Lu Wuming posed a question, but he didn't actually expect Liu Buli to respond. As soon as the words left his mouth, he scooped the other man up and carried him back to their shared room.
This time, he didn't use a belt. Instead, he used the ropes made of water that he had conjured on the martial arts stage.
After binding Liu Buli once more, Lu Wuming took a moment to admire the beautiful sight before him.
He felt that Liu Buli had been mistaken about a few things.
The most beautiful existence in this world wasn't Shen Muzhi's cultivation techniques, nor was it his own face. It was clearly his master, so beautiful, so perfect, so flawless that one couldn't find a single imperfection.
With this thought, Lu Wuming lowered his head and gently kissed Liu Buli's lips.
His movements were incredibly tender, yet as always, deeply passionate and lingering. By the time the kiss ended, Liu Buli's eyes were already rimmed with red, and a thin layer of mist had formed in them.
Glaring at Lu Wuming, Liu Buli said, "Wuming, I asked you to give me those silks before so you wouldn't tie me up anymore. I didn't want you to come up with these new tricks. From belts to spiritual energy, what else can't you think of?"
Lu Wuming blinked and stared at Liu Buli's beautiful eyes for a while longer. He then chuckled softly and shook his head. "Master," Lu Wuming said, "if you keep praising Wuming like this, Wuming won't be able to help himself..."
Liu Buli: ...
What kind of twisted logic was this? When did I praise you? I was criticizing and educating you, can't you tell?
His eyes widened, and he was about to lecture him again when, as he opened his mouth, Lu Wuming's lips pressed against his, silencing him.
Everything that followed was as usual. His thoughts quickly succumbed and dissipated, and the words he hadn't managed to speak were ultimately cast aside.
An sleepless night.
When he opened his eyes again, it was already the afternoon of the next day.
There were no matches for the two of them that day, so Liu Buli was content to have some leisure and didn't rush to get up and do anything.
Lu Wuming lay beside him, just as he always did. He reached out and pulled Liu Buli into his embrace, his gentle and considerate actions mirroring how one would treat their most precious treasure.
Liu Buli savored this favoritism. He leaned into Lu Wuming's arms for a while, and only after his sleepiness had completely vanished did he yawn and get out of bed.
He had slept through most of the day, which felt like such a waste. But before he could even get dressed, an arm from behind pulled him back into bed.
Lu Wuming rested his head on Liu Buli's shoulder and yawned. His voice was still thick with sleep as he said, "Master, you were tired all night yesterday. Aren't you going to rest today?"
"No need to rest. I'm going to check on things," Liu Buli said, ruffling Lu Wuming's hair. "It's your junior sister's match today, and I already feel bad for not watching. I should at least go ask her about the result. I'll be back soon, you just wait here for me."
Lu Wuming pouted.
He really didn't want Liu Buli to go see anyone else.
But he also knew that if he said that, Liu Buli would definitely be unhappy.
So, he could only let out a wronged hum and get out of bed. "Then, Master, I'll go with you. You..."
"You stay here and rest well. If you're feeling refreshed, get up and meditate. I'm just going to the next courtyard, it's not far. You don't need to follow me," Liu Buli pushed him back onto the bed.
Even though Lu Wuming had worn him out all night, he was still the disciple he doted on.
Even if he had gone too far, Liu Buli still couldn't bear to see him tired or wronged. So, during their rare downtime, he didn't want the other to exert himself too much by following him.
After saying this, Liu Buli got up and left the room.
Lu Wuming watched his retreating back for a moment, then obediently didn't follow.
Once he left the courtyard and arrived at Yun Xiang's residence, Liu Buli entered to find Yun Xiang sitting by the stone table in the courtyard, surrounded by a group of other disciples who were trying to comfort her.
Yun Xiang, however, seemed unfazed, as if she were indifferent. Liu Buli even detected a hint of helplessness and annoyance towards the other disciples in her expression.
In a way, Yun Xiang was quite similar to Lu Wuming. They hadn't had much contact with others, so they naturally lacked the smoothness and habit of dealing with people.
Sensing Yun Xiang's displeasure, Liu Buli coughed lightly, drawing the disciples' attention to his presence.
Perhaps it was because he had established his authority in the Dan Sect so successfully on several occasions, but as soon as the disciples saw Liu Buli, they immediately greeted him and dispersed as quickly as possible.
Seeing them act like this, Liu Buli found it somewhat amusing. He walked over to Yun Xiang and sat down beside her, then said softly, "I had something to attend to today and couldn't watch your match. But judging by everyone's reaction, did you lose today?"
When conversing with Yun Xiang, Liu Buli was accustomed to this direct style of communication. After all, the young girl believed him to be a good person, and this mode of interaction would also make her feel more at ease.
As expected, after the question was asked, Yun Xiang calmly nodded.
She didn't seem too disheartened by the outcome of the match. Or perhaps, for her, the match itself was just like a game. Whether she won or lost, it wouldn't cause her mood to fluctuate too much.
However, since Liu Buli had asked, Yun Xiang thought for a moment and then replied seriously, "My opponent was very strong, much stronger than I expected. But I could feel that he was just sparring with me, not trying to take my life. Master, you said to surrender if I couldn't win, so I obeyed and didn't get hurt."
Liu Buli nodded in appreciation as he listened to her words.
Whether it was Yun Xiang or Lu Wuming, even if they had some difficulty communicating with others, they were always so obedient and well-behaved when dealing with Liu Buli.
With this thought, Liu Buli's joy increased. After a moment of thought, he asked, "Do you remember your opponent's name?"
Yun Xiang thought for a moment, then shook her head. She said, "It was an old man, he looked very old. If Master were to face him, you should be a little careful. That person is truly formidable."