Free Web NovelChapter 47: Chapter 47 Tight Spot
Her movement was so sudden that even Ruo Shuo, who had been waiting to see her embarrassed, froze for a second. Xue Yao rushed behind the carved wooden screen near the bathing area and pressed both hands over her skirt, glaring at the five elders as if they were a pack of hungry beasts.
Honghong climbed onto her shoulder with much difficulty, her tiny wings spreading wide as though she could block the whole room by herself. "Stay away from my master!"
Honghong laughed inwardly inside her head. ’Now that I am protecting the human, she will get so moved by my action and give me more beast cores, food, and maybe one day... her blood... hehehe.’
The elder whose hand had stopped in midair slowly withdrew it. His face did not show much anger, but the pressure around him became heavier, causing Lan Shu and Hei Yue to lower their heads even more.
"Human," he said, his voice calm but cold. "Do you know who you are speaking to?"
Xue Yao’s heart tightened under the pressure, but her hands did not leave her skirt. She suddenly remembered when her mother always pulled one of her ears when she was young. "Never let any one walk over you, or do anything inappropriate and disrespectful to you, no matter their age, status, and knowledge. If they are too influential and strong, call me and your dad. If we can’t win against them... the worst case scenario, we will flee the country... but we will still have our dignity intact." Those were the words of Lin Shuying, her stern face visible in her eyes.
"I don’t care who you are. Even if you are the ancestor of this entire mountain, you still can’t touch me like that." Xue Yao shot back, feeling the new warmth of braveness rushing through her veins.
Silence stretched across the room like a blanket.
Ruo Shuo stared at Xue Yao with disbelief. In the White Moon Wolf Clan, even the strongest warriors would lower their heads before the elders. Yet this weak human, whose cultivation was like that of an ant, had just called them old perverts and even dared to argue.
Another elder frowned and took one step forward. "There is no shame in this inspection. Every breeder who enters the Alpha’s chamber must go through it."
"That’s your rule, not mine," Xue Yao said, still hiding behind the screen. "You people came in without asking, surrounded me, then reached for my skirt and told me to spread my legs. And now you’re acting like I’m the strange one?"
The elder paused, as if he had never heard anyone explain it like that before.
Honghong nodded hard. "My master is right. Very right."
Lan Shu’s lips twitched slightly, but she quickly lowered her head again before anyone noticed. Hei Yue was already holding her breath until her face nearly turned red.
The leading elder looked at Xue Yao for a long moment. His gaze was sharp, as if he wanted to see through her thoughts. "The inspection is to confirm whether the Alpha’s mating ritual was completed. If the bond was formed, it concerns the future bloodline of the White Moon Wolf Clan."
Xue Yao’s expression stiffened when she heard the words mating ritual, and she suddenly understood why Ruo Shuo had come here with such a strange expression earlier.
"So that’s what this is about?" she asked.
Ruo Shuo smiled faintly, but the smile did not reach her eyes. "What else did you think it was? A human breeder entering Brother Lie Lang’s chamber is already a great matter. If you truly received his favor, the elders must know."
Xue Yao looked from Ruo Shuo to the five elders, and the more she listened, the colder her body became. So this was why they had barged into the room the moment she woke up.
They were here to confirm whether she and Lie Lang had actually mated. Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the edge of her skirt.
’This is bad... really bad.’
She and Lie Lang had not done anything that night besides making that strange agreement. If these elders really carried out whatever inspection they were talking about, wouldn’t they discover immediately that nothing had happened?
’Then what? Would they think I had lied? Would they think Lie Lang had deceived the clan? Or would they simply decide I am useless and throw me out?’
She knew nothing about the customs of the White Moon Wolf Clan, which made everything even worse. The unknown was always the scariest part. For all she knew, failing this inspection might end with her head rolling across the floor.
’No. I absolutely can not let them inspect me.’
The leading elder watched her changing expression and slowly said, "Now that you understand why we are here, there is no need to continue resisting."
"There is."
The words escaped before Xue Yao could stop them.
The elder looked at her with those stern grey eyes that almost made her heart explode from fear.
Realizing she had answered far too quickly, Xue Yao immediately forced an awkward smile. "I mean... There are plenty of reasons."
Honghong nodded repeatedly on her shoulder. "My master doesn’t like inspections."
Xue Yao almost wanted to hug the little bird. ’What a good child.’
Ruo Shuo looked at the pair with a faint smile that somehow managed to be even more annoying than before. "If you have nothing to hide, why refuse?" She drawled innocently.
Xue Yao nearly rolled her eyes. ’Nothing to hide? I have everything to hide!’
She cleared her throat and looked at Ruo Shuo. "I refuse because it’s embarrassing. Isn’t that reason enough?"
Ruo Shuo smiled softly. "The elders have inspected every breeder chosen by the Alpha. No one has ever resisted like you... and that only means that you have something hiding. Could it be that the Alpha did not mate with you?"
’Congratulations. Today you’ve finally met the first... wait, wait, wait... what is this little she-devil going on about... isn’t she adding more fuel to the fire by increasing the elders’ doubts...shit..’ Xue Yao bit her lower lips in frustration.
’And the hell is Lie Lang! If he doesn’t get his ass here, this will become dire for me and him too... please come and save me from your evil Ruo Shuo and elders.’ She begged inwardly.
Another elder frowned slightly. "The inspection concerns the future of the White Moon Wolf Clan... you have no right to refuse, breeder."
"And my body concerns me." Xue Yao said, fidgeting with her hands. ’Or should I forget about the agreement and use the Sticky Smelly Socks to escape? No... I can’t, I still have the mission to complete...’
