Her movement was so sudden that even Ruo Shuo, who had been waiting to see her embarrassed, froze for a second. Xue Yao rushed behind the carved wooden screen near the bathing area and pressed both hands over her skirt, glaring at the five elders as if they were a pack of hungry beasts.
Honghong climbed onto her shoulder with much difficulty, her tiny wings spreading wide as though she could block the whole room by herself. "Stay away from my master!"
Honghong laughed inwardly inside her head. 'Now that I am protecting the human, she will get so moved by my action and give me more beast cores, food, and maybe one day… her blood… hehehe.'
The elder whose hand had stopped in midair slowly withdrew it. His face did not show much anger, but the pressure around him became heavier, causing Lan Shu and Hei Yue to lower their heads even more.
"Human," he said, his voice calm but cold. "Do you know who you are speaking to?"
