Lu Ming hadn't even finished his soda when Wen Ning's phone rang.
He took it out and looked. There was only one line on the screen.
Come to the Heavenly Court. Now. —Wen Zhong
Lu Ming leaned over for a peek and nearly spat out his soda.
"What does the Heavenly Venerable want with you at this hour? Why does that sound like a police summons?"
Wen Ning slipped his phone back into his pocket without wasting any time.
"Come with me."
"Me?"
Lu Ming pointed at his own nose.
"What would I go for? The Heavenly Venerable called you, not me."
"Keep running your mouth, and I'll tell him all your dirty little secrets."
With that, Wen Ning turned and headed inside.
"Go change. Don't wear that tank top with 'King of the Working Stiffs' printed on it to the Heavenly Court. It's embarrassing."
Lu Ming looked down at the crooked lettering across his chest and muttered,
"What's wrong with it? It's down-to-earth."
Despite his grumbling, he obediently went back inside and changed into something presentable.
An hour later, the two of them stood before the Southern Heavenly Gate.
The two heavenly generals guarding the gate cupped their hands in greeting when they saw Wen Ning and stepped aside. Their eyes lingered on Lu Ming for another two seconds, but they remained aloof and ignored him, infuriating him all over again.
"Hey!"
Lu Ming simmered with anger, only pulling faces at Wen Ning once they had walked some distance away.
"Did you see that? What was with those looks? Am I not dressed formally enough? This is the most expensive jacket in your closet!"
"That one got moldy last year. I tossed it in a corner and never got around to dealing with it."
Wen Ning spoke without looking