Lamplight flourished.
Realizing he had been discourteous, Liu Xiaowen dared not look again. His thoughts raced as he said rather awkwardly:
"I was rude. After hearing Grandmaster Fan's exquisite zither playing and singing, I was moved and lost myself for a moment."
When Liu Xiaowen looked again, light had returned to Master Fan's eyes. Those utterly lifeless pupils from before seemed to have been nothing more than his imagination.
"Xianghe, stand down."
Master Fan stepped forward, stopping her maid for the moment. Her voice was clear as pearls falling onto a jade plate, but cold:
"They were only lewd verses and amorous songs. I fear they may have sullied your ears, fellow Daoist."
Embarrassment surfaced on Liu Xiaowen's face. He did not know how to answer.
She actually heard us.
In the Plum Studio, he and Liu Xingfang had used magical power to gather their voices into threads, believing their conversation private. Yet she had still detected it. She had probably mastered some secret listening art.
"My words were disrespectful, but I meant no offense. Please accept my apology."
Liu Xiaowen spoke sincerely, but she clearly did not wish to dwell on the matter and was about to leave.
Does the jade pendant she's wearing have something to do with the ancient seal characters?
The jade pendant against his chest suddenly grew warm. The signal came from his master, who had evidently sensed something too. He could not let this opportunity slip away.
I'm hopeless with words. If only Junior Brother Xing Fang were here. He's handsome and understands women's thoughts.
Liu Xiaowen took a few steps forward, wondering how to ease the tension and strike up a conversation, only to see Master Fan abruptly retreat until she stood in front of him.
The monk's face bore a lecherous look,