Chapter 426: Settling Disputes with Ease

“The Little Kingdom...”

The tortoiseshell cat, still recovering from the shock of seeing the tigers, paused to think before replying, “I do know of the Little Kingdom and its general direction, though it’s quite far from here. My Cat Kingdom’s people, despite occupying the vast Shazhou region and having a fondness for seafood, are not skilled sailors. Shazhou was hard-won, acquired through battles fought by our soldiers many years ago. Most of the seafood we gather is collected near the shore.”

The tortoiseshell cat looked at Song You apologetically. “Because of that, I’m afraid we don’t know the exact route to the Little Kingdom. None of my citizens have ever traveled there.”

“How about the Monkey and Dog Kingdoms?” Song You asked.

“These two kingdoms, huh...”

Just as the tortoiseshell cat king began to speak, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside.

Everyone in the hall, except for Song You, was a cat, and their sharp hearing allowed them to immediately turn their heads toward the entrance.

A scout cat had arrived, looking urgent.

The scout was stopped outside the palace, and a guard cat quickly entered to relay the message. After the king granted permission, the scout rushed inside and bowed to deliver the report.

“The Dog Kingdom has gathered several hundred elite soldiers under the command of General Baishan and is launching a nighttime assault on our Caozhou!”

“What is the status of the battle? Quickly report!”

“General Huaxi, who is defending Caozhou, reacted swiftly and has already led troops to intercept them. When I was sent to deliver the message, the Dog Kingdom’s soldiers had been blocked at Tutou Hill in Caozhou. General Huaxi has requested reinforcements from Your Majesty to ensure a decisive victory.”

After delivering the report, the scout lowered its head respectfully.

The tortoiseshell king glanced around the room. “What do my esteemed ministers think of this matter?”

“Hmph...”

The great general let out a disdainful snort and said, “Baishan is a mere brute, not worth worrying about. General Huaxi is one of my most trusted subordinates and has mastered my techniques. In my opinion, even without reinforcements, Baishan and his few hundred dog soldiers won’t be able to take Caozhou. If reinforcements are to be sent, only a small detachment is necessary. Let General Ma, an experienced veteran, lead several hundred elite soldiers to crush the enemy.”

The moment the great general finished speaking, murmurs of agreement filled the hall.

“The great general is right...”

“General Huaxi is indeed a capable and promising leader.”

“After all, he was trained by the great general himself...”

The tortoiseshell king scanned the room, observing the reactions of all the ministers and officials before shifting its gaze to the prime minister.

The black cat prime minister subtly nodded.

“Let it be as the great general suggested!”

With the king’s decision made, a long-haired ticked tabby cat stood up. The evening breeze blew in from the palace entrance, ruffling its fur, making it appear quite gallant.

The ticked tabby cat received its orders, bowed, and left to gather the troops.

Song You found the entire process amusing but kept a calm and composed expression.

“The Dog Kingdom has gone too far! They were the ones who first broke the alliance and sent soldiers into our borders. Now, after occupying Baizhou, they dare to repeatedly attack us, trying to take Caozhou as well!” The tortoiseshell king said indignantly.

Then, exchanging a glance with the prime minister, it turned back toward Song You and Lady Calico, softening its tone as it returned to their previous conversation. “As for the Little Kingdom, I’m afraid I can’t be of much help. However, I have heard that the Dog Kingdom has several wise individuals who know its location and that some have even traveled there.”

“Oh? They’ve actually visited the Little Kingdom?”

“Yes. Some of the Dog Kingdom’s people are naturally fond of water, and their naval forces are quite formidable. They frequently venture out to sea. Also, the Dog Kingdom...” The tortoiseshell cat trailed off, glancing toward a minister seated below. “In any case, it seems like the Dog Kingdom has had contact with the Little Kingdom, and someone there should know the route.”

The minister in question was a spotted cat.

Upon receiving the gazes of both the king and the prime minister, the spotted cat quickly understood its role. It stepped forward and respectfully bowed to Song You and Lady Calico.

“Currently, our nation is at war with the Dog Kingdom, and this conflict was entirely initiated by them. Lady Calico shares the same lineage and roots as our people and possesses extraordinary divine powers. You’re able to breathe True Fire and summon the Great Cat Battle Warrior. I humbly request that Lady Calico lend us a helping hand in defeating the Dog Kingdom.

“Once our Cat Kingdom annexes the Dog Kingdom, we will find a skilled guide to lead Lady Calico and Mr. Song on your journey. Beyond that, we will offer generous rewards, even erecting a statue of Lady Calico within our nation, so that for thousands upon thousands of years, our people will worship her as the true deity of our kingdom!”

Surprisingly, they placed Lady Calico ahead of Song You in the negotiations. For a moment, all eyes in the hall focused on the Daoist and the calico cat.

Lady Calico turned her head toward Song You, her round eyes shining like gemstones or amber, filled with confusion and uncertainty.

Seeing this, the rest of the cats shifted their attention to Song You as well.

“...”

Song You smiled softly and looked at Lady Calico. “It’s up to you to decide, Lady Calico.”

Swish!

All the cats turned their heads in unison, their eyes fixed on Lady Calico. The scene was unintentionally a little comical.

Lady Calico sat motionless, her expression serious.

Time slowly passed. The ministers waited patiently for her answer.

They all knew that with Lady Calico’s abilities, she wouldn’t even need to fight personally. Just summoning one of those “Great Cat Battle Warriors” would be enough to dominate the battlefield, sweeping through the enemy ranks with ease.

“I used to be the Cat God, but now, now I’m a cat Daoist,” Lady Calico finally spoke. “The Daoist priest said that gods and powerful beings shouldn’t casually use their magic to interfere with mortal affairs.”

A wave of disappointment swept through the gathered cats.

Song You, however, remained calm, his eyes lowered slightly, focused on the moment in quiet reflection.

He had never explicitly taught Lady Calico this way of thinking, nor had he expected her to adopt it. But after spending so much time together, it was only natural that they influenced each other. She had seen his actions and listened to his words. Being young and eager to imitate others, it was no surprise that she had gradually begun to mirror him.

He didn’t judge whether this was good or bad—he simply found it intriguing.

It was a strange, subtle feeling, watching Lady Calico become more and more like him.

At the same time, he couldn’t help but feel a bit surprised.

“...”

Lifting his gaze slightly, Song You gave Lady Calico a soft smile before turning to the tortoiseshell king. “I heard that the Cat Kingdom and the Dog Kingdom were once allies, working together against the Monkey Kingdom. What caused the alliance to break apart?”

“You may not be aware, sir, but both our Cat Kingdom and the Dog Kingdom trace their ancestry back to Great Yan,” the tortoiseshell cat explained with a sigh, its expression complicated.

It said, “Cats and dogs—there is both closeness and tension between us. When the Monkey Kingdom grew powerful, we allied to resist it. The alliance treaty was clear: unless explicitly permitted by the other party, neither side could set foot in the other’s territory.

“For years, the people and soldiers of our Cat Kingdom, known for their free-spirited nature, have strictly adhered to this rule and never crossed into the Dog Kingdom. But unexpectedly, the Dog Kingdom recently used a shipwreck as an excuse to send their naval soldiers onto our Shazhou coastal border.”

“How many naval soldiers invaded?”

“A full dozen or more!”

“That’s a fair number,” Song You said, keeping his tone polite and measured. “Did they cause any damage?”

“Not much,” the tortoiseshell cat huffed. “The Dog Kingdom’s navy may be elite, but our Shazhou coastal garrison isn’t to be underestimated. We quickly subdued them.”

“Did the dog soldiers put up strong resistance?”

“Of course they resisted, and there were casualties on both sides. But we have a heavy military presence in Shazhou, and a dozen or so soldiers were no match for us.”

“Is there any chance it could have been a misunderstanding?”

“

Sigh...

”

Hearing this, the tortoiseshell cat fell silent for a moment, then let out a sigh and changed the subject.

It seemed they had realized it could indeed have been a misunderstanding.

But the damage was done. The soldiers who had died on both sides could not be brought back, and as the misunderstanding deepened over time, resolving it had become increasingly difficult.

Song You had been about to express his gratitude for their hospitality and offer to act as a neutral mediator to help clear up the misunderstanding. But before he could say a word, a commotion erupted outside.

Hurried footsteps echoed from a distance, drawing closer and closer.

This time, the footsteps were even more frantic than before.

Even the palace guards couldn’t stop the scout cat. Injured and exhausted, it leapt over the palace walls and dashed straight into the main hall of the royal palace.

“Your Majesty! Urgent news! It’s anmergency military situation!”

All the cats froze, turning to look at the scout.

The only one who didn’t stop was General Huang, who was still hiccuping.

Hic!

“The Dog Kingdom’s navy has mobilized their entire fleet! Under the cover of night, they crossed the sea and landed on Shazhou’s coast! Our border troops were caught off guard and couldn’t hold them back! The Dog Kingdom’s soldiers have already taken control of the beach, and reinforcements are continuing to arrive by sea. When I left to report, nearly half of Shazhou had already fallen!”

Hic!

General Huang’s eyes widened, and he suddenly gasped for breath, nearly fainting on the spot.

When he recovered, he found himself locking eyes with the great general.

Thud!

Terrified, General Huang dropped to the ground, dragging his round belly as he scrambled forward. He prostrated himself, pleading for mercy, his previous confidence and composure completely gone.

“Your Majesty, have mercy! Your Majesty, please forgive me!

“I thought that since a storm had just hit two days ago, the Dog Kingdom must have suffered heavy losses and wouldn’t have the capacity to launch an attack. I also knew of Your Majesty’s admiration for the Celestial Empire, so to show proper respect, I personally escorted Lady Calico and Mr. Song to the capital. I never imagined that the Dog Kingdom would launch an invasion at this moment!

“Please, Your Majesty, forgive me!”

After begging the king, General Huang turned to beg the great general. After pleading with the great general, he begged the prime minister.

Finally, he crawled over and begged Song You and Lady Calico.

At that moment, the entire court was in chaos, with panic spreading among the officials.

The only one who remained calm was the prime minister, who spoke steadily, “To strike when it’s least expected, and with such boldness—what a brilliant strategy by the Dog Kingdom’s grand marshal. But punishing General Huang now serves no purpose. The court is in urgent need of capable leaders. Let him redeem himself through merit—send him to the frontlines to lead our troops against the enemy!”

The last statement was, in a way, a word of support for General Huang.

General Huang immediately nodded repeatedly and bowed in gratitude.

“If Shazhou is successfully defended, considering your past contributions to the kingdom and the circumstances of this incident, we will not hold you accountable. But if Shazhou falls, you’d better die on the battlefield.”

“Yes...” General Huang replied, trembling as he accepted the decree.

The great general let out a sigh of relief, walked over, and slapped General Huang on the back. Then he requested permission from the king to personally lead the troops and head south to Shazhou to face the enemy.

For a small kingdom of cats, they certainly had an organized military structure.

Song You found the entire situation fascinating and insightful.

This kind of extraordinary encounter was truly rare.

But with the crisis at hand, no cat could continue eating.

The prime minister sighed deeply, speaking as though addressing the king, but also as though speaking for Song You to hear. “General Huang is a seasoned veteran. Had he been stationed in Shazhou, we wouldn’t be in this mess. But now, with the Dog Kingdom attacking so aggressively and catching us off guard—even after their recent naval disaster—it’s clear to me that Shazhou is in danger. Our entire kingdom is in danger...”

The tortoiseshell king, hearing this, was equally sorrowful. The court erupted into wails of despair from the gathered officials.

Song You sighed inwardly, feeling a bit helpless.

He reached out and gently patted Lady Calico’s head before speaking up, “With the gracious hospitality shown by Your Majesty and all the civil and military officials, I am truly grateful. Since this conflict arose due to our unintentional visit and intrusion into your nation, I am willing to request Lady Calico to lend a hand.

“However, her assistance will be limited to driving back the forces of the Dog Kingdom and alleviating the immediate crisis for the Cat Kingdom. Afterward, if Your Majesty is willing, I am also prepared to act as a mediator to help resolve the misunderstandings between the Cat Kingdom and Dog Kingdom and restore their alliance.”

“Oh, that would be wonderful!”

“Thank you, sir!”

“Many thanks to Lady Calico!”

“...”

Song You could only shake his head as he exchanged a glance with Lady Calico.

Who says cats and dogs don’t have their own schemes and tricks?

***

That night, under the crescent moon...

On the hills and valleys near the coastal area of the island, thousands of cats and dogs were locked in fierce combat. The sharp cries of cats and the deep growls of dogs merged into a deafening symphony, no less imposing than that of a massive army on the battlefield.

The Dog Kingdom’s soldiers were highly trained and employed small-unit tactics, often grouping into squads of seven to fifteen dogs. They fought with coordinated strategies, advancing and retreating in sync, their offensive and defensive maneuvers well-executed.

Meanwhile, the Cat Kingdom’s soldiers excelled with their quicker reflexes and agility, making better use of the thorny underbrush and dense forests for cover. They also had the advantage of superior numbers compared to the dog soldiers.

The battle was intense, with neither side able to gain a decisive upper hand.

Among the dog soldiers was a massive lion-haired mastiff. Its large frame, thick hide, and dense fur made it a nearly invincible force on the battlefield, like a living tank, plowing through the cat soldiers as if they were nothing.

It was truly a fearsome general!

Behind it, several large dogs fought with equal ferocity, charging into the fray with unmatched bravery.

The Cat Kingdom’s great general had also taken to the battlefield. Its body bore numerous scars—each one a testament to past victories. Just standing among the cat soldiers was enough to boost their morale. A single glance from the great general could make the dog soldiers hesitate and falter.

It was undoubtedly a cat of unrivaled courage.

However, to everyone’s surprise, the disgraced General Huang Zhuang, seeking to redeem himself, performed no worse than the great general on the battlefield.

In terms of combat skill, Huang Zhuang couldn’t match the great general’s finesse or agility. But its naturally large, heavy build worked to its advantage. Once it entered a frenzy, it charged through the chaos like a battering ram, moving as if the enemy had no defenses at all.

A truly majestic and awe-inspiring cat general!

The battle raged on with unparalleled ferocity.

Fortunately, it was nighttime. Had it been during the day, the hills and valleys would have been shrouded in clouds of dust, and the air would have been filled with flying grass, fur, and debris.

Then, suddenly, a long, drawn-out howl pierced the night—

“

Awooooo...”

The howl was clear and prolonged, echoing through the night with an eerie, bone-chilling resonance.

The soldiers of the Dog Kingdom froze the moment they heard it, their confusion evident.

Amid the chaotic battle, their gazes instinctively turned toward the source of the sound.

With their keen night vision, they spotted a figure standing on a distant hill, howling toward the moon. The night wind blew through its fur, causing it to flutter majestically.

The creature resembled a dog in many ways, but it was clearly different from the Dog Kingdom’s usual soldiers. Its body was well-proportioned and powerful, and its tail naturally hung low with just the tip curling upward. Surrounding it were countless others of its kind, standing silently on the hill.

Suddenly, another howl echoed through the night—

“

Awooo...”

This one was different—deeper, more powerful, and resonant, sending a shiver down the spines of both the cats and dogs.

“...”

The cats and dogs locked in combat began to separate, neither side daring to make the next move.

Those who had been mid-pounce or ready to sink their teeth into the enemy froze, their actions halted.

In the blink of an eye, the battlefield fell silent.

Cat soldiers and dog soldiers stared at each other, tense and alert, but their eyes occasionally darted toward the direction of the howls.

“

Awooo...”

The howl came again, reverberating through the forested mountains like a declaration of dominance.

This time, neither the cats nor the dogs could help themselves—they turned to look.

A massive beast emerged, its head lowered as it strolled forward, its steps slow and deliberate, as if it were merely out for a casual evening walk. Even the strongest cat in the Cat Kingdom was no bigger than one of its paws. Even the Dog Kingdom’s mightiest warrior appeared as a mere pup in its presence.

On its back sat a small girl—Lady Calico—calm and composed. The beast’s eyes swept lazily across the battlefield, and the soldiers on both sides trembled, instinctively parting to give it a path.

Behind it followed several tigers, equally majestic, pacing leisurely as if they had not a care in the world. Behind the tigers came a dense pack of wolves.

And just like that, the battle was over.