"Did Lord Marquis take the wrong medicine? Why's he so hot-tempered?"
Xiang Zhao had never seen Gongyang Yongye this irritable. When he suddenly raised his voice, even she jumped. They'd last met only a few months ago, and she remembered him as a taciturn man who could endure what others couldn't. He wasn't especially easy to get along with, but he wasn't particularly difficult, either.
He'd sure grown a temper since then.
Raising his voice at her was one thing, but he was being just as rude to her teacher.
Xiang Zhao said, "It's not that we don't want to help. It's just that two frail scholars like us can't compare to Lord Marquis's heaven-gifted martial prowess, can we?"
If he had the strength, he could do more. What help could they possibly offer?
Gongyang Yongye was nearly laughing with rage.
Xiang Zhao thought his temper had worsened since they last met. He, in turn, thought she'd grown sharper-tongued during her months with the Central Allied Army.
She no longer showed any trace of her former caution.
Furious, Gongyang Yongye flung the iron shovel from his hand. Infused with martial energy, its blade split the ground beside him, carving a crack half a zhang long. In the past, if he'd put on such an imposing, fearsome display, Xiang Zhao would have felt a little uneasy, worried he might fall out with them. This time, she merely stepped half a pace in front of Luan Xin. Two breaths later, Gongyang Yongye only scowled as he pulled the shovel free with his other hand.
His voice dropped. "You two little ancestors."
Then he turned and went back to work.
With his weakness in someone else's hands, he really had become a free laborer.
Luan Xin could only stare at the scene.
He