Playing Dumb

"Don't turn on each other..." Second Brother Han Guang... Meng Qi had expected that the usually serious Gao Lan might turn into a goofy big brother, but he'd never dreamed Gao Lan would say something like that. His mind was filled with nothing but "Holy shit," "Holy shit," and "Holy shit." He couldn't think straight.

Almost instinctively, Meng Qi looked toward Han Guang in midair. The Heavenly Emperor mask hid his face, making it impossible to read his expression. Yet in a daze, Meng Qi thought he sensed a ripple in Han Guang's aura, as placid as flowing water. All he heard was the wind stirred by the sword cleaving through Three Lives Hall; Han Guang offered no rebuttal.

With a snap, Gao Lan grabbed them. Once Time Slows Down wore off, Meng Qi and Gu Xiaosang dropped to the ground, unable to tumble into the misty void beside them and glide away.

Gao Lan turned his head to look at Han Guang. Behind the featureless mask, he gave a long sigh, then put away his grief and burst into hearty laughter. "Second Brother, I know we haven't cut a chicken's head, burned yellow paper, and sworn brotherhood on our knees. But didn't you once say that you'd be the Heavenly Emperor and I'd be the Human Emperor, and together we'd rule the Three Realms, as close as brothers from then on? At our level, with our strength and status, are our words worth less than a chicken's head and yellow paper?"

Meng Qi was struck dumb, his gaze vacant. Big Brother, the man was just saying whatever came to mind. Why take it seriously...

Han Guang fell silent for a moment, then answered vaguely. He neither nodded in agreement nor shook his head in denial. Was he supposed to