Yun Qing sighed inwardly and reluctantly opened his arms. He stroked the kitten's soft, warm head, loath to part with him, then handed the little bundle back into Yun Huang's arms as though surrendering a hostage.
The surrounding aura abruptly changed as Qing Kitty passed from one warm, familiar embrace into another.
He blinked his glasslike feline eyes, saw that Yun Huang had caught him, and immediately perked up. With a soft "mew," he lifted his little head of his own accord and affectionately rubbed against the long fingers His Majesty the Immortal Emperor extended to stroke him.
That posture, that fawning-it was simply outrageous.
Qing Kitty found a more comfortable spot, curled up contentedly, and stayed put.
Yun Huang looked down at him, his fingertips already scratching deftly beneath the kitten's chin and behind his ears. From time to time, he even lavished a wisp of pure Immortal Emperor Divine Power on the kitten's spirit body, which was linked to the source of Yun Qing's Divine Soul, soothing the exhaustion left by becoming one with the world.
Qing Kitty narrowed his eyes in bliss, a contented purr rumbling in his throat.
"Master and pet" were getting along beautifully, a picture of harmony.
Yun Qing likewise felt a warm current flow through every limb and bone, dispelling much of the faint weariness deep within his Divine Soul.
But the heartwarming interaction across from him was hardly a pleasing sight.
"Hmph."
He gave an exceedingly childish snort.
That ungrateful little brat of a cat! He was clearly formed from the source of my Divine Soul, so why did he merely lie obediently when I held him, yet act cute and nuzzle Yun Huang's fingers when Yun Huang held him?
He was closer to Brother Huang than to Yun Qing himself.
Yun