The next morning, daylight filtered through the window lattice.
Lu Changfeng emerged from his breathing meditation. Just as he was about to rise, he felt a slight weight on his body.
He casually moved aside a furry tiger paw resting across his chest and stomach, then turned to look, feeling rather helpless.
Mo Li lay curled at his side, glossy black fur rising and falling with each breath, sleeping soundly with one forepaw still draped unconsciously over him. Snow Robe was even more outrageous: somehow, the white-feathered parrot had squeezed in beside his pillow and lay sprawled in sleep, occasionally letting out a muffled mumble or two.
"These two..."
Lu Changfeng shook his head with a chuckle. Fortunately, both Mo Li and Snow Robe were exceptionally intelligent, and their bodies were clean and fresh, without any unpleasant odor. He simply treated them as two extra warm "cuddle pillows."
Just then, the door was gently pushed open, and Qing Dai entered carrying a food box.
A trace of amusement flashed in her eyes at the sight. She set the food box on the table, then began helping Lu Changfeng wash as she always did, handing him a warm, wrung-out towel. Lu Changfeng was not actually accustomed to being waited on so closely, but Qing Dai insisted, so he let her have her way and took the towel to give his face a casual wipe.
"Has everyone dispersed?" Lu Changfeng asked offhandedly as he handed the towel back.
"Yes, sir." Qing Dai nodded, tidying up as she reported quietly, "As you instructed, all divisions of the Inner Guard have returned to their posts and resumed their duties, continuing their covert surveillance."
She paused, a rare hint of puzzlement appearing on her cool face. "Sir, the situation remains unclear. Swordforging City is a