"Ah."
Wu Daozi froze for a moment, but still followed Lin Ke's instructions, properly cupping his hands and bowing deeply. "Master, please accept your disciple's bow!"
The smile on Gu Kaizhi's face grew broader. "Haha! Good, good, good! My fine disciple!"
He stepped forward to help Wu Daozi up. "Here, let your master give you a welcoming gift."
As he spoke, Gu Kaizhi took a rolled-up scroll from his sleeve, a faint radiance lingering around it.
Wu Daozi accepted the painting scroll in a daze.
"Hurry up and thank your second master," Lin Ke said sternly.
Wu Daozi's voice rang clear. "Thank you, second master."
"You..." Gu Kaizhi glanced at Lin Ke and shook his head with a smile.
"Daozi, go back and rest. Your second master and I have things to discuss." Lin Ke ignored Gu Kaizhi's look and gave Wu Daozi his instructions.
Wu Daozi said nothing more. Without even opening the scroll, he picked up his drawing board and left.
Only Lin Ke and Gu Kaizhi remained.
"Hehe." Lin Ke chuckled first, then cupped his hands toward Gu Kaizhi. "A Sage Realm Powerhouse has graced us with his presence, yet I failed to come out and welcome you. Please forgive me!"
"Oh?" Gu Kaizhi looked at Lin Ke with interest. "What do you mean by that, first master?"
Gu Kaizhi put particular emphasis on the words "first master."
"Please don't take offense, Sage Gu," Lin Ke explained. "I've raised Daozi since he was little, and our bond runs deep. I simply couldn't help it!"
"As far as I know, you only adopted Daozi a few months ago." Gu Kaizhi shot him a glance. "I have heard that your hide is so thick even Sage Jia dared only steer clear of your edge, afraid you would ask to