Duan Xiangfei stood at the bow, his face lean and refined, his bearing leisurely and unrestrained. He looked less like a martial arts master of the jianghu than a learned Confucian scholar. Yet deep exhaustion showed on his face, and helpless wrinkles could not be hidden between his brows.
"That would be this old man." He cupped his hands and sighed. The small boat beneath his feet seemed to have had thousand-pound boulders dropped into it. It suddenly sank, immediately slowing as it sailed alongside the large ship Meng Qi was on.
Meng Qi narrowed his eyes, assessing the strength of one of the Seven Grandmasters. From this move alone, he could tell that unless he laid all his cards on the table, he would probably gain no advantage. Their realms were far apart. "Mr. Xianyin, are you making a joke at my expense? Is there truly anything under heaven that you cannot accomplish?"
Following Shen Hou's earlier method, he deliberately lowered his voice and spoke in a hoarse tone. That way, he would not have to fear being recognized by acquaintances. In any case, Shen Hou had used a false voice as well.
Duan Xiangfei shook his head and smiled bitterly. "Man's strength has its limits. The world is vast, and there are countless things beyond this old man's power. At the very least, fleeting youth and beauties growing white-haired are not things human strength can reverse. Mr. Shen Hou, if this old man were not driven to desperation, when would I ever have wished to deal with your Twelve Zodiac Gods?"
"Oh? Something that can leave Mr. Xianyin helpless? Now that interests me." With a quest at hand, Meng Qi naturally intended to accept it. Still, he could not appear too eager, lest Duan Xiangfei grow suspicious and