ZhuQiu approached the girl with fern hair and was immediately questioned, "Whachu staring at? Oh~ is that your beast? Why is he so small? What's your name? I am Paeonica. What were you before you became synthmanoid? Are those plastic? It's sooo everywhere and worthless. Not that you are, you have cool attachment on your back though."

ZhuQiu was momentarily stunned, unsure what to answer first; "That— I-i— err— it's a cat, so it's smaller than most animals... umm— ah?"

Paeonica laughed. "What's your name?"

"I'm ZhuQiu."

"Autumn Chaser. Nice! So do you actually chase the autumn?" Paeonica nodded as if she approved of it.

"Not really, it's more of a naming structure I adopted from the world I was born in. In Earth."

"Earth?" The ferns fluttered when Paeonica tilted her head.

"Yes."

"Sounds familiar. Anyways," Paeonica stuck her hands into the neck holes of her clothes and pulled out a pouch. ZhuQiu stared in bewilderment. "Okay, so, I have these Drystals for sale, do you want some?"

ZhuQiu, "I-i..."

"Don't be shy, I don't know which is what, but they're from other sects that I got it from, so they're definitively mostly manuals. You will like it. Not sure if they're one-time or mul—" Paeonica looked behind ZhuQiu and pales visibly. Paeonica quickly shoved the pouch back in, and grabbed and turned ZhuQiu, who was forced to face someone in dark suit with huge floating black cloaks storming in their direction. The little kitty hissed and growled.

"Paeonica of Thiria. You are under arrest. Anything you do is futile, come peacefully or I will disable you." Growl was low and hoarse.

Zhuqiu could see the cloaked figure closely. He was half masked in a feline eared cowl and the exposed skin on the jaw and chin had tanned complexion. He looked like one of those superheros from the comics. He was waving a small slim tablet and ZhuQiu felt her phantom hair rise. The TingLing Talisman, ah!

Paeonica distanced herself from him with ZhuQiu as her shield, "Sorry cutie, I ain' interested! Maybe next time, yeah?"

The masked figure glared menacingly at ZhuQiu, "Are you aiding the criminal? Move!"

Paeonica yelled back, "Oh no, she ain'. Right, honeyboo?"

The masked figure violently smack the TingLing Talisman at the exposed head o Paeonica and missed.

"Wha—" ZhuQiu fell down.

"Shoot. No, wai—" Paeonica also fell down, unconscious.

***

ZhuQiu opened her eyes and find herself in a familiar scene. She wasn't groggy so she immediately suspected that she was hit by the TingLing Talisman again.

She sighed and sat up form the gel-bed, and saw Bi'An and YaZi beside her.

"Well, that was quite a ride." Bi'An mumbled and yelled at the door, "Hey Jeelguy! you better come here and apologize or I will kick you."

"My name is H'Jeel, not Jeel." A middle aged human man walked in with a scowl. "And it wasn't my fault, she could just move, you know."

"But she didn't. Now apologize."

"Ugh. Fine. Hey, sorry, bud." The man rolled his eyes and folded his arms over his chest.

ZhuQiu was staring for some time until she finally spoke, "You're the guy in the mask?" Well, he looked much harmless wearing normal clothes.

"Who else hit you with the TingLing Talisman? The air?"

"Are you from Earth?" ZhuQiu was excited to find a fellow person from Earth that she ignored his sarcasm.

"Do you think only your earth people can look this good?" H'Jeel pointed at himself.

"Sorry, I didn't mean that."

"Anyways, here's your pouch that that Paeonica stole from you. That blasted girl stole a lot of stuff. Anyways, I should get back to check on her. See waht else she stole." H'Jeel left without a goodbye.

"Rude." Bi'An shook her head.

ZhuQiu, who held the pouch like it was fire, spoke a little too late. "This.. umm, is not mine."

"Just take it as a gift." YaZi rubbed his hands mischievously.

"No way, I'll give it back." ZhuQiu stood up and then fell back down when something jumped on her. Meow! (How dare you forget this important thing!)

ZhuQiu's grip was not proper, that when she tried to catch the cat before it fall and hang onto her seams, the content of the pouch spilled on her. Handful of Drystals shone seductively at her from the floor and gel-bed.

Ah, so much Drystal... must not take. Must not take. Must not take, ah!

ZhuQiu bent down and methodically collected all the spilled Drystals stuffed them into the pouch again. Not daring to look at it's enticing gleam again.

"Can we still meet with Paeonica?"

"That flower YaoJing? Um, I don't think it's a good idea." Bi'An glanced at her and then at the door.

"I just want to return the pouch, it's not mine. She can keep it." It took all ZhuQiu's power to reject her greed.

"I'll help pass it to her. I'm sure H'Jeel can't detect me." YaZi spoke up.

"Sorry to bother you like this, ah!" ZhuQiu felt relief and handed the pouch to YaZi. Bi'An raised her eyebrow at YaZi, who just grinned and left.

"He's going to return them, right?" ZhuQiu misread Bi'An's meaningful look.

"Perceiver will definitely return them, but he is also probably doing it for the thrills of stealth." Bi'An reassured her. ZhuQiu understood and said no more.

When YaZi returned to them, they all started to leave Lotus Lab. It was evening, the sun was dangerously low. ZhuQiu pointed it out only to be reassured by both Bi'An and YaZi. She trusted their decisions and commented on it no more.

Indeed, like Bi'An and YaZi had said, it was an undisturbed way back to the yurt. BaXia was the most worried, as he heard about the rioting kalaviṅkas at the Lotus Lab. Bi'An launched into story telling mode to recite the events that took place for her while she was at the castle and then, at the Lotus Lab. YaZi threw in some humorous commentary, causing even GongFu to smile in amusement.

Soon they began to question ZhuQiu closely on what happened after, when she was interacting with the Peony demi-YaoJing. ZhuQiu, who wasn't a good story teller, and relived it in such a disordered way that they had to ask again to confirm the chain of events.

"Well, you did great, you'll be fine." BaXia patted ZhuQiu lightly on her head.

"Why was H'Jeel after her? Is he a law-enforcer?"

"He is an official, but he mostly done it on his own. He was infamous for trying to be like the vigilantes. He lacks creativity though." Bi'An sorted. "He always changed his alias, so we simply call him Darkie, because he gets into most character that had dark clothing."

"Did he really dressed up as Batman today?" ZhuQiu restrained her giggles.

Bi'An,"Batman? What's that?"

ZhuQiu nodded and explained: "It's form a comic book. He is a billionaire who wanted justice against criminals in his town and decided to build all those super tech stuff he uses with his money. He doesn't have a superhero powers, though."

YaZi's ears perk up, "Superhero powers?"

ZhuQiu had to think for a while for an example, "like, one of them who happen to be an alien can fly, have super strength, and shoot laser out of his eyes. Or like another one, basing off Norse myths, he can manipulate lightnings and have a magic hammer that comes back to him every time he summons it. Or another one, who have steel bones and claws that comes out when he's angry."

YaZi was disappointed, "what can laser do? Bring the cat-beast on the opponent? Hammer is just hammer, not any more cooler than our mechatronics with well programmed A.I. As for claws... " YaZi lifted his hand and —zing— claws comes out of the space between his fingers.

ZhuQiu winced.

The discussion faded as everyone got tired and gets ready for sleep. The centaurs roommates arrived soon after and noted the pleasant atmosphere. "How are you fellows doing?"

Everyone responded positively and reciprocate the gesture, to which the centaurs also responded well to.

Soon, everyone is fast asleep. ZhuQiu was laid quietly with the little kitty biting at her edges playfully. She would occasionally tap it on the nose to irritate it and it would jump to a different place to bite.

However, the little kitty eyed the gap between her ribs cage and hips, and reached a paw in. ZhuQiu dared not move, lest the metal edges might pinch the kitty's paw and potentially injured it. The kitty pushed it's paw further in and pawed inside.

"You're going to get hurt, little kitty!" ZhuQiu whisper-yell, reaching down to swat it's paw out. But before she could touch the arms, the kitty pushed out something shiny. It's a Drystal.

ZhuQiu almost panicked and calmed down. It's just one Drystal, surely Paeonica wouldn't miss it. ZhuQiu picked up the Drystal and felt guilty. She hadn't paid for it, ah!

The little kitty looked at it and got excited. It seemed to have seen something.

"What is it?"

It meowed softly and put a paw on the Drystal, pushing it towards ZhuQiu's chest.

"It's not ours, we can't simply use it." ZhuQiu sighed.

Meow, meeeooow.

It seemed to be more insistent. ZhuQiu suddenly felt the familiar lure of the seduction that the Drystal emitted. Maybe it's right, no one would know if she's absorb it. If it's single-use, it wouldn't leave evidence. If it's multi-use, she would simply leave out the fact that she absorbed the contents!

Let's take a moment to say that, the kitty knew what the silly dummy was thinking and purposely enticed her into committing a tiny moral crime, ah!

And so, our silly dummy allowed temptation to take over and absorbed the contents of the Drystals.

***

"Autumn Chaser."

ZhuQiu paused her sanding and looked up at Zufior, blinking questioningly.

"Are you okay? Was the task too hard?" He looked at the work in her hands. It doesn't seem hard for her, but he felt she looked disheartened.

"Oh, I'm good. It's not too hard, I am learning a lot from what you taught me." ZhuQiu waved the sanding paper and the edge of a thick short plank where a notch is cut in deliberate shapes. "I had no idea there are so much to joinery, I thought they were just tabs stuck together for extra design."

Zufior did not know whether to laugh or to cry, and left ZhuQiu to her work.

When late-afternoon arrives, a sound of galloping hooves resounded the town center. It already arouse a lot of attention when the sound of the horn blasted to gather more attention.

ZhuQiu looked at Zufior whoa already made way to the entrance to take a look. She then hoisted the cat, that was on her lap, onto her arms and then went out too look too.

There was a circle of centaurs in green royal guard robes. In the middle, a male kalaviṅka with shiny turquoise plumage stood with a book in hand.

"Citizens and alien! Countess Fidettes humbly invite all to the imperial garden to celebrate Lady Erisarse's coming of age tomorrow before high sun (afternoon). It is insisted all bachelors and spinsters to attend to grace Lady Erisarse's ceremony as potential suitors. Thank you for your time and good Evening."

The male kalaviṅka bowed, spread his wings and took off. The centaur royal guards started marching, out of the circle in a line, towards the direction that the male kalaviṅka just flew off to.

ZhuQiu looked at the receding figures and wondered if any of the Space Pirates might attend. There were loud chatters. ZhuQiu listened, curious about the customs.

Some female kalaviṅkas were talking about wearing pretty trinkets they have saved up for events like this. Some male kalaviṅka spoke about the color of their feathers and what headdress to wear that will suit their tails. Some male centaur were boasting about their physique and planned out their robes and sashes. Some female centaurs planned to show off their slim waist. It wasn't just an opportunity for a unmarried person to capture the eye of the Lady Erisares, it was also an opportunity to meet other nobility members and attract their attentions.

The good mood affected ZhuQiu too, as she turned to entered the shop to see Zufior looking at the direction that the male kalaviṅka had flown off to.

"Are you going?" ZhuQiu asked him.

Zufior still stared at the direction and seemed to think for some time. When he came to a decision, Zufior shook his head. "Well," he turned to smile at her, "I might. Are you?"

The little kitty's ear perked up.

"I don't know. If my friends are going, then I will." ZhuQiu wanted to see what a party looked like in Centalos II, but if she can't go, it's not the end of the world.

"If they don't plan to, you won't be coming?" There seemed to be a hint of disappointment.

"I mean, I'll just follow them if they are going. I don't know the way anyways." ZhuQiu shrugged.

"I can go with you," Zufior pat his heart and then paused. He then put on a careful expression, "if you don't mind, that is."

The little kitty's cold stare penetrated the centaur in front.

ZhuQiu truly didn't mind if she did not get to go but Zufior's performance was hard to refuse so she just agreed despite the kitty's disappointing stares.

Our little kitty is currently lamenting on life and the fact that the silly dummy is too naive. If it could, this little kitty would like to just simply shove her into a place where no one can reach. But, it can't afford to be impulsive at the moment, thus its remorseless bout of tantrum and sulking yowls for the rest of the day in the workshop.

Zufior finds it much amusing, however, he didn't even find the yowling annoying. In fact, he felt very much smug. Not that it was his fault for being so charming and chick magnet, hehe~

But, let's marvel at fate for a moment as Bi'An entered the workshop to find ZhuQiu to announce that they will be, quoting the tigress, "definitely joining the fun and admire the view of, both, good looking centaurs and pretty kalaviṅkas in a good-looking scenery. "

ZhuQiu felt it was fortunate that Bi'An had come over to relay the message so that ZhuQiu could immediately tell Zufior that he did not have to be burdened any longer by being responsible for her. Zufior, of course, mentions that he'd only be glad to help and that his offer still stands in case there are some change in plans.

Of course, Bi'An kept her words, although she was doing it for the sake of certain someone, and Zufior never got a chance to escort ZhuQiu personally to the grand party.

When the evening passed by, the yurt resident returned and excitedly started getting ready for the ceremony tomorrow. Bi'An and the rest discussed what to wear and everyone seemed to be in a chatty mood.

ZhuQiu just watched as she stroked the cat who was sleeping without a care. Bi'an had tried to drag her into the conversation, but as a person who had maids and butler to prepare for her outings previously, ZhuQiu finds herself useless with presentation decisions. Bi'An ended up doing most of the styling and keep reminding the three males in their group on their outfits and accessories.

It was a hard job for Bi'An. GongFu wasn't helping as he kept refusing almost every suggestion Bi'An made. BaXia was too big, so his choices were quite limited. YaZi wanted to add more shiny elements to his appearance. ZhuQiu just nodded her head. When it was very late, everyone finally settled down after having prepared and began to sleep one by one. Of course, YaZi kept watch, not forgetting about the 'threat' he sensed on the first day.

ZhuQiu, who aren't able to sleep anyways, looked at the remaining two Drystals she had left from her previous harvest, remembered the stolen Drystal last night. She remember absorbing it only to be blankly woken up when it faded away. It was nothingness. She thought maybe it was one of the blank Drystals, but it truly faded away in her palm and the brightness between the gap of the yurt told her that it was dawn. That was the content of the Drystal; Absolutely nothing. The whole experience was as if she had finally fallen asleep and had a dreamless night only to be abruptly awake hours later. 

What a scam! She will definitely not buy any Drystals, even if she had any currencies. Instead of fuming, she tried to console herself that at least she had gotten what seemed like sleep and didn't have to spend the whole night in her own thoughts.

Anyways, next time, ZhuQiu will surely absorb a Drystal that she knows would contain some data. It came from the reputable Lotus Lab, after all, unlike some certain little thief. Humph.

... but then the sleep wasn't too bad, ba.

Daybreak comes and no one stirred. ZhuQiu wondered and thought that perhaps everyone had gotten holidays to get ready for the ceremony too. ZhuQiu just continued to occasionally played with the kitty when it wakes up. The little kitty seemed a bit less enthusiastic this time, though. It just stared at her, expecting something.

ZhuQiu suspected that it still remembered her promise of fish snack and sighed. "I'm sorry I forgot. I'll try my best to get something back, okay?"

The little kitty bit her fingers as if unsatisfied.

What does she mean by 'to get something back'? You are not allowed to leave the kitty, okay?!

But ZhuQiu left the kitty back at the yurt when the time came. It wasn't deliberate. The kitty was sleeping under the covers. ZhuQiu didn't want to wake it up and force it to go out again, so she let it be. Bi'An knew, but she didn't say anything. Everyone else got used to the fact that ZhuQiu would carry it with her all the time, so they did not notice the missing toyger until much later. BaXia and YaZi exchanged glance, but did not ask.

The party wasn't far as the imperial garden is just next to the mock castle, at the heart of the city. Turns out it's where most of the grand ceremonies that the royalties are entitled to hold in. It was large and open, but it couldn't accommodate the whole town, therefore it extended into the streets nearby. Everyone came to greet the centaur daughter of centaur Count Fidettes, Lady Erisarse Fidettes who was flanked by maidservants and guards. The Countess Fidettes is surrounded by centaurs and kalaviṅkas older ladies of noble statuses in a nearby shaded area. 

ZhuQiu trailed behind Bi'An as everyone went their separate ways, finding acquaintances to mingle with. She spotted many of the Space Pirates members but did not find Zufior. Even JiaoTu attended, wearing a pretty bell skirt with shells that reveal pearls in her hair. There is a little frog on her shoulders, looking around and eying everyone with big eyes. There were other synthmanoid who looked equally flashy with neon accent to their garbs. There were one who even had an completely unnecessary mechatronics attachment of centaur hind torso and limbs.

FuXi later briefly greeted Bi'An and ZhuQiu when he noticed them as he stroll around in search for something. SuanNi, too, later noticed them but joined them in their idle mingling. SuanNi glanced at ZhuQiu many times.

ZhuQiu did not feel that this ceremony was any more fun than the parties she had gone to on earth. By some comparison, it just seemed a little duller, everyone was on their best behavior and many polite but empty praises. There was one kalaviṅka who tried to curry favor by praising the quality of her plastic torso. ZhuQiu had worn a off-shoulder dark green renaissance style gown with short puffy sleeves, so her mannequin torso was quite visible along with her mismatched limbs.

There was one particular moment when there was some loud cheers. It was when H'Jeel showed up with a dainty cute female. She looked almost human-like but she has fin-like ears that extend over her temples. Her skin a faint hue of lilac, giving her away as one of the Betas from Alpveom. H'Jeel was dressed in fitting two piece dark blue garments that can be closely described as formal italian suit. The tail of the vest was ankle length.

The crowed stopped cheering when an angry green serpentine lady jumps into view and accused H'Jeel for being a playboy. H'Jeel merely glanced at her and then ignored her. The little female Beta beside him sneered at the serpentine lady.

Across the distance a gloomy Shi DaMao stared coldly at everyone. He was wearing a simple white cultivator garb, looking very plain. ZhuQiu noticed him and felt her phantom goosebumps rising. She hunkered down and shifted her attention only to see someone making their way towards her.

Zufior was wearing dark red knee-length tunic with a galloping pegasus that was woven with gold threads. His long hair no longer in a ponytail as usual. It flow from his head like black waterfall. There's a olive-like silver circlet on his head with a single teardrop yellow gem dangling in the middle. ZhuQiu gawk at such an appearance, causing Zufior to even cough twice.

"H-hi." ZhuQiu was being awkward but there wasn't a good respond she could think of.

"Is it boring?" Zufior gestured to their surrounding.

"N-not really."

Zufior looked around, and saw his kalaviṅka pageboy approaching from afar. He turned back to the silly dummy who looked around guiltily, "Come on, it's boring, let me bring you to the castle. You haven't seen it, have you?"

"N-now?"

"No better ti—"

"I'm sorry, but Space Pirates disciples have to stick in groups. For safety reasons, I'm sure that Duke Zufior understands very well about that, given that your Grace have been mingling with the common people for quite a while."

ZhuQiu swivels her head at the third wheeler. Shi DaMao stared down Zufior, who showed an amiable smile.

"I was not aware. My apologies, Celestial Guardian. In that case, would you like to join us then? I am sure that the Whi—" Shi DaMao punched Zufior before he could finish what he wanted to say.

The surrounding people went silent, but it wasn't enough to spoil the party. A kalaviṅka pageboy hurried over in shock, "Your grace, please do not be difficult. His highness requests that I keep watch over you, and now you've gotten hurt!" The boy glared at Shi DaMao who was being pulled by Bi'An and BaXia.

ZhuQiu had no idea why what happened happened, she hurriedly apologize to Zufior upon learning that he was an important person that should not be offended.

Bi'An called ZhuQiu and she continued to apologize profusely as she retreats. Ai! What misfortune! She had just found out that her woodworking mentor is no ordinary person, ah!

Not all Space Pirates who attended had offended anyone so they didn't really had to leave. Bi'An, BaXia, and ZhuQiu left with Shi DaMao, making sure he doesn't go around punching anyone else. GongFu and YaZi had to follow them, as they're in a group from the start and are responsible on making sure of the groups safety.

ZhuQiu complained in her heart that Shi DaMao is indeed an asshole in general sense. There is no way to not offend him one way or another.

When they reached the yurt, ZhuQiu left them to their own device after seeing that she wasn't going to be much help and changed her garb for the hakama and tunic she wore previously. She also began to look for the little kitty she had left under the covers. It wasn't there.

ZhuQiu figured that it woke up and did not find her, thus probably running around and play somewhere else.

Looking back at the group of five; one stubborn Shi DaMao, one reprimanding Bi'An, two silent BaXia and GongFu, and one taking every opportunity to irritate the others YaZi.

ZhuQiu decide to simply take a walk around and try to find the little kitty by the way.