Night had deepened.
In the pitch-black forest, an orange-yellow bonfire burned.
Dai Yao and the two women sat around the bonfire, yet the atmosphere was strangely quiet, broken only by the crackle of the flames.
Dai Yao was very casual; Bi Ji still looked elegant and dignified, but only those familiar with her would notice the occasional flicker of unnaturalness in her bearing. Zi Ji, who had returned later, did not even look at Dai Yao or Bi Ji. Instead, she stared blankly at the rising flames.
Dai Yao and Bi Ji both understood Zi Ji's strange state perfectly well.
But neither of them had any intention of comforting Zi Ji.
In Dai Yao's eyes, he was not suited to Di Tian's task. Zi Ji's current state was one of confusion; she had merely been pushed along by the responsibility of the Spirit Beast Clan until it brought her to his side.
Dai Yao had no intention of taking advantage of someone while she was vulnerable.
Bi Ji's thoughts were even simpler. Zi Ji was her junior, and she wanted to protect Zi Ji.
Before long, the leg of the Soft Bone Rabbit Zi Ji had caught was roasted, giving off waves of meaty fragrance. Dai Yao casually sprinkled on some spices, handed one to Bi Ji, and took one for himself, but gave none to Zi Ji.
Zi Ji did not get a share, but she was not angry.
After all, as a ferocious beast that had lived for several hundred thousand years, it would not matter even if she went centuries without eating. It was only because they were accompanying Dai Yao that she and Bi Ji followed his dietary habits and ate every day as well.
Her cool eyes swept over Dai Yao, then settled on Bi