I was just fishing, how did I become a Great Old One?

The vast starry sky is silent and profound.

A jet-black, ancient-style sailing ship is speeding through space in a way that defies the laws of physics.

A faint blue light membrane (bio-field shield) surrounds the ship, isolating it from the vacuum and cold. Inside the membrane, the crew can even breathe fresh air on the deck (thanks to an oxygen circulation system provided by Mi-Go Technology).

Wow! That's so tall!

Wang Ergou lay on the ship's side, watching the blue planet below grow smaller and smaller, his face flushed with excitement.

"My life has been worthwhile, Wang Ergou! I actually achieved physical sainthood... no, I ascended to heaven in my physical body!"

He took out his phone and started taking selfies like crazy.

"Too bad there's no signal to post on WeChat Moments, otherwise I could have really shown off!"

Jiang Li sat on the captain's chair, holding a fishing rod, staring blankly out the window.

"There are no fish in this space, it's all empty."

He was a little disappointed. "I should have brought some sunflower seeds to eat."

Just then, Big Yellow suddenly barked at a corner of the cabin.

"Woof! Woof woof!" (Something's here! A mouse has sneaked in!)

"mouse?"

Jiang Li was taken aback. "Our ship is flying so high, how can a rat keep up? Is this rat some kind of spirit?"

He walked over and rummaged through the pile of boxes filled with miscellaneous items.

Behind a box full of dried salted fish, there was a... cat huddled up?

It was a black cat, entirely black with golden eyes and an elegant posture. It was munching on a dried salted fish when it saw Jiang Li approaching. Instead of running away, it meowed confidently.

"Meow!" (What are you looking at! I'm hungry! Bring me some more food!)

"Oh? It's a black cat detective, isn't it?"

Jiang Li laughed and reached out to pick up the cat.

"That's a nice coat, glossy and smooth. How did you get on here? Are you an illegal immigrant?"

The black cat struggled in his hand for a moment, but when it found it couldn't break free, it stared at Jiang Li with the kind of look one would give a foolish mortal.

It's no ordinary cat.

It is the chieftain of the Cats of Ulthar and one of the incarnations of the Great Old Ones named Bastet (the cat goddess).

It was originally sunbathing on the rooftop of Jianghai City when it smelled the intense "fishy smell" (the smell of seafood from the abyss) emanating from the ship. Unable to resist, it sneaked up to steal some food.

Who knew that the ship would actually take off! And even fly into space!

"Meow—"

The black cat let out a dissatisfied growl, emanating a faint divine aura.

"Mortal, release me! Or you will be cursed by the cat!"

however.

"That cat has such a sweet meow, it must be starving!"

Jiang Li completely ignored the divine power (which he saw as the cat being affectionate) and reached out to scratch the cat's chin.

"Gurgle gurgle..."

The black cat's body went limp instantly.

Damn it! This body's instinctive reaction! So embarrassing!

But the pleasure of having your chin scratched is even more intoxicating than sucking your soul!

"Since we're on board, it must be fate."

Jiang Li put the cat down. "There are a lot of rats on the ship (actually, they're Deepsea Dwellers), so you can stay and be the rat catcher. Food provided!"

He casually tossed half a piece of dragon liver to the black cat.

The black cat's eyes widened instantly upon smelling the S-rank ancient dragon's aura.

"This...this is..."

Without hesitation, it pounced on it and began to devour the food.

Really fragrant!

What's wrong with being a mouser for a meal? After all, cats are always the masters, no matter where they are!

Thus, the Black Pearl gained another "uninvited" feline overlord, named "Little Black".

……

After several hours of travel (with the aid of the sub-light speed engine and space jump), the huge, grayish-white planet finally came into view.

Moon!

"We're here! We're here!"

Wang Ergou pressed his face against the window, "Is this the moon? Why is it covered in craters? It looks like a pockmarked face."

"That's called a crater! You're so uncultured!"

Liu Wei corrected him from the side, but his hands were trembling slightly.

Landing on the moon! That's the dream of so many people! And yet, an assassin actually made it happen!

"Prepare for landing!"

Jiang Li looked down at the gray plain below, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes.

"According to Brain Flower's navigation, ahead is the entrance to the [Cold Plains] on the far side of the moon, which is also the lair of those 'Moon Rabbits'."

The Black Pearl slowly decelerated, its anti-gravity devices fully activated, and landed smoothly in the center of a massive crater.

"laugh--"

The hatch opened.

Jiang Li was the first to jump.

The ground felt soft and yielding underfoot, kicking up a cloud of dust.

The gravity here is only one-sixth that of Earth, and Jiang Li jumped several meters high with a light leap.

"Haha! Light-footed water walking technique!"

Jiang Li bounced around on the moon like a child, exclaiming, "This place is so much fun! We can build an amusement park here sometime and add a trampoline attraction!"

The crew members behind them also jumped down, experiencing this strange feeling of weightlessness.

"Everyone be careful! Don't jump too high and float away!"

Jiang Li reminded them, "Now, begin searching for the 'Moon Rabbit'!"

"Big Yellow! Little Black! Smell it!"

Big Yellow and Little Black (the cat goddess) exchanged a glance. Although cats and dogs usually don't get along, they were in complete agreement when it came to "finding food".

"Woof!"

"Meow!"

A dog and a cat rushed toward a deep, dark cave ahead.

That is the entrance to the lunar city of [Dreamland].

……

At this moment, deep within the lunar city.

A group of "Moon Beasts," which resemble white toads, have no eyes, and only pink tentacles, are whipping a group of enslaved human souls and slaves from other planets.

They are the overlords here, cruel and greedy.

Suddenly, the earth began to shake.

An unprecedented, terrifying aura, imbued with an intense hunger, surged from the direction of the cave entrance.

"Hiss?" (What is that?)

The moon beast leader waved its tentacles and asked a question.

next second.

It saw a scene that it would never forget.

A huge yellow dog and a black cat rushed in like two bolts of lightning.

Immediately afterwards, a human dressed in strange blue clothes, carrying a large net bag, ran over excitedly.

"Wow! So many rabbits! So white! So fat!"

The man pointed at them, his mouth practically watering.

"Although it looks a bit strange, with no ears, judging by the texture of its flesh, it's definitely a great ingredient for making mooncakes!"

"Brothers! Grab your weapons! We've caught a rabbit!"

Moon Beast Leader: "???"

rabbit?

We are moon beasts! We are the kin of the great Nyarlathotep!

You actually think we're rabbits?! And you want us to make mooncakes?!

"Hiss—!!!" (Kill him!)

The moon beast leader roared and charged forward, brandishing his spear.

however.

"Snapped!"

Jiang Li slapped it into the soil.

"What are you yelling about? Come to the bowl obediently!"

A farce known as the "Great Lunar Hunt" has begun on this desolate planet.

……

Several hours later.

The Black Pearl returned fully loaded.

The cabin was crammed with moon beasts tied into balls (food), as well as some moon stones (rare minerals) and dream flowers (seasonings) scavenged from the lunar city.

Jiang Li stood at the bow of the ship, looking at the blue Earth, feeling completely content.

"This Mid-Autumn Festival is a sure thing!"

"I'll make [Snow Skin Moon Beast Mooncakes] as soon as I get back! Limited edition available!"

"Oh, and I should also bring back a 'lunar souvenir' for Xiaoyu."

He looked at the small moon beast (cub) in his hand that was still struggling.

"You're the one! We'll go back, dye your hair, and give you fake ears, and you'll be the Jade Rabbit!"

The Black Pearl spewed out a plume of flame, transformed into a shooting star, and flew towards Earth.

On the moon, the surviving lunar beasts huddled together, trembling, and shed tears of regret.

Humans... are terrifying!

We will never go to Earth to capture slaves again!