They had just finished taking in a new underling when a piercing howl rang out from the other side.
While Shi Hou and Shi Hao were putting the lion in its place, Huo Ling'er quietly sidled over to the Grand Marshal's Chair.
She bent down and scooped the Little Wolf God off the chair back into her arms.
Meeting those blinking, glossy black eyes and feeling that soft, warm ball of fur against her palms, the Fire Kingdom Princess's girlish heart simply melted.
"So cute! From now on, stick with this princess, and you'll feast on the finest food."
She reached out a fair finger to tickle the little fellow's chin.
The Little Wolf God wanted none of it. He shook his head like a rattle drum and let out a loud howl through a mouth that had yet to grow all its teeth.
The cry was so pitiful that he sounded as though he were suffering inhuman torture.
Everyone, including the several Mutated Beasts, turned toward the commotion.
Shi Hou dug at his ear and turned to Huo Ling'er.
"Your Highness, snatching someone else's underage pet in broad daylight isn't very proper, is it?"
Already flustered by the little creature's howling, Huo Ling'er flushed bright red at Shi Hou's jab.
"What nonsense are you spouting!"
She angrily tossed the Little Wolf God back onto the Grand Marshal's Chair and planted both hands on her hips.
"Hmph! Stupid wolf, you don't know a good thing when it's offered."
The Little Wolf God rolled twice across the chair. The instant he regained his footing, he scurried toward Shi Hou on his four stubby legs.
He deftly climbed up Shi Hou's trouser leg and settled securely on his shoulder, even smugly baring his pink gums at Huo Ling'er.
Only then did Shi