Shen An, with nothing better to do, was playing Gomoku with Ning Rongrong. At first, Ning Rongrong didn't win a single game, but by the end, she was starting to hold her own. Ye Zi watched quietly from the side.
Just as Ning Rongrong was about to win, Shen An suddenly exclaimed in feigned surprise, "Oh no! Where's Tom? And Zhuqing is missing too! This isn't good. It's not safe at night. I need to go find them."
Shen An abruptly stood up, "accidentally" knocking over the game board in the process. Ning Rongrong gritted her teeth in frustration. Shen An was such a sore loser.
However, Shen An's escape from the losing game was only part of the reason. The other reason was that Zhu Qing, along with Tom and Jerry, had disappeared. Shen An was genuinely worried.
Of course, his main concern was that Tom and Jerry might cause trouble. After all, the mysterious reaction between a cat and a mouse could be too much to handle.
Zhu Qing had the speed potion Shen An had given her, and since she never caused trouble, she should be fine.
Zhu Qing, facing the malicious-looking Bu Le, was about to drink the potion and fight for her life when two figures, one large and one small, wearing hard hats, suddenly appeared in front of her.
Tom glared at Bu Le. This man was bad news. Not only had he interfered with Tom's home-building, but he also had his eyes on Tom's future mistress.
Jerry stood on Tom's shoulder, baring his teeth at Bu Le just like Tom.
Jerry thought, I don't even know what I'm doing! But whoever is Tom's enemy is my enemy!
Bu Le laughed. "A dumb cat and a stinky mouse, acting all loyal like dogs. I'll catch you first, then train you into proper dogs."
Bu Le's words infuriated both Tom and Jerry. Comparing them to dogs? That was an insult to both cats and mice!
Tom and Jerry exchanged a glance, their lips curling into identical smirks. For the first time on the Douluo Continent, the cat and mouse joined forces.
Unfortunately, Shen An wasn't there to witness it. Otherwise, he would have mourned for Bu Le. After watching thousands of episodes, Shen An had learned one thing: you could offend either the cat or the mouse, but never both.
Offending both was a death sentence.
Bu Le sneered as he reached for Tom and Jerry. Just a dumb cat and a stinky mouse daring to stand up to a Soul Ancestor? What a joke.
Tom remained calm, pulling out an iron rod from behind him and swinging it at Bu Le's arm.
Bu Le was surprised by where the cat had gotten the iron rod, but he didn't believe a cat could possibly overpower him.
Bang!
The iron rod collided with Bu Le's soul-powered arm. Bu Le smirked. "Is that all? Weak and flimsy."
But Tom smirked back. The straight, rigid iron rod suddenly became as flexible as a rope, wrapping around Bu Le's arm.
Bu Le felt a pang of unease. Jerry, who had somehow climbed a tree, pulled out a U-shaped magnet that was far too large for his size. The strong magnetic force began pulling Bu Le's iron-wrapped arm.
Whoosh!
Despite his Soul Ancestor-level soul power, Bu Le found himself completely unable to control his body. He was flung violently toward the tree.
Bang!
A loud crash echoed as Bu Le's hand was firmly stuck to the magnet on the tree. The powerful magnetic force left him immobilized.
Before Bu Le could react, Jerry jumped onto him, running from his hair, down his nose, across his shoulders, and finally to his waist.
Jerry took out a match and a small firecracker. He struck the match against Bu Le's belt, lighting the firecracker. Jerry then yanked Bu Le's belt open, and the firecracker, propelled by the force, landed perfectly on Bu Le's crotch.
Jerry leaped down, and Tom, waiting below with his white gloves, caught him. Both the cat and the mouse ducked their heads, leaving Zhu Qing utterly confused.
Boom!
Aaaaah!
A loud firecracker explosion rang out. Bu Le's pants were blown apart, and a mix of yellow, white, and red substances flew everywhere, making Zhu Qing nauseous.
Bu Le, in excruciating pain from the explosion, passed out.
Zhu Qing stood frozen. Everything had happened so fast. Tom and Jerry didn't have any soul power, yet they had effortlessly defeated a Soul Ancestor.
Jerry pulled out a small cannon from who-knows-where and somehow managed to stuff the unconscious Bu Le into it, rolling him into a ball.
Tom excitedly lit a match and ignited the cannon's fuse.
Bang!
Bu Le was launched into the sky as a fiery ball.
Tom and Jerry exchanged a smile and shook hands. Mission accomplished.
Zhu Qing was in a daze. It was over just like that. Tom was clearly no ordinary cat, and that mouse wasn't simple either.
Tom and Jerry hadn't forgotten their real mission: to rebuild the collapsed teahouse and make up for their mistake.
Without delay, they rushed to the ruins of the teahouse, both wearing thoughtful expressions. Suddenly, a golden light bulb appeared above their heads.
The cat and mouse grabbed hammers and other tools, transforming into a blue and brown whirlwind that swept over the ruins.
Zhu Qing pinched her cheek, unable to believe her eyes. "Am I dreaming? Did I wake up too abruptly?"
The pile of rubble and broken wood was gone. In its place stood a perfectly restored teahouse, identical to the original, down to the scratches on the door.
---
Zhu Qing brought Tom and Jerry back and recounted everything that had happened on the way. She spoke with unprecedented seriousness, afraid that Shen An wouldn't believe her. She even wanted to drag Shen An to the teahouse to see for himself.
Shen An just stroked his chin and said, "That sounds exactly like something only Tom and Jerry could pull off. What a shame I wasn't there to see it in person."
Zhu Qing stared at Shen An in disbelief. "Wait, did you just accept all that without question? Do you realize how absurd it sounds?"
"Alright, since that's settled, we'll stick to the original plan. Ye Zi will stay in Suotuo City to look after the teahouse. Tomorrow, we'll head to Heaven Dou City."
---
In Heaven Dou City, Dugu Bo, with his dark green hair, stared at Dugu Yan in disbelief, tears glistening in his eyes. "Good, good! Yan Yan, the poison in your body has really been neutralized. You're no longer in danger."
"To think there's such a miraculous person in this world. Yan Yan, you did the right thing. Not just one favor—if this person saved your life, I'd go through fire and water for them."
Dugu Yan stuck out her tongue. "Grandpa, you're wrong. It wasn't a person who saved me. It was a miraculous cat."
Dugu Bo was momentarily stunned. What? My granddaughter's incurable poison was cured by a cat? Am I hearing things, or has Yan Yan lost her mind?