"Get up!" This time, Ying Kongshi did not resist Liu Qing, nor did he let Liu Qing help him to his feet. Instead, he rose at an unhurried pace, allowing Liu Qing to keep his hands poised as though supporting him.
Feeling that he had not needed to exert any strength at all, Liu Qing inwardly sighed in resignation, then said, "Shi, come with me to meet my mother and my fiancée. Let them get to know you, too. Then I'll make sure the entire Uzumaki knows you exist!"
"Young clan leader, you mustn't!" Ying Kongshi hurriedly cried out. When Liu Qing gave him a puzzled look, he explained, "Although I'm your personal attendant, the Shi Guard falls under the shadow guards. Apart from the former clan leader, the clan leader, and you, the fewer people who know my identity, the better."
"I see! No wonder I clearly saw you just now, yet automatically overlooked you. If your gaze hadn't fallen on me, I wouldn't have turned around at all... With looks like yours, you ought to attract attention easily. Is that another skill you learned in the Shi Guard?" Liu Qing asked with considerable interest.
"Yes!" Ying Kongshi replied. "'Blending into the surroundings' is something every member of the Shi Guard must learn, and I was the best at it in this year's group!"
"Haha, if you can make people subconsciously overlook someone as handsome as you, that says a lot about how well you've mastered the skill. Still, Shi, you're not modest at all!" Liu Qing laughed heartily. "Oh, you mentioned the Shi Guard's final assessment earlier. What exactly was the assessment that earned you first place? If it's nothing confidential, could you tell me?"
"Young clan leader, I cannot and will not deceive you, so I will