"Stop talking nonsense!"
At Bu Er's startled exclamation, Yang Qing shot him a sidelong glance, making him hastily swallow his words and become a gourd with its mouth sawn shut once more.
Yet forcing those words back down left his cheeks flushed and his forehead sweating, showing just how desperate he was to speak his mind.
Knowing that Bu Er had only lost his sense of propriety out of anxiety, Yang Qing softened his tone.
"I was just thinking you'd grown steadier, and now you're as frantic as a wild monkey in the mountains again. Clearly, you can't take praise!"
Only after this reprimand did Bu Er come to his senses, a layer of cold sweat breaking out across his back.
He had been thinking that his young master had already ventured deep into the tiger's den to protect himself, only to be met with such suspicion. In his distress, he had spoken without restraint.
Fortunately, Yang Qing had reminded him in time. Otherwise, he might have brought another great calamity upon them.
Seeing Bu Er's expression settle, Yang Qing knew he had understood the twists and turns involved. His manner grew gentler still. "There's no need to trouble yourself over this. Since I chose this path back then, I have never intended to turn back."
With that, he sighed inwardly and paused for a long moment before continuing, "Since even this cannot put his mind at ease, we may as well see it through to the bitter end."
Bu Er was startled again.
But having just received Yang Qing's reprimand, he did not react much this time. He merely looked at Yang Qing, silently laying his thoughts bare as daylight.
Yang Qing said slowly, "The repeated moves from that side are nothing more than a reflection of this concern."