Chapter 193

In the woods, only Zheng Tan remained; he lifted his leg to leave, then remembered the stolen wallet had fallen into the grass, ran over to look, anyway it was dark around and no one would notice, so Zheng Tan simply stood upright, picked up the wallet with his two front paws, and slowly walked toward the edge of the woods.

Zheng Tan had no intention of keeping the wallet for himself, nor any interest in opening it to see what was inside; although he hadn't examined the wallet closely, the scent coming from it let him conclude it was a lady's wallet.

As one of the campus's landscaping grasses, ryegrass had decent greening effect, but Zheng Tan didn't like moving through such grass clumps—the grass blades scraping his skin felt uncomfortable. Zheng Tan looked around; the small path beside the little grove had few people walking at that moment.

When Zheng Tan reached the edge, he happened to see an old man guarding the teaching building over there, carrying a radio and humming a little opera tune as he passed; while wandering around campus, Zheng Tan had also recognized the gatekeepers of each teaching and department building nearby, though he didn't know this old man's character, he just wanted to get rid of the wallet in his hand quickly, so taking advantage of the old man's distracted humming and swaying, Zheng Tan tossed the wallet onto the path the old man must take, then retreated to the woods, climbed a tree, and watched that side.

The old man probably had just gone out for a stroll; after picking up the wallet he muttered something unintelligible, looked around, saw no one nearby, and headed toward the square.

Zheng Tan followed not far behind him, seeing the old man walk to the gate of the gymnasium beside the square, go to the bulletin board, pick up a pen and write a lost-and-found notice, then chat with the security personnel there.

After settling the wallet matter, Zheng Tan squatted on a decorative stone platform at the gymnasium entrance.

"Hey, what's up with that cat?" the old man pointed at Zheng Tan, wondering why a cat would be so calm sitting here; you know, the area around the square is lively, music can be heard here, the gym entrance is full of students and teachers coming and going to exercise and relax, yet this cat isn't scared at all.

The security guard at the gate looked back and said, "It's Professor Gu's cat. He's waiting for Professor Gu to finish dancing and then follow her back."

Hearing others praise her cat, Jiao Ma felt proud; that evening, as she brought Zheng Tan home, the smile on her face never faded.

Zheng Tan didn't take those compliments to heart; he was thinking about that cat.

Since discovering the thief cat extending its claws into Chu Hua Da Xue, Zheng Tan has remained vigilant for the past few days; when he goes out wandering, he also pays attention to unfamiliar cats around, but the cat that got a swipe from him hasn't reappeared.

That day. Having heard the weather forecast say there would be rain at night, though not knowing when it would fall, after dinner Zheng Tan also stayed home obediently, but he felt a vague irritation and unease. Zheng Tan looked at the darkened sky outside, feeling it got dark earlier than the previous two days; he guessed it was the weather, with clouds blocking the would-be sunset.

After blowing some wind on the balcony, Zheng Tan returned to the living room, lay on the sofa watching cartoons with Xiao Youzi, while Jiao Ma washed dishes and Jiao Yuan played computer games in his room.

Around ten o'clock at night, it started to rain; soon the patter of raindrops hitting the windows could be heard outside, accompanied by rolling thunder.

Zheng Tan was curled up next to Xiao Youzi, vaguely thinking about things, when his ear twitched and he heard the phone ringing in the master bedroom.

Who would call in this weather? I wonder if there's danger? Although the buildings here are equipped with lightning rods, that doesn't guarantee 100% safety.

Because of the thunder and rain pounding the windows outside, Zheng Tan didn't hear what Jiao Ma said when she answered the phone; after a while, hearing no further movement from her side, he guessed she had gone to sleep. Zheng Tan lifted his paw to flick his ears, then burrowed under the blanket to begin dozing off.

Because of the thunder outside and the rain hitting the windows, Zheng Tan didn't hear what Jiao Ma said when she answered the phone. After waiting a while, he didn't hear any movement from her side and guessed she had fallen asleep. Zheng Tan lifted his paw and flicked his ears, then burrowed into the blanket and began to nurture sleepiness.

Early the next morning, as they got up to eat breakfast, Jiao Ma asked Zheng Tan, "Hei Tan, do you know where Jingzhang went?"

Zheng Tan was about to peck at the egg in his bowl when he heard Jiao Ma's words, and his heart gave a sudden jolt.

Although Jingzhang liked to run around outside, he always came home on time, rarely staying out all night; moreover, last night was that kind of weather, and according to his usual habit, he should have returned early.

Seeing her cat stare blankly at her, Jiao Ma sighed inwardly, thinking her cat probably didn't understand what she meant, so she didn't say more; when Jiao Yuan and Xiao Youzi asked, Jiao Ma also didn't elaborate, merely telling the two kids to focus their thoughts on studying and not worry about other things.

As for Zheng Tan, he had little appetite, no wonder he'd felt uneasy since yesterday.

Afraid Jiao Ma would notice something, Zheng Tan finally forced himself to swallow the egg in his bowl and a bit of noodles; needing to go out on business, one must eat enough to have strength.

When leaving, Jiao Ma still reminded Zheng Tan to take Xiao Youzi home and then return, not to run around everywhere. Jiao Ma would have liked to keep her cat indoors, but she couldn't lock him in! After all, it's Jiao Ba's fault—who let him give the house keys to the cat, even an access card—what cat has those? These worries Jiao Ma couldn't share with others, just as Jiao Ba had said, being too conspicuous isn't good. Sigh, keeping a cat that's too smart isn't exactly easy either.

Zheng Tan dropped off Xiao Youzi and then wandered the vicinity, specifically seeking out places where gossip-loving aunties usually gathered to eavesdrop.

Zheng Tan didn't spend much time before learning from a few aunties who had just returned from grocery shopping why Jiao Ma had asked that at breakfast.

At around nine o'clock last night, a teacher from Xiqu Dayuan, having finished his evening class, discovered on his way home that his own cat lay badly injured by the roadside, covered in scratches and bite wounds, its fur streaked with blood; the teacher turned on his flashlight and saw the blood trail leading from the roadside into the woods, suggesting the cat had crawled out of the forest.

He hurriedly sent the cat to the 24-hour clinic at the pet center; after examining the injuries and confirming there was no mortal danger, the teacher immediately felt relieved, thinking that if it weren't for the cat's luck in running into him, another half hour or so and a downpour would have surely killed it.

After settling his cat, the teacher was furious; the vet said the wounds were from cat scratches and bites, and the only cat his own cat usually didn't get along with was the "Jingzhang" from Dongqu Dayuan—previous scuffles were nothing, but both cats always had minor injuries. This time, however, it was truly excessive!

Therefore, the teacher went straight to the door to demand an explanation, only to find that Jingzhang hadn't returned, and he still hadn't come home even after the rain started.

Now the owner of Jingzhang also realized something was wrong. Cats, after all, getting a few scratches from outdoor fights is normal; the owner had grown used to it, but his cat's spirit remained good, and even if he went out to play at night he would return on time. Usually around nine or ten he would call and yowl at the apartment building's entrance to have the owner open the access gate, and the period of lost cats during the New Year peak had already passed, so the owner normally didn't worry about it—but who could have imagined this would happen, leaving him unable to stay calm.

Everyone speculated whether another cat had entered the campus, inflicting such vicious wounds—it couldn't be a cat from within the school, otherwise the campus would have remained peaceful all along.

Having learned the full story, Zheng Tan also felt worried. No wonder it had been so late yesterday, and with that weather, Jingzhang's owner was still anxiously calling around to ask people; I heard he went out in the rain after midnight and searched until after twelve, yet still hadn't found him, and even though the rain had stopped this morning Jingzhang still hadn't returned. The owner also went to the School Security Office to request surveillance footage; although the school's cameras aren't mere decoration, the places they cover are inevitably crowded thoroughfares, not where cats roam.

Having learned the full story, Zheng Tan also felt worried. No wonder it was so late yesterday and the weather was like this—Jingzhang's owner was still anxiously making phone calls everywhere asking people. Heard that he went out in the rain at night and searched until after twelve, but still hadn't found him. This morning, even after the rain stopped, Jingzhang still hadn't returned. Jingzhang's owner also went to the School Security Office to request surveillance footage. The cameras at the school are not just for show; places with cameras are ultimately crowded, frequently traversed areas, not where cats usually roam.

Zheng Tan felt this matter was related to the cat that had gotten a swipe from him; at the time, that cat's low growl and eyes as it left showed it was no soft touch, full of ferocity.

Moreover, Zheng Tan guessed there must have been more than one cat involved; if it were just that single cat, it wouldn't have wounded the Xiqu Dayuan cat so severely, nearly killing it, while Jingzhang still hasn't shown up—these two are veteran fighters among the cats of the east and west residential areas, and ordinary cats really can't do much against them.

Last night's rain washed away many scents, making it unlikely for Zheng Tan to track down any suspicious odor.

If Jingzhang was merely taken by the handler behind the thief cat—the as-yet-unseen cat trainer who hasn't met him—then at least for now he probably isn't in mortal danger, right? As Hetaoshixiong said, cat trainers are interested in gifted cats, and Jingzhang certainly qualifies; a cat that can howl Chihuahua speech so authentically is already a rarity among felines.

But if that cat trainer hadn't noticed Jingzhang's talent and simply let his own cat do the killing……

Zheng Tan searched several greenbelt wooded areas in succession—places Jingzhang often went to when fighting—and near the woods where the Xiqu Dayuan cat was found, he actually caught some scents: Jingzhang's, that cat's, including the one he had swiped, plus at least three or four unfamiliar cats' odors.

Zheng Tan successively searched several greenbelt woodland areas, which were also places Jingzhang often went to when fighting—the location where the West District cat was discovered. In a nearby grove, Zheng Tan actually smelled some scents: Jingzhang's, the West District cat's, including the cat he himself had slapped with a paw, plus at least three or four unfamiliar cats' scents.

After searching around, Zheng Tan panted irritably, sprawled on a large plane tree.

Although Jingzhang is just a cat, from the time Zheng Tan turned into a cat until now, the Dongqu Dayuan Four Scoundrels have become a small group; Jingzhang is also regarded by Zheng Tan as an important playmate, a cat brother. When a brother meets trouble, Zheng Tan can't stay calm; his worry now overshadows anger, and even while searching the woods he keeps his heart in his throat, afraid to find a cat whose body has already stiffened.

Although Jingzhang is just a cat, since Zheng Tan turned into a cat until now, the Dongqu Dayuan Four Scoundrels also count as a small group; Jingzhang is also regarded by Zheng Tan as an important playmate, a cat brother. When the brother encounters trouble, Zheng Tan cannot stay calm—at this moment his worry has overridden anger, and even while searching in various groves his heart is suspended, for fear of seeing a cat in the grove whose body has already stiffened.

Thinking on the bright side, if Jingzhang hadn't been captured, his injuries weren't so bad he couldn't run, or if he'd seized a chance to flee when attacked, where might he be hiding? Although he isn't very bright, he isn't purely stupid either.

The amplitude of his tail's sway gradually lessened, the tip moving rhythmically, as Zheng Tan recalled possible hiding spots Jingzhang might have gone to.

Jingzhang also often roamed the campus, so he should be quite familiar with all areas.

Zheng Tan began to recall and screen places one by one.

Suddenly, Zheng Tan thought of a place that Jingzhang often frequented—the old tile-roofed area of the school!

When the weather is nice, that place is actually a small cat gathering spot!

No longer hesitating, Zheng Tan immediately jumped down from the tree and headed toward the old tile-roofed area. (To be continued...)

No longer hesitating, Zheng Tan immediately jumped down from the tree and headed toward the old tile house. (To be continued...)

ps: (3.15)