"Perfected One Delong, outsiders might not know, but surely you do?" Yue Wen said with a wry smile. "I promised Perfected One Nagiko long ago that I would become her Personal Disciple."
"That's no problem," Perfected One Delong replied with a chuckle. After speaking, he stole a glance outside the courtyard.
Seemingly satisfied that Perfected One Nagiko had not noticed what was happening in the courtyard, he relaxed slightly and turned back. "It's not as though I'm afraid of her."
You're scared to death!
Yue Wen shouted the rebuttal inwardly, but kept smiling as he replied, "It's not a question of fear. I gave my word, so I can't go back on it."
"You would be joining our Azurefall Profound Gate either way, so it hardly counts as going back on your word," Perfected One Delong said. "The reason I want to compete with Junior Sister Nagiko for you is truly that I cherish talent. As you know, Meng Yuheng and Shen Yaoguang, those two Peerless Prodigies of the Era, are both my disciples. Yet when we selected new disciples back then, they weren't actually that outstanding. It was under my guidance that they grew into what they are today."
Yue Wen had noticed this long ago. Shen Yaoguang was not so bad, but Meng Yuheng really did seem cast from the same mold as his Master: both appeared righteous and upright, while being sinister and scheming underneath.
But at that thought, something else suddenly occurred to him. Since Shen Yaoguang was also Perfected One Delong's disciple, was he really a good person?
Not necessarily...
Perhaps he had been deceived by Shen Yaoguang's outward appearance without even realizing it. He would have to be more careful the next time they worked together.
"If you take Junior Sister Nagiko as your