"Director Liu, you can eat whatever you like, but you can't go around saying whatever you like."
"'Lightning Induction Body'—those four words came from you. I never said them."
A sly glint flashed in Gu Shen's eyes.
He had never said he would draw lightning into his "body." What he'd said was that he would use the power of lightning to harmonize the dragon energy and yin fire.
There was plenty of room to play with the wording.
Liu Chengfeng froze, then flew into a rage. "Y-You're twisting words! You had the Ministry of Works build that monster, and now you're trying to predict a thunderstorm. What, are you planning to set off fireworks for His Majesty?"
"So what if I am?" Gu Shen retorted.
"You!" Liu Chengfeng was left speechless.
He realized he couldn't keep up with this young man's thinking at all. Gu Shen was like a slick, slippery loach. There was no way to get a hold of him.
"His Majesty is wise and will reach his own judgment. Everything I've done has already been reported to him." Gu Shen's voice turned calm. "If you have any questions, Director Liu, you're welcome to ask His Majesty yourself, rather than obstructing me while I carry out his orders."
He had just invoked the emperor, an authority no one could challenge.
Liu Chengfeng's face turned pale, then green.
Ask His Majesty? Would he dare? His Majesty was seriously ill and in a foul mood. Going to provoke him now would be tantamount to asking for death.
"Fine! Fine! Fine!" Liu Chengfeng repeated, venom practically spilling from his eyes. "You certainly have a silver tongue, Lord Gu! Let's see how you conjure up a thunderstorm tomorrow... or the day after!"
"I'll be there to watch too, and see how you