The mountain was saturated with glaring sunlight, causing the air to shimmer with heat-induced ripples.
The cicadas chirped noisily, their calls grating.
A round-headed, plump kitten struggled to push a half brick forward. She pressed her short front paws against the brick and, using only her hind legs to walk, pushed ahead with all her might. She barely managed to move the brick, plowing a furrow through the thick layer of dust on the ground.
Push, push...
The path left by the brick was winding, eventually forming a circle before coming back to the gate.
The little one noticed something was amiss and looked up—
"MEOW?"
She had pushed it askew!
Lord Dumpling's expression grew serious. This wouldn't do at all!
So she went around to the other side of the brick and started pushing it toward Zhou Li's location again.
This time, she learned her lesson. After each short push, she released the brick, walked beside it to check its alignment, and only then continued.
