"You aren't really Xu Youshan, are you?"
Once the words left his mouth, Xuanming saw Xu Youshan's briefly stunned expression and knew he had guessed correctly.
Without the slightest hurry, he leisurely sat cross-legged on the ground, swept out a table, a teapot, and cups from his sleeve, then flicked out a stream of water followed by a flame and began brewing tea.
Listening to the Blackwater Mystic Serpent's story had taken quite some time, leaving him a little thirsty. The Great Witch's story would probably take just as long, and Xuanming certainly would not neglect his own comfort.
"You don't mind, do you, fellow Daoist?"
Xu Youshan's mouth twitched.
Under another man's eaves, one had no choice but to bow one's head.
Would I dare say I mind?
Forcing out a smile uglier than a crying face, Xu Youshan shook his head. "Not. At. All!"
Xuanming ignored the teeth-grinding resentment in those words.
Perhaps the older he grew, the more his heart resembled a mischievous child's.
Or perhaps, once his cultivation reached a certain realm, his Dao Heart became pure and natural, freeing him from the fetters of rules to act more as he pleased.
Xuanming felt he no longer maintained his former solemn bearing. He had become rather unrestrained, and had even developed quite a few wicked little amusements.
Teasing his disciples was one.
Enjoying gossip was another.
Seeing someone hate him yet remain utterly unable to do anything about him was yet another.
As the fragrance of tea spread, Xuanming took a light sip and signaled that the story could begin.
Xu Youshan felt his heart seize.
Suddenly, he no longer wanted to speak.
But when he saw the Samadhi True Fire still burning beneath the teapot, his heart gave a violent jolt.
A threat!
*He's warning