Chapter 1966: Chapter 187: The Cat Wearing a Mask

Midnight.

Deep within Jiuyou Academy, under the Cat Fruit Tree.

The ‘fruits’ that once hung on the tree have already left the branches to seek amusement elsewhere. Apart from the chirping insects and resting birds, there are now two wizards and a black cat under the tree.

The black cat is naturally Zheng Qing.

The two wizards, one wearing a bat mask and the other a white mask, stand facing each other. The black cat crouches beside the wizard with the white mask, also wearing a small white mask on its feline face.

“What you’re inheriting is not just the name ‘Sin Bearer,’ but also this mask.” The wizard with the white mask had solemnly advised the black cat during their prior communication, “The lack of facial features and pure white color represent absolute neutrality, which is crucial to the other seven members of the Seven Sins… and to other organizations you might interact with in the future.”

The black cat stared at the small mask for a moment, then finally put it on its face.

It wasn’t concerned about the feelings of those other seven wizards or the attitudes of other organizations; it just felt that having an additional layer of mask on its face would be a bit safer.

Besides, if everyone else wears one, not wearing one would seem like a disadvantage.

Contrary to its hefty appearance, the white mask felt especially light and breathable on the face. The lack of facial features didn’t hinder the black cat’s breathing or its ability to clearly see the surroundings—in fact, after putting on the mask, it felt as though its senses had become slightly keener, as if it were an illusion.

It was indeed a nice magical item, and the black cat contentedly twitched the tip of its tail.

Unlike the leisurely black cat, Sir Friedman was visibly distressed the moment he saw the Sin Bearer and the cat beside him.

“I thought today you would bring the heir of the Sin Bearer to undergo my examination.” The Duke, holding on to a last glimmer of hope, said in a hoarse voice.

He emphasized the word ‘heir’ particularly heavily.

“You’re right.” The Sin Bearer spread his hands and replied cheerfully, “I did bring it… See… this is my successor.”

He pointed at the black cat.

Friedman noticed that he used the word ‘successor’ instead of ‘heir.’

He silently glanced at the black cat crouching at his feet, then looked up at the Sin Bearer, “You never said your successor is a cat…”

“Also, no one ever said the Sin Bearer couldn’t be a cat.” The current Sin Bearer answered smoothly, the voice under the white mask growing even more delighted, “More importantly, before meeting this cat, I didn’t know my successor was a cat either… Your reaction is much bigger than mine!”

What a cursed taste.

The black cat glanced silently at the Sin Bearer, then at the guy with the bat mask, cleared its throat, and asked gruffly, “Hey, are you guys still doing that examination… if not, I’m going to go bask in the moonlight up in the tree!”

Although it’s just a crescent moon, the moonlight is indeed nice today. It gives an exceptionally refreshing feeling when shining on one’s body, akin to eating a big bowl of ice in summer—perhaps it’s a side effect of the deepening autumn chill.

“It can talk?” Friedman looked at the black cat in surprise.

“If it were an ordinary cat, it wouldn’t become my successor.” The current Sin Bearer adjusted his mask, looked up at the moonlight, and added, “…so I recommend you hurry with the examination so we can still catch a nap afterward.”

The wizard with the bat mask finally calmed down. He looked down at the black cat and cleared his throat, “Since that’s the case… um, do you know what Mendel’s Paradox is?”

This magical theorem was something Zheng Qing had heard repeatedly, long since memorized by heart. Upon hearing it, he immediately replied, “It’s simple. When wizards use Transformation, they cannot simultaneously achieve magic power stability, independent mental will, and interspecies free transformation but can at most actualize only two of these conditions simultaneously…”

The wizard with the bat mask kept nodding, “Mm, mm… yes, yes, that’s right. The Wizard’s Encyclopedia couldn’t explain it better. Very well, you’ve passed my test.”

Upon hearing this, the black cat froze.

Then it turned to look at the Sin Bearer with the white mask.

“That’s it?”

If not for the two pieces of parchment filled with stamps in its paws serving as proof, it would’ve thought someone was joking with it, “Just testing a well-known magical theory and the examination is completed?”

“One-seventh of the examination.” The Sin Bearer corrected, shrugging his shoulders, “This decision is his to make… after all, it’s his decision to make, and choosing what kind of leader is his freedom.”

“Humph, you’re not the leader of the Seven Sins, you’re just a convener.” The wizard with the bat mask snorted coldly, “…so, the more foolish the convener, the better.”

The black cat looked at the two seemingly at odds, feeling a bit at a loss.

Before it could think of something to say, the bat-masked creature turned to it, a hint of mockery in its tone, “What, feeling unsatisfied relying on a single piece of magical theory? Feeling unsatisfied is right. Do you think I would let you slay a Fire Dragon to satisfy your lowly and childish pride?”

“Silence.” A calm voice came from the Sin Bearer beside him.

Suddenly, the mouth of the bat-masked creature seemed glued shut, not a word could come out, making the black cat quite delighted—even if only for the ability to shut that foul mouth anytime, it wouldn’t mind taking part in such simple examinations several times more.

“As you can see.”

The white mask looked down at the black cat, the tone slightly more serious, “…the seven members of the Seven Sins represent seven different sins, and arrogance is the earliest, and the greatest sin. Weakness and ignorance aren’t barriers to survival; arrogance is. Similarly, weakness and ignorance aren’t reasons for dislike; arrogance is…”

The black cat nodded repeatedly in agreement.

It subconsciously thought back to a day before school started last year at the Pedestrian Street, when it encountered Arthur·Ness. At the time, it stood out to block in front of Lin Guo primarily because of the unpleasant arrogance of the Alpha Male Sorcerer, which aroused everyone’s anger.

Similarly, there were the Sword Immortals from the Shu Mountain Sect in the Shu Mountain Sword Tale.

In theory, as the rightful Dao, the Sword Immortals of Shu Mountain should be well-loved by readers, but the truth is quite the opposite. Every time the Sword Immortals take a proud stance in front of the Heretic Demons, it makes people grit their teeth, wishing the Heretic Demons would crush those hypocritical second-generation Sword Immortals.

Unfortunately, the arrogant Sword Immortals always emerged victorious.

The voice of the Sin Bearer continued in the black cat’s ear, “…Today, the one examining you is codenamed ‘Lucifer’ within the Seven Sins, and the original sin embodied is ‘Arrogance,’ you might have already experienced some of its subtleties… As for the follow-up examination, it’s tentatively scheduled for the same time next week at the same location. If time permits, we might conduct a few more, aiming to allow me to shed this heavy robe by the end of Moon Hunting.”