While Yu Qi and Long Hui handled the grilling, the contracted beasts busied themselves happily devouring the finished portions.
"How does it taste?" Yu Qi asked with a warm smile.
"It's absolutely delicious, Master!" Aoi replied enthusiastically.
"Master's cooking is always the very best," Shino added with a cheerful chirp.
"It is very good," Xiaoliu replied in a characteristically shy tone.
"It is quite good, but I personally prefer it fresh..." Xiaohua started to say, but she was quickly cut off by Aoi and Shino before she could finish her thought.
"That's enough. Just focus on eating your meal," Aoi interrupted firmly.
"That's right. You don't need to say anything else." Shino added with a stern nod.
Yu Qi and Long Hui shared a knowing look. They could easily guess the words Xiaohua had intended to finish with: 'Fresh meat, probably human meat.'
