"So, just what do you want in exchange for that thing on your back?"
Li Ping'an stroked his erhu and said, "This erhu of mine isn't worth much. It's just been with me for years, through a thousand mountains and ten thousand rivers.
If Your Highness truly likes the erhu, I could make one for you."
The erhu itself wasn't worth much. Li Ping'an had tried switching to another erhu before.
He could still receive the system's blessings.
It was just that this erhu had been with him for so long...
"I want yours!"
Li Ping'an smiled gently. "How about this? I'll leave my erhu with Your Highness for now.
When I return from my travels, you can give it back to me.
But on one condition: Your Highness must mend your many bad habits from now on."
The youth frowned.
Li Ping'an had already unstrapped his erhu. "If Your Highness agrees, I'll leave the erhu with you."
"What counts as a bad habit?"
"Everything Your Highness mentioned just now."
The youth folded his arms across his chest and chuckled.
"Fine, I agree."
Eunuch Liu gave His Highness a surprised look.
Li Ping'an's expression remained unchanged. "I hope Your Highness will honor the agreement. I'll take my leave."
Then he packed up the pot and bowls.
The man, ox, and cat lingered no longer and headed off into the distance.
The youth looked at the erhu in his hands, then raised his head to look in the direction where Li Ping'an and the others had disappeared.
"Interesting! Interesting!"
The youth stroked the erhu, which felt slightly cool to the touch. Now that he held it, he couldn't muster much interest in it.
He tried drawing the bow across it, and the sound it produced was rather... grating.
The youth shook