The lady elder's instincts screamed at her, louder than they ever had before.
This wasn't just a drifting cultivator enjoying a meal. Something about Aksai didn't feel human at that moment—not truly.
How could he read her mind like a real demon? How could he survive her near-perfect assassination attempt without using any sort of defensive Spirit spell?
It hadn't even been a minute since she had come face-to-face with Aksai, and she was already filled with so many questions about him. And this was before Aksai had even made a move. This was clearly not a good start for them.
She took a slow step back, her dagger still in hand, but her grip had tightened.
The other three elders, still across the fire, had noticed her failed attack by now—but they hadn't moved yet. They were watching closely.
Aksai reached for another skewer of meat and took a bite, chewing slowly.
The fire crackled again. And the cold silence stretched.
