Fear He Had a Fondness for Men

"What kind of talk is that? This is outrageous!"

An angry roar exploded through the hall, shaking the crystal chandelier overhead.

Ning Zhiyuan slammed his palm onto the desk. Fine cracks spread across its corner, carved from Ten-Thousand-Year Warm Jade.

His eyes bulged as though he had suffered a terrible insult.

"What do you mean, 'hope'?

"What do you mean, 'request'?

"Everyone knows that the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and the Fatui have been as close as brothers since we were still the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect ten thousand years ago. Close enough to make people wonder if we have a fondness for men!

"And now you need to ask me for a little thing like this? You want to negotiate terms with me?"

The more he spoke, the angrier he became. He strode around the desk and hoisted Owl Bro out of the deputy seat like a chick.

The Sect Master, usually all grins and jokes, no longer cared how he looked.

He hauled Owl Bro against his shoulder until their faces were almost touching.

Ning Zhiyuan fixed his huge, bell-like eyes on Owl Bro.

"The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's territory is the Fatui's territory!

"The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's resources are the Fatui's resources!

"And you talk to me about borrowing?

"You talk to me about cooperation?

"You don't see me, Ning Zhiyuan, as your own brother at all!"

The reversal came so suddenly that everyone froze, their minds blank.

They had expected Ning Zhiyuan to act like an old fox,

weighing this partnership over and over when its benefits were unclear and it might even drag the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect into a whirlpool of power struggles. They had expected him to refuse outright.

But the old fox had not only accepted.