Given Su Cixuan’s status, position, and realm of strength, he rarely encountered anyone capable of conversing with him on equal terms. Aside from a few friends and even among friends very few could communicate with him completely without reservation.
But Bu Liuliqing was different.
From the very beginning, when his differences were pointed out, Bu Liuliqing had faced him with complete frankness and openness.
Now, though bluntly called childish by the other man, Su Cixuan showed no signs of anger whatsoever; instead, he felt a slight sense of embarrassment.
“Generally speaking, once or twice is enough. Count it yourself—how many times has it been? The Dust-Free Fruit, foundation-building pills, all kinds of medicinal treasures, how many times now, Exalted One? I really am not interested in your half-life or your half-lifetime cultivation. I can tell you that what I want most is to go home. If I can’t go home, I don’t want to live like this either; once matters are settled, just slaughter me directly and send me into reincarnation, and we’ll be completely even. Can you stop tossing me around? The time you spend messing around like this would be better spent helping me nourish my body through my soul,” Bu Liuliqing said with utmost seriousness.
Upon hearing him say this everything had been fine, but hearing Bu Liuliqing state his wishes so decisively, along with that talk of calling it even.
Su Cixuan’s brows furrowed slightly.
Something flashed briefly through his heart.
“I never will again.” A promise slipped out so easily.
The box, along with the Dust-Free Fruit inside, was obliterated by a ball of fire right in Su Cixuan’s hand, leaving not even a trace of residue.
What a prodigal! He might not have needed the Dust-Free Fruit, but others ought to have found it useful. Or rather, for a fruit used merely for foundation building, Su Cixuan simply didn’t think it worth his regard!
So extravagant… truly extravagant…
A total prodigal.
Such magnificence…
A strange look flashed across Su Cixuan’s eyes as the corners of his mouth twitched upward. It seemed that Bu Liuliqing’s habit of mentally slandering him hadn’t changed at all.
Yet what the other man said was indeed true; a mere Dust-Free Fruit was nothing special. In the Wuchen Palace, and across the Dutian Realm, it was virtually worthless—even the box that held the fruit just now was more valuable than the fruit itself.
“A promise?” Bu Liuliqing countered with suspicion instead.
“You are the first person who dares to question this seat.” As Su Cixuan spoke, he stepped forward out of the hall first, and Bu Liuliqing immediately followed.
“You’re a repeat offender. What’s wrong with me questioning you?” Bu Liuliqing remained completely unaffected by Su Cixuan’s formidable aura.
“A repeat offender… What an interesting description.”
“Right, I’m talking about your previous behavior.” When facing Su Cixuan, Bu Liuliqing was truly at ease, feeling not the slightest bit of pressure. He harbored no greed, made no demands, and expected nothing; since the other party granted him freedom, respect, and certain privileges, why should he feel repressed? There was simply no need to walk on eggshells.
“It was my fault.” For the very first time in his life, Su Cixuan apologized.
“I accept your repentance.” After saying this, Bu Liuliqing exchanged a glance with Su Cixuan, and both of them burst out laughing.
Thus, two tall and slender figures walked along in company.
Although Bu Liuliqing walked behind because he sensed Su Cixuan was leading him somewhere specific, there was not the slightest trace of a subordinate or follower about him.
Moreover, the way Su Cixuan periodically turned back to check if he was keeping up clearly demonstrated his special regard and importance for Bu Liuliqing.
“To think the Exalted One could laugh so openly! I could never have imagined such a scene before.”
“Indeed, indeed! Ever since Young Master Bu arrived, the Exalted One has changed somewhat. Although the Exalted One is still the Exalted One when Young Master Bu isn’t around, the moment Young Master Bu enters his field of vision, everything changes.”
“That’s right! You guys have no idea just a moment ago when I went to invite Young Master Bu and escorted him to the main hall, I was so nervous. But Young Master Bu was completely calm.”
“Of course he’s calm, he’s Young Master Bu after all someone who can converse freely with the Exalted One and make him laugh out loud. Naturally, he’s different.”
“I wonder when the Exalted One and Young Master Bu first met. We’ve been by the Exalted One’s side for at least one or two centuries, and some have lived for tens of thousands of years, yet none of us have ever heard of a figure named Young Master Bu.”
“I think it’s because Young Master Bu holds a very different place in the Exalted One’s heart. Otherwise… why else would only Young Master Bu be allowed to live in the Wuchen Palace, and even designated by the Exalted One’s own personal command as the most distinguished guest? You must know that our Wuchen Palace has never kept guests. Not only did Young Master Bu stay, but he lives right next door to the Exalted One.”
“Exactly, exactly! Young Master Bu must be holding some extremely heavy injuries in the Exalted One’s heart; otherwise, how could he… Just thinking about what Young Master Bu has to endure makes our hearts ache for him.”
“We don’t need to worry; with the Exalted One here, Young Master Bu will be fine. Didn’t you see that everything concerning Young Master Bu is handled personally by the Exalted One, tending to every single detail? That’s a treatment nobody else has ever received.”
“I just hope Young Master Bu gets better soon so he doesn’t have to suffer those torments. You guys don’t know a few days ago when I wasn’t paying attention during my practice and made a mistake, normally I would have been punished by the Exalted One and sent to face the wall. But that day, Young Master Bu happened to walk by without any deliberate intent, nor any intention of putting in a good word for me—in fact, Young Master Bu probably didn’t even know what was going on—and he just casually called out to the Exalted One from afar. The Exalted One simply told me, ‘Be more mindful next time,’ and instantly vanished to be by Young Master Bu’s side to take a walk or something. Anyway… as long as Young Master Bu is around, I feel like days are much easier. Of course, we still need to work hard and practice earnestly, striving to become the Exalted One’s registered disciples.”
As this maid poured out her thoughts, her surrounding companions all looked at her in complete agreement.
Then they began sharing all sorts of other signs they had discovered amongst themselves.
While Bu Liuliqing followed Su Cixuan away, he remained entirely unaware that a large group of maidservants and attendants in the Wuchen Palace was gossiping about them.
“Where are we going now?” To be honest, the Wuchen Palace was truly massive larger than the Forbidden City, and definitely on a completely different scale.
Let alone the Dutian Realm, which was even more…
Never mind, those weren’t things he needed to worry about.
After walking for quite a while with Su Cixuan, he finally quickened his pace to walk side by side with him and asked.
Su Cixuan didn’t answer right away, simply looking at him with a calm gaze carrying an unfathomable depth of mystery.
“It’s a secret?” Bu Liuliqing seemed to grasp something.
However, Su Cixuan shook his head.
“Then that means…” Since it wasn’t a secret, where on earth were they going?
“You’ll know when we get there.” That was Su Cixuan’s reply.
“Even if we get there, I wouldn’t know. This is your home, so even upon arrival, I honestly wouldn’t have a clue where this place is.” Bu Liuliqing spoke with absolute sincerity.
“Liuliqing, do you feel uncomfortable if you don’t pick a fight with me?” This phrasing completely adopted Bu Liuliqing’s own manner of speaking. After spending some time listening to his idioms, he had to admit… it was quite interesting.
“Hehehe.” Bu Liuliqing let out an uncouth, awkward laugh to defuse the momentary embarrassment.
Su Cixuan also wore a faint smile, then raised a hand to rest it over Bu Liuliqing’s shoulder.
Bu Liuliqing only felt a powerful gripping force on his shoulder before Su Cixuan swept him up into a soar straight into the skies.
“Hey, hey, hey! When you pull stunts like this, can you at least give a warning? I’m starting to find out I have a bit of a fear of heights.” Back then, he probably hadn’t been afraid of heights because the altitude wasn’t high enough; now, being hoisted up and whisked into the clouds without warning was far too hard on his heart.
Fear of heights…
Hearing that, the hand that was originally hoisting Bu Liuliqing by the shoulder instantly shifted into a waist-encircling embrace. Bu Liuliqing, still recovering from the shock, failed to notice the bizarre posture currently existing between them.