Chapter 26: Monster Ji Qing, the Cat

Seeing Chen Yuran arrive, as her attention was immediately drawn by the hotpot shop’s owner, Li Jing casually said.

"I found it while I was patrolling."

"Found?"

Chen Yuran was surprised. She stretched out her hand and stroked the hotpot shop’s owner.

Feeling the soft and smooth fur, her eyes lit up with delight.

In terms of beauty, a ragdoll cat is undoubtedly the pinnacle among cat pets.

The hotpot shop’s owner was a ragdoll cat that had become a monster with the cultivation level of the middle stage of the Three Realm, naturally, she was not simple.

Stroking her fur, it felt incredibly silky.

It feels even more comfortable than petting Stinky Tofu’s head...

Upon being petted by Chen Yuran, the hotpot shop owner, who was hanging on Li Jing’s shoulder, did not dare to move.

On normal days, she would never dare to interact with the patrol.

It’s not about whether she can defeat them or not.

As a human-shaped demon living in human society, she had to respect Hua Country’s only authorized water meter department.

Let’s not even talk about her being a monster.

Even humans, when they see the patrol, need to carefully consider whether they have committed any crimes.

On the other side, seeing the hotpot shop’s owner behaving so obediently under her stroking, Chen Yuran happily stroked her even more.

"This little one is so well-behaved. I guess she got lost since you found her late at night. Did you suddenly call me over because of her?"

"Half and half."

Li Jing said, glancing enviously at Chen Yuran’s hand stroking the Hotpot shop’s owner.

Who doesn’t like petting cats?

He also wanted to pet her.

The problem is, having seen the human form of the hotpot shop’s owner, he was both hesitant to do so and afraid that she might accuse him of sexual harassment.

Enviously, Li Jing said.

"It’ll take time to find the owner. In the meantime, I want to take her home. I presume you have no objections?"

"I have no problem."

Chen Yuran casually uttered a sentence.

"I’ve actually wanted a cat for a while now, but with Stinky Tofu already in the house, just his antics are enough to give me a headache. I’m also busy with work and don’t have that much time to look after her. So, if you’re willing to take her in temporarily, just take good care of her."

Getting the green light, Li Jing nodded his head.

"Give me your phone."

"Huh?"

Chen Yuran paused, taking out her phone with a puzzled look.

Li Jing took the phone without further ado, opened the satellite map and set a location for her, then returned the phone.

"The marked location is where the demon miasma we are currently investigating is."

???

Chen Yuran.

She was not originally aware that there was an investigation into the demon miasma.

On one hand, she wasn’t part of the special investigation team, and on the other, she was resting during the day and only started work at nine in the evening.

Now, of course, she knows.

After all, she was one of the patrols who had been called upon to assist.

When Li Jing sent her the message, she was conveniently nearby.

Because of this, she was able to come over so quickly.

It had been confirmed that the demon miasma was present in the sea area.

But at the moment, the special investigation team was still waiting for equipment and protective gear, planning to go out to sea.

When they could find the demon miasma was uncertain.

Li Jing suddenly provided her with a location, telling her the exact location of the demon miasma, how could she not be stunned?

Looking at the marked spot on the satellite map, Chen Yuran was full of doubt.

"This information... where did you get it from?"

"A kind-hearted person passing by."

Li Jing responded, saying.

"She’s not comfortable revealing her identity, so don’t ask too many questions."

"..."

Chen Yuran remained silent for a moment before saying.

"You really know how to get me into trouble. If I bring this information over, wouldn’t the higher-ups question me about it?"

"Just find a way to fob them off. I only just started today as an assistant investigator and I don’t want to attract too much attention."

Li Jing said, then continued.

"If you find it troublesome, you don’t have to deliver the information. Let the special case team do their own thing. But if the situation continues to stalemate, we, the workers, will be extremely busy. Finding the source of the demon miasma and ’dealing’ with it early means North City can return to peace sooner."

Chen Yuran didn’t respond, but looked at the hotpot shop’s owner unintentionally, rose into the air with Sword Controlling, and left a message.

"When I finish work tomorrow morning, I want to see a hearty breakfast, you’re treating me, I won’t pay for it."

Watching the departing sword light, Li Jing couldn’t help but smile.

However, the hotpot shop’s owner was feeling somewhat uneasy.

"Well, why do I feel like... she’s onto me?"

"Be confident, get rid of the ’I feel’."

Li Jing casually responded.

From the moment he called Chen Yuran over, he had already prepared himself mentally.

Chen Yuran is not a fool.

She has been a patrol for several years, with rich experience in handling cases.

The reason why Li Jing dared to call Chen Yuran over and pass on the location of the demon miasma to the special case team through her, was because he was sure the latter was not unreasonable.

Chen Yuran very easily locked onto the hotpot shop owner, which was indeed a surprise to Li Jing.

He had initially thought he could keep it a secret for a while, but he didn’t expect Chen Yuran to have such a sharp sense of smell.

The hot pot restaurant owner, upon hearing Li Jing’s words, could no longer keep her calm.

Before she could speak, Li Jing reassured her,

"Don’t worry, the fact that she didn’t expose you on the spot means she somewhat accepts you. As long as you don’t harm people, she won’t do anything to you. While monsters are indeed feared, the presence of humanoid demons in the city isn’t unusual at all. The Patrol Bureau usually turns a blind eye. Otherwise, where would humanoid monsters find a place to exist?"

The hot pot restaurant owner quietly weighed her options, and finally gave a faint "Mm" to show her agreement.

What Li Jing had laid out was the truth.

Human-shaped demons could hide and live in human society by keeping a low profile and concealing their true selves.

But in essence, they benefited from the Patrol Bureau turning a blind eye.

Without this, it would be nearly impossible for human-shaped demons to find a place to exist in the vast world.

As long as humanoid monsters don’t harm people and don’t stir up trouble by revealing their true identity, the Patrol Bureau typically won’t take certain measures.

After all, the existence of human-shaped monsters in human society is inevitable.

If they were to be overly serious about it, the situation could spiral out of control.

The power of a monster that has transformed into the shape of a human starts at the Three Realm level of cultivation.

Refusing them even a little survival space and driving them into a corner - only God knows what they’d do out of desperation.

Seeing the worried look on the face of the hot pot restaurant owner, Li Jing soothingly patted her head, praising the surprisingly soft feel of the fur on the top of her head, and said,

"After all that talk, you still haven’t told me your name."

"Ji Qing."

The hot pot restaurant owner replied, not finding anything odd about being patted on the head a few times.

She was a cat after all.

If she were in human form, it would be another matter entirely.

Having learned of Ji Qing’s name, Li Jing gave a small smile,

"I’m Li Jing."

Ji Qing looked up, her gem-like eyes twinkling twice.

"The Heavenly King?"

"..."

Li Jing.

It seemed hard to continue the conversation today.

Just as he was at a loss for words, Ji Qing turned her head to look at the beach not far away and suggested,

"Under that shallow beach in front there is a monster that has been severely corroded by demonic miasma. I can’t deal with it myself. Do you want to call someone over to handle it?"

!!!

Li Jing.

He quickly turned his head to look at the beach Ji Qing was pointing at. Li Jing frowned.

On the beach, there was no sign of anything hidden beneath.

Was there a monster hidden underneath?

Turning his head to look back at Ji Qing, Li Jing asked seriously,

"Are you sure there’s a monster hidden underneath?"

"The sense of smell of a cat is two hundred thousand times that of a human."

Ji Qing stated indifferently,

"Considering my level of cultivation, my sense of smell is at least a million times stronger than yours."

After speaking, she added,

"If you’ve ever watched videos about sea harvesting, you should know that marine creatures generally have a skill called ’Lying in the Sand.’"

"..."

Li Jing was speechless.

Ji Qing started the conversation by quoting data and online videos, leaving him speechless.

But then he understood the essence of it.

Transforming into a monster is an extraordinary trait in itself.

As a monster, Ji Qing was extremely sensitive to things like Demonic Qi and Demon Miasma.

Combined with her inherent "talent" as a member of the cat family, it wasn’t surprising that she could detect a monster hidden beneath the beach sand.

At the market earlier, hadn’t the Stinky Tofu detected the impending demonization of the fish monster in advance too?

Having understood this, Li Jing’s spirit was lifted.

Although he didn’t know whether the one hiding under the beach was the monster he had been looking for all night, as long as it was a monster, it meant there would be Experience points, right?

As he used his Sky Control power to head towards the location on the beach, out of respect for that monster’s life, Li Jing asked,

"If the monster has been severely corroded by the Demon Miasma, is there a chance to save it?"

"It can’t be saved. The damage to its consciousness is irreversible."

Ji Qing responded.

Before her words had fully left her mouth, Li Jing had already brought her to the airspace above the beach.

The beach below was very peaceful.

Li Jing scanned the surroundings.

"Point me to the place. The thing is hiding in the sand, I can’t find it."

"There, it’s buried quite deep, about ten meters below the sand."

Ji Qing raised a fluffy paw and pointed towards the left front, adding,

"I advise you to bring more people over. The monster under there has been severely corroded by the Demon Miasma, its very existence is a danger. If you can’t kill it instantly and it releases Demonic Qi, this beach will be contaminated..."

Before she could finish, she saw Li Jing raise his hand with great excitement.

"Boom!"

There was a loud noise.

In Ji Qing’s stunned gaze.

A thunderbolt as thick as a water bucket slammed down on the beach, instantly piercing through the sand and reaching deep into the ground.