"You even bought clothes especially for it." Li Tishui looked him over.
"..." Pei Ye sighed, his head drooping. "I really don't know how to get along with these great men of letters-you tell me, if someone who loved practicing the sword came to ask me for advice, I'd naturally like them a little more. But I genuinely love poetry, and when I took mine to Senior Li He for guidance, why did he look as though he was sitting on... sitting on a hedgehog?"
The boy's understanding had been built on his previous experiences. At some point, he had discovered that people seemed rather fond of him, and so he had begun trying to hone this particular strength. Who would have thought that his very first confident expedition would nearly end in a crushing defeat?
Black Cat whispered beside his ear, "I only hope you won't bring me along the next time you put on this performance."
Pei Ye grew even more dejected.
"Your courage was commendable." Li Tishui stopped exposing the young new member's shortcomings and asked, "What is the Heavenly Mountain Sword Banquet?"
"You haven't heard?"
"A new Sword Gathering in the Divine Capital?"
"Yes. Apparently, Heavenly Mountain has invited sword practitioners from all over the Divine Capital. Many of the leading sects have gone, and the entire Sword Cultivation Academy was invited," Pei Ye said.
"It's already well past the start of the hare hour. Aren't you going?"
"Since I've met you, Senior, naturally I should seek your guidance first."
"Rather than delay your plans, let's go together," Li Tishui said. "We can talk on the way-oh, does this Sword Banquet require an invitation?"
"That's easily handled. It's just that having you accommodate my plans, Senior... I'm rather overwhelmed by the favor." Pei Ye smiled.
"You're