The armored soldiers continued to file out of the small doors until, at last, the entire procession had emerged. They stood assembled in the room—though each was less than half a chi tall, their sheer numbers created an imposing spectacle.0

Then, the crowd shifted, and from within their ranks, several women stepped forward.0

Some were elderly, appearing equivalent to human women in their fifties or sixties, while the younger ones looked to be in their thirties. They varied in height and build—some plump, some thin. The moment they stepped forward, they placed themselves at the front of the gathering.0

Hands on their hips, arms outstretched, they immediately launched into a scolding, "You are an unbelievably rude man!"0

"We only enjoy lively gatherings! Seeing you sleeping alone in such loneliness, we kindly invited you to join us for some fun! Not only did you refuse to appreciate our goodwill, but you even set a cat on us! Do you have no sense of decorum?"0

"Shameless! Arrogant!"0

"Offer an apology to our young master with prostation[1]! If your remorse is sincere, we shall still invite you to sing and dance with us until dawn. But if you persist in your rudeness, don’t blame us for being impolite!"1

"Apologize! Immediately!"0

"..."0

The women’s attire, too, was reminiscent of a bygone dynasty. Under the moonlight, their tiny figures cast...0