The purple-robed youth stopped again near the end, scratching his ears and rubbing his cheeks, his face filled with frustration. At last, he said irritably, "In short, you only need to know that I understand this world—understand it very, very well. After all, I am... I am someone with that sort of identity."
Li Xuan's smile was radiant. "I naturally know what you are. Since I said that you only understand the surface of this world and don't know what's missing from within it, I naturally have my reasons."
Purple Robe Youth looked astonished. "You know what I am?"
"Of course!"
Li Xuan nodded.
"Then tell me, what am I?"
Purple Robe Youth became interested.
Li Xuan raised a hand and pointed up at the sky, then pointed down at the earth. Finally, he pointed at Purple Robe Youth and smiled without saying a word.
Purple Robe Youth was dumbfounded.
"What do you mean?"
Li Xuan sighed. "You little friend, you're truly foolish. You can't even understand something this simple."
Purple Robe Youth scratched his hair and said gloomily, "You kept pointing here and there. Who could know what you meant? Can't you just say it directly?"
Li Xuan chuckled. "I already spoke directly. Unfortunately, you're too foolish. Think it over carefully yourself."
Purple Robe Youth gave him a suspicious look, then fell into thought.
"Why do all these powerful fellows have this flaw? They never speak plainly and always beat around the bush!"
He couldn't help thinking of Taicang.
Li Xuan sipped his tea, maintaining his air of mystery and his expression of someone who had long since seen through everything.
In truth, although Li Xuan knew that Purple Robe Youth was not a lifeform of this world—and perhaps did not even belong among lifeforms—he had no way of