"Voom!"
In an instant, the overwhelming pressure that had filled the sky vanished without a trace, as if it had never appeared.
"My lord, that boy has no idea what's good for him!" Seeing this, the child attendant still looked indignant, as though he couldn't wait to rush in and flick Little One's birdie eighty-one times.
Jiang Chen, by contrast, only smiled and shook his head, his tone gentle.
"Children speak without thinking. Why get angry?"
"Besides, he refused me for the sake of his convictions. That innocent heart is precisely what I value most."
Just then, the Willow Deity's ethereal voice rang out, tinged with both apology and relief.
"Forgive me for letting you see this, Daoist friend."
"Hao'er grew up in the Great Wilderness. He's simple and forthright, and knows nothing of the outside world's etiquette. I hope you won't take offense."
With that, the Willow Deity's branches swayed, gently stroking Little Shi Hao's head before continuing.
"However, since I've already agreed to join the Primordial Immortal Court in the future, this child, whom I've watched grow up, naturally counts as one of the Immortal Court's people."
"As for taking him as a disciple..."
The Willow Deity paused, her voice softening.
"As you said, this child is loyal and affectionate. Asking him to change how he addresses you at once would indeed be asking too much."
"There's no need to rush. If he and you are truly fated to meet, it will surely become a beautiful tale."
Jiang Chen nodded slightly, agreeing.
"You're quite right, Daoist friend."
"Since this child already counts as one of the Immortal Court's people, there's no need to hurry to establish a master-disciple bond."
With that, Jiang Chen looked at Little Shi Hao, who was peeking around curiously. Rather than getting angry, he