If Liu Buli had said this at any other time, Lu Wuming would have been delighted. But at this moment, as the words left his lips, Lu Wuming merely furrowed his brows and replied with displeasure, "Let's talk about that after you've recovered, Master. In your current state, I have no interest in such matters."
As he spoke, he paused, glanced at Liu Buli again, and then directly extended his arms to lift the other man.
Liu Buli was startled.
He let out a low gasp, then quickly wrapped his arms around Lu Wuming's neck. After being carried forward for a short distance, Liu Buli chuckled and tried to dissuade him, "Wuming, you don't have to carry me. Master is fine now and can walk on his own."
He said this very earnestly.
But Lu Wuming merely shot him a displeased glance, his actions unchanged. He said, "Master, you once told me something: there's a problem called 'Master thinks you have a problem.' This situation is the same. I think you need this, so just be good and let me carry you. Do you understand?"
As Lu Wuming spoke, a discernible chill entered his voice. Liu Buli knew very well that if he refused again now, Lu Wuming wouldn't do anything to him at this moment. However, once he recovered to a state where he *could* be acted upon, Lu Wuming would absolutely not let him off the hook.
After all, his little disciple...
His memory in this regard was terrifyingly potent.
Thinking this, Liu Buli felt no tension. Instead, he couldn't help but chuckle softly, pinching Lu Wuming's handsome face with his fingers. He said, "Wuming, if you always treat me like this, I'll be spoiled rotten."
"Then being spoiled rotten would be best," Lu Wuming answered without hesitation. He continued, "If Master could be so spoiled that he couldn't live without me, only able to exist by my side, needing me to accompany him everywhere, unable to walk a single step on his own, then I might be even happier."
He said this with a seriousness that left no room for jest.
Liu Buli imagined the scene and couldn't help but shake his head. "If that were truly the case, Master's limbs would have to be broken. Only by becoming a cripple would it be impossible to leave you. Wuming, do you want to see Master like that?"
Lu Wuming's brow instantly furrowed.
To be honest, he had considered the same thing more than once. However, each time he imagined it, the outcome was the same as Liu Buli's question.
Did he want a Master whose limbs were broken, who could only stay by his side, unable to go anywhere like a doll?
Lu Wuming lowered his gaze, remaining silent.
He had to admit that at times, he truly wished his Master were such a being. But as soon as this thought arose, he would quickly dismiss it.
This was the person he loved most.
How could he bear to see him become like that?
With a long sigh, Lu Wuming lowered his head and kissed Liu Buli's forehead. Even without a verbal answer, seeing his look of helplessness, Liu Buli understood what was on his mind.
Chuckling twice, Liu Buli wrapped his arms around Lu Wuming's neck again, nuzzling his head into the crook of his neck. He then whispered softly, "Wuming, don't always be so worried and anxious. Master loves you very much, so I won't just abandon you carelessly."
In the past, when he said such things, Lu Wuming would happily make a promise with him. But this time, after he finished speaking, Lu Wuming narrowed his eyes, looked down at him, and then earnestly corrected him, "Master, your promise to me before wasn't like this. You said you would stay by Wuming's side at all times, never leaving."
Liu Buli's lips twitched, his expression one of extreme awkwardness.
Had he really said that?
It seemed like a very, very long time ago, when this person wasn't so tall, and he still treated Lu Wuming as a junior he was raising, he might have said one or two similar things.
But now was not then.
The little fellow from before couldn't do what he could now.
So how could the promise from back then still be kept faithfully?
His cheeks inexplicably flushed a little, Liu Buli averted his gaze uncomfortably. Clearing his throat, he said, "Wuming, under normal circumstances, Master would naturally not leave you. But you can't use that promise to always act recklessly with Master. I do want to stay by your side, but I also have to consider my own safety. So if you go too far, I will..."
"You will abandon Wuming, run away from home, or simply drive me away?" Lu Wuming stared into his eyes, asking word by word.
His gaze was so intense that Liu Buli felt as if he were being seen through, making him somewhat uneasy.
Subconsciously shifting his gaze, Liu Buli said softly, "I won't go too far. I'll always stay somewhere you can find me, and I won't truly run away."
The implication was that when he couldn't take it anymore, he would still run.
Lu Wuming understood his meaning but could say nothing.
In the end, he could only sigh.
His Master was truly his eternal, unshakeable weakness.
This inner secret realm was much larger than the outer one. Lu Wuming carried Liu Buli for a long time, yet they saw nothing else.
Not only were there no monsters, humans, or ghosts, but even the surrounding environment seemed to have undergone no significant changes.
Lu Wuming, who already had little patience for such things, frowned in annoyance at the situation. "Master, are you sure there's really anything else here? If not, Wuming wants to take you back to the sect. The poison you took before..."
"The poison is completely fine now. See, I'm perfectly well, aren't I?" Liu Buli interrupted Lu Wuming with a helpless expression, holding out his five fingers to show him. "See, the color has returned to normal. I'm fine. As for this secret realm, it's very important. According to the descriptions in the novel, ancient texts from the mythical era can be found here. There might be records that can solve the trouble of my dual souls. Don't you want to see?"