tumbling through the air until he crashed to the ground, ending with an innocent smile on his face.

"Where's Jerry, then? Don't tell me he's been turned into a 'mouse slice'?" Shui Yue'er, suppressing her shock, asked again.

Soon, the sound of rustling echoed from the corner, followed by the creaking of a tiny door. Jerry emerged from a mouse hole, tilting his tiny head as if wondering who had called for him.

Shui Yue'er was completely dumbfounded. How could the lord mayor's estate have a mouse hole? And who installed a door for it?

"I'll head out first. Once you're ready, I'll take you around Tianshui City," Shui Yue'er said, hugging Tom and rubbing his head with a satisfied look on her face.

"Because of Tianshui Academy, countless talented girls come here every year."

"Some of them stay after graduation, so over time, women have come to make up the majority of Tianshui City's population. It's kind of become a local trait."

"Haha, but don't think you can underestimate us just because it's mostly girls here. In terms of main city strength, Tianshui ranks near the top."

Shui Yue'er explained cheerfully as she accompanied Shen An, with Shui Bing'er quietly trailing behind, covering the cost of all the things Shen An was buying for Tom and Jerry.

However, Shen An was distracted, his mind preoccupied with how to gather more fame.

'If I can reach Soul King before arriving in the Balak Kingdom, maybe I could sneak into Star Dou Great Forest and try to take revenge on the Titan Giant Ape.'

Shen An's thoughts churned. With his invisible ink and his fourth soul skill, Unfettered, he could nearly erase his presence entirely.

Combine that with Spike's brick and the sharpness of the Nine-Leaf Swordgrass, and if the timing was right, he might not kill the Titan Giant Ape, but he could at least deal heavy damage.

Even if he failed, he could escape using the witch's flying broom.

They say a gentleman takes revenge over ten years, but if that Titan Giant Ape continued to live so comfortably, Shen An just couldn't stomach it.

"Shen An, want me to take you to Tianshui Academy?" Shui Yue'er asked, waving her small hand in front of his face when she noticed he was spacing out.

"Huh? Sure, let's go check it out. Oh right, is there anything particularly famous happening in Tianshui City lately? Something that could bring some fame?"

Shui Yue'er shook her head. "If you want fame, your best bet is the Grand Spirit Arena."

Shen An wasn't surprised. There weren't that many stages in real life where one could just hop on and perform.

You can't become famous overnight—it takes time and effort to build up.

Spirit Hall.

"It's fine. You don't need to concern yourself with Xue'er," Qian Daoliu said calmly.

The Snake Spear Douluo hesitated. "But Grand Priest, the Young Mistress is extraordinarily talented. What if she develops… improper feelings for that person?"

A faint, nearly imperceptible smile tugged at Qian Daoliu's lips. If she does, then just let nature take its course.

That day, Tom's swordplay had left Qian Daoliu deeply shaken. He believed that such mastery could only be achieved by a god.

So he delved into the ancient texts and discovered the concept of divine incarnations walking among mortals.

Legend had it that in ancient times, gods could descend upon the continent but couldn't stay long. However, a rare few would seal their memories and reside in mortal vessels, wandering the world and experiencing the mortal realm.

In Qian Daoliu's eyes, Tom was one such being—perhaps a cat-loving god who had sealed away his divine nature to play among mortals.

How else could one explain such extraordinary swordsmanship, his flawless musical talent, and that blank, naive expression?

As for the person always beside Tom—Shen An—Qian Daoliu believed he was someone favored by the gods.

The Qian Clan had long received the legacy of the Angel God, and Qian Renxue possessed the talent to ascend to godhood.

Qian Daoliu had always believed no one on the continent was worthy of his granddaughter. But now, having met Shen An, he was willing to make an exception.

Yet when I tried to seek divine guidance from the Angel God, there was no reply, Qian Daoliu sighed internally.

Apart from the mysterious command more than ten years ago for Qian Renxue to infiltrate Heaven Dou and seize the throne, no divine message had come since.

This made Qian Daoliu uneasy. Gods weren't entirely peaceful either; they had conflicts of their own—ones beyond mortal comprehension.

And thinking back, that particular divine order now seemed... strange. What was the point of taking over Heaven Dou? To unify the continent?

Frankly, with Tang Chen gone and Bo Saixi secluded on Sea God Island, Qian Daoliu alone could sweep across the entire continent.

"No matter. Just do as I say. Xue'er knows her limits," Qian Daoliu said, brushing off his doubts and speaking with calm authority.

The Snake Spear Douluo bowed in acknowledgment.

"Wait," Qian Daoliu added, "go tell Bibi Dong to issue a decree: from now on, Spirit Hall is to love and protect cats. No bullying cats allowed—including strays."

The Snake Spear Douluo froze, staring at him in disbelief. "Uh… what?"

He had thought the Grand Priest, who had long withdrawn from Spirit Hall affairs, might issue some grand strategic command. But this? This was just absurd.

Qian Daoliu remained composed. "Just do as I say."

The Snake Spear Douluo immediately lowered his head. If the boss said so, he had no choice but to obey.

As he watched his subordinate leave, Qian Daoliu silently prayed, I hope this seemingly absurd order might earn the favor of that feline deity.

In the Pope's Palace, Bibi Dong, regal and authoritative, stood up in disbelief upon hearing the message.

"You're sure this isn't a joke?" she asked.

The Snake Spear Douluo's face was expressionless. "These are Grand Priest Qian Daoliu's exact instructions. I'm just the messenger."

Bibi Dong's expression shifted between light and dark. The moment she heard this was a message from Qian Daoliu, she had a bad feeling. She'd even worried he might be trying to usurp her authority.

But never did she imagine he would send such an outrageous command—turn Spirit Hall into a cat-loving organization? Preposterous!

What the hell is that old man thinking? she wondered, thoroughly baffled.