Su Bai walked on at his own pace.
He could not see Shen Guanlan's expression behind him, but he could clearly sense that she seemed to be brewing something.
He could feel the Red Moon Power surging inside her.
There was no trace of any other Strange Creature nearby, so why had Shen Guanlan suddenly used her ability?
This was completely at odds with how she had behaved over the past two weeks. She had always seemed gentle, steady, and unhurried, but now... Su Bai narrowed his eyes almost imperceptibly.
"You've suddenly taken quite an interest in my family and friends, Aunt Shen." Su Bai's tone was casual and natural, as though he were merely making conversation. His voice rose slightly at the end, carrying what sounded like a hint of teasing.
A brief silence fell behind him.
A few seconds later, Shen Guanlan's hand settled silently on his shoulder.
Her slender fingers pressed lightly but firmly against his shoulder blade. Through that contact, Su Bai could distinctly feel an unfamiliar, unpleasant force flowing from her palm, trying to seep into his body. It was like a silk ribbon wrapped in sharp thorns, seemingly soft yet covered in barbs, probing into him inch by inch.
This force was stronger than the strength Shen Guanlan had displayed, but to Su Bai as he was now, it was still far too fragile, like a thin plastic cord that would snap with a single twist.
Su Bai suppressed the power already inside him and allowed Shen Guanlan's force to enter his body, then looked back with a slightly puzzled expression.
"Aunt Shen, what's wrong?" Su Bai turned his head, his expression still gentle, though his gaze held a trace of discreet scrutiny.
He saw Shen Guanlan's smile.
It was utterly unlike her usual