The Sparrow Spirit fell silent after saying that from inside his sleeve.
Wen Ning felt him shift slightly inside. He had probably been frightened by that remark about roasted sparrow; after a brief attempt at talking tough, he apparently couldn't keep it up.
Reaching the Thunder Department's side entrance, Wen Ning pushed the door open and went inside.
Bai Lu and Meng Jiang were sitting there chatting.
Bai Lu looked up first when Wen Ning entered. She set down her teacup, the corners of her lips curling upward.
"Oh, Wen Ning's back."
Meng Jiang looked up too, tossed the peanut she was holding into her mouth, and brushed the crumbs off her hands.
"Well, look who it is. How long has it been since we last saw you?"
Wen Ning greeted them both.
"Bai Lu, Meng Jiang, you're both here today."
Meng Jiang pulled over a chair from beside her and patted the seat.
"Sit down. What are you standing around for?"
Meng Jiang pulled over a chair from beside her and patted the seat.
Once Wen Ning sat down,
Meng Jiang grabbed another handful of peanuts and offered them to him. Wen Ning took a few and held them in his palm.
Meng Jiang took her feet off the table and leaned forward, looking behind Wen Ning, then toward the door.
"Where's Lu Ming? Why didn't he come up?"
Wen Ning shelled a peanut.
"Busy at the shop."
Meng Jiang pursed her lips, looking thoroughly unconvinced.
"Busy with what? How many customers does that shop get in a day? What sort of respectable monster would spend money at your shop anyway?"
Wen Ning took offense at that.
"My shop is a legitimate business. Besides, if Lu Ming came up, he'd just end up arguing with you again. If my