Cathulhu Online, MUNYA!

Chapter 185 – Cat Dad was Adopted?

“Are you alright?”

In an empty apartment, a refined blonde woman carried her injured husband to a makeshift bed, made from a dozen clean clothes. She placed him on the bed and gently changed his bandages.

Katerina’s golden pupils shone in the dark room. As if she could see in the dark, she poured some saline solution on a towel and wiped the chest of Miao Damao, cleaning the dried blood and the burnt skin.

She gazed at the wound. The four claw marks were at least an inch deep, and she could see the ribcage of Damao. Fortunately, a cultivator could manage their inner organs and forcefully cut the blood flow on the wounded sections, stopping the bleeding in the process.

While inspecting the aftermath of the fight between Nian and her husband, Katerina accidentally touched Damao’s wounds.

“Ow! Take it easy, Kat.”

“Oh, my bad.”

Katerina brightly smiled. Her hand, which was holding the towel, shone in blue light. Then, the saline solution and Damao’s blood disappeared. After the blue light dimmed, she poured more SL into the towel and continued dressing his wounds.

All the grimes were removed. Kat extended her hand to the air, but it sank into an invisible portal to another dimension. She pulled out a med kit box and opened it.

It took her 30 minutes to stitch each cut. Even though Kat never attended medical school, she perfectly sew the skin without sophisticated equipment and tool. However, she didn’t bother touching Damao’s blood vessels.

When the skin was attached together, Damao took a deep breath. His light crimson blood, aka Life Essence, which had replaced blood cells and white blood cells ages ago, moved toward the severed blood vessels.

The crimson fluid automatically searched and pulled the disconnected vessels together and mended them. The cut parts regenerated and attached to each other while healing the damaged tissues that they came across.

The process was instant. As soon as Damao’s blood vessels were reconnected, all wounds were healed, and the sewed threads were cut and ejected from his body.

Damao didn’t stop meditating. The burnt parts slowly faded away, replacing with the newly regenerated skin. His face and body regained their color, and Miao Damao opened his eyes, completely recovered from the life-threatening ordeal.

“Welcome back,” Kat congratulated her husband.

“Yeah, I’m back.”

The two lightly kissed. Then, their expressions turned solemn.

“Did they find out about us?”

Damao shook his head, “Eh, they knew about us being Mu-Nyang’s agents all along, but they don’t know everything.”

“Then, why did they attack you out of nowhere? Even if they know that we’re working for Lord Mu-Nyang, won’t they take a huge risk by offending us first? The other Cathulhus won’t leave them alone after this.”

Miao Damao fell into deep thought for a moment. He recalled something and burst into laughter.

“Hey. Have you checked the game’s news?”

“What about it?”

“Check it. Search for World Three’s scandal, Pangu Church, and the most wanted criminal.”

“???”

Katerina frowned. She brought out her phone and entered the Pangu Online game’s website to see their official announcements and news.

[Siren City’s Pangu Cathedral Destroyed!]

[Calamity-Class Monster on the Loose! Siren City Obliterated!]

[Enemy of the Pangu Church! Player Xiaomao’s Bounty Now One Billion PACTs!]

[Emperor Yuan Shaoqing Excommunicated the Pangu Church!]

[Emperor Yuan Shaoqing Placed Additional Bounty on Player Xiaomao!]

Without the need of reading the contents, Katerina could easily guess that Xiaomao did a number on the Pangu Church and Emperor Yuan Shaoqing as they put a bounty on him. Moreover, the boy struck a wedge between Yuan Shaoqing and the church, causing them to fight each other.

Kat couldn’t help but giggle.

“Was it because of Xiaomao?”

“Hahahaha! Who else could have made Nian and Pangu go crazy? He simply jeopardized their long-term plans for World Three. I don’t know what he did to Taotie and Mimir. But from the news and rumor on the forums, those two seem to be working for Xiaomao now.”

“He even tamed immortals? What the hell has he been doing?”

“Saving the game world, maybe?”

Miao Damao shrugged. He smiled so much that his face hurt.

The laughter lasted a minute. Miao Damao let out a sigh and gazed toward the dark sky at night.

“It’s about time we leave this world, Kat. Our time is up.”

“What about Xiaomao?”

“He’ll be fine. He’s the PROTAGONIST that Lord Mu-Nyang has been nurturing. It’s about time we stop playing house and let him know the truth. If we stick around, we’ll be a burden to him. We can’t become his weaknesses when he is at the critical juncture of his life.”

“…”

Katerina lowered her head. She thought of the days when Xiaomao was so innocently naïve and cheerful.

She missed the time they spent together like a NORMAL family. She didn’t want that time to end so soon.

“Do we really have to do this? What if he returns to this world and can’t find us?”

“Lord Mu-Nyang said that he would deploy a clone to protect him. Even if he were to fail to become a superhuman, the clone will ensure that Xiaomao can live a normal life peacefully without getting involved in our war.”

“…”

Katerina’s expression was gloomy. She leaned her head against Damao’s chest.

Miao Damao hugged her and kissed her head, then let out a long sigh.

Both husband and wife slowly reverted to their true form. Their faces, hair, and skin were warped, and their physique shrank.

Soon, both CULTIVATORS transformed into two adult cats with feather wings. They gazed at the moonless night and prayed.

“If fate allows us, let us meet again, son,” Damao’s expression was bitter.

“Xiaomao, become the true protagonist and find your real father. This is the best we can do for you as parents.”

The two cats faded into nothingness. However, they heard the confirmation messages.

DING

<You have used the skill – World Jump!>

<Joining the Cathulhu Universe…>

<Welcome Back, Cathulhu Miao Damao.>

<Welcome Back, Cathulhu Katerina.>

<His Excellency has been expecting your return. Please seek an audience when you’re ready.>

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Gnoll Dungeon

Xiaomao glared at Mu-Nyang’s hologram. He scoffed at the cat’s first news.

“Yeah, right. I’m adopted. So what?”

Munya? (You’re not surprised?)

“As if I care if I’m adopted or their real son, munya! They raised me, and I’m their son forever, regardless if I’m from their blood or not!”

Mu-Nyang was stunned while the mermaid hologram was moved to tears. She giggled.

“Damao and Kat will be happy if they hear that.”

Xiaomao turned his attention to the mermaid. He narrowed his eyes and made a bold guess.

“If I may guess, could you be Chang’e, the Goddess of the Mermaid Kingdom, munya?”

The mermaid bitterly smiled, but she didn’t answer. Her eyes looked sad as if she thought of someone or something. Then, she muttered to herself.

“I’m jealous. Sister Yuan is so lucky.”

“???”

Xiaomao frowned again.

Before Xiaomao could ask the girl anything, Mu-Nyang covered her mouth and whispered something to her, but Xiaomao and the others couldn’t hear it.

Suddenly, the mermaid hologram seemed to be overjoyed to the point that she cried.

“REALLY?!”

Mu-Nyang nodded, then he flickered her forehead.

MUNYA! (Go back to your post. I’ll take it from here!)

“Okay!”

The mermaid disappeared from the hologram, leaving only Mu-Nyang. The white cat turned his gaze toward the white catopus. He began talking in a human language.

“Reach level 1,000 if you want to see your parents again, munya!” Commanded Mu-Nyang.

“What happened to them, munya!?”

“Who? Oh, your parents? They’re not on Earth anymore. They’re now living with the gods, munya.”

“ARE THEY DEAD, MUNYA?!”

Xiaomao was enraged. He thought that Mu-Nyang did something to them.

“No, munya. They used the same skill that I gave to you. Remember the WORLD JUMP? They can travel between worlds, too, munya.”

“…”

“Oh, I have a confession. I think you must want to know about this the most, right? In the previous loop, I ordered Damao and Kat to leave Earth, but my fake dummy body stayed with you until Pangu found and killed us both, munya.”

“You…”

That clarified many things. It explained why Mu-Nyang never showed any sign of having a superpower or magical abilities in his previous life. Also, it also confirmed why Xiaomao could never find his parents’ corpses or their last whereabouts after the plane had crashed.

About the death of Mu-Nyang in his previous life, Xiaomao always blamed himself for being incompetent. Now that he had learned the truth, he felt betrayed.

“You lied to me. I thought we went through thick and thin together in our previous life. Were you manipulating me all along, Mu-Nyang?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THIS WORLD?!”

Mu-Nyang snorted, “I did everything necessary in the other ALTERNATE TIMELINES so that I could LEARN what my enemies had in store for me. Of course, thanks to your parents and your contribution, I learned everything. And in THIS REAL TIMELINE, I’m returning the favor by allowing you to obtain my bloodline, your previous life’s memory, my blessings, superpowers, and the joy of being stupidly rich like the ALTERNATE YOU always wanted.”

“…”

“I don’t blame you if you don’t want anything to do with me anymore. But know this, I am and will always be your friend.”

Xiaomao closed his eyes as he couldn’t comprehend everything Mu-Nyang had said. His rage pushed him to vent on Mu-Nyang. However, as a cat lover, he couldn’t yell at the white cat, who had the same look as the cat that Xiaomao spent decades together in his previous life.

“I hate you, Mu-Nyang.”

“But I love you, Xiaomao.”

Mu-Nyang smirked, but his eyes and pupils were moist as if he wanted to cry. He turned around and the hologram disappeared.

After the hologram vanished, Mir and the others could finally raise their heads. They all turned to Xiaomao.

Mir bit her lower lips. She wanted to continue teasing and mocking her cat dad. But upon seeing the dark face of Xiaomao, she couldn’t utter another word.

Mew (I’m sorry, hooman.)

Xiaomao sneered at Mir, “Oh. I thought you would look down on me. What’s the change of heart?”

Mew (I just pity you. You look like an emo teenager right now.)

“…”

Being reminded of his current actions, Xiaomao was stunned. He paused to think for a long time.

By the time he realized it, Mir had left. Only Undine and Nymph remained behind.

Xiaomao smacked his forehead for being too emotional. He overlooked many things that Mu-Nyang did for him.

Mu-Nyang even saved his life!

“God dammit. I’m stupid, munya!”

“Like your father when he was a mortal…”

Xiaomao widened his eyes and looked at the speaker, who had a girly voice.

Undine and Nymph shook their heads and glanced at the statue behind them, telling Xiaomao that it was not them.

Xiaomao looked up and stared at Chang’e Statue. The golem widely grinned and console him.

“If you want to apologize or have another heart-to-heart talk with Lord Mu-Nyang, get stronger and stop being a burden to us. How about I give you something as a motivation and a guideline for the future?”

DING

<Chaos Demon Goddess Chang’e has given you a quest.>

<You cannot deny this request. You are forced to complete this Faction Quest!>