"What...?"
Su Xiaobai had just managed to perfectly keep his safe distance. He was three meters away. Emotionally disengaged. Spiritually detached. Ready to pretend this tiger cub was someone else's curse.
And then—
"Peeww!"
Thump.
The little black-furred abomination crashed against his leg, rubbing its head affectionately like a cat who decided its next toy was a cultivator with no consent forms.
Su Xiaobai stared.
His face didn't move.
His eyes twitched like they wanted to sue someone.
No. No no no.
'You're supposed to cuddle the elf. Go chew on Dong Lei's foot. I'm not qualified to raise space panthers, damn it.'
Around him, the others blinked in confusion.
Yu Feng's eyes visibly darkened.
She took a step forward—hand half-raised, dark energy flickering.
"...Eh? Why did it go to him?" she asked with a smile that barely concealed a small breakdown.
Nalan Yufei was stunned too—but at least she took it with an "aww, that's cute" expression.
They tried.
