"Have mercy, master! I didn't say it!" "Hmph. You didn't? It came straight out of your mouth just now. You'll have to take your punishment..."
Ling Xiaoyu blushed and protested coquettishly, "You rogue... In broad daylight, too. Can't you behave?"
After another bout of teasing, Tang Changsheng shook his head. "Go have fun. I doubt your two companions would welcome me anyway. Besides, I have things to do, and I'd like to rest."
Ling Xiaoyu leaned closer. "Then maybe I won't go either!"
Tang Changsheng laughed. "I'm going to practice. What would you do, sitting here with me? Go do what you came to do."
"But without my master around, I can't get interested in anything!" Ling Xiaoyu said, wheedling.
"Go on, go on." Tang Changsheng smiled. "I'll be staying here a few more days."
Only then did Ling Xiaoyu brighten. "That's wonderful! Long live master... I really am going now!"
Despite what she said, by the time the two had finished lingering together and Ling Xiaoyu had dressed and gone out again, well over an hour had passed. Her companions had even called again to hurry her along.
Once Ling Xiaoyu finally left and the little apartment fell completely quiet, Tang Changsheng smiled and took out the Bagua Mirror.
"I'd like to try crossing over from here and see where I end up!" A flicker of excitement shone in Tang Changsheng's eyes.
He was not on Yin-Yang Mountain, and the Bright Pearl in the General's Temple's Quiet Room was nowhere nearby.
Crossing over would therefore be troublesome. Fortunately, Tang Changsheng had prepared for this. He released the Ghost Creature he had readied in advance.
The Bagua Mirror turned and devoured the Ghost Creature. Light flowed across its surface, and the next instant, Tang Changsheng vanished without a trace.
When