"A deal?"
After hearing Ninth Madam's message, Xu Taiping turned to Lin Buyu with some helplessness and said:
"Ninth Madam probably thinks I want a higher reward before I'll agree to save the others."
A hint of mischief touched Lin Buyu's smile as she said:
"And why not?"
Seeing that Junior Sister Buyu said so too, Xu Taiping gave it serious thought, then declared:
"Rest assured, everyone. I already have a way to undo the seals the Nine Abysses placed on the various Seal Lands."
"There's no need for any of you to ask anyone to reward me, either."
After a brief pause, he suddenly looked up and cupped his fists, saying earnestly:
"I ask only that all of you in the Upper Realm's cultivation world show a little more kindness should you encounter disciples of our Azure Profound Sect, or other cultivators who have ascended from the Lower Realm."
"If you could lend them a little help, all the better."
Beside him, Lin Buyu's eyes suddenly brightened at his words, and a gentle smile spread across her face.
Within her, Lin Buyan suddenly teased:
"In this cultivation world, especially in the Upper Realm, being too kind isn't a good thing."
With an expressionless face, Lin Buyu retorted inwardly:
"Doesn't that prove just how precious kindness is in this cultivation world?"
Lin Buyan was immediately at a loss for words.
Lin Buyu continued:
"There's nothing wrong with kindness. It's simply that, for your own part, something so precious is hard to protect when you're weak."
What truly gratified Lin Buyu was not actually the kindness Xu Taiping had just shown, but that he was now strong enough to protect the kindness in his heart.
Of course, what gratified her even more was that the Xu Taiping before her was still