As soon as YaZi felt the presence of another, it disappeared. As if it knew it was being discovered. His ears snapped towards the direction, trying to listen.

GongFu noticed his behavior and was alert as well. He eyed YaZi, who briefly eyed back in a casual manner. GongFu acted casual as well.

YaZi looked at the centaurs in the yurt and saw no abnormality in their interactions and began to approach the entrance to take a look. There was no abnormality outside either. The sun is setting, giving a dark blue-green sky with a scatterings of pale purple clouds. The trees showed off their dark scarlet leaves, the grass no longer waved due to the lacking of breeze. Only a few centaurs galloping in sight, and a few kalaviṅkas soaring in groups, towards their nest-like home.

YaZi walked back in with doubt lingering in his mind, but forced a mask of carelessness onto his face. GongFu could detect the unease and did not ask anything.

Bi'An and ZhuQiu had started to mindlessly chatter on the topic of mechanical designs. BaXia was accessing his own devices. Probably to check what materials he had to bring back to the space vehicle for his smithy.

YaZi and GongFu did not let down their guard even thought the rest of the evening and night had passed without a hitch. The next day, YaZi volunteered to set out with Bi'An to scout the meeting area and drop off ZhuQiu at Lotus Lab branch at the same time. GongFu decided to follow BaXia.

Do not worry readers, ZhuQiu will not be alone, she had a cute little kitty in her arms.

Of course, you may be wondering; why, this time, is the kitty so docile and obediently allowing ZhuQiu to hold it? The truth is the other way around; our dummy is docile and obediently holding the kitty! Before ZhuQiu had a chance to walk out of the yurt this morning, the kitty mewled at her from her bedding. How it managed to mewled with such arrogant disdain, only the Creator will know, but with such air of princely arrogance it forced ZhuQiu to attend to it. 

This is what happened in the morning:

ZhuQiu: "Little kitty, we're going out. You can stay here and rest, okay?"

Little Kitty: Meow! (Take me in your arms!)

ZhuQiu: "We'll be back soon, promise."

Little Kitty: Meorw... (I said, carry me...)

ZhuQiu: "Yes, buddy, will try to get you some... um, snacks... "

Little Kitty: Mew? (What?)

ZhuQiu: "Well... Is fish okay?"

Bi'An & YaZi: ... you look at me, I look at you.

Little Kitty: ... Meorrrrwwwwwll! (...fish your sister!)

ZhuQiu: "I don't think it's a good idea to eat birds here..."

Little Kitty: Meooow! Meoooow!? Meoooow! (I said, carry me! When did this conversation involve snacks and fish? I want to strangle you, ah!)

The little kitty almost wanted to beat ZhuQiu up and pounced on her instead. ZhuQiu stumbled back, startled, and caught it before she regained her footing. Bi'An panicked and wanted to leap to save ZhuQiu who didn't need saving, and YaZi trying not to laugh.

Back to the present, where ZhuQiu is wandering around in Lotus Lab with a toyger in her arms, looking around at the structure that managed to keep it's own semblance similar to the Lotus Lab on earth, but yet manage to seamlessly fit in the ancient-looking housings.

Most of the architecture were tall and rounded in Centalos II. The building materials are obviously easy to tell that it was made of primitive version of cement and bricks. Various hides and felt covered the walls, but not completely hiding them, to keep the cold weather out. However tall it was, there don't seem to be much high rise buildings. Therefore some extend itself across the land, not having much of a effective spacing plan.

In the same way, Lotus lab adopted the outer appearance of brick walls and hides, but the interior was a stark contrast with their exposed aerogel-like foundation. Even the equipment are much advanced. They adopted the one-storied theme though.

"I wonder why they don't have second floors. Was it because it would stand out? I thought hospitals were supposed to be easy to spot." ZhuQiu mumbled carelessly.

The toyger looked at her with dumbfound expressions: Is this dummy's brain made of plastic, too? These centaurs  would trample everyone downstairs to death if they decide to set foot on the second floor...  Besides, where in the word 'Lotus Lab' has the word hospital???

Of course, it wasn't said out loud, so our silly dummy is left to find this out herself one day when she meditated and her mind wandered onto this topic, ah!

By the time ZhuQiu bumped into another NurseBot, she decided to ask some questions and see if she could get some Drystals. The last four ones she had gotten have been of great help, boosting her efficiency and had played some role in her speedy upgrade in cultivation rankings.

"Hello!"

It took a while to scan ZhuQiu. "Good morning, ZhuQiu, what is your request?"

"Do you guys hand out Basic level of Data Drystals too?"

"Answering the question: Yes."

"May I see the list?"

Whirr. A hologram appeared, exactly like the last time ZhuQiu had seen it in earth's Lotus Lab's NurseBot.

After some thoughts, ZhuQiu made her choice and was presented with seven different Drystals this time. If ZhuQiu's body was organic, the enthusiastic gleam in her eyes would be obvious. Luckily for her, ZhuQiu with a slightly enthusiastic expression on her steel face did not looked too greedy with the free information. Instead, our silly dummy seemed rather hardworking and eager to learn, making our little kitty stare at her for quite sometime.

A lot of readers may be wondering; who is the little kitty, ah? But, reader must be patient, the little kitty's identity is too important, ah! It doesn't want to be revealed yet, ah!

And so, our silly dummy's visit to the Lotus Lab proved very much fruitful once again. 

ZhuQiu decide to take a walk around the street while waiting for Bi'An and YaZi, who made ZhuQiu remember that they will be returning the same route to pick her up as well when they're done with the scout work. With his royal kitty-ness in her arms, of course! Kitty, like all other normal cats with good bearings, will not chase after anyone. If anything, it's the person who have to chase the kitty!

The wares being sold are very similar to the wares in western medieval games ZhuQiu had played previously. There was potteries in wonderful shapes and different sizes. Accessories are adorned with carved beads and colorful shiny feathers that reflected light differently if you hold them in different angles. Large bolts of felts, for keeping cold at bay. There were weapons, mainly variants of the crossbows and bow and arrow. There were a few broadswords, spears, and crudely design shields. The shops that sold weapons were far too few in between. In spite of the lacking weaponry sales, everyone had seemed to be armed by the weapons they made by themselves, evident when someone was boasting loudly about their crafts to their friends.

After thinking about it some more, ZhuQiu decided that she would ask around about the trading system. She approached the nearest stall.

"Hi, sir!"

"My greetings, buyer. What do you need?" The centaur that was keeping watch over the weapon stores half-bowed. His strong build flexed with the motion.

Don't blame a second generation rich girl who had only been surrounded by second generation rich peers, who rather look skinny with pretty face —envious, ah! even the boys have soft smooth skin!— that upon seeing such bulky amount of muscles, ZhuQiu couldn't help by eyes the chest and the abdominal muscles when the centaur rose. Our little kitty caught the ogling and was not amused. It stared at the centaur with cold eyes.

And, like all those well-versed in the martial arts and battle-related fields, the centaur noticed the lingering eyes and the cold glare and narrow pupils.

ZhuQiu pretended she wasn't eyeing him at all and kept her voice calm. "I like those bows, and I know they are for sale. I am new to Centalos II, and I don't know what system of trade you guys use."

"I see. For locals, we usually trade with shillings or crystals. I suppose you don't have either with you at the moment, so I am accepting barter trade with anything you have of similar value that I may like. Do you have some such items?"

ZhuQiu had already known that she had nothing of value on her. From the moment she boarded the Space Pirates' space vehicles, she only owned the clothes on her back, and one missing jade pendant. Ai ya! Misfortune! She could have traded the jade pendant for a weapon. ZhuQiu smiled at the centaur and shook her head, "Maybe not at the moment, then. I just wanted to know about the trading system. I might come back later, when I earn something."

But to tell the readers a secret, it is absolutely due to fate that Shi DaMao had taken our silly dummy's jade pendant, because it was worth so much more than any mere weapons, ah!

The centaur, who heard ZhuQiu's state of non-possession, decided to make his move. "I see. I am actually short of a helper. Would you like to assist me in my woodworking and shop keeping? You may pick your weapon of choice for payment, if you don't mind." He threw in a dazzling smile.

Our ZhuQiu, who was never exposed to such blatant flirting, was absolutely clueless and thought it was a kindhearted deal. It's true that the good-looking have good hearts, ah! However, she had a concern: "Oh! But I don't know when I am leaving. You see, I came in with the Space Pirate Sect."

The centaur had yet to reply when ZhuQiu interrupted, hastily adding, "We're not actual bandits! It's just our sect leader chose such a name... ah ha ha ha.."

The cyborg mannequin's awkward chuckle made the centaur chortle heartily.

"We certainly know of the Space Pirates' reputation. Fret not! You are still welcome to help me out. I shall not be unfair!" The centaur still insisted on hiring her.

ZhuQiu, who was genuinely moved, had a big smile on her face as much as the iron face allows. She didn't notice the kitty's blanching and low growl. Who is ZhuQiu to sell herself like that, ah? He definitely must educate this dummy. If one is being chosen by the master, one must obey the master, ah!

The centaur looked at the toyger with raised eyebrows. ZhuQiu noticed it and glanced at the kitten who raised its tail in an agitated state in her arms. He must be tired from the journey to be suddenly wary of strangers, ah! She patted the toyger's back to coax it.

"Well, sir.. I haven't gotten your name.."

"My name is Zufior. Call me Zu." The centaur offered his big palms.

ZhuQiu took the palm and shook it, feeling the warmth of a living person, unlike her cold plastic-steel hybrid self. "Okay, Sir Zu! I am ZhuQiu and I will be expected back soon, how do I contact you?"

"Your humble person Zu shall be here everyday from sunrise to near sunset without fail, fair maiden. Just find me here." He pats his chest, drawing ZhuQiu's eye to his pecs once again.

Ah, embarrassing to be caught twice, ah. Hehe, our silly dummy is silly indeed.

"O-okay, thanks! I will take my leave!" ZhuQiu retreated to make herself less embarrassed and slowly fled as to not seem obvious. The kitty did not forget to hiss.

Behind her, the centaur had a meaningful smile on his face.

***

Bi'An and BaXia was very supportive of ZhuQiu's wants to temporarily help out the store. The tigress already had the schedule of the space vehicle's departure and it wasn't set for another couple of months, allowing the sect members to get a vacation away from the space vehicle's monotonous life for a while. It's the unspoken custom that everyone went out to bring back something in the space vehicle to do during the next journeying. Therefore, it was more than enough time to help out and earn something in return. Bi'An also confirmed that one and half month's wage can easily trade for good quality weapons, easing ZhuQiu's state of worry.

YaZi and GongFu did not have an opinion. They were more focused on daily evening martial art practice and meditation, when everyone but their centaur roommates are home.

Bi'An had a lengthy quiet discussion with BaXia, that ZhuQiu was allowed to escaped. She truly don't understand enough diplomatic intervention nor she had any experience in persuading with words, so she just laze on her mattress, letting her mind wandering around artifacts she have seen and liked, all the while absentmindedly petting the purring kitty —who was temporarily pleased for the moment of attention— on her chest.

YaZi meditated once the practice was over, not bothering to be the first to wash up, unlike GongFu, who slipped away for a quick shower.

The night passed yet again in an uneventful manner. As if YaZi's earlier radar trigger was just a hallucination. YaZi still had his guard up, though, as a precaution. GongFu went to sleep without worry. Partly because he is a light-sleeper. Another part of the reason on why GongFu wasn't planning on staying up, had something to do with ZhuQiu and her nightly activity as a synthmanoid.

To diverge the readers into the topic of synthmanoid for a short while, surely our readers remember that they do not have bodily functions to attend to, thus eliminating sleep and eating as a result. Author had forgotten to mention that due to this, sleep are usually replaced by other activities that synthmanoid can choose to do, thus explaining how most synthmanoid usually have extra boost of cultivation experience clock-in. ZhuQiu's popular choice had been hammering away at a piece of hot metal for sometime back then. Now, as she no longer reside by herself in the space vehicle but rather being in a same room with those who need sleep to sustain themselves, the options are limited to mental-related activities. Therefore our silly mannequin decided to resort to meditation.

Additionally, during meditation, the cultivators' senses are usually in overdrive due to their unrestrained thoughts in the mind playground. Which is why GongFu had confidence that ZhuQiu would panic at first sign of intruding presence and naturally —as common sense would have it— would wake the rest up.

The other remaining part of GongFu's reasoning... let's not explain, ba. It is enough to say that powerful cultivators can visit loved ones in their dreams, ah.

As dawn began to approach, our silly mannequin emerged from her meditative state of mind. She was barely suppressing the excitement for her first day of work. The kitty was in a bad mood however, it chewed on the leg of her hakama, leaving trails of holes, while alternating between vigorous chewing and dozing off with its fangs still stuck in the fabric. ZhuQiu finds it amusing, but did not move to free herself. She stayed lazy while everyone stirred from sleep and get ready for a new day.

BaXia was first to leave the yurt with GongFu. YaZi waited outside as Bi'An fluffed her pixie cut hair and clip on her briefcase, ready to leave. ZhuQiu pats wrinkles off her clothes and stood.

Meow.

Bi'An glanced over as ZhuQiu looked at the toyger.

"Oh right, I forgot..."

Meow. (Clever girl.)

"...to get the fish yesterday..."

Meorrw... (I take back my words...)

The pissed toyger jumped onto ZhuQiu without warning again. ZhuQiu fortunately anticipated that and caught it in time before it extended a claw to snag itself on her clothes. She wanted to put the toyger back down.

Bi'An couldn't take in the sight anymore and intervened with a poker face, "Just let him come, ba. He is a smart cub."

"If you say so." ZhuQiu sighed and resigned to her fate as the kitty carrier.

Finally the last of the resident left the yurt. There was half an hour of silence before a shadow flashed inside, intruding without anyone's knowledge. In the dim light of muffled rising sun, a pair of green eyes glinted.