Just Right

How to deal with these cat-men was up to Medivh to decide. Suixiang and Suixin had the self-awareness not to take it upon themselves to undo the chains binding the cat-men.

"Keep quiet!"

After the skeletons finished cleaning up the battlefield, the Spirit Cat Skeleton Warlock tapped the nearby prison cart with its Bone Staff, silencing the noisy cat-men.

Once the cat-men fell quiet, a Heavy Skeleton Warrior stepped forward, grabbed the cart frame, and dragged the prison cart forward like a handcart.

"Suixiang, that skeleton can speak the cat-man language!"

Suixiang and Suixin followed the prison cart as it moved, and Queling whispered to Suixiang.

Seeing that Suixiang and Suixin had been missing for so long yet were still fine, she felt less pessimistic about her own fate and that of her people.

She curiously observed the skeletons outside the prison cart, especially the skeleton warlock that spoke the cat-man language.

"Of course—he's an ancestor of our tribe!"

Suixiang smiled mysteriously.

"What, our ancestors became undead? Did the God of Light's blessing fail?"

Queling gasped, then quickly covered her mouth when she saw her tribesmen and the skeletons looking over.

Now that she mentioned it, it really did look like it. That skeleton warlock's attire was very similar to their Riddle.

Among the skeletons, some had frames that looked like cat-men.

"Would I lie to you? This is the knowledge our ancestors passed down to us!"

Suixin activated her Spirit Rune power, revealing the Inheritance Spirit Rune on her forehead.

She hoped the cat-man tribe would integrate into Kurd City, so she deliberately showed off the Inheritance Spirit Rune to lower their resistance.

"Wow, such a complete Inheritance Spirit Rune!"

Queling had received her inheritance in the same batch as Suixiang. Compared to the Inheritance Spirit Rune on Suixiang's forehead, hers looked like something had gnawed away many of the details.

"Suixin, did you get an inheritance?"

Suixin's friend asked about her situation.

"I don't have an Inheritance Spirit Rune. What I inherited was the technique for drawing Spirit Runes. I'm the one who completed Suixiang's rune!"

"That cat-man ancestor just now was my teacher."

Suixin demonstrated a bit of her spellcasting ability.

She shared the same view as Suixiang—that Kurd City was the future of the cat-man tribe.

"Suixin, can you help me complete my rune!"

Queling asked Suixin expectantly, wanting to become a powerful Spirit Rune Warrior to protect her people.

"Of course! Come find me once you join Kurd City!"

As they talked, Suixin slipped in recruitment information, letting the cat-men mentally prepare themselves.

On the way back, the cat-men in Queling's cart whispered with Suixiang and Suixin.

The cat-men in the other prison carts stayed quiet, but from their perked cat ears, it was clear they were listening intently to Suixiang and Queling's conversation, absorbing the information Suixiang and Suixin were passing to them.

"Remember, don't cause trouble, don't think about escaping. You're not alone—follow orders!"

After the prison carts entered the No. 1 Nine-Grid District, the skeletons followed orders and opened the carts, undoing the chains on the cat-men's hands and feet, letting them move around in the Residential District.

Before heading back to report, Suixiang and Suixin repeatedly urged their tribesmen not to act rashly.

Before leaving, they asked the Spirit Cat Skeleton Warlock and the Spirit Cat Skeleton Warrior to keep an eye on the cat-men and not let them do anything stupid.

As the cat-man slaves entered the city, Medivh watched from atop the central High Tower.

There were over three hundred cat-man slaves, both male and female.

Coming from a noble family, he knew that handsome male servants of other races were just as popular in noble circles.

It wasn't just noblewomen buying male servants of other races—some male nobles with peculiar tastes and unique hobbies did too.

"Take them to District Two to live. You few will be in charge of management."

Medivh didn't have time to personally tame the cat-man slaves. He let Suixiang, Suixin, and the other cat-girls manage their own people.

Cat-men willing to obey and integrate into Kurd City would live in the district.

Those who refused to be disciplined and caused trouble would find a place in the Graveyard District.

"Thank you, Lord Medivh!"

Suixiang and Suixin bowed joyfully. Their people had been accepted by Medivh.

"Everyone, stay quiet and follow me!"

Soon, Suixiang returned to the Residential District, raising her hand to signal the cat-men to keep quiet and follow her.

Under her lead, the cat-men walked out the north gate onto the straight road outside the city, then headed east for three kilometers, entering District Two through its north gate.

The cat-men had good night vision. Along the way, they observed the towering city walls on both sides of the road, seeing rows of Skeleton Soldiers standing guard on the walls.

At every intersection where the large square districts met, a squad of Skeleton Soldiers stood guard.

Kurd City's nighttime defenses were airtight; they could think of no way to slip out silently.

"You all find some house and rest for the night."

The night was already deep. Suixiang pointed to the Fort Tower in the Residential District and told her clansmen to rest first.

"Remember: don't try to escape, don't attack the skeletons. Lord Medivh's mercy has its limits."

After settling her people, Suixiang emphasized again not to resist or stir up trouble.

She had Queling's Spirit Cat Warriors and the older Cat-men keep watch, in case any hot-headed clansman caused trouble that dragged down the other Cat-men.

Suixiang and her group didn't stay. After arranging for their people, they returned to High Tower Castle's First Tower.

It was a restless night. The Cat-girls enthusiastically thanked Medivh for rescuing the Cat-man slaves, all the way until dawn.

"Suixiang, Suixin, good morning!"

The next morning, Suixiang and Suixin arrived at District Two.

Queling, who was patrolling, ran over with several Spirit Cat Warriors to greet them.

Suixiang knew those Spirit Cat Warriors well—like Queling, they had once been members of her squad.

"Suixiang, you've gotten chubby!"

A few childhood friends, having grown up together, teased her without shame.

It had been over a year since they'd last seen her, and Suixiang was much fuller than they remembered.

"No way, I'm just right!"

Suixiang's cheeks flushed slightly as she recalled the scene at dawn.

She hadn't gotten fat—her body had adaptively adjusted. Her current figure was just right for Medivh to work with.

"Suixiang, why didn't Suihua come?"

As they chatted, Queling asked about Suihua. That little tagalong usually joined their squad on patrols.

"Her? She's busy! You probably won't see her until the afternoon!"

Suixiang let out a laugh. When she'd left High Tower Castle, she'd faintly heard the jingling of bells—Suihua wouldn't be free for a while.

"Alright, who wants to go first?"

In no time, Suixin had brewed the Spirit Liquid used to inscribe the Cat clan's Spirit Runes. She smiled as she asked Queling and the others.

"Me first!"

Queling and the others eagerly raised their hands, all wanting to complete their Inheritance Spirit Runes to gain more power—only with power could they protect their people.

"Then Queling goes first."

Suixin called Queling before her, used her sorceress power to drive the Spirit Pen, dipped it in the Spirit Liquid, and began painting fine lines on Queling's forehead.

Suixin didn't complete the entire Inheritance Spirit Rune at once. She only filled in part of the details before stopping.

Inscribing too much of the Inheritance Spirit Rune at once was not a good thing. Gradual adaptation and gradual completion was the proper method of inheritance.

Inheritance Spirit Runes had always been inscribed in stages. Doing it all at once would exceed the body's carrying capacity—the Cat-man receiving the inheritance would at best be crippled, at worst explode and die.