"Fellow Daoist Luohu... er... wait a moment."
Gu Changqing's words were slurred, carrying his own peculiar air of nonchalance.
Yet the moment he spoke,
Luohu stopped in his tracks.
An indescribable expression once again surfaced on his somewhat downcast face.
He slowly turned, his gaze settling on Gu Changqing.
Bewilderment and uncertainty...
Utter confusion...
But beneath that expression lay another feeling, desperately suppressed yet impossible to conceal!
Anticipation!
Yes!
It was anticipation.
Could it be... that the Wine Sword Immortal had been too drunk earlier to understand what I meant?
And now that he's realized it, is he about to bestow his favor?
Luohu's heartbeat involuntarily quickened.
His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed with difficulty.
Then he spoke.
His voice remained low and steady, but beneath that steadiness hid a faint tremor that even he could not control.
"Fellow Daoist Changqing... is there something else?"
His question was both direct and cautious.
Direct, because he did not want to miss any possible opportunity.
Cautious, because he dared not appear too eager before Gu Changqing.
He could not adopt that lowly posture of wagging his tail and begging for pity, nor did he wish to.
But his eyes betrayed him.
Within those eyes, deep as an abyss, the light of anticipation flickered like a candle in the dark, wavering yet stubbornly refusing to go out.
Seeing Luohu like this, Gu Changqing's lips curved slightly.
Rather than answer at once, he tilted his head back and took another great swig of wine.
The fine wine slid down his throat, its rich aroma filling his mouth and leaving him even more relaxed.
He cocked his head, looking at Luohu through hazy, drunken eyes.
Then he spoke unhurriedly.
"I wish to discuss the Dao with you, fellow Daoist."
"I wonder... er... would you