Shen Muyan was, in truth, a rather reserved sort. Had anyone else heard Liu Buli offer his assistance, they would have been overjoyed.
But upon hearing Liu Buli’s words, Shen Muyan quickly waved his hands in refusal. "How could I possibly impose? Although my elder brother said he would treat Daoist Liu with the same respect he shows me in the future, this is, after all, our first meeting. And the situation in Shuicheng is still unclear. It would be too much to trouble Daoist Liu to accompany me. Perhaps it's best if I wait for my elder brother. Once he's finished with his business..."
"If you wait for him to finish, it's questionable whether Shuicheng will even exist," Liu Buli interrupted, shaking his head. His words struck at the heart of the matter, and Shen Muyan's expression immediately turned awkward. He managed a strained smile, unsure how to respond.
Shen Muzhi, on the other hand, chuckled. "Little brother, there's no need to be so polite with Daoist Liu. When he says he's going to help you, he's really just going on a scenic tour. He knows the situation in Shuicheng better than anyone. That's precisely why he wants to go and see for himself. Just let him come along."
Hearing this, Shen Muyan couldn't help but widen his eyes. He thought his elder brother was being utterly unreasonable. Who could possibly be interested in such a terrifying matter? He instinctively glanced back at Liu Buli's face, and the words of hesitation he had been about to utter vanished.
He realized his elder brother might actually be right. Liu Buli's eyes were clearly sparkling. Such an expression could only come from extreme interest.
With the situation as it was, Shen Muyan no longer refused. He thought for a moment, then cupped his hands towards Liu Buli. "Then I shall trouble Daoist Liu. When might you be free to accompany me?"
Liu Buli stroked his chin. "I need to escort my sect members back to Danzong first. As you know, there aren't many with high cultivation in my sect. The spirit ship we used to get here, I can control it, but their strength might not be enough to make it move. So, after I send them back, I'll return. You can either travel with me or wait for me in Shuicheng. It should only take three to five days, so it won't cause too much delay."
Shen Muyan considered this and decided he would return to Shuicheng to wait. The situation there was indeed dangerous, but not to the point of being life-threatening. A delay of three to five days should be manageable.
After they had settled these matters and shared a few more rounds of drinks, the several jars of strong liquor were emptied. You Siqi, flushed and swaying, was picked up by Shen Muzhi, who then, along with Shen Muyan, bid farewell and left Liu Buli's courtyard.
Once everyone had departed, Liu Buli let out a sigh of relief. He paid no mind to the mess on the table, simply yawned, leaned back casually, and was, as always, drawn into a warm embrace. No matter the time or place, whenever he felt tired and leaned back, Lu Wuming would always appear behind him, gently holding him. This was something only possible through constant attention, and this extreme, overwhelming affection was something Liu Buli greatly cherished.
Yawning again, Liu Buli spoke. "Wuming, you're very quiet today. Are you unhappy again?"
Lu Wuming nodded. The arms holding Liu Buli tightened slightly. "I just want to be alone with Master. I don't want so many people disturbing us. But I also know that when you're with them, Master, you're happy. So, I didn't show my unhappiness. Was I very obedient?"
"Yes, extremely obedient." Liu Buli smiled and looked up at Lu Wuming's face. The alcohol was going to his head, and his thoughts were becoming a little hazy. His actions became even bolder. He pulled Lu Wuming's neck, drawing him in for a kiss. Amidst their embrace, Liu Buli murmured, "An obedient child deserves a reward. Wuming, we have two days to rest before we leave. With so much time, do you want this reward?"
The question was rhetorical. Lu Wuming's eyes darkened, and he immediately swept Liu Buli into his arms, carrying him into the room. The door closed, concealing the intimate scene within.
It wasn't until two days later, when it was time to depart, that Liu Buli emerged from the room with unsteady steps. Everyone from Danzong was waiting for him. Although Liu Buli's legs were still a bit shaky, Lu Wuming stood close behind him, using his body as a support, preventing Liu Buli from making a fool of himself in front of everyone.
He took the flying ship from his Qiankun bag. The palm-sized wooden boat, infused with spiritual energy, expanded to accommodate everyone. Just as when they had arrived, Liu Buli sat at the front of the ship, with Lu Wuming behind him. However, unlike their previous journey, Liu Buli was now nestled in Lu Wuming's lap, finding it far more comfortable than the hard wooden deck. The other Danzong members stood in the middle and rear sections of the wooden boat, so no one noticed that it was actually Lu Wuming, holding Liu Buli, who was controlling the ship this time. After all, his Master had been thoroughly exhausted these past two days. If he were to continue using his spiritual energy to control such a large flying ship, even if he himself agreed, Lu Wuming certainly wouldn't allow him to be so tired.
Leaning comfortably in his lover's embrace, Liu Buli yawned. Closing his eyes, he said, "Wuming, I know you want to be alone with me all the time. But you also know that your Master is someone who enjoys playing, making merry, and exploring."
Lu Wuming nodded.
Liu Buli continued, "So, I truly want to see this through with Shen Muyan. Think of it as you accompanying me on a scenic tour, broadening our horizons. Isn't that good?"
Lu Wuming lowered his gaze and casually asked, "What horizons are there to broaden?"
Liu Buli opened his eyes and smiled brilliantly. "Dragons. Real divine dragons, like in storybooks."