Chapter 5

Before long, He Chen and Yuan Xiu had finished preparing the bathwater and setting out the meal. Once everything was ready, they quietly withdrew from Ye Lixiao’s palace.
Ye Lixiao gazed at the lavish spread before him, but he didn’t have the slightest appetite.
“Meow~ meow~” Xing Luo caught the scent of roasted meat. She clung to one of the table legs, craning her tiny head upward, her big black eyes shining with excitement.
Ye Lixiao reached out his large hand, gently lifting her and setting her on his lap.
He picked up the cup of milk from the table and placed it before her. A cat this size probably drank milk, didn’t it? He’d never kept a pet before, he wasn’t really sure.
But Xing Luo stared at the milk in deep displeasure. She, the dignified king of beasts, drank milk? Impossible! She wanted meat!
“Meow meow!” I want meat!
As she protested, she opened her little mouth and bit down on the back of Ye Lixiao’s thumb, the hand that held the milk. She didn’t bite hard, but she did leave his hand covered in her drool.
“What? You want meat?” Ye Lixiao quickly understood her meaning.
“Meow~” Exactly!
She gave an affirmative mewl and even licked the spot she’d bitten earlier.
Though she despised Ye Lixiao, this was his demon palace, his domain. With her current cultivation so weak, even if she escaped, the outside world would be far more dangerous. It was safer to stay close to him for now. Judging by his attitude, he seemed to like her feline form quite a bit.
For the sake of survival, Xing Luo decided to act obedient and win his favor.
With Ye Lixiao’s protection, cultivating would be easier. If he’d even offer her a few spirit pills, her progress would skyrocket.
Using her enemy’s resources to strengthen herself, now that was what she called a profitable deal.
Xing Luo was clever. Though she and Ye Lixiao were enemies, he was also the most useful person to her right now. There was no reason to offend him.
Ye Lixiao’s eyes grew dark and unreadable as he watched the little creature on his lap, full of life and cunning. Then, without another word, he placed her on the table.
“Eat whatever you want,” he said coldly.
The moment the words left his lips, Xing Luo pounced straight onto a roasted chicken, devouring it without restraint.
Watching her eat so heartily, Ye Lixiao found his own appetite returning. He picked up his chopsticks and began to eat as well.
Half a chicken later, Xing Luo’s tiny belly was round and full. She had assumed she could polish off the entire table, after all, she was a tiger, but now trapped in a kitten’s body, half a roast chicken was her limit.
It was utterly humiliating.
Padding over to a teacup, she leaned forward and drank a few sips of tea.
Full and content, Xing Luo sprawled out on her back atop the table, all four paws splayed wide, her round little belly rising and falling. So comfortable~
It had been so long since she’d felt this carefree. Ever since ascending the throne as the Demon Queen, she had never known true relaxation. Now, as an unimportant little milk cat, she finally could.
“…” Ye Lixiao watched her round, fluffy belly rise and fall. This cat truly had spirit, it even knew how to enjoy itself.
He reached out, stroking her soft, downy stomach. The fur was warm and plush beneath his fingers.
“Meow meow!” Don’t touch this king!
Xing Luo had meant to protest, but. the way he was rubbing her belly felt so good. So good she didn’t want to resist.
Hmph~ fine, she told herself smugly. I’ll just consider this a royal massage from Ye Lixiao himself!