By the time Lü Meng and his men plus one reached the altar, the sky was lit up from the blazing inferno that was once Cao Cao's mighty navy, chasing away the natural darkness of night and giving the illusion of day across the watery battlefield. There was no need for torches though it didn't stop them from keep the lit, and it was this extra light that had likely saved him and his unit from making such a grievous mistake.

When they arrived to surround the altar, they saw no sign of Zhuge Liang or any in his unit. The only one there was a single officer, armed only with a dagger, and it and the man himself were immediately disarmed and thrown to the ground before Lü Meng could even look at his would-be assailant's face. It wasn't until he threw the poor man over his shoulders and was going to pin him down with his glaive that he got a good look at his face and immediately realized his error.

It wasn't Zhuge Liang, but his brother, Jin, a man currently employed under Wu as one of the many advisers that had called for war against Cao Cao. Lü Meng lifted the man up and placed him back on his feet just as quickly as he threw him down and he never had a chance to apologize before Zhuge Jin cut him off. "General! I'm so sorry to have assaulted you. I heard your men approach and feared you were Wei scouts."

It made sense, as none of his men spoke and all the man heard were the hooves and nickering of horses. No, not at all surprising that he might have feared it being their enemy.

"It's alright," Lü Meng said, dusting the man off and making a point to ignore the humored looks he got from his own man. The only thing that spared them from a verbal lashing was the fact that they remained vigilant as their general assisted the sorely out of place adviser. "I was unaware you were stationed here. Are you alright?"

"Spooked. I'll never underestimate your swiftness again, general!" And then, like a candle that had erupted into light spontaneously, his dark eyes lit up with realization, and any humor, forced or awkward it may be, disappeared. "General, I was asked to come here by my brother, but when I arrived, it was deserted." Then his own curiosity got the better of him and he was searching Lü Meng's face for something, though what the general wasn't sure. "Why are you here and why have you brought such a force?"

Lü Meng recalled his orders and took comfort in the lack of orders that requested he remain discreet. Zhou Yu probably figured that the apprehending of their ally against his will would be difficult to hide and Lü Meng took full advantage of this to explain simply. "Lord Zhou Yu ordered that I was to take your brother back to Wu once the winds changed direction."

But it was clear that Zhuge Liang wasn't there, and said man had had lead his brother here in his place. It didn't take long for both of them to draw the same conclusion and Lu Xun had the privilege of seeing another hand motion in action. An open palm to the seven on the left and a closed fist with a little shake for the remaining seven. The men on the left mounted their horses and were already on the move, as the rest swept the area, falling into defensive positions around the altar. That left their leader, Lu Xun and Zhuge Jin to themselves though not for too long. Lü Meng let out a whistle and Ying was at his side in almost record time, and Zhuge Jin shook his head as the general jumped onto the saddle. "Then perhaps Lord Zhou Yu was right to send you, though my brother clearly anticipated it. I fear he's up to something, though what, I don't know."

"I'm going to find out. Lu Xun, accompany Lord Zhuge Jin back to the main camp. Inform Lord Zhou Yu and Lord Quan that I'm going to pursue him." Lü Meng was too eager to head out and so was Ying, though he managed to keep the horse from just bolting away. This distracted him from the startled look that Zhuge Jin wore when he looked towards Lu Xun, having not noticed the youth was there until the rest of the men had left and Lü Meng drew attention to him. Lu Xun was going to argue but Lü Meng put a quick end to that before the young officer could even utter a word of protest. "I need Zhuge Jin to return unharmed so that he can collaborate his findings with our lords. I need you to do that. We'll return, with either Zhuge Liang in custody or at least a lead on his location."

Or what his scheme is, Lü Meng thought to himself. Perhaps it was still early to make such assumptions. For all he knew, Zhuge Liang may have simply felt his duty was fulfilled and departed to safer grounds. But then why ask his brother to meet him at the altar, and why was Zhuge Jin suspicious now? If even his own brother was weary, then no doubt it was for a good reason. He could hardly blame Lu Xun for his objection, but he wasn't going to entertain it, as he pulled his eager horse about and kicked him into a canter before the young officer could even manage a full sentence. "But, Lord Lü Meng, what about-"

It did not take long for Lü Meng to catch up with the ones he sent ahead and none of them had good news for him. Their target was nowhere to be seen and the notion that he made his escape on land seemed far fetched now, It was a smart move on his part, Lü Meng had to admit, as it would have left tracks. Not productive for someone on the run, he told himself. Zhou Yu's suspicions seemed all the more justified now. Zhuge Liang was up to something, but what?

"We should try the river."

He was so caught up in his thoughts that he wasn't sure which officer made the suggestion, but he knew it to be a sound idea. Yes, it would be better flee by boat and very easy to slip by unnoticed onto one of the subsidiaries with the battle going on. Why hadn't he considered that before? He felt like such a-

His thoughts rocked off the tracks at the sound of what he could have easily mistook to be a wild boar squealing in terror and agony, and it was what alerted him to the upturned boat and the vessel that had turned it over with its wave. Thanks to the flames that lit up the night sky, he got a clean shot at its inhabitants, one of which was damn near unmistakable.

Zhuge Liang!

Without thinking, Lü Meng pulled at the reins and turned Ying towards the river, knowing full well and from experience that his horse had no fear of running water. He wanted to think that the sight of his stead bounding off the bank and gliding into the river might have been a majestic one to have witnessed, but he didn't waste too much time dwelling on his appearance, not when Zhuge Liang was getting away.

The water was frigid, despite the flames that roared just feet above its surface nearby, and Lü Meng was hard pressed to hold back his gasp as Ying sunk in deep enough to hit his legs and waist. Oh, he certainly couldn't blame his horse for his startled grunt or whatever sound that poor distressed creature made for its dismay. It was like swimming through ice! Still, he pressed onward, promising Ying an entire barrel of apples as he urged him forward. He stood on the stirrups of his saddle to help alleviate some weight from the poor horse's back and with it, he could get a better look at the illuminated river as well as the inhabitants on the small boat- one was Zhuge Liang, of which there could be no doubt, and the other, greenish-blue armor, decorated with what he could guess was a dragon motif and an impressive spear, one that he was certain he was quite skilled with should he or Zhuge Liang feel threatened.

It would alter his approach- if Zhuge Liang's intentions were malicious and he intended to flee, then no doubt the warrior with the spear would be expected to defend him and a fight would break out. Not that the idea bothered Lü Meng, nor did he have reason to fear this spear man, but he had a feeling their respected lords would not approve of an all-out fight. It would require some wits to figure out a means to board the vessel without appearing threatening, assuming he could even reach it! The wind only worked in its favor and he couldn't force Ying to press on any further, not when the poor horse's neck was slowly being submerged. "Dammit," he cursed aloud, watching the vessel slip further and further away and debating if he should continue or retreat back to short and follow along the bank. "Idiot."

Ying balked and started to resist, and it was his stallion's distress more than the growing numbness in his own legs and waist that made the decision for him. He pulled at the reins and began to coax the disgruntled horse back to the shore, though he didn't need much coaxing. This was foolish, he chided himself during his retreat back to shore, refusing to look at his men's faces to see their humor or looks of pity, as they could only imagine how uncomfortable the freezing water would be to one's loins.

Something splashed next to him and it was a damned miracle that he did lash out- he didn't see what it was and could have easily thought it to be a fish or an alligator, but it was the frigidness of the water that slowed his reflexes enough to where he could see it was only a dog that barely paddled towards him. It wheezed and squealed weakly and without thinking, the general reached and grabbed at the soaked folds around its neck, pulling the pitiful thing close to his chest as Ying swam towards the safety and warmth of the shore. The dog offered no resistance, nor could it even if it wanted to, as it looked up at his savior with bulging, weary eyes. The closer they got to shore and the light of the fire attack, the more he could see the creature he saved and he couldn't stop the words from escaping from his chattering mouth. "You're one ugly dog."

It might have been cruel of him to say such a thing and whether the poor creature was physically marred from some freak accident or was unfortunate to been born with such a punched in face had no place in his mind, as the dog bared no grudge against his insult. No, it was far too grateful that he was being ferried away to safety and its efforts to thank him were weak but clearly being made to dampen Lü Meng's chin with its tongue, the only warmth the poor thing had to offer and it was all too willing to share it. Lü Meng might have been touched by the notion, had Zhuge Liang not been getting away.

He pulled the soaked dog close to his armored chest plate and tried to maneuver it beneath the fabric to offer it some warmth as well as free his hands, and he was all too grateful when three of his men dismounted and waded into the shallows to help them up. There were few occasions when Ying tolerated others handling him without gnashing his teeth or headbutting the handlers and thankfully today was one of those days as the horse didn't so much as snort or bat an eyes when the officers pulled at his harness and bridle to pull him out of the river when it was clear that he was having difficulty, and the moment they hit the shallows, Lü Meng jumped from his back, one hand on the saddle while the other braced beneath the dog's haunch to keep it from falling out of the makeshift swaddle. He barked orders, pitching his voice even gruffer than usual so to hide how much his teeth chattered from the cold. "We'll follow him along the river bank. Keep him in sight and do -not- lose him!"

"Belay that order!" Another voice rang out and one that Lü Meng couldn't contest, even when he ordered his men directly beneath him. Those that hadn't helped pull Ying and their general to shore turned to face Lu Su and his own regiment, and Lü Meng was all too surprised by the strategist's appearance and did nothing to hide it. He managed a salute without dropping the shivering dog in his arms, even as Lu Su addressed him, his own surprise evident in his voice. "Lü Meng, what in heaven's name are you and your men doing here? What could have possibly possessed you to jump into the Yangtze, and what is that pig doing in your coat?"

Lü Meng chose to ignore the last question and sought to provide an answer to both of the former. "Pursuing and attempting to apprehend Zhuge Liang, by Lord Zhou Yu' orders, sir."

He hoped it would have been a sufficient enough answer though the look of disappointment on Lu Su's face certainly didn't help matters. The dog snorted and wheezed but didn't dissipate the tension in the least and though Lu Su didn't address it further, he could tell that it was still on his mind. His agitation came from the orders, more so than Lü Meng's carry on, at least. "Of course he would make such an order. Tell me, how were you planning to explain your actions to Lord Liu Bei when he'd undoubtedly ask."

Lü Meng hadn't even considered it and he felt he had a good reason not to have. Whether he was right on this or not, however, he began to doubt. "That I was following orders from my Chief-Commander and refer to Lord Zhou Yu for answers."

It wasn't a good enough answer for Lu Su and though he didn't raise a hand to strike him, the look he gave warned him that it would be imminent if he wasn't careful. "Not good enough. You could have driven a stake in our alliance with this stunt. The least you could have done was have a good excuse lined up!"

"I… yes, Lord Lu Su," Lü Meng said, fighting the instincts to retreat from his gaze and standing his ground if only to save face before his men. Clarity had a way of hitting him too late but no, he definitely understood Lu Su's anger now. Regardless of Zhou Yu's decision to apprehend Zhuge Liang was justified or not, it was clear they missed the opportunity to do it discreetly, if there ever was a chance. Given the swiftness in which Zhuge Liang had made his departure, Lü Meng was wising up to the idea that there never was a chance and he couldn't help but feel concern gnawing at his conscience now. Was this what Zhou Yu feared? Did he suspect Zhuge Liang would flee? All questions but no answers came to his mind and he felt no shame in turning to Lu Su for guidance. "So, what should we do now?"

"I'm going to borrow your men and continue our pursuit of Cao Cao. You," Lu Su said, a bit of humored scorn hitting his voice as he uttered the word 'you' and pinned the general with a stern gaze. "You're going to reconvene with those at the altar and return to the main camp until we send for you again. Someone needs to defend our lord in case our enemy's planned ahead, as well as tend to his stowaway of a wife."

It took entirely too long for it to sink in and Lü Meng had to remind himself that there was a dog trembling between his robe and breast plate, so letting out an angry shout would probably terrify the poor thing. What was Ren thinking, following after them when she could go into labor at any moment?!

Karma. That's what it all was, he told himself, jumping onto the saddle once more and thankful that the leather saddle seemed to dry quick enough to spare him an additional discomfort. Ying grunted but otherwise obliged, merely grateful to be out of the freezing river and that his crazy master wasn't leading him towards it again. For all the grief I put Deng Dang and my family, going to be feeling all of it now.

"Thanks for keeping me informed," Lü Meng said, keeping his thoughts to himself, not wanting to bother Lu Su with another burden. He knew he'd take the fall and address Zhou Yu for him, and that was burden enough. It wasn't a task that Lü Meng had wanted for himself. No, he didn't envy Lu Su in the least. The strategist gave him a curt nod and left Lü Meng to his own journey. Once again, the battle of the century would take place without him, and when compared to apprehending a man suspected to be a future problem, returning to tend to his pregnant wife felt both underwhelming and yet absolutely horrifying. How was he expected to hold on to any of his well-justified anger when all it'd take was the smallest scowl or pout to silence him? It was hardly fair, and such a petty thing to worry about, he knew, when others had far more daunting tasks ahead of them. Zhuge Liang had already escaped, but Cao Cao… no, he couldn't be allowed to escape, so in the end he counted his blessings that he wouldn't have such a burden like that on his shoulders as well.

Sima Yi knew that he had other duties to attend to and one of which shouldn't have been the little insurance that Wu's Chief-Commander left for Cao Ren, and yet, he could afford to make time for it. He wanted to believe in Cao Ren's judgement, but he found trust in others, especially trust in the other kingdoms, either extremely difficult or simply non-existent. His mind raced with countless possibilities and yet when he finally saw the 'insurance policy' in person, he couldn't stop himself from letting out a low chuckle.

It didn't take much to dissuade the guards from their post, though they made a point to stress that they would remained within earshot, should they be needed. One look at the woman that say in the chair close to them window told him that such a heavy, hell, even a light watch was unnecessary, as she looked the perfect part of a contented house cat that lounged near the window, admiring the freedom it could not have.

There was no need to ask who this maiden was, as the red she wore was enough of an indication if Cao Ren's clue wasn't enough of one, though her name escaped his memory at the moment. She had yet to notice him and he made no effort to hide the humor in his voice as he announced himself. "So, you're the reason why Lord Cao Ren is so certain-"

He was cut off by a loud series of barks and he wasn't at all prepared for the fawn colored dog that had jumped off the woman's lap and made a beeline at him, its large, bulging eyes wide with anger and coiled tail erect with warning. Had the small beast not been so aggressive with his approach, Sima Yi might have been amused at its absurd face and even fascinated that someone of her social rank would own a pug, but the odd-looking hellhound went straight for his ankles. What saved Sima Yi from feeling its bite and the dog from getting a well-placed kick to the chest was the second person in the room that Sima Yi failed to notice, as he seemingly appeared out of nowhere. "Baozi, heel!"

And just like that, the dog came to a grinding halt but not once did it take its eyes off the Wei strategist. Sima Yi's savior stepped out into the open from behind the door, leaning the spear he carried against the wall and scooping up the pug, completely freeing the Wei strategist from a bite, as the young man, perhaps his late teens, early twenties at most, coaxed the dog in his arms. "It's alright, Baozi. See, he means no harm. Just a visitor. Hush."

Baozi's growls may have subsided but never did he lose his alertness, keeping his black eyes on their visitor as the door was closed behind him, least the guards come running and make the situation even more awkward than it needed to be.

Sima Yi wasn't so much as afraid of the beast, simply not prepared, and once it was tucked safely in the young man's arms, he found his voice again, taking special precaution to hide the annoyance that threatened to bubble out to the surface. "I see you're well guarded, my lady. The guards outside are hardly necessary, not with these two… knights at your disposal."

By now, the woman that sat at the window stood to her full height, though it was hardly impressive. Even from this distance, Sima Yi could tell she was short, and the heavy garments she wore had a way of accenting the pockets of pudge that she had accumulated through the years, not something he would have expected the privileged wife of Wu's Chief-Commander would have had. And yet, she wasn't comely, not by any means. Her pudge only added youth to her features and while she wasn't a beauty, not by appearance anyways, but one look at her could throw even the most barbaric of savages off from wanting to harm a single strand of hair on her body.

An impressive strategy, Sima Yi had to admit, as it was all too easy for him to get caught up on her supposedly helpless appearance to almost fall victim to her dog's assault as well as left him blind to who he suspected was her son waiting in the wings. He had underestimated her. He was determined not to let it happen a second time. "No, but they're welcomed nevertheless. Is there something either of us can help you with, my young lord?"

By now, the pug's anger was sated, though it was hardly quiet. He let out a loud snuffling noise from its poorly bred nose and threatened to drown out whatever Sima Yi was going to say, though it hardly stopped the strategist in the least. "Yes, actually. I came to satisfy my curiosity, though seeing you both here more or less sates it, assuming you are who I believe you are."

"Hm. Sounds like you're an intelligent and insightful man," Lady Ren said, smiling so warmly and bowing her head, giving him the proper respects he was due. There wasn't a hint of sarcasm either in her voice or motions, but Sima Yi was so willing to dismiss the notion that it could still very well be present. There was something about her that warned him to be weary of this one, though one could think him to be digging for something that only the wolf could see but not the dog. It was too early to know and so he allowed her to carry on. After a moment she returned to her seat and made a motion to her son, speaking over the pug's excited grunts as he set him down. "Who do you suspect us to be?"

The moment his legs hit the floor, Baozi trotted to her side and was back on her lap with a single bound, his ever watchful gaze set on the man that now approached Lady Ren. "You can be none other than the esteemed Wu Chief-Commander's wife. Lady… Ren, I believe. And the young man is your son."

Her smile was sweet, almost sickening so, but it hardly soured the atmosphere between them. "I didn't think we were so renown. You're absolutely right, young lord."''

"Of course I am," Sima Yi said, soaking in her positive energy and only adding it to his growing understanding of the situation. Oh, yes. Now Cao Ren's confidence was making much sense though there were still a few questions that lingered in his head and he was quick to want to find answers to them. "Perhaps not to much renown, my lady, simply a reasonable guess. Why else would Lord Cao Ren feel so much faith in our ally coming to our aid here and not simply abandoning us once they got what they wanted, if not for us holding his precious wife and dear child hostage?"

The son sneered but said nothing as he returned to his post behind his mother's chair. Ren, on the other hand, gave a polite nod, scratching the pug behind the ears and keeping the misshapen hellhound sated for the time being. "Hostage isn't the word I'd use, though. It gives the impression that I don't want to be here and that's just silly. I'm not here against my will, and neither is Ba, so please be mindful of your manners, dear. We're guests here and you should appreciate Wei's hospitality."

Her son, Ba, was going to scowl in lieu of his mother's scorn but he made a conscious effort to stop and settle back into a neutral expression. It was all too entertaining for Sima Yi and there was little need to hide the wolf-like grin that graced his features now. "You truly think that? Who put that thought in your head?"

"No one, because it's the truth," said Lü Ba, clearly speaking out of turn and moving to put himself between the two, making it clear that he held no trust for the Wei strategist. The pug began to growl again, spurred on by the anger present in the young man's voice, but any retaliation from the dog was quelled by a soft 'hush' from Lady Ren, followed by a harsher tone for her son.

"Ba." Her kind voice expressed only a hint of terse but never once raising in volume. That was all that was needed to silence her son, as all she gave him was a strict look and he retreated back to his post, muttering to himself though exactly what he said was a mystery to Sima Yi and would remain as such. Once again, there was no one between the two as even Baozi laid his head down on her lap and took on a semi-alert state as her tone of voice was enough to convince the dog that there was no danger here. "You must forgive him. He's a little bored and the siege is digging under his skin. Not being allowed to do anything about it…"

"Is frustrating, yes," Sima Yi said, finishing her sentence for her as she trailed off. Despite himself, he couldn't hold that against the young man. Sieges like this had a way of unnerving the young and impatient and if one wasn't there to rein them in, then they'd find only death waiting outside the walls that they grew weary of seeing day in and day out. The pity he felt for Lü Meng's son was genuine though one couldn't tell if going by his voice and mannerisms. "If it should please you, you'd do no better among our men as you do cooped up in here. In fact, I highly suspect Lord Cao Ren made a point for you to remain in here, where Shu scouts have no means of spotting you both. Wu soldiers among Wei would certainly arouse suspicions, much less his wife and son."

"You suspect correctly, though, only partially. We're still guests and our being assigned to his personal quarters is certainly not just for our safety and the safety of my husband's operation, but for our comfort as well. Last I checked, guests don't do well cooped up in the brig. I didn't think Wei was all that different."

He listened intently for any missteps, any hint or sign of distress, and found nothing. Either she was well-versed with this scheme and put on a good show, or she was truly daft and believed herself to be a guest and not simply leverage against her husband, should he show his true colors. Given what he knew of both Lord Cao Ren and Wu's current Chief-Commander, though, it seemed damned peculiar that Cao Ren would hold against against their will, the least of all the wife, son and pet of one of his adversaries. "So, whose idea was this, if you don't mind me asking?"

He looked hard at her face without making it seem so apparent, continuing his search for any inconsistencies in her face and her words. Thus far, nothing out of the ordinary from her but he was certain something was there as she returned his question with one of her own. "Oh, and how would I know? Word has it that you're a genius and you know your fellow men well, as well as your enemies, as any good strategist should. Why don't you take a guess, young lord?"

It had to have been a talent, for her words to be so mocking and yet her voice and mannerisms were so sincere and polite. An admirable feat, Sima Yi thought, and so he willingly entertained her with a guess, even when he was confident who was the one to suggest such a strategy. "Very well, if I had to take a guess… this came from your husband's mind."

"You sure?"

"Positive. I mean, it's only obvious, is it not?"

There it was. A twinkle in her eyes and it was nothing short of a challenge. She didn't even need to say a word, as he explained his guess with relish. "As fierce and unyielding a wall Lord Cao Ren is on the battlefield, he is too kind-hearted to resort to such a tactic, even if he had fooled himself into calling you 'guests'. Something like this, holding a man's wife and child hostage and masquerading it as hospitality? It goes against his nature, if I know Lord Cao Ren well. This tactic reeks of Wu origin, so it must come from your husband's mind."

"Oh, sorry, that might be Baozi. I think he left a present somewhere but I can't seem to find it." Ren continued to shower her dog with affection, despite his poor behavior, missing how Sima Yi tried to check his shoes discreetly as she did so. "We're not allowed to go outside. He tries to hard to hide it, though, don't you?"

The dog let out a wavering snort but nothing more, either in its defense or otherwise. Not that Sima Yi expected one. Pleased to find nothing unpleasant waiting for him on his feet, he pressed on, taking note of her deflection and ignoring it. "What I mean, my lady, is that this must come from your husband's mind. Your husband does have a rather dubious track record, if I do recall. Using his wife and son like this hardly seemed beyond his realm of possibilities, whereas for Lord Cao Ren, it'd never cross his mind."

"Dubious? How so?"

"My lady, surely you jest!" Mindful now of the little presents that could be lying about, Sima Yi's approach was cautious and he made sure not only to stay out of the dog's range but well within Ren's line of sight, keeping a cautious eyes over her face and looking for the seams of her mask she forced herself to wear, no doubt coached by her husband to do so. She wanted him to think her oblivious, naive, and he was determined not to fall for it. Some like Lü Meng wouldn't have married someone so simple and daft, so surely it had to be an act! "You should know of your husband's deeds just as well as any other officer in Wu. If anything, you should know him most of all, if he confines in you. Who better to know his schemes than you, my dear?"

Her face remained calm, innocent and pure, even as the gentle stroking against the dog's fur had ceased. She said nothing, which only prompted Sima Yi to push even further, certain that in doing so he would lure her out into the open and confirm what he was beginning to suspect. The hare could only remain calm and hidden for so long before its natural fear of the wolf forced it to make a run for it, and like the wolf, Sima Yi was eager to ensure the hare would only go in the direction he wanted it to. "Do you truly not know of your husband's work? Does he not tell you of schemes he's concocted and executed, of those that die from such schemes or carry on with the shame that fell for it? Has he not confided in you, or has he fooled even you? Do you even know your husband at all then?"

No anger, no shock. There was a hint of sadness in her eyes, no matter how hard she tried to hide it, but it didn't reflect in her voice and nor would she give up the source of that sadness, not so easily. She finally spoke, but it was nothing compared to his lengthy tirade, nor did it need to be. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I don't. I suppose that'd make me utterly useless to the enemy and opposing strategists when it comes to interrogations, don't it?"

It had hit Sima Yi, but it was too late. The hare made a jump, as the wolf anticipated, but the hare managed to trick the wolf and go straight for the face. And this time, instead of leaping right into its jaws, it made the wolf flinch and that was all she needed. He was still thinking of what to say when Cao Ren's voice reached their ears, the warning in his deep voice may as well have been the earth splitting beneath their feet with the forte feeding it. "And now that you've seen the 'proof' for yourself, I'll ask you kindly to leave our guests in peace and return to your duties, Lord Sima Yi."

And from Baozi, there was no angered barks or growls, but excited yips, as he once again jumped from his owner's lap and ran circles around Cao Ren, doing nothing to alleviate the sudden tension that threatened to suffocate everyone present but still trying his hardest.