Petting Cats Takes Skill

After hearing the crow's message, Ye Chen made only a few preparations, packed some things, and set off for the town to the northwest. When Makomo saw that he was about to leave, she trotted over. Under his puzzled gaze, she took out a small sachet and handed it to him.

"Um... Ye Chen, this is to thank you for before. It's a good-luck charm from my hometown."

Once Makomo saw him accept it, she explained with a smile, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

"All right, I'll keep it, then."

Ye Chen accepted it without making a fuss. After all, it wouldn't be very nice to refuse a girl's gift. He said something else, then felt around on his person, pulled out two flash bombs and two sonic bombs, and handed them to her.

"Oh, right. These are flash bombs. You've used them before, so I won't explain what they do. These are sonic bombs. If you run into a demon with very sharp hearing, or one that can burrow underground, hit it with one at close range. It'll have an extra effect."

Makomo looked at the four items she had accepted, feeling a little embarrassed. Her sachet was only a good-luck charm with little practical use, and it was already meant to thank him for his previous gifts. Yet now he had given her so much in return. Somewhat flustered, she said, "I can't accept these. You've already helped me so much, but I haven't been able to give you anything valuable."

"Come on, it's the thought that counts. Besides, I have plenty of these. Take them. They might come in handy."

Ye Chen rolled his eyes. He really wasn't short of the exchange points needed for a few special-effect bombs. With tens of thousands of points to his name, a few dozen were practically nothing. Besides, after spending some time with Makomo, he didn't want anything to happen to such a sweet, considerate girl.

"Mm... all right. I'll take them, then." For some reason, after hearing his words, Makomo accepted his gifts despite still feeling a little embarrassed.

"Haha, that's not all I'm giving you, actually."

Seeing her reaction, Ye Chen suddenly found it rather amusing. He called Xiao Hua over and said, "Xiao Hua, you'll be going with Makomo from now on. My plans have changed a little, and you might not be able to keep up with me. You'd be better off traveling with her."

"Meow... meow meow meow???"

When Ye Chen called Xiao Hua over, the cat thought they were ready to leave. Instead, hearing that it was supposed to go with Makomo, it shook its head frantically in alarm. It didn't want to be petted every single day.

"Um... Ye Chen, if Xiao Hua doesn't want to, just let it be. I can take care of myself."

Makomo was touched by how much Ye Chen was looking out for her, but she still felt a little awkward. Besides, Xiao Hua wasn't too willing either.

Ye Chen blinked. Naturally, he wasn't doing all this just to look after Makomo. His upcoming activities really weren't suited to bringing a cat along, especially one this big. Besides, all the exchange points Xiao Hua earned by killing demons went to him, so wouldn't sending it with Makomo be even better? It can earn me exchange points without slowing me down. Two birds with one stone!

Having reached level 13, Xiao Hua now had C- combat power, which made it fairly strong. At the very least, it was stronger than ordinary demons capable of using Blood Demon Arts. Even against one of the Twelve Kizuki's Lower Ranks, it would be able to protect itself.

"How about this, Xiao Hua? Just go with her this time. When we meet up again, I'll buy you new equipment. And if you aren't happy with her, you can come with me next time."

Ye Chen sighed and made his offer. Xiao Hua was rather dejected, but at the mention of new equipment, it obediently nodded its head. There was no helping it. For the sake of new equipment, it would have to put up with this for a while.

When Ye Chen saw it agree, he gave a slightly mischievous smile. You little rascal, you think I can't handle one cat? Once you're aboard, you think I'll let you jump ship?

"Makomo, come here. Let me tell you, petting cats takes skill too."

Ye Chen called Makomo over, leaving her a little puzzled. What did he mean by petting cats? Still, after hearing what he said next, she more or less understood.

Ye Chen told Makomo quietly, "You know, you can pet a cat, but there's a proper way to do it. First, a cat's chin is a sensitive spot, so give it a little scratch there whenever you can. Also, when you stroke its back..."

Makomo listened in bewilderment. She simply thought petting cats was fun; she had never imagined there were so many techniques involved. Still, she made up her mind to get Xiao Hua to like her. If it kept avoiding her like this, petting it would be far too difficult.

Under Xiao Hua's thoroughly miserable gaze, Ye Chen walked off into the distance with a crow on his shoulder. It couldn't help wondering whether its master had forgotten his cat now that he had a crow-abandoning his old love for a new one.

"Hurry up! Hurry up!"

As Ye Chen traveled, the crow kept circling overhead, urging him on in its raspy voice. Ye Chen paid it no mind and said calmly, "It's still ages until nightfall. Demons don't come out during the day anyway. What's the rush?"

"No talking back! Hurry up! Hurry up!" Angered by Ye Chen's words, the crow swooped down and started pecking at him.

But Ye Chen grabbed a cord and tied its beak shut, leaving it unable to speak. He even tied a soft wad of cotton over the tip of its pointed beak. Not only could it no longer talk, but pecking him was useless too. With the cotton in the way, its pecks felt more like a massage.

"Phew. Peace and quiet at last."

Ignoring the crow's constant efforts to wriggle free of the cord, Ye Chen continued walking at an unhurried pace. He knew there were advantages to arriving early, since he could ask people there about any strange happenings. But he simply couldn't be bothered. Once he arrived, he could drink a Farseeing Potion, and what demon would be able to hide from him then?

Right now, it wasn't the mission that he found troublesome, but this crow. Yes, this very crow. With a crow accompanying him everywhere, Ye Chen couldn't freely use certain things he didn't want the Demon Slayer Corps to see. Besides, it was incredibly noisy.

Suddenly, Ye Chen's eyes lit up, and he glanced at the crow. Still trying to free its beak from the cord, the crow felt its feathers bristle, unsure what he was planning now.

While it was wondering, however, the fellow in front of it suddenly took out a black bag and stuffed it inside. The crow panicked, but it couldn't escape the bag. It kept struggling, and only after about three minutes did he let it out.

"Oh, sorry! I accidentally put you in there just now. It really was an accident. Sorry!"

Ye Chen apologized to the crow, then untied the cord around its beak.

"My crow friend, I really didn't do it on purpose. I didn't mean to tie your beak shut either. All right, we're at the town. Let's head in together."

"..." The crow felt thoroughly miserable and no longer dared to curse at him loudly. Clearly, this man was no ordinary member of the Demon Slayer Corps. Anyone who dared treat it like that was definitely ruthless. He was far too frightening.

Seeing that it had settled down, Ye Chen smiled faintly and entered the town with the crow.