"Emperor Zun suffers many ailments. You must encourage him."
Lin Xian patted Hun Tuo's shoulder, his expression warm and full of encouragement.
"You mustn't say such things."
Hun Tuo jolted in fright and hurriedly shook his head, utterly terrified. "Those words could cost us our heads!"
"Old Hun Tuo, what are you thinking?"
"Do you want to become Heavenly Emperor Tuo too?"
Lin Xian glanced sideways at him and clapped his hands with a laugh. "To think Fellow Daoist Hun Tuo harbors such grand ambitions. I've long found Emperor Zun Ye displeasing. When the Heavenly Court holds its public election, you'll certainly have my vote."
"Big Dipper shall rise, Hun Tuo shall reign! Slaughter the Nine Heavens, annihilate the Ten Earths!"
"Spare me, Holy Lord." Hun Tuo begged repeatedly. How could a mere cultivator of the Great Saint Realm like him dare meddle in a contest of this caliber? Even ten Quasi-Emperors would drown in it.
"So that wasn't what you meant, fellow Daoist." Lin Xian sighed regretfully. "A pity, a real pity. It was all a misunderstanding, then."
Hun Tuo wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and stammered, "Then what did you mean, Holy Lord?"
"I only meant to make a little gesture." Lin Xian smiled freely and said leisurely, "I see that Emperor Zun has suffered many tribulations and fear he may be afflicted with a Dao injury, leaving him no time to handle the Heavenly Court's affairs. I wanted Fellow Daoist Hun Tuo to lend him a hand."
"So that's it." Hun Tuo secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then asked curiously, "How was Emperor Zun injured? Who could injure him within the Heavenly Court?"
"Don't concern yourself with that." Lin Xian coughed lightly. This subject could not even be mentioned.
Hun Tuo understood at once.