"Wow! Even the Little Kitten likes Berrypheasant Skewers?"
A crisp, bright voice rang out beside Lumina. Turning to look, she saw a barefoot girl standing before her, her tiny feet bare.
It was quite peculiar. Despite being shoeless and showing no signs of energy fluctuations, her little feet remained pristine white, utterly free of dust.
Could it be that the Luofu's soil is so immaculate that shoes are unnecessary?
Lumina didn't dwell on the question, letting the thought slide away. After all, she herself was barefoot, her own feet bare.
"Well, my Little Kitten throws a tantrum whenever it sees Berrypheasant Skewers. I have no idea where it learned that," Lumina replied with a smile, playfully pinning the blame on the Phantylia Kitten.
Phantylia Kitten: ...
"Meow~"
As Lumina's captive—and having been thoroughly threatened earlier—the Phantylia Kitten could only let out a soft meow to express its displeasure.
Then, under the looming threat of being replaced by some random stray cat, it continued to devour the Berrypheasant Skewers.
Hmm, I have to admit, this is quite delicious.
Perhaps because she had transformed into a Little Kitten, Phantylia found herself increasingly intrigued by these mundane foods.
"I've never seen a Little Kitten enjoy Berrypheasant Skewers before! How fascinating!" The girl leaned in closer, studying the Phantylia Kitten at close range.
"Meow~ Meow-meow~ (Hmph, you insignificant ant)," the Phantylia Kitten retorted with a disdainful meow, its gaze fixed on the girl's curious face before resuming its meal.
While the Berrypheasant Skewers might be a perfect portion for a human, they were a bit much for a Little Kitten.
But the Phantylia Kitten was no ordinary feline. Though it ate slowly, the skewers visibly dwindled with each bite.
Seeing this, Lumina smiled and, ignoring the kitten's protests and its continued feasting, reached out to stroke its tiny head. "I found this Little Kitten in the Luofu's junkyard," she said.
"Perhaps its days as a stray were so harsh that, watching the Berrypheasant Skewers being sold on the streets, it developed this particular craving."
Phantylia Kitten: ...
"Meow~"
After letting out a soft meow, the Phantylia Kitten resumed munching on the Berrypheasant Skewer in its paw.
"I see," Yunli nodded, then, realizing they hadn't introduced themselves yet, quickly said, "My name is Yunli. I'm here from the Xianzhou Zhuming to participate in the Wardance Ceremony on the Luofu."
"Big Sister, are you from the Luofu? You're so beautiful!"
It was only then that Yunli finally noticed the striking features Lumina had deliberately revealed, her eyes widening with a flicker of astonishment.
Seeing this, a glint of triumph flickered in Lumina's eyes. She smiled and said, "My name is Lumina, and I'm not from the Luofu. I've heard so much about the Xianzhou Wardance Ceremony, and since I had some free time, I thought I'd come watch the event."
"Oh, I see!" Yunli nodded, showing no particular reaction to Lumina's name—she seemed utterly uninterested in such things.
Lumina felt a pang of disappointment. If only everyone were like Robin, my devoted fan, she thought. Then I could become good friends with them—even besties—without any effort at all!
"By the way, since we're both new to the Luofu, why don't we stick together and explore?" Yunli suggested, her gaze drifting from the Phantylia Kitten nestled in Lumina's arms to Lumina herself. An inexplicable warmth toward Lumina had surged within her, prompting the invitation.
"Of course, I'd love to," Lumina replied with a smile, her voice soft under the scornful gaze of the Phantylia Kitten in her arms. "But I'm not actually new here. I visited once before, not long ago. Would that bother you?"
"Not at all! In fact, that's perfect!" Yunli nodded eagerly, then turned her attention to the Berrypheasant Skewers stall. "Lumina, wait here a moment. I want to buy some skewers first."
"Okay~" Lumina nodded as Yunli strode toward the stall.
Extending her palm, Yunli paid the Boss and accepted five Berrypheasant Skewers from his hand. She returned to Lumina's side.
"Buying them for a friend?" Lumina asked, feigning surprise at the sight of the five skewers.
"Nope, all for me!" Yunli tore open the wrapper of one skewer and devoured half of it in a single bite, leaving Lumina genuinely astonished.
"Mmm~ Tastes just like on the Zhuming!"
Yunli's face lit up with pure enjoyment as she savored the Berrypheasant Skewers.
Remembering Lumina beside her, Yunli quickly swallowed the remaining Berrypheasant Skewers in her mouth and explained, "I really love Berrypheasant Skewers, so I tend to eat a bit more than others."
"Ah, I see." Lumina nodded, watching Yunli devour the skewers with such relish. She lowered the two Berrypheasant Skewers in her hand and knelt before the Phantylia Kitten.
"Help me tear open one of these wrappers."
"Meow~"
At her words, the Phantylia Kitten paused, its entire body radiating displeasure. Yet, it reluctantly extended a paw and tore open one of the wrappers for Lumina.
"This cat's spiritual awareness is so high!" Yunli exclaimed, once again amazed by the scene before her.
Yunli had encountered many spiritually aware cats before, but she had never seen a kitten with such profound sensitivity as the one in Lumina's arms.
It was as if the soul within this cat wasn't feline at all, but rather human.
"Perhaps it's because it's been wandering for so long, observing countless interactions, that it's become so attuned to spiritual energy," Lumina chuckled, completely ignoring the Phantylia Kitten's seething resentment.
Having already manipulated it to the point of eternal servitude, Lumina had no fear of future retribution.
Lumina's gaze fell upon the glistening, radiant Berrypheasant Skewers in her hand. She opened her mouth and gently bit off a single berry.
Chew, chew, chew...
"How is it? Delicious?" Yunli asked curiously, watching Lumina's expression.
"Quite tasty." Lumina had eaten Berrypheasant Skewers before, but this time the flavor was subtly different.
Where could the difference lie? It's so hard to guess.
Lumina smiled, her gaze drifting to the Berrypheasant Skewers in Yunli's hand before returning to Yunli's face with a nod.
"That's good. Many outsiders dislike Berrypheasant Skewers, saying they can't stand the taste. I don't understand why."
"They're not too sweet or too sour—the flavor is just right! I don't get why they dislike it." Yunli took another large bite, finishing her skewer in one go.
Her gaze then shifted to the Phantylia Kitten nestled in Lumina's arms, nibbling delicately on a Berrypheasant Skewer. "See? Even the Little Kitten loves Berrypheasant Skewers! Doesn't that prove they're the greatest food in the entire Cosmos?!"
"That's right! Berrypheasant Skewers are the greatest food in the entire Cosmos."
Lumina smiled, ate another Berrypheasant Skewer, and gazed at Yunli's adorable face. Just as she reached out to pat Yunli's head, she realized both her hands were full, a pang of regret washing over her.
That regret quickly turned to annoyance at the Phantylia Kitten nestled in her arms, silently munching on its own Berrypheasant Skewer.
If I'd tossed you away sooner, would I be able to pat Yunli's head right now?
The Phantylia Kitten: ?
Meow... (It's not...)
Sensing Lumina's intense gaze, the Phantylia Kitten trembled. Suddenly, its Berrypheasant Skewer lost its flavor. It felt as if a massive cauldron were pressing down on it, making it difficult to breathe.
"Hmph," Lumina hummed softly, her mood instantly brightening.
Teasing Little Phantylia occasionally seems quite amusing after all.
The Phantylia Kitten's reaction seemed to have awakened some strange attribute within Lumina...