Had someone from the Stargazing Pavilion not been at his side, he really would not have dared boast like this in its name. If word got out, he would never be able to explain himself. With its people present, however, things were easier to handle.
The nine above the ceiling wore varying degrees of disdain.
They had all anticipated that he would come here. How could they not know just how outrageous Luo Yan's claim of holding off the Stargazing Pavilion was?
Shi Chun had also heard their prediction earlier, but he was not one of those nine, after all. He had no idea how much weight Luo Yan's intervention might carry, so he regarded the great Sect Master Luo with a searching look, unsure whether it was true or whether the man was using his seniority to bully him for his ignorance.
Then again, had he not known something of the situation, he might really have been bluffed outright. Under ordinary circumstances, he would have welcomed any chance to escape the Stargazing Pavilion's clutches, and given the other man's standing, he would never have suspected him of boasting.
Now, however, he naturally had his doubts.
Since he dared not take the claim on faith, he would have to risk giving a little offense, regardless of the other man's status.
So he tested the waters with an excited expression. "Wonderful! Sorry for the trouble, Senior, but please take me there. As long as the Stargazing Pavilion agrees to let me off, we can discuss the price."
That single sentence probed straight to the bottom of Luo Yan's hand, without even conceding that he would waive payment. Above the ceiling, some of the nine smiled, while others exchanged amused glances.
Su Qiao, Sect Master of the Extreme Fire Sect, frowned slightly