The Black Gemstone Cat strolled down the street.
Dodging pedestrians' feet.
It was not until noon that he reached Number Fifty-Four in the West District of Beta Town—his destination, Qingqiu Mansion.
Early that morning, Zheng Qing had arranged for him to apologize to the great blue fox and, while he was at it, ask whether there was anything he could do to help protect the three great sprites. But Zheng Qing had overlooked the fact that the Black Gemstone Cat was no mindless puppet. He was a fully fledged avatar, naturally possessing all his original's emotions and little schemes—his wariness of Beauty Su, for instance, his scoundrel's cunning, and the degree of "flexibility" he exercised when carrying out a task.
His original had only asked him to apologize.
He had not specified whether that apology had to be delivered face-to-face or in writing.
After only a brief moment of consideration, the Black Gemstone Cat chose the latter. Although it was Saturday, he was seventy or eighty percent certain Su Shijun would still go to the laboratory, so he took the risk of coming straight to Qingqiu Mansion, planning to drop off an apology letter and run.
The wooden fence was neat and clean, gleaming like brass in the sunlight. Ivy and morning glories twined together as they climbed it, finally clustering around the plaque beneath the entrance in a lush mass.
Through the gate, he easily spotted that troublesome Little Fox Maid reclining in a crooked bamboo chair. An elf to her left held a glass of juice, while one to her right waved a round fan. Her large, fluffy tail hung down comfortably, flicking with the rocking of the chair.
The Black Gemstone Cat let out a deep sigh of relief inwardly. He knew his gamble had already mostly