As he wandered the living room, he cried out, ’This place is too small!’

Passing by the kitchen—

’What’s that smell? It stinks a little.’

Entering the bathroom—

’It’s even smellier in here! It reeks!’

Reaching the balcony—

’It’s so noisy outside!’

Now, he was standing at the entrance to Song Wan’s bedroom. He poked his head in for a look, then pulled back and let out an impolite "meow" at Song Wan, who had followed him.

’Can we live somewhere else?’

"Overlord is so well-behaved! He even knows to say hello before entering a room."

Seeing Overlord meowing at the bedroom door, Song Wan cheered, squatted down, and hugged the cat.

Overlord’s body stiffened. He immediately began to push forcefully against Song Wan’s arms, letting out a series of "meows" from his throat that were clearly filled with disgust and impatience.

’Go away, go away!’

’What’s that smell?’

’Stay away!’

Although his claws were retracted, the force of his pushing was considerable.

At the same time, his cat eyes looked toward Yang Qi, who was standing to the side, and he let out a desperate cry for help.

’Two-legged Beast, save me!’

"Ahem."

Yang Qi gave a light cough, interrupting Song Wan’s forced cat-petting session. "Um... Song Wan, why don’t you let him go first?"

Hearing this, Song Wan paused, looking at Yang Qi with some confusion.

Yang Qi said tentatively, "Maybe... Overlord isn’t used to the scent of your perfume?"

"Is that so?"

Song Wan was skeptical, but she had indeed put on some perfume today.

Seeing Overlord squirming in her arms with a look of pure resistance, she finally let go.

The moment he was free, Overlord leaped a few steps away. He shook his fur vigorously, shot a glare back at Song Wan, and then strutted arrogantly to a corner of the living room, where he sat down and began to lick his paws in a slow, deliberate manner.

Gao Zhenyue came over at this moment, stroking his chin as he sized up Overlord with a strange expression on his face.

"I don’t know... it feels like this cat has a look of utter disgust. Look at its eyes, it’s like it’s saying, ’Stupid humans, stay away from me.’"

’It’s not just a feeling,’ Yang Qi thought to himself. ’This cat is disgusted, and it isn’t even trying to hide it.’

’Judging by his attitude, intelligence, and his more independent nature compared to an average pet cat, he was probably returned to the pet store by his previous owner for being "too opinionated" and "not obedient enough."’

Of course, he didn’t say this out loud.

...

Dinner was Song Wan’s treat; she had ordered food from a restaurant to be delivered.

After dinner, Yang Qi made an agreement with Song Wan to take Overlord for "special training" and bring him back in half a month.

He had intentionally extended the time. With his current abilities, plus the Spirit Communication Technique, it would take him three days at most to make this tsundere cat learn basic commands and understand who was boss.

He said half a month to make it seem less "miraculous" and also to give himself more flexibility.

By the time he returned to his dorm at the Zoo, it was already late.

Yang Qi carried the cat carrier into the room and removed Overlord’s leash.

After being let out, Overlord first crouched warily in place, surveying the unfamiliar surroundings.

There was no pungent perfume smell in the room. The air was relatively fresh, which made him feel much more comfortable. However, the faint scent of other animals in the air displeased him.

Yang Qi wasted no time. He consumed two wisps of Magical Power and cast a Basic Spirit Awakening Technique on Overlord.

A faint light flashed and entered the space between Overlord’s eyebrows.

"Meow?"

Overlord’s body trembled slightly. He remained sitting, shook his head, and his already lively golden cat eyes became even clearer and brighter.

He first blinked in a daze, then, as if sensing the change within himself, he abruptly looked up at Yang Qi and let out a rapid series of "meows" from his throat.

’Two-legged Beast, what did you do to this meow?’

’This meow seems to have gotten smarter!’

’Two-legged Beast, I’m asking you a question!’

’Is this your home, Two-legged Beast? It seems much better than that strange-smelling female Two-legged Beast’s place.’

He paced around the room, meowing nonstop, as if talking to himself or giving Yang Qi a comprehensive review of the place.

’The place is okay, but it smells like other meows. And dog.’

’No matter who was in charge here before, from now on, this meow is the new boss!’

’He’s become more talkative after the Spirit Awakening?’

Listening to Overlord’s practically nonstop commentary, the corner of Yang Qi’s mouth couldn’t help but twitch.

’This fellow... after his intelligence was unlocked, he not only got smarter, but his desire to express himself and his "territorial awareness" have also skyrocketed.’

Ignoring Overlord’s incessant chatter, he took out the Spirit Rice and started cooking porridge. Then he went to the backyard to set up the Demon Extermination Array again.

The faint purple light and soft crackling of electricity once again became the background noise of the night.

Hearing the commotion, Xiaojiu, Ta Xue, and Bai Wan, who had been wandering outside, all came running back from nearby.

As soon as they entered the house, the three of them discovered an uninvited guest in the living room.

A strange cat, larger than Xiaojiu, with Huili fur, holding its head and chest high with an "I’m the boss" expression.

Ta Xue was curious and moved closer, tilting its head to examine this new companion.

"Meow!"

Overlord immediately sat up straight, his cat eyes looking majestically at Ta Xue.

’What’s your name?’

’From now on, this meow is the new boss of the house.’

’And that meow over there, and you, yellow-furred dog! From now on, you’re not allowed to enter the house without this boss’s permission.’

’Got it?’

"Woof?"

Bai Wan tilted his head, a confused look on his face.

Xiaojiu let out a sneer, its eyes filled with disdain.

It couldn’t even be bothered to glance at Overlord, instead walking with elegant steps straight toward its own exclusive cat bed.

"MEOW!"

Overlord was enraged by Xiaojiu’s dismissive and scornful attitude.

He let out a howl, lowered his body, and launched himself at Xiaojiu with a powerful push from his hind legs, claws extended, intending to teach Xiaojiu a harsh lesson.

But—

There was a soft SMACK.

Xiaojiu didn’t even fully turn its head. It just casually lifted a front paw and, with precision and speed, smacked it down on Overlord’s pouncing head.

Overlord’s seemingly ferocious pounce was effortlessly pinned down by that one casual slap.

His entire feline face was pressed to the floor.

"Meow! Grrr—"

Overlord was both shocked and furious. He struggled with all his might, a low, threatening growl rumbling in his throat as his four limbs thrashed about.

In terms of size, he, a Bengal Leopard Cat, was indeed a size larger than Xiaojiu, a regular-sized black cat. His fur was also fluffier, making him look quite a bit more formidable.

Unfortunately, in terms of strength, he was no match for Xiaojiu, whose body had long since surpassed that of an ordinary cat, nourished as it was by a daily diet of Spirit Rice and the occasional Strengthening Pill.

No matter how much he squirmed or struggled, the paw Xiaojiu had on his head was as steady as a rock, not moving an inch.

Overlord could only be firmly pinned to the ground, letting out futile, angry whimpers in a display of helpless rage.

’Let meow go!’

’Let go! This meow is getting angry!’

’If you don’t let go, this meow is going to get *really* angry!’

...

Just then, Yang Qi walked in from the backyard, having finished setting up the Demon Extermination Array, dusting off his hands.

Hearing the movement, Xiaojiu looked up at Yang Qi and let out a soft "meow."

’Where did this idiot come from?’