A... bearskin cloak?
A... tiger-skin rug?
Black Mountain's and Red Wind's faces instantly turned green.
Second Uncle Si Che was still chuckling as he added, "How thoughtful of you, Chen'er. You know how to look after your second uncle now."
"S-Second Master!"
Qing Li, caught between laughter and tears as she watched from the side, hurried forward. "Please stop joking. These two are the young master's friends!"
As she spoke, she turned sideways and gave Black Mountain and Red Wind a reassuring look.
Si Chen realized what was happening too and called out helplessly, "Second Uncle!"
Si Che froze, then looked up at the two demons braced for battle and suddenly slapped his forehead.
"Hahahaha! A misunderstanding! It was a misunderstanding!"
"My apologies! My apologies!"
He waved his hands as he laughed. "A habit I picked up while traveling through the Southern Region back then. Whenever I saw a good-quality pelt..."
"Ahem, I mean... fellow cultivators of the Demon Race!"
Black Mountain and Red Wind were speechless with exasperation.
Pelts?!
Quality?!
But Si Che had already changed the subject. "Chen'er, how was your trip to the Southern Region? Did you ever... mention your second uncle's name?"
Si Chen thought back carefully, then shook his head. "No."
"Not even once?" Si Che refused to give up.
"Not even once," Si Chen confirmed.
"Ah..."
An expression of pained regret instantly appeared on Si Che's face, as though a treasure had been squandered, a shining pearl cast into darkness. He let out a long sigh.
"What a shame, what a terrible shame! Your second uncle had quite a resounding reputation in the Southern Region back then! Mentioning my name could have saved you a lot of trouble!"
Listening from the side, Black Mountain and Red Wind felt their vision darken again.
Mention your