Chapter 6 Tail feathers... Beautiful...
Chi Li discovered that once a bottom line is crossed, it will become riddled with holes.
For example, right now, she actually tolerated Tang Lu leaning on her shoulder and sleeping in the sunlight for a whole hour, while she just stood there like a post, not even going to approve the jade slip.
She only moved slightly when she felt a tingling sensation in her shoulder.
Tang Lu was startled awake by this subtle movement. She rubbed her eyes groggily, tilted her head up, and gave Chi Li a bright, innocent smile.
The sunlight made her amber eyes crystal clear, reflecting Chi Li's figure clearly.
"Lili, this feels so good," she sighed contentedly.
Chi Li looked away somewhat awkwardly and gave a soft "hmm" in response.
She stretched her stiff shoulders, preparing to take the little darling back to the palace.
However, in the instant she turned around...
Perhaps it was the perfect angle of the sunlight, or perhaps it was the movement that created the shimmering light.
Her long, crimson-gold hair, flowing like molten gold, moved without wind, and among the strands, a few magnificent tail feathers, beyond description, appeared and disappeared behind her for a moment, refracting a rainbow of light, dazzling and radiant.
That is the phoenix's innate glory, a symbol of power and nobility.
Chi Li herself was already used to it.
But some people... no, some trees, were completely mesmerized.
Tang Lu's eyes widened in that instant, like two amber beads washed by spring water.
Her small mouth opened slightly, letting out a silent gasp of surprise.
"So...so beautiful!" she murmured to herself, her gaze seemingly drawn to the fleeting glimpse of splendor.
The next second, Chi Li felt her sleeve being suddenly pulled by a small force.
"Lili! Wait!" Tang Lu's voice was urgent and soft, filled with unprecedented excitement, "That! Bright thing! What is it?"
Chi Li paused for a moment, following the direction of her finger, before realizing that she was referring to her own tail feathers.
"It is my tail feather." She tried to state this fact in a calm tone, maintaining her last bit of composure.
"Tail feathers?" Tang Lu repeated, her eyes sparkling. "Can... I touch them?"
Chili: "!!!"
Touching its tail feathers?!
This is a hundred times worse than calling her "Lili"!
For a phoenix, its tail feathers are an extremely private and important part!
Unless it's your closest partner, you are absolutely not allowed to touch them!
That's an instinctive taboo etched into our blood!
"No." Chi Li refused resolutely, her voice even carrying a hint of panic.
She instinctively tried to tuck her tail feathers in.
But Tanglu's movements were even faster!
Or rather, the instinct of plants to entwine overwhelmed all etiquette and taboos at this moment.
Just as Chi Li tried to retract her tail feathers, several delicate and supple golden vines shot out from Tang Lu's fingertips with lightning speed and precisely... wrapped around those few longest and most beautiful tail feathers!
It wasn't a rough pull, but a gentle caress and entwining with curiosity and boundless affection, like newly sprouted vines clinging to an ancient tree.
"!!!"
Chi Li was struck as if by lightning, instantly stiffening and her mind went blank.
The sensation... is indescribable.
The tail feathers are one of the most sensitive parts of the phoenix's body.
At this moment, she could clearly feel the cool touch of the delicate vines, and the pure and gentle wood spirit aura belonging to Tang Lu at the end of the vines.
Two completely different power attributes intertwined at this moment, creating a strange and unfamiliar sense of dread that surged from her tailbone all the way to the top of her head, making her scalp tingle.
She wanted to scold him and immediately shake off this audacious little tree spirit.
But his body seemed to be frozen in place, unable to move.
Or rather...deep down, it's not entirely rejection.
Tang Lu was completely unaware of the "outrageous" thing she had done.
Her entire attention was captivated by the magnificent feathers in her hand (within the vines).
"So soft...so smooth..." she exclaimed softly, carefully combing the delicate patterns on the feathers with the vines, feeling the touch of the finest silk and the warm, fiery life force emanating from deep within the feathers.
She even unconsciously released more wood spirit energy, which was gentle and full of vitality, like the most tender comfort, lingering on Chi Li's sensitive tail feathers.
Under the embrace of this pure vitality, Chi Li's tense body actually... gradually relaxed.
The feeling wasn't offensive; it was more like... an awkward yet sincere sense of closeness and praise.
She looked down at Tang Lu.
The little one was intently "playing" with her tail feathers, her face beaming with the pure joy of discovering a treasure, humming a tuneless little tune as if it were the most interesting toy in the world.
The slight anger that had risen in Chi Li's heart due to the offense quickly melted away, even carrying a hint of indulgence... resignation.
never mind.
Why bother arguing with a little tree spirit that doesn't even know what touching its tail feathers means?
She just... thought it looked good.
Chi Li made excuses for her rapidly crumbling bottom line in her mind.
The servants around them had already buried their heads below their chests, wishing they were blind.
They saw nothing!
Didn't you see His Majesty being "teased"?
Didn't you see His Majesty's tail feathers have become someone else's toy!
Didn't you notice that although His Majesty had a stern face, the roots of his ears seemed... a little red?
After an unknown amount of time, Tang Lu finally felt satisfied.
She retracted the vines, then reached out her small hand to gently touch the smooth tip of the feather one last time. She then looked up at Chi Li and gave her an overwhelmingly sweet smile:
"Lili's tail is the most, most, most beautiful!"
Chili: "..."
She quickly and somewhat awkwardly tucked her tail feathers back, feeling a little hot on her face.
She forced herself to remain calm and said dryly, "...Go back."
She turned and walked into the hall almost hastily.
However, his steps seemed a little more disordered than usual.
Tang Lu was completely oblivious, happily following behind her, her little mouth still chattering, "I love Lili's tail! Can I touch it again tomorrow?"
Chi Li, who was walking in front, stumbled and almost tripped over herself.
tomorrow? !
His Majesty the Demon King began to seriously consider how likely it was that he could hide his tail feathers.
as well as……
She touched her ears, which still felt hot.
This little tree spirit, it's probably sent by heaven specifically to bring her misfortune.
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