High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2740: Chapter 961: The Unspoken Meaning of "No Touching with Your Claws

"We protect his main body, not the clone."

Old Ernest glanced lightly in the direction where the black cat disappeared, his lips slightly moving, his voice clearly ringing in the ears of the other four Grey Robe Wizards: "—Even if that black cat gets dragged into Lin Zhong Lake’s bottom by a kappa or beaten by other wild cats, the main body may at most be a little frightened, but will not suffer any real harm. However, if we act rashly and assign people to protect the black cat, and any oversight occurs with the main body, it will be a loss outweighing the gain."

At this point, the Elder Wizard paused slightly for a few seconds, suddenly chuckling softly: "—Besides, young people need a little privacy here and there. Sticking under our nose all day makes him uncomfortable and puts pressure on us. Loosening the reins just a bit lets him adjust his mindset, which also eases our burden."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

In dormitory 403, the sleeping Zheng Qing naturally did not know about these discussions inside and outside the room.

Outside the dormitory, the black gemstone cat fading into the night also remained unaware of the lively chatter behind it.

Moonlight filtered through the treetops, casting a patchwork of dappled shadows, falling on the black gemstone cat, illuminating it with clear halos, making it feel refreshing and pleasant, in an exceptionally good mood.

Even when provoked by twin-tailed squirrels throwing pinecones along the way, it was able to laugh it off.

It had been a long time since it had visited the Cat Fruit Tree.

’Fruits’ on the tree appeared to have increased again.

The black gemstone cat squatted on the ground, looking up, counting for half a day, failing to clarify how many subordinates it currently had. Truly a happy kind of worry.

Thinking this cheerfully, it began climbing towards its throne, wishing to warm the chilly seat before the White Jade Cat arrived.

Then, a giant paw interrupted the black gemstone cat’s plan.

The black cat looked up; blocking the path was that Norwegian Forest Cat.

At this moment, it extended a foreleg, spreading its paws, blocking the black gemstone cat from the throne’s edge.

The transition from spring to summer was unfriendly to long-haired forest cats; the once majestic and warm winter fur had now shed a lot, making the whole cat appear somewhat mottled.

But this hardly affected it being one of the few large cats on the Cat Fruit Tree.

As one of the top-ranking ’big fruits’ on the Cat Fruit Tree, this forest cat had tried several times to challenge the black cat’s leadership position, each time failing. So when blocked by this big cat today, the first thought that flashed through its mind was that this thieving cat had come looking for a fight again.

But after raising its paw and comparing with the approaching paw akin to its face’s size, the black gemstone cat belatedly realized it was not a real black cat, just a clone, and its current size might not quite be the rival of this forest cat.

"It’s me! Move aside!"

The black gemstone cat puffed out its chest, pricked up its ears, trying hard to make its voice sound more authoritative, but the gem quality of its throat made its voice much clearer, so when the forest cat heard its rebuke, it just tilted its head and casually ’nudged’ it off the tree with a paw.

The action unusually gentle.

As if fearing a little force would be fatal for it.

Zheng Qing pondered that the big cat perhaps had good intentions, not wanting this ’newcomer’ little cat to challenge the Cat Fruit Tree’s master’s authority, thus giving a mild warning instead.

Upon such thinking, it felt even more dejected.

When the White Jade Cat arrived under the Cat Fruit Tree, this was the scene it witnessed—a fist-sized black gemstone cat raising its head, angrily uttering remarks toward the tree. Meanwhile, the fruits hanging on the branches, two or three, opened their eyes, curiously and confusedly watching the newcomer bustling below, not knowing what it was up to.

"—Finally understand why ancient emperors made tiger talismans."

Upon seeing the White Jade Cat, the black gemstone cat immediately restrained itself a bit but couldn’t help complaining: "I just changed my image, yet they don’t recognize me! Preposterous! Is a steamed bun not a staple just because it turns into a twisted roll? Next time I will bring a custom ring, so every cat in the tree will remember that ring! Hmm, the ring should have a tiger head pattern, making it perfectly suitable as the Cat Fruit Tree’s ’tiger talisman’!"

The White Jade Cat listened to his nonstop complaints.

After seriously pondering for a moment.

Nodded, then shook its head again.

"They’re doing the right thing. That these cats can maintain your presence at the Cat Fruit Tree while ’you’ are not around shows that you as the Lord of the Cat Fruit Tree have already been completely recognized by them."

While affirming the cat fruits’ reactions, using a sentence to praise all cats on and under the tree, she then gently corrected the black cat’s last metaphor: "...the problem now is that you are not a steamed bun turned into a twisted roll; you are just a twisted roll. At this point, the steamed bun should be sleeping on your bed!"

This was a reasoned argument.

Zheng Qing suddenly came to his senses, realizing he is now a clone, a separately existing entity from the main body, not a transformation of the main body.

Silently, after a moment, the black gemstone cat twitched its ears, raised its paw, groomed the whiskers at its mouth, stiffly changing the subject: "—Hmm, suddenly hearing you speak in this form is somewhat unaccustomed."

This complaint wasn’t just about changing the subject entirely.

Previously, among dozens of cats around the Cat Fruit Tree, only the black cat could speak human language.

Today, the White Jade Cat also opened its mouth.

Indeed, this made the black cat slightly unaccustomed.

Hearing the black gemstone cat’s complaint, the White Jade Cat gave him a look, not further dwelling on this point: "...I heard you’ll take two qualification exams the day after tomorrow? Which two? How’s the preparation coming along?"

"Registered Talisman Crafter and Authorized Symbol Bomb Maker Teacher."

Regarding the upcoming exams, the black cat did not feel very confident inwardly, but in front of the White Jade Cat, it could only muster up courage, feigning confidence: "—As for preparation, it should be adequate, I suppose. Back when collecting credits, Su...I mean, the Professor specifically chose subjects I excelled in."

These two qualification exams were recommended by Su Shijun, he almost slipped his tongue.

"...but speaking of tomorrow’s exam," the black cat remembered what Severus mentioned in the morning: "I recall Professor Jiang Qianli is related to you, right?"

"Both are," the White Jade Cat succinctly answered.

"Hmm, it’s said the school initially arranged for him to be the proctor for the Authorized Symbol Bomb Maker Teacher exam, but ultimately, he couldn’t be the examiner due to executing a special relationship avoidance policy...Do you know about this?"

"Special relationship avoidance? I have no idea." The White Jade Cat looked blankly clueless, incidentally appearing somewhat cute.

The black cat couldn’t help raising its paw, stroking the White Jade Cat’s jade-like back, the jade meeting the gemstone, resonant like harmonizing chimes, the magic power from White Jade and black gemstone interwoven, painting a splendid scene beneath the Cat Fruit Tree.

"Hands off!"

She twitched her ears, lightly huffing in a warning tone, yet did not shy away from the black cat’s paw.

The black gemstone cat blinked.

Sssss!

It nuzzled the back of the White Jade Cat with its mouth.