Pretending To Be A Boss

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After catching a few fish, Tang Suoye and Akasi arrived at the cabin.

"Is anyone there?" Akasi called out.

No one responded to Akasi.

Tang Suoye leaped lightly onto the treehouse, surveyed the arrangement inside: a small pot, a tiny window, and a few tents outside the window. Her eyes sparkled with delight:

"Akasi, I like it here."

Akasi looked at the surrounding fence and the well-dug water channels, and concluded that someone definitely lived here.

Someone actually lived in the mine area?

This was somewhat surprising to Akasi.

After some thought, compared to the evolution zone in the Pyramid, he much preferred the mine area, so it wasn't that hard to accept. There should be hunters among humans strong enough to survive in the mine area.

Looking at the surrounding flora, Akasi was sure this person was extremely knowledgeable about the survival in the mine area.

Glancing at the Redline Grass outside the fence, Akasi chuckled:

"It seems to be someone who can survive without relying on brute force."

To Akasi, the small animals around this place posed no threat. But if it were him, he would also choose to plant Redline Grass around the perimeter. Living here might not mean being surrounded by birdsong and flowers, but it was certainly comfortable. The owner of the house was probably a strong hunter or a sage among humans.

Although it seemed like just about anyone in the evolution zone could rank highly on the hunter leaderboard, he was the only one from the evolution zone to appear on the leaderboard.

Perfect-level creatures, to him, were no different from docile animals, but they seemed to be quite a challenge for the average hunter.

"I like this place too, but this is someone else's territory," Akasi spoke. Experience new stories on empire

"There's a pot here, do you want to cook the fish here?" Tang Suoye selectively ignored him. Her senses were not as singular as Akasi's; she could immediately detect any humans around.

"Are you sure? Isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

Akasi smiled wryly; the girl didn't seem to know what "trespassing" meant.

"It's fine, they must have left and won't be back for a while," Tang Suoye felt completely energized.

Akasi scanned the surroundings and nodded his head, saying, "Let's make a deal, after eating, we have to get busy with our task, and then leave the mine area."

"Shall we come here again next time?" Tang Suoye looked at Akasi with anticipation.

"I'll try to pick tasks near the forest sea," Akasi nodded his head.

Usually, when roasting fish, he just used a twig to hold it over the fire, but today he found there was a ready source of clean water here, as well as a pot.

Stroking his chin, Akasi mused, "Maybe I could make fish soup."

If he wanted to preserve the freshness, naturally fish soup would be more comforting to eat than roasted fish.

Tang Suoye kept nodding her head, urging Akasi to hurry up.

For her, this feeling was like being in a dream.

Just two days ago, she was still in the Far North Zone, all groggy, and when she woke up, she had arrived at the forest sea, living the life she had envisioned with Akasi, and it had been realized in such a short time.

Tang Suoye just hoped that the owner of the house would come back later.

Akasi liked this place too and still felt somewhat surprised.

He also peeked inside the treehouse and discovered to his astonishment that there were seasonings.

He checked and found that these seasonings seemed to be quite expensive brands.

"The owner of this house seems to have quite an understanding of food," Akasi grew increasingly curious about the kind of person who lived here.

...

...

Meanwhile, Tang Xian was with Tang Xiaojiu, Dong Ran, Qiao Shanshan, Tang Gazi, and the newly joined Tang Bingxiang, at March Marsh on the western side of the forest sea.

Having repaired the pond these past few days, Tang Xian planned to catch some Dragon Thistle Fish as fry for breeding. This was a request from the non-human trio of Tang Bingxiang, Tang Xiaojiu, and Tang Gazi.

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Tang Bingxiang was naturally the one Tang Xian wanted—the Tang Bingxiang.

It was a male cat, currently nestled in Dong Ran's arms, its feline head resting on Dong Ran's ample chest, gazing disdainfully at Tang Gazi with its cat eyes.

Tang Gazi was meowing, occasionally interjected with its own commentary in 'gazi gazi' sounds.

As Tang Xian's translator, Tang Gazi naturally also understood the language of feline animals; now it found itself being scorned.

"You can only perch on a little girl's shoulder, but I am different, I can rest on a big chest," the cat seemed to say.

Tang Gazi was left speechless.

Catching Tang Bingxiang was easier than expected. Catnip was irresistible to cats, and Dong Ran effortlessly nabbed the Ice Scream Cat upon returning to the forest.

Tang Xian was surprised; the cat barely resisted.

From Tang Gazi, he learned that Tang Bingxiang had long had its eye on the fish soup in the tree house.

Tang Xian found himself at a loss for words momentarily.

He hadn't expected a cat to be capable of such plotting.

As for the name Tang Bingxiang, the cat seemed to accept it. The process went so smoothly it was almost disheartening. Tang Bingxiang even took the opportunity to mock humans, declaring that the world would soon belong to the cat people.

Tang Gazi relayed this message.

Being able to see the sincerity level, Tang Xian knew this to be true.

So he kept Tang Bingxiang captured, and went hungry for a day.

Cats are sometimes like women; they're wise, and they know how to judge the situation after making mistakes. When you're firm with them, they act as docile as little birds.

When you step back, they think perhaps making a mistake isn't such a big deal.

When you actually start to think it's not a big deal, they take it further and reckon they didn't do anything wrong—it's just you being petty.

When you question if maybe you are indeed being petty, they'll blame you for not thinking things through.

Tang Xian believed it was necessary to teach this cat where it stood in the Tang clan hierarchy and who the real master was.

The defiant ones wouldn't get good outcomes, but for those who are subservient, there would be rewards aplenty.

Tang Bingxiang soon realized the man named Tang Xian was the core of this group and not to be trifled with.

It happily became Tang Xian's sycophant, often trying to conquer him with cute, cat-like gestures.

Tang Xian was indifferent, but Dong Ran loved it, playing with Tang Bingxiang from time to time.

Its white paws pressing here and there on a certain part.

Tang Gazi watched with envy.

Dong Ran didn't seem to mind; aside from the Ice Scream Cat feeling cool to hold, it was just like any other kitten—cute and clingy.

At the moment, Tang Xian and his party were making their way back to the wooden house in the forest, still a distance away from it.

Yet Tang Xian sensed as if he could smell some kind of food.

He was a bit surprised but didn't say anything, just looking at the Ice Scream Cat and starting a conversation.

Tang Xian didn't expect an Ice Scream Cat to have a greed and lust index of sixty-six; considering cats aren't typically concerned with wealth, it must be their lustfulness that's more significant.

Given how this cat had been rubbing against Dong Ran's chest these days, Tang Xian said:

"Inside the body of an Ice Scream Cat, a Soul Crystal can nurture extremely cold breath, which slowly releases into the surrounding air with each breath. Even though you only feel a chill, that's because your physique is very strong and you have some resistance to cold, especially in the mine area."

"But the cold air will eventually stay inside your body."

Dong Ran didn't understand what Tang Xian meant and looked at him curiously. Tang Xian elaborated:

"If you keep letting it rub against you, once you leave the mine and return to the Pyramid, you'll feel colder, especially in certain areas. According to the principle of thermal expansion and contraction, you might find that you need to wear smaller sizes of clothing that are close-fitting."

Dong Ran's face turned red, and her grip unconsciously loosened.

Tang Bingxiang fell to the ground, giving Tang Xian a mournful look.