"What, young friend? You think becoming this old man's incarnation would be a loss?"
Venus Star looked over with a smile, a hint of mischief in his eyes.
Lu Chen hurriedly waved his hands. "No, no, no. Old Celestial Envoy, you are the foremost civil official of the Heavenly Court, and your righteous might is forged through slaughter. I've heard that even True Lord Tianpeng and the True Martial Great Emperor among the Four Sages of the Northern Pole would not dare offend you lightly. With such prestige, this junior only fears he is reaching beyond his station. How could I possibly complain?"
"You young fellow certainly have a sweet tongue. No wonder you can move with ease among all the departments. Come to think of it, you really do have a bit of this old man's younger self in you."
Venus Star let out a chuckle, lightly swishing his fly-whisk. He seemed rather pleased, and even his brows and eyes relaxed somewhat.
"All right, I won't tease you anymore." He sighed softly. "It is true that I like your temperament, but there is no such fate between you and me."
Lu Chen's heart tightened.
Venus Star had already turned solemn. "Young friend, enough idle talk. What comes next is the true purpose of my journey."
Lu Chen immediately sat upright and cupped his hands. "Please speak, Old Celestial Envoy!"
Venus Star paused, his fly-whisk resting over his arm. "To be frank, you must have realized that my personal descent to the mortal realm this time is far from ordinary. If it were not a heaven-shaking matter, there would have been no need to disturb these old bones of mine. Thus, aside from conveying the Great Heavenly Venerable's decree, I have come to tell you a secret. Once you hear