《Reborn into a Fluffy Beast Cub》 Chapter One: Nuwooo!!! When Mao Rongrong regained consciousness and opened his eyes, his vision was pitch black. He panicked for a moment, wondering if he had turned blind. The last thing he remembered was playing with his phone, scrolling, and laughing at all the cute fluffy cats and dogs. Maybe he was too sleepy, but his hand slipped and the phone directly hit his face with a loud smack. Was he knocked out by his phone?... Mao Rongrong tried to feel his surroundings to see if he could find the said phone. But when he stretched out his hand, he felt something smooth enclosing him in a small space. Weirdly he did not feel that it was very cramped. Was he kidnapped or did someone stuff him into a coffin or something? Knocking on the surface, he tried to call for help, and just as he hit the surface, cracks formed, letting streaks of light enter. Puzzled at how easy it was to get out, Mao Rongrong continued to hit the ¡°wall¡± until the hole was big enough for him to stick his head out. Mao Rongrong blinked and blinked again. This¡­ this is a snow field?... A cold blast of wind blew in his direction as Mao Rongrong stuffed his head back into the hole. It¡¯s so cold!! Just as he wondered if he should just stay inside, his stomach let out a loud growl. So¡­ remaining here will not do. It would be bad if he froze or starved to death. Determined to fill his stomach with all the delicious food he could find later to compensate for this grueling situation, Mao Rongrong steeled himself with a grave expression and stuck his head back out. He tried wiggling to get his whole body through, swaying left and right, back and forth and he finally popped out, rolling a few rounds into the snow. Standing up and shaking the snow off him, Mao Rongrong froze. Something was wrong. Who can tell him why his vision was so low, and looking down, he saw furry legs. Lifting his front paw, he stepped on another spot in the snow, creating cute plum blossoms. It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s a cute pink paw pad!!! Rubbing his head with his paw, he felt fluffy ears on his head. Stunned, he sat down on the snow like a human and saw his equally fluffy tail. !!!!!! Did I turn into a fluffy plush??!! !!!! !!.... ¡­¡­¡­ ¡­. After sitting for a while in a daze and trying to calm himself down, Mao Rongrong tried to accept the fact that he had turned into a beloved fluffy cub which he always liked to watch on his phone. I guess¡­ At least I¡¯m adorable?... Mao Rongrong then noticed the eggshell that he popped out from. Curious, he tried to walk back to the eggshell but found himself getting stuck in the deep snow. Kicking his rear legs backward while trying to leap forward, Mao Rongrong hopped through the snow and reached the white eggshell. It is pure white like the snow, almost blending into the surroundings, making it hard to spot. Pawing at the eggshell, it swayed back and forth. Tilting his furry head, Mao Rongrong wondered if he should eat the eggshell. After all, that¡¯s what he always saw on those animal channels. Still, it was weird that he emerged from an egg, especially when he did not have feathers. Judging by what he could see of himself, he thinks he should be a fluffy cat at least. But turning into a cub itself was on the top of his weird list, and in comparison, it was not that important. So Mao Rongrong decided to put this fact away.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. His stomach growled again, urging him to chomp down on the eggshell. Mao Rongrong approached and sniffed it, before opening his mouth to take a tentative bite. Ohh!! Oh, this tastes like those milk sweets! Mao Rongrong first took small bites, then started gulping down the shell enthusiastically. Well, if only it was softer¡­ the texture could use some work¡­ But the crunchiness in itself is quite unique¡­ When he finished everything, he came to his senses. Ah¡­ I should have saved some of the eggshells for later¡­ What if I can¡¯t find any food¡­ Mao Rongrong wilted as his ears flopped down. With a bulging stomach, he plopped back to his sitting position, instinctively licked his front paw, and started washing his face. After all, Mao Rongrong is still a clean Rongrong despite turning into a fluffy cub. After he was done washing himself, he turned to look at his surroundings. He assumed he was in the woods, with lots of piling snow. It looked quite desolated, especially with the thick snow covering the landscape, muting the surroundings into a calm silence. Maybe there won¡¯t be any civilization near here. What if he ran into a predator?! Shaking his whole body to get rid of the piling snow and with not much of a choice, Mao Rongrong picked a random direction and tentatively started to hop through the snow. The white fluffy creature moved, appearing and disappearing amidst the pure white landscape, leaving little pits. When Mao Rongrong turned back to check how far he had progressed, he turned back to the front and decided not to think about it. After all, he was now just a cute cub with only short fluffy legs. =.= ~ *** ~ A few hundred meters away from Mao Rongrong, there was a black figure floating in the sky, being pelted by the wind and snow. Dressed in all black, his combat boots shined, with his black military coat flying backward with the wind. Lin Qi squinted his eyes to determine the direction of where the spiritual energy came from, but he could not see any potential troublemakers. He had personally come to check when he felt a blast of significant spiritual energy. Usually, his subordinates will be enough to do a primary scout, but as it was the New Years, everyone was not in the office, leaving only him to stand by. He scoffed at the situation. The Chief was just too strict about punctuality. He was only late a few times and now he had to make up by being on duty during the holidays. Lin Qi surveyed the surroundings again, starting to feel puzzled. Usually, that amount of spiritual energy would signify that someone was fighting or up to something. But right after that one blast, now everything was quiet. Maybe the perpetrator had run away, afraid to face the penalty. Now in the age of modern socialism, where the number of monsters are low and humanity has flourished, monsters have to keep a low profile. Most of the monsters living in the city have integrated into society, with proper education and jobs. It was the job of the Mythical Management Bureau to help and manage these monsters and other mythical persons, to make sure that they do not pose any harm to humans, and suppress any conflict. Lin Qi was the leader of the subjugation department and due to that he was now in the middle of nowhere and getting blasted with cold snow, instead of his comfy and warm home. With a last survey, Qi Lin was ready to head back when he suddenly saw something move in the corner of his eyes. It was a tiny movement, but in this still landscape, it managed to capture his attention. Looking closer, the little creature was hopping through the snow slowly, with its white fur blending into the snow, if not for the little holes that it left behind. It looked like a little cub and he could feel a small amount of spiritual energy emitting from the fluffy creature, identifying him as a monster. Swooping down, he reached for the white fluff, capturing it in the air as it was in the middle of his hops. Holding him by his neck, Qi Lin managed to successfully control the fluff as the fluff¡¯s legs hung downwards loosely. ¡°Nuwooo!!!¡± Mao Rongrong was shocked and started to panic, trying to get away by moving his short legs, failing about. He was concentrating on getting through the woods, trying to make his hops reach further. To curb the boring journey, he started to make a game out of it and was starting to have fun when he was suddenly picked up which almost gave him a heart attack. What¡¯s¡­ what¡¯s happening??!!! Lin Qi looked at the monster cub dangling in the air, sniffing at him a little. When his face came close to the little fluff, the fluff put his paws forward to block Lin Qi¡¯s face from coming any closer. With this strength, the fluff cannot pose any danger to him and the paws were actually so soft against his face. Unaware of himself, Lin Qi¡¯s eyes softened and his cold aura retreated. When Mao Rongrong saw a face approaching him, he put up his four paws, trying to push himself away. Although the face that appeared before him was actually very handsome, with a beautiful chiseled jaw, perfectly aligned facial features, and that soft black hair¡­ No, no, this man might be dangerous!! ¡°Wuu!! Ooo!!! Nuuwuuu!!!!¡± Mao Rongrong tried to let out a huge roar to scare the man, but what came out was milky meows with a delicate lingering sound. Mao Rongrong saw the corners of the man¡¯s lips tilting up as if mocking him. No!! This¡­ this is just because I¡¯m still small!! Lin Qi moved backward, laughing silently at the little cub. It was actually trying to put up a brave front. He wondered if it was a monster that transformed into his cub form as a disguise, but this milky scent proved that he was a genuine cub. He suspected that the blast of spiritual energy was caused by this fluffy creature, but looking at how it was weakly struggling in his hands, unable to get away, Lin Qi changed his mind. Still, it was strange that such a small cub was here alone. Although monsters are generally cold-hearted by nature and rarely raise their children, besides pack monsters, they would not leave a cub this young alone. ¡°Okay, okay, calm down, I¡¯m not going to eat you.¡± Mao Rongrong, who was getting tired of all the struggling he was doing, froze. Eat?? Eating me was an option??!!!! Looking at the white fluff who suddenly stopped moving, Lin Qi let out a little laugh and stuffed it into its black coat. He should bring this little cub back first and see if it was lost. Mao Rongrong suddenly felt warmth envelop him. Despite the stiff look of the cloak, the uniform was quite soft. Mao Rongrong nuzzled into the warmth and popped its head out of the coat to see where they were going. His eyes widened and his pupils dilated into cute round saucers. Wha¡­ Why are we flying??!!! We can fly now??? ¡°Wuuuuuuu!!!¡± Listening to the little fluff¡¯s soft whines improved Lin Qi¡¯s mood. With the small ball of heat against his chest, this snow landscape doesn¡¯t feel as cold as before. Chapter Two: Neowu… When Lin Qi arrived at the Mythical Management Bureau, Mao Rongrong was awed by the height of the skyscraper he was looking at. Stretching his fluffy head upwards, he tilted his head so far back, wanting to see the top. It seemed as though the building was endless, and just as he was straining himself backwards, he lost his grip and fell into Lin Qi¡¯s coat. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Lin Qi laughed lightly as he scooped Mao Rongrong out of his coat as they entered the lobby. Mao Rongrong¡¯s white fur glistened in the light and was soft as it looked. Lin Qi could not help touching and rua-ing Mao Rongrong as he entered the lift to his office. Scratching the back of Mao Rongrong¡¯s ears, Mao Rongrong leaned into Lin Qi¡¯s touch, unconsciously giving a satisfied whine. ¡°Wuuu¡­. Oooo¡­.¡± Yes, the itch is right there¡­ Amused by the fluff, Lin Qi continued to pet him everywhere, as if giving Mao Rongrong a full body massage in his arms. And during the whole time, the small smile on Lin Qi¡¯s face never faded. If his subordinates see Lin Qi now, they would exclaim in fear. It was rare for this cold-faced iceberg, who the entire department has proclaimed to have facial paralysis, to even sneer at them. The office was uncharacteristically quiet, and they were the only ones there when they arrived. Lin Qi placed Mao Rongrong on his work desk and booted up the computer to start processing Mao Rongrong¡¯s identity. After being plopped in front of the monitor, Mao Rongrong started to survey the desk and the surroundings. It looks like a normal office which was similar to where he had worked before he died. But why will this man bring me here? Does he want me to accompany him as he works? Mao Rongrong tilted his head in confusion, as his ears flopped with him. The man was still seriously operating the device and from Mao Rongrong¡¯s perspective, the serious look on the man¡¯s face was really, really, really handsome! ¡°Stop looking at me and look here. Are you on this list?¡± Lin Qi turned the dazed Mao Rongrong¡¯s entire body to face the screen and showed him a list of missing monsters in their human form. Just as Mao Rongrong was about to whine that animals cannot read, he froze when he saw the screen. Huh?... Why is he showing me a human missing list?... ¡­. Wait!!! Does he know that I¡¯m not a normal animal?! What if I get sent to some secret mad scientist lab to be experimented on?! Mao Rongrong suddenly snapped into attention. He suddenly realized that he was really way too lax previously and let his guard down around this man. Turning his head away from the screen, Mao Rongrong tried to pretend that he did not know what the man was talking about. Putting on an act, he distracted himself by pawing his tail and playing with it. ¡°Neowu¡­¡± Just then, the man¡¯s hand grabbed Mao Rongrong to face the screen again. ¡°!!!¡± ¡°Come on, look properly. Or are you on this other list instead?¡± Lin Qi switched to the beast counterparts of the monster¡¯s list. As not every monster can turn into a human form, some of them will remain in their beast form in their everyday life. Huh? What are these? Looking at the profile, had listed the beast¡¯s profile, together with their blood ancestry and powers as well. This¡­ this guy is a wolf beast? And¡­ and this is the legendary Baize that we only see in stories? And this is the Jade Rabbit?... ¡°Wuuu¡­.¡± Does Baize from the legends really exist? Mao Rongrong unconsciously muttered and doubted whether this list was even real, or if this man was just messing around with him. He pawed at Baize''s image of a beautiful white lion with horns. ¡°Baize exists. Although we have not seen him in a few hundred years, he has the ability to foresee the future. His powers are particularly useful, so we are looking for him.¡± ¡°Nuwooo?¡± So the stories and legends are real? Mao Rongrong moved closer to the screen to observe the magnificent creature closer¡­ ¡­ ¡­.. ¡­¡­.. ¡°NUUUE!!!! WOOO?!!¡± This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. WAIT, YOU CAN UNDERSTAND ME??!! Mao Rongrong whipped his head backwards so fast while letting out a milky roar. The speed of his movement caused Mao Rongrong to lose his balance and topple down to the side, exposing his belly. Looking at the cute cub, Lin Qi could not resist and reached out to rub the fluff¡¯s fluffy belly. Most creatures will tightly protect their belly as it''s their vulnerable spot and only show them in submission. And even then, it''s rare to allow anyone to touch it. Distracted by the warm touch, Mao Rongrong stretched himself out and laid flat on the table, exposing himself fully for the belly rub. ¡°Oooo¡­¡± ¡­ ¡­.. ¡°Wuuu!!! Neowuu!!!¡± Wait no!! You can understand me? Snapping out of the daze, Mao Rongrong tilted his head and looked at the man upside down. Lin Qi smiled softly at the fluff and continued to rua the fluff everywhere, as he patiently explained, thinking that Mao Rongrong might just be too young and was not taught before. ¡°Yes, I can understand you. Us monsters have no trouble understanding each other even in their beast form.¡± ¡°Oooo?¡± Wait, you said us monsters¡­ does that mean I am one too?? Lin Qi¡¯s hand paused, as he slowly scrunched his eyebrows into a frown. ¡°You don¡¯t know that you are a monster? How about your parents? Did they never mention this to you?¡± ¡°Wuuu¡­ Oooo¡­¡± I don¡¯t know¡­ When I woke up I was alone in the forest. ¡°Hmm¡­ that¡¯s strange. It¡¯s weird a clan will leave such a young one by themselves¡­¡± Lin Qi muttered to himself, thinking about the origins of this cute fluff. It was weird that a healthy monster was abandoned, especially one that looked as adorable as this one, but there might be special circumstances involved. Hearing Lin Qi¡¯s soft mutterings, Mao Rongrong drooped down, with his ears flattening. I¡­ I was abandoned as well in this life?... Looking at the saddened flattened pancake on his desk, Lin Qi quickly added another theory. ¡°Another possibility is that you are a 1st generation monster who gained spiritual awareness by yourself. These monsters are especially powerful and unique as they have gained heaven¡¯s favor. I did not sense the presence of any other monsters nearby in the forest, so you might be one.¡± ¡°Wuuu?¡± So I am super special and might be super strong? ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Lin Qi patted the fluff¡¯s head soothingly, as Mao Rongrong squinted and relaxed into Lin Qi¡¯s touch again. When the realization hit him, a burst of energy filled his small body and Mao Rongrong stood up, letting out a few milky roars. ¡°Nuwooo!!¡± I¡¯m a monster! A very special one too! ¡°Wuuu!!! Oooo!!! Nuwooo!!!! ¡± Do I have any special powers like the Baize? Is this why you could fly in the sky? Can I fly in the sky like you too?! ¡°Yes, if you practice and cultivate properly, you will be able to discover your unique power and after developing your strength, you will be able to do a lot of things besides flying.¡± ¡°Woooo!!!!¡± Wow!!! This is so cool!! I¡¯m a super cool monster!! ¡°Alright, calm down.¡± Lin Qi moved Mao Rongrong back to the screen dotingly. ¡°In this case, you would not be on the missing person''s list, so let¡¯s register you for an identity card instead.¡± ¡°Ooo!!!¡± With renewed energy, Mao Rongrong sat himself down like a human again as he answered Lin Qi¡¯s questions as Lin Qi helped him to fill out the form. During this time, Mao Rongrong learned that the monster world is currently being governed by the Monster Bureau which was surprisingly officially part of the government, that the man who helped him was called Lin Qi, and that he was also a very powerful monster with a standing, directly approving Mao Rongrong¡¯s application at once. ~ *** ~ A delicious smell wafted to Mao Rongrong as he sat in the living room watching an introductory guide to being civilized monsters on the huge TV. After registering Mao Rongrong, Lin Qi brought Mao Rongrong to his dorm apartment which was in the same building as the office. Apparently in order to save land cost and how buildings in the city center are extraordinarily expensive, the Bureau had used a magic artifact to expand the building upwards. In total currently, there are about 100 floors. When Mao Rongrong wondered if that was legal, apparently the bureau had attained special permissions from the government and due to magic, airplanes would subconsciously avoid these areas as well. Although Lin Qi has a house elsewhere, for convenience, he also rents a three-room apartment here to stay if needed. Distracted by the sound of sizzling meat, Mao Rongrong looked away from the guide teaching monsters how to read traffic lights and cross the roads. Honestly, as a former human, what Mao Rongrong truly needs is a guide to being a monster. He was itching to explore his powers, roar like a mighty beast, and conquer the world!!! Okay, maybe not the last one, Mao Rongrong thought as he rubbed his ears with his paws. Jumping off the couch, Mao Rongrong approached the balcony where the glass vaguely reflected his figure. Based on what he can deduce, Mao Rongrong thought he might be in the feline family, with fluffy fully white fur and paws that are closer to those of the leopards and sky blue eyes. Although his ears were a little too rounded, overall he does look like an albino leopard cub. Tilting his head while observing himself and circling 360 degrees to see his entire body, Mao Rongrong let out a little roar, pleased by his adorable looks. ¡°Awuuu!!¡± ¡°Rongrong, dinner is ready!¡± Lin Qi called for Mao Rongrong and when Mao Rongrong ran to him, Lin Qi scooped him up and carried him onto the table. There was steak served on a hot plate with some rice, vegetables, and soup as the side dishes. Mao Rongrong thought that since he turned into a monster, he must eat meat! But Lin Qi thought that it was not healthy and the result was thus this Western and Chinese fusion. Lin Qi removed his apron and started to cut the steak into small pieces, placing it on Mao Rongrong¡¯s plate. Serving him some rice with vegetables as well as some soup, Lin Qi made sure that the cub had everything he needed before Lin Qi started his own dinner. ¡°Huff¡­ Wuuu¡­¡± Huffing from the heat, Mao Rongrong devoured the food placed in front of him. Laughing at how deliciously the fluff was eating, Lin Qi rubbed Mao Ronrong''s ears lightly as they dined in companionable silence. After being filled with warm food, Mao Rongrong unceremoniously laid flat on the table like a pancake and burped. ¡°Oooo¡­.¡± Thanks for the food. It was so delicious. ¡°You¡¯re welcome. Thank you for eating so deliciously as well.¡± Lin Qi rubbed the little fluff¡¯s belly as if to help him with digestion. ¡°You have to stay here for now as the office is currently closed. Once they are back from the holidays, let''s see if we can get you your own place.¡± ¡°Wuuu¡­¡± Okay, sorry for the trouble¡­ ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all.¡± Lin Qi smiled as he carried Mao Rongrong to the bathroom and ran a bath for him in the sink. As Mao Rongrong was playing with the bubbles in his bath, Lin Qi cleaned and prepared to rest for the night. When Lin Qi went back to get Mao Rongrong out, he laughed in surprise. ¡°Wuu!! Ooo!!!¡± Look at all my masterpieces!! Mao Rongrong had made an army of little snowmen with ears from the bubbles that surrounded him. Quirking his lips, Lin Qi asked Mao Rongrong to pose and snapped a photo of the masterpieces. Lin Qi saved the image in a separate folder, marking the beginning of the extensive fluff photo collection on his phone. After washing and drying, Mao Rongrong thought that he would just sleep on the sofa. As there is heating in the room and his fur would keep him warm as well, it did not seem like an issue. However, Lin Qi directly carried Mao Rongrong to his bedroom and put him on the bed. ¡°Oooo?¡± I¡¯m not sleeping on the sofa? ¡°You can sleep here. The bed is big enough and you don¡¯t take up much space.¡± Lin Qi ruffled Mao Rongrong¡¯s head before going to wash up himself. Looking around the bedroom, it was decorated in black hues which fit the image of Lin Qi. Patrolling around the bed and sniffing around, Mao Rongrong finally chose one of the pillows to sleep on. Laying on his back, Mao Rongrong blearily looked at the unfamiliar ceiling as he fell asleep. When Lin Qi came out of the bathroom, Mao Rongrong had rolled off the pillow and was spread out in the middle of the bed. If it were the usual Lin Qi, he would not have even contemplated going to sleep this early, but looking at the sweet sleeping cub, a yawn unconsciously escaped him. ¡°Goodnight little one.¡± Lin Qi whispered as he moved Mao Rongrong gently to the pillow beside him. With the moonlight shining upon the two figures, it cast a warm and peaceful glow upon them. Chapter Three: Awoo? Sunlight filtered into the room and shone on Mao Rongrong, rousing him from sleep. ¡°Awoo?¡± For a moment, Mao Rongrong was confused about where he was. He was also unusually comfortable, lying on something warm, which was different from how his thin futon feels like. ¡°Are you awake?¡± A deep voice startled Mao Rongrong to alertness and when he tried looking at where the sound came from, it was actually from under him?... ¡°Nuwoo!¡± Mao Rongrong was startled and let out a milky cry as a huge hand picked him up and held him. In front of him was Lin Qi¡¯s enlarged face as Mao Rongrong felt Lin Qi¡¯s firm chest muscles under his paws. Blinking his round eyes in confusion, Mao Rongrong jolted awake and remembered that he was reincarnated into a fluffy animal! Oh no, a cute monster with special powers! But the position where he was lying before was a bit peculiar¡­ ¡°Your fur was so soft, it was just right as a blindfold.¡± Lin Qi gave Mao Rongrong a chin scratch as Mao Rongrong squinted his eyes in pleasure until Lin Qi¡¯s words registered. ¡°Nuewooo??!¡± Don¡¯t tell me I was actually lying on his face?! Feeling heat flushing his cheeks, Mao Rongrong buried his head under his paws and dived under Lin Qi¡¯s neck to hide from his gaze. Luckily he was covered with fur, if not his face would have been as red as a tomato. Mao Rongrong had never shared a room with anyone else, so he did not know that his sleeping habits were this unruly. How did he even manage to get up onto Lin Qi¡¯s head while asleep? Feeling vibrations under his body, he knew Lin Qi was laughing at him. Putting a paw on Lin Qi¡¯s lips with his fleshy paws to urge him to stop laughing, Mao Rongrong roared out a good morning, pretending that nothing happened. Amused by the cub so early in the morning, Lin Qi carried Mao Rongrong to wash up and prepare to head to the office. It was rare that Lin Qi was not grumpy after waking up so early in the morning, probably due to the cute fluff¡¯s antics. After having a simple breakfast, they arrived back in the office where Lin Qi was to standby in case of emergencies. So Mao Rongrong returned to the familiar desk and sat while looking at Lin Qi. And Lin Qi looked back. ¡°Maowuu!¡± Mao Rongrong raised his paws up like a well-behaved student asking the teacher a question. Without any emergencies, Lin Qi was pretty free and so, under Mao Rongrong¡¯s request, Lin Qi started to teach Mao Rongrong how to cultivate as a monster. Although the spiritual energy in the world was thin after so many years, monsters with due diligence were still able to advance their skills. Sitting properly with his paws in front of him this time, Mao Rongrong followed Lin Qi¡¯s instruction to absorb the Spiritual Qi (energy) around him. To help Mao Rongrong identify the Spiritual Qi, Lin Qi held Mao Rongrong¡¯s paw and injected some energy into him. While doing so, he could not resist kneading on the soft pink toes, causing Mao Rongrong claws to extend and retreat repeatedly. For monsters, cultivation was an instinctual process and there was not much that Lin Qi could teach Mao Rongrong. From ancient times, monsters and divine beasts were favored by heaven and had the easiest time cultivating as compared to humans. This was why there was such a power difference between the two camps and monsters were the rulers over the weaker humans. Some monsters, in return for protecting the humans, were even hailed as Gods or divine beasts. However, a few thousand years ago, the Heavenly Law suddenly underwent changes and started to strike down ancient beasts with tribulation lighting. These were famed and legendary beasts, sparing neither auspicious nor ferocious ones. Although the heavenly law was always ruthless, it was the first time that so many monsters were eradicated directly, scaring the remaining monsters to go into hiding. Some of the powerful beasts that survived went into hiding or fell into a long slumber to heal their wounds. The series of lighting strikes that changed the monsters¡¯ and humans¡¯ worlds alike resulted in the era of humans. Without the unreasonable monsters and Gods, humans began to develop rapidly, making advances in science and technology in leaps and bounds. On the contrary, the Spiritual Qi in the world was getting lesser and lesser, resulting in the population of monsters and human cultivators to decline. Lin Qi was one of the few fortunate ones who was in deep sleep when this occurred. When he woke up, everything changed. It was also then he realized that the upper heavenly realm had collapsed as well. Observing the cute fluff breathing in and circulating the spiritual qi, Lin Qi put Mao Rongrong¡¯s paw down. The Monster Bureau was also actually built upon one of the dragon veins, making the spiritual energy here to be more abundant than in other places in the city. Now all Mao Rongrong has to do is to diligently practice, be in tune with nature, and absorb the sun¡¯s and moon¡¯s essence going forward. With nothing else to do, Lin Qi picked up his phone. However, instead of opening his games, he opened the shopping app instead and clicked on the pet section. From hair combs to shampoos, toys, and even a cat tree, Lin Qi continuously added items to the cart. When he finally checked out with the next-day express delivery option, the amount of money Lin Qi spent would make Mao Rongrong fur rise. Taking a peek at Mao Rongrong, Lin Qi made sure everything was going well and opened the search engine, and started researching ¡°How to raise cubs properly¡±. Suddenly feeling the weight of responsibility to raise Mao Rongrong into an upright and moral monster, Lin Qi not only downloaded several books but also asked fellow netizens for advice. Unbeknownst to Lin Qi, Mao Rongrong was absorbing an unprecedented amount of Spiritual Qi beside him. Although the flow was slow, which thus did not alarm Lin Qi, the constant supply that was being stored in Mao Rongrong¡¯s body was more than what an ordinary cub could handle. Mao Rongrong, on the other hand, felt as if his entire body was being soaked in hot springs, warm and comfortable. The spiritual qi felt soft and soothing to him, lulling him into a deep sleep. Even when Mao Rongrong was not consciously trying to take in the spiritual qi anymore, it continued to flow into him purposefully. It was as though Mao Rongrong was favored by the heavens and they could not wait to nurture him. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Rocking back and forth, Mao Rongrong eventually succumbed and plopped down sideways dozing away as Lin Qi continued his passionate discussion with other mother netizens online. ~ *** ~ After a long while, Lin Qi finally peeled his eyes away from the screen and saw Mao Rongrong peacefully napping on the desk beside him. Mao Rongrong, just like last night, has rolled in his sleep. Instead of lying at the side, he was now beside Lin Qi¡¯s arm, hugging it like a pillow. Mao Rongrong would occasionally mumble something, rubbing his head against Lin Qi¡¯s arm. When Mao Rongrong started to nibble on Lin Qi in his sleep, Lin Qi thought it was time to go get lunch, before Mao Rongrong really bit down on him. Just when Lin Qi was going to wake Mao Rongrong up, a man burst into the office, loudly calling for Lin Qi. ¡°Boss!! Happy New Year!! Are you lonely being here alone?¡± Mao Rongrong jumped due to the sudden loud noise and scrambled into Lin Qi¡¯s arms instinctively. ¡°Neuwoo!!!¡± Looking at his boss staring at him with eyes that could kill and the fluffy beast in his arms, Jiu Ke froze in place. Although the cute fluff was worlds apart from their cold boss, the white fur against the rigid black uniform was oddly complimentary. Looking at how the boss was protecting the little fluff in his arms, Jiu Ke felt like he had just seen something he should not have seen. ¡°Excuse the intrusion!!¡± Jiu Ke hastily gave a salute, and turned, ready to run away as fast as he could. ¡°Come here.¡± Before he could move, an icy voice interrupted his escape, and he had no choice but to drag himself forward, till he stood at attention in front of Lin Qi. ¡°Wuuu?¡± Seeing that the coast was clear, Mao Rongrong peeked out from Lin Qi¡¯s arms and saw a burly man standing in front of the desk. His skin was tanned and with his well-built physique, it seemed as though he had been doing hard labor all year round. If Jiu Ke could hear Mao Rongrong¡¯s thoughts, tears would stream down his face and he would complain about what his demon boss has been making him do and how he was suffering under Lin Qi¡¯s ruthless regime. When Mao Rongrong met the man¡¯s eyes, his round blue eyes reflected the man¡¯s own round brown eyes as they both looked at each other in bewilderment. ¡°This is Jiu Ke, he is part of my subjugation team. He is a monster of the bear lineage.¡± Lin Qi casually introduced Jiu Ke as he patted Mao Rongrong¡¯s head as if declaring sovereignty over the little one. ¡°Oo!!¡± Mao Rongrong raised his paw in greeting and Jiu Ke felt like an arrow had pierced through his heart. What is with his absolute level of cuteness?! Where did the boss pick up this cutie from?! ¡°So why are you back? Planning to do some voluntary overtime?¡± ¡°No, of course not boss!! Why are you saying such an inauspicious thing first thing in the new year?! Wait no, you are not going to introduce the little cutie to me?!¡± ¡°It''s none of your business. If you have nothing, get out before I send you to City A for an inspection.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t do this to me, boss! I just came back from another inspection and the monsters there are so unreasonable. It¡¯s already 4202 and the so-called mountain god is still asking for human sacrifi-¡± ¡°If there¡¯s nothing, City H recently had a report of a sudden rise in¡­¡± ¡°Wait wait wait, okay this, it''s this.¡± Jiu Ke placed a plastic bottle on the table. Strangely it was stuffed with something gray, which was not liquid. Hopping down from Lin Qi¡¯s arms, Mao Rongrong approached the bottle in curiosity for a closer look. It was shaking a little as if something was struggling inside. ¡°I didn¡¯t bring any sealing bottles and encountered this ferocious ghost when I was on my way to the temple. It¡¯s the new year, can¡¯t they give us a break on the holidays at least? I hurriedly stuffed it in this plastic drinking bottle, so I need your help to seal it up properly.¡± ¡°What happened to learning how to seal ghosts up yourself?¡± ¡°Come on Boss, I already passed that exam. But this is a ferocious one and its resentment is off the charts. I cannot contain all its energy. Only you in the whole department would be strong enough to deal with this level of resentment.¡± Pawing at the plastic bottle, Mao Rongrong could not discern any face or shape in the bottle. Although he was surprised to hear that there was a ghost in it, thinking that now he was a monster, it should not be surprising if something like ghosts existed. Tilting his head as he listened to the ongoing report from Jiu Ke, which half was just him complaining, Mao Rongrong sniffed and felt like he smelt a delicious scent coming from the bottle. The smell was hard to describe as it did not resemble any food he had before. Yet it was a deliciously enticing smell that made Mao Rongrong accidentally drool. ¡°Actually there was something strange about this ghost. I encountered him in the temple. Usually, the temple¡¯s own sacred energy can keep ghosts away, yet this was able to stay in the temple with such strong resentment and even went as far as appearing in the daylight to attack¡­¡± Mao Rongrong was laser-focused on the bottle and found something strange as the bottle looked like it was slowly but surely expanding. When Mao Rongrong was about to tell Lin Qi about this, the bottle burst and a ghastly scream echoed in the office. The ferocious ghost had gotten out! ¡°Awuu!!!¡± Shocked, Mao Rongrong jumped back as he stared at the large towering translucent figure in the office. It looked like a female, but there were these black smoky particles surrounding it and it was hard to see the ghost¡¯s appearance. After escaping from the bottle, the ghost tried to run, knowing that it could not beat the people who had sealed her up. Although the little beast looked quite easy to devour, her own preservation came first! Flying towards the window, both Lin Qi and Jiu Ke looked awfully calm. When Mao Rongrong was about to chase the ghost, it suddenly rebounded as it hit the glass window. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t create more work for me. This place is sealed up and no ghosts and monsters will be able to escape from here.¡± Jiu Ke complained as he searched for a proper sealing bottle in a cabinet. Left with no choice and screeching in anger, the ghost turned around and dashed toward Mao Rongrong instead, thinking maybe she could take the little beast hostage. Mao Rongrong looked at the approaching figure and suddenly he could not contain his instincts anymore. It simply smelled too delicious! Opening his mouth, Mao Rongrong gave a milky roar and pounced toward the ghost, and bit down. ¡°Rongrong!!¡± Lin Qi got up in surprise at Mao Rongrong¡¯s actions and did not expect Mao Rongrong to attack the ghost. Although the ghost was no match for him or his team, Mao Rongrong was still a cub who could get hurt! Mao Rongrong managed to bite down on the ghost figure. The ghost screeched in pain, feeling as if an electric pain, like lightning, had spread through it. The ghost in an attempt to dislodge Mao Rongrong started to flail around, swinging Mao Rongrong in the air. While Mao Rongrong felt that it was kind of fun to swing around like this, he worried about how he could eat this delicious thing when he was hanging on by his bite. How about sucking it in? It does not have a physical body and it is kind of like air right? As Mao Rongrong thought that, he began to suck in as if drinking his favorite boba milk tea. Before Lin Qi could rescue Mao Rongrong, the ghost was eaten cleanly by Mao Rongrong and disappeared. Mao Rongrong landed on the floor on all fours like a cat. ¡°Maowuu~¡± Hey, did you see how cool I was? ¡°Rongrong!!¡± Lin Qi picked up the little fluff by his arm and started to shake Mao Rongrong around. ¡°You cannot eat that Rongrong! Spit it out now!¡± Feeling dizzy with the shaking, Mao Rongrong was confused. Why can¡¯t he eat such a delicious thing? ¡°Wuuu!!¡± ¡°It¡¯s dirty and bad for your health. I¡¯ll buy you lots of fried chicken for lunch later so spit it out okay?¡± Hearing that he could have fried chicken, Mao Rongrong¡¯s eyes sparkled. Fried chicken! Well, it''s not that bad of a trade¡­ Thinking so, Mao Rongrong coughed and gagged a little, before spitting out a black ball on the floor. A vague crying sound could be heard from what looks like a wet fur ball. ¡°Ooo!!¡± You promised! I want a bucket of fried chicken! Spicy! Heaving a sigh of relief, Lin Qi ruffled Mao Rongrong¡¯s head as Lin Qi held him in his arms protectively. ¡°Don¡¯t randomly eat these kinds of things in the future. It¡¯s filled with bad energy that we call resentment, and it might make you feel bad.¡± Although Lin Qi wanted to harshly scold Mao Rongrong, he in the end could not bring himself to do so and only warned him sternly. Mao Rongrong let out an affirmative roar, but deep in his heart he thought next time he should eat it when Lin Qi was not looking. The delicious aroma was simply just too good to resist. Mao Rongrong licked his lips while plotting his next hunt. Jiu Ke picked up the ball, and this time properly stored it in one of the advanced sealing bottles that Lin Qi had created for the team previously. ¡°Wow, your little cub is so fierce. He managed to eat such a scary ferocious ghost!¡± Mao Rongrong puffed up in pride and roared in thanks for the compliment. ¡°Awuu!!¡± ¡°If you are done, store it away and get out.¡± Lin Qi dismissed Jiu Ke as he turned around, blocking Mao Rongrong¡¯s gaze. It¡¯s best for the cub not to learn from bad influences. In just ten minutes of meeting Jiu Ke, Mao Rongrong managed to learn to be bad! Scratching his head, Jiu Ke left the office to head to the basement levels where they stored these types of ferocious ghosts. There were also some holding cells for monsters who rebelled and were not compromising. For the ghosts, after being sealed, the underworld officials will periodically collect the bottles back to the underworld to be processed. Still, Jiu Ke thought puzzledly, the ghost was too quiet. Shaking the bottle in his hand, the ghost did not move at all. Shrugging, Jiu Ke put this behind him and believed that anyone who had once been eaten up would quiet down. Back in the office, Mao Rongrong was tapping on Lin Qi¡¯s phone with his paw as he decided on what sides he wanted to go with his spicy chicken, while Lin Qi held his other paw and kneaded the pink bean toes dotingly. Chapter Four: AWUUUUU!!!! Mao Rongrong looked in confusion at the chaotic mess in front of him. Different species of cubs were in the room crying and making a fuss, sending fur, feathers, and even leaves flying through the air. There was a chick bird cub hanging on the lighting above, squawking and shouting "Mum!!", fluttering its wings and causing the lights to swing. Below the rotating light hallow is the teacher trying to calm the bird down and reaching for it to come down. Beside this chaos was a puppy fighting with a plant. Apparently, the puppy while excitedly running around the room had accidentally stepped on one of the plant roots, causing pain and so the plant whipped the puppy''s butt. Now the two are in a fight, one who continuously pounced and tried to find a breakthrough and the other whipping away the puppy. Then across the other side of the room, was a little tabby kitten that was teasing a small shell in the small fishbowl. At first, Mao Rongromng thought that it was an empty shell, but he could see the shell moving and avoiding the kitten''s paws. Mao Rongrong stood beside the door as he watched the ongoing shenanigans with deadpanned eyes. Lin Qi had dropped him off here, where he called a training center for young monster cubs, which would teach them about human society''s laws and also about monster cultivation. As Lin Qi had his own work and today he needed to attend a high-profile meeting with the human leaders as well, Mao Rongrong had no choice but to come here. But what training center?! Isn''t this just a kindergarten for kids?! Mao Rongrong licked his lips in agitation and flicked his tail. As the conflict between each party grew stronger, Mao Rongrong felt a boiling agitation rise inside of him. "AWUUUUU!!!!" Enough is enough!! Although Mao Rongrong''s roar was still milky, Mao Rongrong pounced at the fighting duo and smacked both of them with his fluffy paws, stunning them. Next, he wiggled his butt and managed to jump up to the lights and tackled the little chick down, scaring it to silence and then he bit the back scruff of the tabby kitten and dragged it down from the table, away from the aquarium. With a paw on the tabby''s head as if suppressing it, Mao Rongrong stood proudly in the middle of the room as everyone fell into silence. "Maowuu!! Oooo!!!" Now if you don''t want to get beaten up, gather here and sit down properly! Amazingly, the puppy pushed the plant pot to Mao Rongrong and sat down beside it, with its ears drooping and its tail between its legs. The chick sniffled and waddled to them and the tabby stopped struggling and laid flat like a pancake. Within a minute, Mao Rongrong had successfully tamed this unruly class! But what was weird was the teacher who was sitting on her knees formally in front of Mao Rongrong as well. Looking at the teacher skeptically, the teacher finally snapped out of her daze and coughed. "Thank you Mao Rongrong. Now has everyone calmed down?" It was amazing that the little white fluff could command the cubs to behave but the teacher also felt a rush of submission filled her as Mao Rongrong roared. This called something deeply primal in her and she instinctively wanted to follow Mao Rongrong''s instructions. Mao Rongrong let go of the tabby and the tabby sat up while rubbing his head against Mao Rongrong as if in apology. The teacher then gathered everyone in the dining room to have breakfast while they introduced themselves to each other. The table was filled with different specialized food for each cub, and even the plant on the table had a little water can which it used to water itself with. "Nice to meet you, I am Teacher Zhen, who will be in charge of teaching you this semester. I am a human cultivator from the Tianli Sect and my wish is that everyone will get along with each other." Going in a clockwise direction, everyone started their introductions while gulping down their food. "I''m Shao Lang! From the prestigious wolf tribe! You can call me Lang Wang! (King)" That name is so literal... "I''m Xiao Feng... *sniff* From... from the phoenix tribe..." So it wasn''t a chick?! "I''m Jing Jing nya." She said nya! Nya!! The little plant could not speak but used its branches to form a word Yin and was a Ginko tree. And the little shell in the fishbowl extended a claw out and tapped the glass as hello. It was surrounded by pretty shiny gems but did not show his face at all. "This is Huan Huan. He is a bit shy so everyone should take care of him a little more." When everyone had finished their introduction, they turned and looked at Mao Rongrong simultaneously. With so many shining eyes looking at him, Mao Rongrong thought he should show his pride as an older brother. "I''m Mao Rongrong. As long as everyone is good, I''ll protect you all!" After finishing their food, the cubs piled back into the previous room and sat in front of the projector. The teacher began to go through the materials for the first day, which was the basic morals of living in human society.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. The rules go from No eating humans, No using spiritual power in the city, Keeping your identity a secret, No breaking the human law... When the lesson began, Mao Rongrong sat upright trying his best to pay attention. However as the lesson progressed, his eyelids kept growing heavier and his head drooped. Lying on the plush carpet, head on his paws, Mao Rongrong fell asleep. Just like a high school student sneaking a nap in class, Mao Rongrong''s posture was still in the loaf sitting position, if not for his eyes that were closed, everyone would think that he was still listening to class. Jing Jing, the little tabby, who was sitting beside Mao Rongrong, saw that he had fallen asleep, and also laid down beside him, snuggling close. Like cubs who seek warmth from each other, Jing Jing nuzzled Mao Rongrong''s side and also fell asleep. Next, the little puppy Shao Lang also joined the fluff pile and then Xiao Feng, not wanting to be left out flew down from his perch and landed on top of Mao Rongrong and sank into his fluffy fur, as if it was his nest at home. Only Yin and Huan Huan, stuck in their pot and fish bowl, could not join them. "... ..." Looking at the warm pile in envy, Yin lightly shook his leaves and Huan Huan brought a shiny red gem into his shell and hugged it. ~ *** ~ Mao Rongrong woke up when Teacher Zhen switched on the lights and turned off the projection. Perhaps due to his high school years, Mao Rongrong tried to pretend that he was not, in fact, sleeping but had been diligently listening to class. Squinting as Mao Rongrong tried to hold his yawn back, tears filled his blue eyes and threatened to overflow. Teacher Zhen who saw everything: "..." Clapping her hands to rouse the class up, Teacher Zhen decided they should go on a walk to refresh and stretch. When Mao Rongrong stood up and shook his fur, he felt something roll off his back. Turning around, Mao Rongrong saw that it was a blue little bird who had rolled onto Jing Jing''s back beside him, and then continued to roll off Jing Jing and rolled all the way to the door before bumping into it. "Peep?" Xiao Feng woke up in a daze and wondered why he was at the door. "...." Mao Rongrong pretended, once again, that nothing happened and walked towards the door as well. Teacher Zhen who saw everything: "..." The rest of the cubs got up as well, as they waited for Teacher Zhen to open the door. "Huan Huan, I cannot carry the Fishbowl out as I need to hold Yin. Do you want to come with us or stay here?" Mao Rongrong from a distance could see the Shiny shell move a little back and forth before crawling nearer to Teacher Zhen. Pleased that Huan Huan was slowly opening up, Teacher Zhen took Huan Huan out of the fishbowl and placed him on her shoulders to ride. "Okay, let''s go little cubs. Today we will bring you to the garden in the building on the 30th floor." Leading the way, Teacher Zhen got on the elevator with a bunch of little cubs trailing after her. Shou Lang who was mischievous by nature ran ahead, then ran back, repeating this a few times, and also tripping a few times. His ears kept flopping around as his golden fur flowed in the wind he created. Jing Jing on the other hand stuck close to Mao Rongrong, however, its eyes were glued to Huan Huan on the teacher''s shoulders. All they could see was some whiskers of sorts that would poke out of the shell occasionally. If Jing Jing was given the chance, Mao Rongrong believed that she would have pounced on Huan Huan. Curious about what kind of monster Huan Huan was, Mao Rongrong also kept looking at him. Maybe Huan Huan could feel the attention on him, he shrunk into his shell tightly, never revealing a peep of himself. Xiao Feng was back on Mao Rongrong''s back, hitching a ride. Maybe it''s because Mao Rongrong felt bad, Mao Rongrong willingly allowed the little blue bird to stay. Accompanied by Xiao Feng''s cheerful chirping of a nursery rhyme, they peacefully made it to the garden. Although Teacher Zhen called it a garden, more than half of the area was actually used to plant spiritual plants that serve as healing tonics for monsters. The plots were filled with lush green plants that Mao Rongrong could not identify, but when the wind blew and Mao Rongrong took a deep breath, he suddenly felt refreshed from head to toe. There was a small clear pond in the middle with lotuses and there were rest stops with shelters for anyone who wished to take a seat and have a break. As they were approaching the lake, a little green dot floated past Mao Rongrong, attracting his attention. Looking at the green dot, it was floating towards the field. It was not only Mao Rongrong who noticed it but Shao Lang as well, who barked and chased after it. Startled, the green dot moved even faster and hid amongst the plants. Unable to stop in time, Shao Lang took a tumble and fell into the plot of plants, turning parts of his golden fur muddy. "Shao Lang! Don''t chase after the sprites. They are little garden spirits that work to tend to the garden." Teacher Zhn placed Yin on the table at the rest stop near the lake and picked up the muddy Shao Lang. Taking a cloth out of her pockets, Teacher Zhen wiped down Shao Lang briefly, but the mud was not coming off. Giving up, she released the puppy back onto the floor. It seems like she would need to hose him down later... Not knowing what he was going to face later, Shao Lang barked happily in invitation to the other cubs and ran off. Jing Jing, tempted by play, pounced after Shao Lang and disappeared among the plants as well. Mao Rongrong pawed at Teacher Zhen''s leg and then pointed in the direction the cubs ran, tilting his adorable fluffy head. Smiling a little, Teacher Zhen petted Mao Rongrong''s head lightly. "It''s okay, this place is still within the Monster Bureau and is secure. Mao Rongrong can also run along as you wish." After getting confirmation from the teacher, Mao Rongrong also left the group and went in another direction. Xiao Feng, who was on his back, had already flown to a nearby young tree to perch. However, perhaps due to Xiao Feng''s weight or the weakness of the tree, the branch bent sharply downward dramatically. Yin, looking at this scene, quietly gathered his branches closer to himself. Mao Rongrong was looking for the little garden sprites that took his interest. He wanted to look closer at it to see if he could determine any shape from it, or if it was really just a light particle. Happily trotting between the fields, Mao Rongrong also hummed a little tune. "Hmm~ Oooo~~~ Awuuu~~" Deep in the fields nearby, a sinister spirit was actually hidden within one of the plants. Crackling, it was proud that it had managed to infiltrate the Monster Bureau. The gardens were an open area which was easier to pass through the barrier as compared to the tight security in the front doors. It was actually a monster who managed to cultivate a power that allowed him to split his consciousness from his body. This can be termed as a soul state. Although its movement was not limited, it was a little too delicate for its liking. If it was killed in this state, his physical body would die too. Its task today was to help the organization scout the place and determine where the artifact was sealed. In order to further their plans, the artifact was crucial to them. Currently, it saw a bunch of cubs frolicking around the fields. A plan hatched in his mind, thinking if he could possess and take control of one of the cubs, it would be easier and safer for him to move around. It moved closer to the lake as it believed that the younger and more vulnerable cubs would be staying closer to the teacher. Covertly and slowly, It stayed hidden away from sight and prevented the garden sprites from raising alarms. Reaching the plot of plants nearest to the group, it saw a little blue bird that was chirping away on a branch. It was not perched high up and was an easy target. Looking at its size, it should be a newly hatched cub that has not even started cultivating yet. Just when it was about to strike, a shadow fell above him. After Mao Rongrong reached the edge of the garden which was fenced off by railings, he heard Teacher Zhen calling them back for lunch. Feeling his stomach was kind of empty, Mao Rongrong quickly trotted back at full speed. However, just before he reached Teacher Zhen, he suddenly smelt the delicious smell again! It was a little bit different from the previous malicious ghost, but the scent was still the same deliciousness. Licking his lips and looking around, Teacher Zhen was looking for Shao Lang and the others, meaning it was the green light for him. Tracking down the smell, he ended up in front of a little spiritual plant that looked like a small cabbage. Although it was bad to eat a spiritual plant without permission, coupled with his hungry stomach, the delicious smell was simply calling for him! Mao Rongrong without further thought, opened his mouth and bit the plant whole into his mouth. Chewing, it was slightly bitter maybe because of the raw plant. "Mao Rongrong! What are you eating!" Hearing Teacher Zhen''s shout, Mao Rongrong jumped and turned back to see Teacher Zhen''s exasperated face. But Mao Rongrong instead of spitting out the plant, began to chew even faster. He must be able to eat it this time! Sighing, Teacher Zhen picked up Mao Rongrong and observed the plot of plants. Luckily it was just a normal tonic herb that was regularly used in dishes and would not harm the little cub. Meeting Mao Rongrong''s eyes, Teacher Zhen could see Mao Rongrong hurriedly gulping down and finished eating the plant. ".... ...." "... ..." "I''ll let you off this time." Teacher Zhen thought Mao Rongrong did not cause such a big problem, as compared to Shao Lang and Jing Jing who managed to turn themselves into brown muddy cubs from head to tail. Burping in satisfaction, Mao Rongrong happily went back to have lunch to fill up his tummy again.