The atmosphere in the pavilion froze for a moment.
Li Guitang's brows knitted even tighter, and the biting aura around him grew sharper, like an unparalleled spear about to leave its sheath, poised to strike.
Zhang Luye shrank his already burly body even smaller, wishing he could wedge himself into the cloud bench and vanish from the pavilion entirely.
Yun Heng was the first to react. He wore an innocuous smile, as though he had just met an old friend he had not seen in many years.
"Master Beiku must be joking. I'm the most law-abiding person there is."
He extended a finger and tapped the cotton-candy-like tabletop.
"How were the rules between our two sides established?"
"Hmm, let me think... Oh, right. Wasn't it, 'The higher ranks shall not fight, and neither side may attack the other side's middle- or lower-ranks in any form'?"
"Of course."
Master Beiku's twisted black arm rose and folded before his chest.
Yun Heng clapped both hands and laughed heartily. "There you have it, don't you?"
"I guarantee that when we fish them out later, I won't hurt even a single 'little sea urchin.' Please put your mind at ease!"
Master Beiku: "..."
Li Guitang, who had been secretly on guard the whole time: "..."
Zhang Luye, who was desperately trying to lower his presence: "..."
"Yun Heng. That's just like you."
After a long silence, the opening split across Master Beiku's "head" suddenly curved into an exaggerated arc, and a hint of laughter entered his voice.
"Interesting. Truly interesting."
"Fine. If you want to save them, then save them. I'll make the decision on this matter and won't hold it against you."
Yun Heng immediately raised a thumb and showered him with free flattery like a flowing stream.
"Your character is truly