At the turn of summer to autumn, the entire Q Province was shrouded in a gloomy drizzle.
The rain had been falling on and off for nearly half a month. The rivers swelled, and the soil on the mountains loosened; local news even reported a few landslides.
With the weather so bleak, people were going out less frequently, and Jian Mo’s pet hospital business had grown so slow that he was struggling to make rent.
Early that morning, he opened the shop and began cleaning.
When he went into the small storage room, he discovered that the cat food had been gnawed on by rats.
Misfortune never comes alone.
Jian Mo stood there and sighed. He bent down to clean up the damaged cat food.
Outside, the rain gradually picked up, and the wind blew raindrops slanting into the door. He stood up to close it.
Through the glass door, he gazed out into the dreary sky and deserted street.
Judging by the weather, there probably wouldn’t be any customers today.
Jian Mo hesitated for a moment, then put on his coat, grabbed some cat food and canned food, and decided to bring back that stray cat he’d had his eye on.
The rat problem in the shop was getting worse—he couldn’t put it off any longer.
There were stray cats in the park behind the hill, and he had already set his sights on one.
After preparing, he locked up the shop, hung a sign with his phone number outside, and went out with an umbrella.
He pulled his coat tight against the gusts of autumn wind and headed towards the back hill.
The rain had washed the park’s stone steps clean. The mist cloaked the mountain, turning it a muted, dusky green.
There were no pedestrians, nor any animals—only an overwhelming stillness.
Jian Mo didn’t see any cats along the way, so he continued climbing up the steps.
The rain made the path slippery. He carefully steadied himself on the steps, occasionally grabbing at the grass along the sides.
Just as he passed the steepest section, his vision suddenly dimmed.
Instinctively, he looked up and realized that the trees around him seemed taller, and the shrubs and grass appeared denser.
He paused, confused, then turned around to look back.
The fog around him was thick, but he could faintly make out the park’s path behind him.
Perhaps it was just the rain and not having visited in a few days, but the scenery seemed somehow different.
Jian Mo stood still for several seconds before continuing forward.
When he reached a large tree and found the ground underneath relatively dry, he opened a can of food, hoping to lure the stray cat out.
The sky was growing darker, and Jian Mo waited in place for a long while, but no cats came.
He glanced around and mimicked a cat’s meow twice: “Meow—”
He had used this trick before to catch strays for neutering, and it had worked quite well.
However, the sound that echoed through the forest felt unfamiliar, as if it didn’t quite match the cat calls he was used to making.
Feeling uneasy, Jian Mo looked around. An inexplicable sense of foreboding crept over him.
His phone was running low on battery, and perhaps due to the rain, there was no signal.
Should he head back?
Just as Jian Mo was about to pack up and leave, a soft yet raspy meow came from behind him: “Meow.”
It was clearly the cry of a kitten.
He turned around to see a little gray cat with fluffed-up fur standing under a tree not far away.
The kitten resembled a Maine Coon, much larger than usual, but it seemed timid, crouching in place without daring to come closer.
Seeing a living creature at last, Jian Mo breathed a sigh of relief.
What was he getting paranoid for when there was nothing to be afraid of?
“Kitty, come here. Meow—” Jian Mo beckoned to the little cat, gesturing toward the open can. “There’s food here.”
The kitten stood up, hesitated for a moment, then took two cautious steps forward, its right front paw hovering in mid-air, as if wanting to approach but not quite daring to.
It seemed to be a cautious little cat.
Jian Mo took two steps back, making more space in front of the can for the kitten.
The can was already opened, and if left too long it wouldn’t be fresh. It would be great if the kitten could eat it all.
The kitten looked at him, then at the can, its nose twitching as it cautiously stepped forward.
It moved slowly, ready to flee at any moment.
Jian Mo retreated a few more steps, creating plenty of distance.
Only then did the kitten start moving all four paws, scurrying over to circle the can. After another glance at Jian Mo, it first sniffed the can, then bent its head to take a tentative bite.
Once it tasted the food, its eyes lit up. It buried its entire head into the can, gobbling away with a purring sound rumbling from its throat.
Not only did it purr, but the sparkle in its eyes clearly showed how happy it was.
Watching the kitten, Jian Mo cautiously moved closer.
The kitten didn’t run away; instead, it even shifted slightly to the side to make room.
Jian Mo squatted down, gently petting its round little head.
The kitten tilted its head, nudging its head deeper into Jian Mo’s hand, pushing against his palm.
The kitten’s body was quite warm, its long fur soft to the touch—an absolute delight.
Jian Mo smiled, extending two fingers to lightly scratch its chin. He leaned closer and asked softly, “You don’t hate me, do you?”
The kitten simply kept eating, still purring contentedly.
Jian Mo stroked it from head to tail. “Then how about coming home with me? There’ll be plenty of food for you.”
He hadn’t managed to find the stray cat he originally had his eye on, but this one wasn’t bad either.
The more Jian Mo looked at it, the more he liked it. He squatted there patiently, waiting for the kitten to finish eating.
The little one quickly devoured the entire can and started licking the bottom.
Jian Mo gently patted its little belly, surprised that such a small cat could eat so much.
Once he was sure it was done, he picked it up and wiped its mouth with a tissue, then cleaned its little pink paws.
The kitten stared up at him with wide, curious eyes, still purring away in its throat.
It had been a long time since Jian Mo had seen such a friendly and adorable cat. He gave it a little scratch.
The kitten flipped over in his arms, spreading its back legs to reveal its soft belly, as if inviting him to pet it.
Its fur was long and silky. Jian Mo couldn’t resist petting it a few more times, then scooped it up, pressing his face against its warm belly.
The softness and warmth of its belly, combined with the faint milky scent on the kitten, filled Jian Mo with a deep sense of contentment.
The kitten was a bit confused, pressing its soft paw pads against his face. “Meow?”
Jian Mo chuckled, holding onto its little paw to keep it from moving, then buried his face in its belly again.
Just as he was enjoying the moment, he heard a noise behind him.
Instinctively, he turned his head to look.
What he saw made his breath catch: a “cat” the size of a person was standing not far away, its green eyes fixed on him—who knew for how long.
Upon realizing it had been noticed, the huge cat flattened its ears and bared its teeth in a threatening snarl. “Which tribe are you from? Let go of my brother!”
What? A cat that big?!!
What on earth was happening?
Jian Mo froze in place, holding the kitten loosely, unable to process what he was seeing. Cold sweat began to trickle down his back.
Was he dreaming?
Jian Mo maintained his position, still cradling the kitten, not daring to move. He kept his eyes locked on the enormous cat, wondering if he was losing his mind.
The kitten in his arms lightly pressed its soft paw into his palm, then gracefully leaped to the ground and scampered over to the larger cat. “Meow.”
The large cat’s tense expression relaxed. It leaned down to lick the little one’s head before gently grabbing it by the scruff and tossing it onto its back.
After settling the kitten, the big cat turned back to Jian Mo with a wary look. “A wandering sub-beastman?”
Sub-Beastman? What did that even mean?
And… this cat could really talk?!
Jian Mo felt a wave of dizziness.
This had to be a dream, right?
He wondered if he was having a lucid dream.
The big cat hesitated, then lifted a paw, seemingly intending to come closer for a better look.
Just then, sounds emerged from deeper within the forest.
The big cat’s expression changed instantly. It turned to flee, but before it could, several tall “people” burst out from the woods.
One of them rushed up to the big cat and slapped it.
“Meow!” the cat yelped, trying to dodge sideways.
But the figure raised their hand again, delivering a rapid barrage of strikes while carefully avoiding the kitten on its back.
The big cat meowed piteously, “Dad, stop hitting me!”
The figure replied, “Stop? You’re getting too full of yourself! And you even took your little brother out to play—who taught you that?!”
The big cat whimpered, “M-Meow, Banjiu wanted to come out and see! I just brought him out for a look.”
The person snorted with laughter. “Banjiu just turned one month old! If he says he wants to go out, you just take him? What were you thinking?!”
The big cat shrank back. “Meow, I won’t do it again! I promise I won’t!”
After giving the big cat a thorough beating, the person finally turned to look at Jian Mo, their eyes sharp enough to pierce through him.
Jian Mo’s head was spinning, and he could barely stay on his feet.
His eyes were wide as he stared at the figure before him.
The newcomer was very tall with handsome features, sun-kissed skin, and lean muscles that clung to a model-like frame. But that wasn’t the strangest part—the most striking detail was the pair of upright cat ears on top of his dark grey hair and the slightly rounded, larger-than-normal pupils in his eyes.
It was obvious—the beings before him were not human.
This had to be a dream.
Jian Mo thought to himself, What a strange dream.
The man stared at Jian Mo and asked, “An outsider, a sub-beastman?”
Jian Mo’s throat was so dry he could barely speak. “I…”
A few others arrived, all fixing their gazes on him:
“Which tribe’s sub-beastman is he from? Why is he so small?”
“He’s definitely not from any of the nearby tribes—I’ve never seen him before.”
“His beast hide looks strange.”
Looking at this group of people with various animal ears, Jian Mo finally realized—this wasn’t a dream!
Without responding, he turned and bolted back the way he came.
The first person who had spoken yelled, “Banming—”
At the command, the large cat lunged at Jian Mo.
Jian Mo frantically crouched to dodge, but his foot slipped, sending him tumbling down the hill. He rolled several meters before crashing into a tree trunk with a loud thud.
The big cat hesitated, turning to glance at the others as if uncertain whether to continue the chase.
Ignoring the pain, Jian Mo scrambled to his feet, limping as he ran forward.
—He had never run so fast in his life.
Something terrible had happened.
Jian Mo thought, panicked.
When he came up the path earlier, it was clear and recognizable.
Now, as he fled, the path behind him had nearly disappeared—only gaps between the dense shrubs remained visible.
He soon found himself in an open area.
Through the gaps between the trees, he glimpsed the scene below the mountain.
There were no tall buildings, no roads, no familiar cityscape—only an expanse of plains, with snow-capped mountains visible in the distance.
At some point, the rain had stopped, and the snow on the peaks glowed golden under the setting sun.
Jian Mo turned stiffly to look back.
The large cat carrying the kitten was closing in, and the other strange people were catching up as well.
They surrounded Jian Mo, forming a loose circle—not particularly aggressive, but definitely wary.
Jian Mo took a small step back, raising his hands to show he meant no harm. “I… I don’t know what’s going on either.”
The man with cat ears spoke to his companions, “Go find the chief.”
His companion replied, “Ye Luo has already gone.”
Everyone stood there in tense silence.
Jian Mo had no idea how long he stood there—it could have been a long time, or just a few seconds.
Amid the chaos in his mind, a massive silver figure suddenly burst out of the forest.
Once it came to a stop, Jian Mo realized it was a white wolf, towering even taller than a house.
With those icy blue eyes fixed on him, Jian Mo felt like he couldn’t breathe, let alone move.
Sweat trickled down his back as a crushing sense of dread seized his heart.
What kind of creature is this?
Am I really going to die here today?
The giant wolf stared at him for a couple of seconds before lying down on the ground and rolling over. In a flash, it transformed into a tall, handsome man.
At some point, a silver-white beast hide appeared in the man’s hand, and with a swift motion, he wrapped it around his lower body.
The entire process was so quick that Jian Mo couldn’t even register what was happening. By the time he could see clearly, the man was already standing right in front of him.
The others greeted the man in unison, “Chief!”
The man’s sharp gaze locked onto Jian Mo, his towering figure exuding an overwhelming pressure. “An outsider, a sub-beastman?”
By now, Jian Mo had a vague understanding of what was going on, but emotionally, he refused to believe it.
Under that piercing gaze, he found himself unable to lie, but he also didn’t know how to respond. He stood there, dazed, staring at the man before him.
At that moment, a stabbing pain shot through his head, and his mind was suddenly filled with a chaotic jumble of memories.
The crowd continued to watch Jian Mo.
Seeing that he wasn’t answering, the man’s brows furrowed slightly, and his hand moved toward his waist.
Jian Mo instinctively thought the man was going to attack, so he took a step back, forcing himself to respond.
With great difficulty, he moved his tongue and switched to a clumsy, unfamiliar language. “Beastman?”
The man’s eyes narrowed. “Which tribe’s sub-beastman are you?”
Jian Mo mumbled, “I don’t know.”
Now that the chief was here, the previously tense crowd around Jian Mo seemed to calm down significantly, their attitudes softening.
Their animal ears retracted, and their eyes returned to human-like proportions, appearing more normal.
Everyone watched Jian Mo, their gazes filled with curiosity.
Wu Jiong spoke up, “How did you get here?”
Jian Mo, pale-faced, turned around and pointed towards what had now become a dense forest. “I came from that direction. I walked through and ended up here.”
The others turned to look behind him.
Someone muttered, “But that’s just forest back there, isn’t it?”
Jian Mo’s lips had lost all color. “There was a path when I came through.”
The big cat from earlier spoke up, “Looking at his footprints, it does seem like he walked out from that direction.”
Wu Jiong looked at Jian Mo and said, “My name is Wu Jiong. The place you’re standing on is our tribe’s territory. Do you want to leave, or will you come back to the tribe with us?”
Jian Mo stammered, “I… I think I’d like to try going back the way I came first.”
Wu Jiong scrutinized him for a long moment before nodding. “Alright, lead the way.”
Jian Mo’s headache was getting worse, but he walked ahead, leading the group through the forest.
The plants around them had transformed into completely unfamiliar species at some point. Their leaves were glossy and large, and their trunks were wrapped in thick brown roots.
There were no gates, no stone steps, and none of the familiar signs of the city Jian Mo knew. The distant snow-capped mountains now appeared even clearer.
Wandering back and forth, he not only failed to find the path home but became more certain that this was no longer Earth.
His head throbbed so much that his face was completely drained of color.
Jian Mo opened his mouth, unsure of what to say.
Wu Jiong stepped forward and told the others, “Let’s take him back to the tribe first. We’ll question him later.”
With that, he rolled on the ground and transformed back into the giant wolf, moving toward Jian Mo.
The giant wolf didn’t wait for Jian Mo to respond. It simply grabbed him gently in its jaws, then tossed him onto its back with a swift motion.
Though the fearsome maw and sharp fangs looked terrifying, the way it tossed him was surprisingly gentle.
Jian Mo, fighting through the throbbing pain in his head, clung to the wolf’s back.
The wolf’s fur was long and warm, with a faint, soothing scent of grass and wood.
It seemed like these people didn’t harbor any hostility towards him.
I’ll follow them back and see what happens, Jian Mo thought.
But the pain and discomfort ultimately drained all his strength. Unable to hold on any longer, his eyes fluttered shut, and he passed out completely.
