The man watched the small knife that the young man before him had intercepted once again, his gaze darkening.
But when he noticed the faint smile on the young man's face, he couldn't help feeling a little puzzled.
He didn't think much of it, though, assuming the young man was simply pleased with himself.
Still, this young man... was impressive.
The man didn't act rashly or immediately ask for his knife back.
The first time the young man had caught his knife, he had assumed it was a fluke and hadn't paid much attention.
But this time, he couldn't ignore it.
Catching his knife, infused with spiritual power, twice wasn't something that could be done by luck.
Just who was this young man...?
"Who are you?"
The man asked, addressing the young man directly for the first time.
The dismissiveness he'd shown at first was gone.
So was the mockery he'd felt upon learning that the young man treated monsters as friends.
"Junior Brother! Junior Brother!"
The loud shout from the phone instantly drew both their attention.
"What happened?"
"Is something wrong?"
This time, Xiao Xiao heard the other person's voice clearly.
"Old Master Jiang?"
He murmured to himself.
"I'm fine."
The man put the phone back to his ear, sounding impatient. "I told you I'm busy."
"If nothing's wrong, I'm hanging up."
"Old Master Jiang."
At some point, Xiao Xiao had walked up beside the man.
He called out to the phone.
The man jolted in surprise.
He hadn't sensed the young man's approach at all?!
But then he froze.
Old Master Jiang?
Did this young man know his senior brother?
"Young Friend Xiao Xiao?"
An uncertain voice tinged with delight came through the phone. "Is that you, Young Friend Xiao Xiao?"
"It's me."