Shi Hao had led him astray.
Meng Chuan reached one hand into the void. It stretched out from the Eight Domains and appeared before Shi Hao.
Shi Hao was standing in the clearing outside Stone Village when he saw a hand emerge from the void and swing toward his back.
Shi Hao paled in alarm.
"I wasn't speaking ill of you! I was praising you, Uncle Meng!"
Meng Chuan frowned. Still speaking ill of me?
Caught you!
Meng Chuan's palm landed lightly on Shi Hao's back.
"Let my people through."
Shi Hao was puzzled. He had thought he'd been caught talking behind Meng Chuan's back, so why had Meng Chuan said that?
"Let them through where? Who?" Shi Hao asked.
"I'm not talking to the you of now," Meng Chuan's voice replied.
"..."
What's wrong with you?
If you're not talking to the me of now, when else could you be talking to me?
If Shi Hao hadn't never seen Meng Chuan drink, he would have suspected Meng Chuan was drunk.
Or that he'd drunk counterfeit liquor.
"Oh, and those two who don't meet the requirements—do you have a way to help them?" Meng Chuan continued.
"No. I don't know anything. What way could I possibly have?" Shi Hao replied.
"I'll give you a chance to rethink that answer."
"Uncle Meng, there's a right way to talk to children. Throwing your weight around will only stir up a child's rebellious streak," Shi Hao said meaningfully.
"You make a good point, but I'm still willing to give you a chance to rethink that answer."
"..."
Fine. There's no reasoning with him.
"Then I have a way," Shi Hao said. Even if he didn't, he had no choice but to find one.
"Good." Meng Chuan was pleased. He patted Shi Hao's shoulder