Wait, That's Not Right

"This... ahem..."

Sun Zimei's old face flushed red, and for a moment, he had no idea how to explain himself.

This made no damn sense!

Where had this little handyman come from, daring to enter the back mountain on his own?

Fine, say he had gone in—but how had he managed to walk back out completely unscathed?

Where was Sun Zimei supposed to put his old face now?

After thinking it over again and again, he could only stammer, "Coincidence! This must be a coincidence!"

"This little handyman was simply lucky. He didn't run into any demon beasts. Look at him—his clothes are completely intact. Clearly, he never encountered any danger."

At that point, he finally found an excuse, and the dignity of a master gathered around him once more.

He pulled a stern face and warned his young disciple, "You won't have this kind of shit luck every time you enter the mountains, understand?"

The young disciple nodded mechanically. "This disciple understands."

Seeing that his disciple did not seem entirely convinced by his explanation, and that the little handyman was passing by just then, he raised a hand, intending to stop him and question him in detail.

However.

Sun Zimei had only just lifted his hand.

The little handyman, Su Bai, brushed straight past him.

He merely gave him a slight nod, said, "Greetings, Elder," then strode away.

"Eh? You, wait—"

Before Sun Zimei could react, Su Bai had already turned and headed down the mountain.

In Su Bai's eyes.

If not for basic courtesy, he could not even be bothered to offer that greeting.

After all, he now belonged to that lord.

If he bowed and scraped before others, would that not tarnish that lord's prestige?

Besides.

On this continent, strength was revered above all else.

His current