"You've got some nerve asking that."
Xie Junheng lowered his gaze, his tone earnest. "You are magnanimous, honored teacher. Your student dares to ask this favor."
Yun Tianluo sneered. "Spare me the flattery. I'm not that broad-minded."
That, at least, was true.
Had Xie Junheng not helped untangle an old knot in his heart tonight, he might not have been willing to sit here watching that perfect seven-aperture exquisite heart bobbing about before him.
But the karmic debt for helping his cultivation was already established. Yun Tianluo raised his wine cup and slowly took a sip before finally agreeing:
"Hmph. If you don't want to go, then don't."
"Then..." Xie Junheng stared at him, eyes shining.
Yun Tianluo said languidly, "He's the Child of Heaven's Mandate. If you don't go, someone else will naturally save him. Heaven and earth are vast. He won't die."
"If you get into trouble over this, I'll protect you once."
Relief washed through Xie Junheng, and he bowed solemnly once more.
"Thank you, honored teacher."
Yun Tianluo gave a soft harrumph.
Xie Junheng looked utterly sincere. "Your heart encompasses mountains and seas, honored teacher. Your generosity knows no bounds. You see through delusions and obsessions, unbound by worldly gains and losses. Your breadth of spirit truly commands your student's admiration."
Yun Tianluo looked up at him with the ghost of a smile.
"All right, enough of your chatter."
Xie Junheng: "..."
My heart tells me you clearly love hearing it.
With the matter settled, Yun Tianluo reclined against the broad back of his chair. He tapped his folding fan, ordering Xie Junheng to pour him more wine.
Having finally put one burden to rest, Xie Junheng's expression relaxed considerably. He poured and drank with him, one pot of spirit wine following another.
It was rare