Douluo Dalu: Starting With Tom Cat

Grandmaster stood quietly, observing the bustling Soto City. He had received a letter from his dear friend, Flender, inviting him to teach at Shrek Academy.

Originally, he had planned to prepare thoroughly before setting off, but an inexplicable restlessness had taken hold of him, making him feel unusually irritable. So, he grabbed a white radish and began his journey.

Now, he had finally arrived. However, the long days of travel had left him looking somewhat weathered, though he had always appeared stiff and unapproachable to begin with.

Thus, Grandmaster decided to take some time to rest and recuperate in Soto City. He would find a decent hotel, wash off the dust of the road, and change into proper attire before meeting his dear friend and disciple.

As he walked, Grandmaster casually tossed the white radish in his hand to Luo Sanpao, who let out excited grunts and quickly devoured it.

Luo Sanpao looked at Soto City with excitement, clearly reluctant to return to its usual form.

Grandmaster sighed slightly. Over the past few days, even though they had traveled along main roads, there had been few signs of human activity.

Luo Sanpao, being somewhat intelligent, couldn't help but feel excited upon seeing such a lively city.

After some thought, Grandmaster decided to let Luo Sanpao play outside for a while. With his control, Luo Sanpao wouldn't harm anyone.

Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong was wandering around with Tom, who was carrying a large pile of items stacked two to three meters high. The pile looked precarious, swaying as Tom walked.

It was hard to imagine a cat being able to carry such a load while wobbling around without dropping a single thing.

Grandmaster, who had just entered the city, also witnessed this incredible sight. Despite his years of traveling far and wide in his youth, he had never seen anything like it. His usually stiff face froze in astonishment, looking almost comical.

Grandmaster thought to himself, Could this cat be like my Luo Sanpao, a mutated martial soul? 

He glanced at Ning Rongrong. Since the cat was following her, it was likely her martial soul. Given her young age and the faint soul power emanating from her, her martial soul must have undergone a beneficial mutation.

Grandmaster's heart burned with excitement. Due to Luo Sanpao's detrimental mutation, his own strength had stagnated.

Later, he devoted himself to theoretical research, but his theories were often dismissed. Thus, he had always wanted to train a disciple to prove himself.

Tang San's talent was excellent, and he was both intelligent and a twin-souled martial soul. Without a doubt, he would one day become a Titled Douluo and make a name for himself across the continent.

But if Grandmaster could train another disciple with a mutated martial soul like Luo Sanpao, it would be even more convincing. After all, the achievements of a twin-souled martial soul were almost expected.

Grandmaster prepared to approach Ning Rongrong. As the "Wisdom Horn" of the Golden Iron Triangle, he believed his personal charm would be enough to recruit this girl as his disciple.

At that moment, Luo Sanpao, swaying its chubby little legs, curiously looked at Tom. Grandmaster had said not to hurt anyone, but he hadn't said anything about teasing a cat.

Luo Sanpao's playful nature took over, and it charged at Tom like a wild boar.

Tom, seeing a creature over five feet tall that looked like a mix between a pig and a dog charging at it, was so frightened that it jumped three feet into the air. The items it was carrying also flew up before scattering everywhere.

Tom landed on its bottom and was then sent flying by Luo Sanpao's charge, slamming into a wall on the side of the street and sticking to it like glue.

Ning Rongrong, hearing the loud noise, rushed over and saw the scene. She immediately ran to pull Tom off the wall and then glared at Luo Sanpao.

At this point, Ning Rongrong had never experienced the harsh discipline of Shrek Academy. Even when Dai Mubai had bullied her, Shen An had helped her get revenge that very night. Her young lady's temper was in full force.

"Who do you think you are, daring to bully my cat? If you don't give me a proper explanation, don't even think about leaving!" Ning Rongrong stood with her hands on her hips, looking down her nose at Grandmaster and Luo Sanpao.

Grandmaster, seeing Tom being sent flying, suddenly realized that things might not be as he had thought. This cat was probably just unusually intelligent but not particularly strong.

Sigh, I thought it was a promising talent, but it seems I was wrong. Grandmaster's gaze toward Ning Rongrong carried a hint of disdain.

The words he had prepared to recruit her as a disciple were swallowed back. Someone with ordinary talent wasn't worthy of being his disciple.

Grandmaster calmly said, "My martial soul was a bit overexcited and accidentally bumped into your cat. I apologize."

Hoping to avoid further trouble, Grandmaster decided to apologize to the girl.

However, Ning Rongrong sneered, "Oh, so an apology is enough? How about I beat up your dog first and then say sorry to you? How does that sound?"

"Either pick up all these things off the ground, or let my cat beat up your dog."

Tom, standing with its hands on its hips, looked smugly at Grandmaster and Luo Sanpao. The feeling of having someone back it up was amazing. Following Ning Rongrong was the best—she didn't hold back when it came to standing up for her own.

After all, Shen An was more reasonable, whereas Ning Rongrong would curse at anyone who annoyed her and fight anyone who didn't back down.

Tom thought to itself, Ning Rongrong gives me such a sense of security. Maybe I should have another mistress? 

Grandmaster's expression darkened. He was the renowned Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang, one of the Golden Iron Triangle. How could he stoop to picking things up off the street?

Frowning, he said, "Little girl, do you know who I am?" Grandmaster was about to reveal his identity as part of the Golden Iron Triangle, believing that Flender's reputation in Soto City would intimidate the girl.

But what Grandmaster didn't know was that Flender's reputation in Soto City wasn't exactly stellar—he was known more as a shrewd businessman than a respected figure.

Before Grandmaster could finish his sentence, Ning Rongrong interrupted, "I don't care who you are. If you hurt my cat, even the heavens would have to apologize."

"You're being unreasonable. It was just a bump from my martial soul, not me personally. I've already apologized. Don't push your luck."

Ning Rongrong gave Grandmaster a strange look and said disdainfully, "What are you talking about? Tom isn't my martial soul. He's just a cute little cat."

Grandmaster was stunned. He looked at Tom, who was sticking out its tongue provocatively. How could it not be a martial soul? It's so intelligent, and after being hit by Luo Sanpao, it's completely unharmed. 

After all, he was a level 29 Soul Grandmaster. An ordinary cat would have been killed instantly by Luo Sanpao's charge, but this cat had walked away without a scratch.

Grandmaster fell into deep silence. Could I have been wrong in my reasoning? 

But to Ning Rongrong, his silence was just an attempt to avoid responsibility.

Ning Rongrong's eyes sparkled as she shouted, "Everyone, come and see! This person hurt my cat and knocked over all my things, but he won't pick them up or apologize!"

"Come and take a look! Don't leave, everyone, come and see!"

Tom, ever the performer, played along perfectly, lying on the ground, sticking out its tongue, and letting out pitiful groans. It had to be said, Tom was a master of its craft—its act of being injured was so convincing it seemed real.

Under the gaze of the surrounding crowd, Grandmaster broke out in a cold sweat. Everyone in the Douluo Continent knew that Grandmaster valued his reputation above all else.

What should I do? This is urgent!