Mei, Xiao, and Liling exchanged terrified glances, then slowly—hesitantly—moved closer.
"Young Miss, you shouldn't—!" Suyin protested weakly, even as her body remained plastered against the Immortal's side.
But Liling's hand was already trembling as she reached out, touched his scaled arm, and started awkwardly rubbing water over his skin.
Xiao and Mei followed, their hands shaking as they touched divine flesh.
"The clothes are in the way," Cang observed. "Remove them."
Silence.
"I—we can't—!" Liling's voice cracked.
"Then I'll do it myself." His free hand moved toward Suyin's soaked shirt—
"NO!!" Liling's voice rang out, sharp and panicked. "We'll—we'll do it! Please don't—!"
She turned to her maids, face flushed with shame and terror. "R-remove your clothes. The Immortal... Immortals don't care about mortal flesh. We're beneath his notice. Just—just do as he says."
The rationalization was desperate. Unconvincing even to herself.
But the maids obeyed their young mistress.
