Chapter 146: Only Well-Fed Cats Are Picky
The black cat seemed attracted to something. It leaped down from the tree, grabbed the crystal core in its mouth, and prepared to run.
But Xiong Tai reacted swiftly, casting his “cage” ability just in time to trap it.
The black cat panicked, thrashing inside the invisible cage and letting out pitiful meows.
Xiong Tai felt a rush of satisfaction and shrank the cage, tightening it until the cat couldn’t even make a sound.
He got carried away with his torment, and by the time he loosened the cage, the cat had already gone limp.
He was startled, thinking it had died, but after a careful touch, he realized it had just passed out.
Xiong Tai let out a long breath of relief. His dream of wealth, liquor, and luxury hinged on this cat.
Since it was already late and Panliu Mountain had closed for the night, he had no choice but to take the cat back to his place and plan to present it as a gift the next day.
Back at his rundown shack, just as he was about to stuff the cat into a burlap sack and tie it up, the big shot in his house spoke up in surprise:
“Where did you catch that cat? Let me see it.”
Xiong Tai tossed the unconscious cat to him.
“Just a stray I caught on the road.”
Shen Wencheng was extremely nearsighted and had lost his glasses on the road. He brought the cat closer to examine it, but as soon as he touched its fur, he frowned.
“This is definitely not a stray. It’s obviously a house pet, and its owner must spoil it. It’s been well-fed with good food—otherwise, its fur wouldn’t be this soft and shiny, and it wouldn’t have such a strong build. I suggest you take it back to where you found it. In the apocalypse, anyone who can keep a pet in such good condition must be incredibly powerful.”
Xiong Tai didn’t believe him. “The kid who saw me catch it said it’s always running around outside with no one taking care of it. It’s just a stray.”
After spending time with Xiong Tai, Shen Wencheng had realized the man was lazy and dumb, someone you simply couldn’t reason with. But he still couldn’t help but ask:
“You saw it running around outside, but did you ever see it eating garbage? Only well-fed cats are picky about food.”
Xiong Tai recalled his experience trying to bait the cat and felt a bit guilty. But then he thought of his grand plan to impress Panliu Mountain…
He snatched the cat back from Shen Wencheng’s arms, stuffed it into the sack, tied it up, and glared.
“Shen, you’d better mind your own business. You still depend on me to survive right now. If you want to see your teammates again, you’d better keep your mouth shut.”
Shen Wencheng pressed his lips together, thinking to himself: How did I end up being rescued by such a wicked fool?
He really couldn’t stay here another day.
Thankfully, his teammates had already contacted Major Shi from Dongyang Base. They were wrapping up their mission and would pass by the old station on their way back. They could pick him up as soon as tomorrow or the day after.
Meanwhile, Su Tao had searched high and low all night, her eyes red from exhaustion.
Even by sunrise, she hadn’t found her precious cat, and she was on the verge of tears.
Qi Yunlan and Tao Yang ran back and forth between Panliu Mountain and their operations center, checking surveillance footage for any unfamiliar outsiders over the past two days, eliminating suspects one by one.
Pei Dong even called in, comforting Su Tao while using his “Sky Eye” ability to scan from high ground.
Due to Black Sesame’s special powers, not only the Pioneer Corps but also the City Defense Forces valued it highly. But seeing how much Su Tao treasured it, Pei Dong had never tried to take it away.
Several of his subordinates, upon hearing that Black Sesame was missing, grew anxious—not just because it might fall into the wrong hands but also because its ability could be exploited by bad people.
On the other side, completely oblivious to the chaos of last night, Xiong Tai slept soundly until late morning. Just as he was about to take his burlap sack to Panliu Mountain, the second-in-command of the old station, Qu Jingwen, found him.
She refused to step into his filthy shack—no need to look inside to know it was a pigsty.
So she stopped him at the door.
Xiong Tai was surprised. “Miss Qu, what an honor for you to visit me personally.”
Qu Jingwen remained expressionless. “The phrase is ‘a humble house is made glorious by your presence.'”
“Yeah, yeah, that. What do you need? If it’s about Panliu Mountain, I already told you everything I know. Dragging me in for questioning again won’t get you anything new.”
Qu Jingwen said, “Xiong Tai, you have such a strong ability—do you really plan to waste your life away like this?”
Xiong Tai let out a dramatic “oof” and grinned. “Miss Qu, don’t flatter me. This is just who I am—I live day by day, avoiding risks. As long as I have liquor and don’t starve, that’s a good life for me.”
“Miss Qu, if you’re trying to recruit me for some dangerous job, I beg you—let me off the hook. I’m just a good-for-nothing drunk. The heavens must have been blind to give me an ability in the first place.”
Qu Jingwen must have felt like Shen Wencheng did earlier—completely speechless.
It was rare to see someone so thoroughly committed to being a bum.
She took a deep breath. “Think about it carefully. This mission does carry some risks, but it’s a one-time job. If you succeed, you’ll get money, endless liquor, women, a luxury apartment, and fresh food at every meal.”
Xiong Tai paused. “Miss Qu, are you recruiting for Panliu Mountain? That’s exactly what Ma Dapao told me before—except without the women part.”
Qu Jingwen was furious. She stomped her high heels and stormed off.
Back at headquarters, she complained to Tan Yong.
“Xiong Tai’s brain is worse than a zombie’s. I’ve had enough. You get someone else to recruit him—I can’t stand looking at him.”
Tan Yong pulled a beautiful woman with a graceful figure and a white chiffon dress into his arms.
“My dear Shasha, this job is yours. When people hear your singing, they fall at your feet. Go meet Xiong Tai later—while we have enough people, an extra hand means extra security. What do you think?”
He kissed her on the cheek as he spoke.
Qu Jingwen turned her face away, feeling both hatred and sorrow in her heart.
Tan Yong had become more and more indifferent toward her. In the past, he would still consider her feelings—avoiding certain situations even if he had a new lover.
But now… in his eyes, she was probably just an errand girl, not even an old flame.
Qu Jingwen clenched her fists.
She suddenly thought of Mu An’an, the woman who had stayed by Brother Yong’s side the longest. In the end, she was still discarded.
And now, wasn’t she, Qu Jingwen, walking the same path as Mu An’an?
No!
Lian Sha smiled seductively and lightly touched Tan Yong’s lips with hers.
“I’ll take the job—for the sake of this kiss.”
However, by the time Lian Sha and Qu Jingwen arrived at Xiong Tai’s rundown shack, he was already on his way to Panliu Mountain to deliver his gift.
Ma Dapao, who was already overwhelmed because his boss’s beloved cat had gone missing, nearly lost his mind when he saw Xiong Tai.
“You again?! I already told you, our boss isn’t lacking anything—he only hires based on real ability!”
