"Ha ha ha!" Xi Mujun laughed with utter abandon, as though he had never been so happy before. The branch beneath him bobbed up and down ever more frequently, and even his pointing finger trembled from laughter as he indicated Zhang Xiaohua. "A talent, a true talent! Only now do I realize, Junior Brother Ren, that you are a talent!"
Zhang Xiaohua asked curiously, "This... didn't you refuse to let me call you Senior Brother? Why do you insist on calling me Junior Brother, then?"
Xi Mujun finally managed to suppress his laughter. "I knew long ago that you were a deeply scheming sort, and I truly disdained to keep company with you. But now it seems that not only are your schemes worth discussing, even your thick skin earns Xi's admiration. That is why I cannot help calling you Junior Brother. Still, Xi is honoring you by doing so. If you wish to call Xi Senior Brother... you are still not worthy enough!"
Zhang Xiaohua gave a bitter smile. "What kind of logic is that? Is this the legendary 'the magistrate may set fires, but the common folk may not light lamps'?"
The innocent look on Zhang Xiaohua's face made Xi Mujun burst out laughing again.
Zhang Xiaohua simply watched him with a smile, standing quietly without moving.
"Ren Xiaoyao, Ren Xiaoyao, you truly have a knack for playing the fool. Oh, was it with that slick tongue of yours that you tricked Junior Sister Zixia into your hands?"
At the mention of Meng, a faint smile surfaced at the corner of Zhang Xiaohua's lips. He cupped his hands toward Xi Mujun. "Speaking of which, I ought to thank you, Brother, for holding Meng in such high regard. Among the disciples on Yi Xiang Peak, there truly are not