There was nothing that Liu Buli would refuse to do for Lu Wuming, as long as it didn't harm him.
Especially this request, which sounded like a child who had worked hard for a long time and finally achieved some success, wanting to prove himself. As his master and his elder brother, he naturally had to support him unconditionally!
So, after considering for less than a second, Liu Buli nodded and said, "Of course, you can try. But for you now, I'm still a bit too heavy. If you can't lift me up, don't be too disappointed, okay?"
Lu Wuming nodded.
He stood up, placing his hands on Liu Buli's waist and the bend of his knees, respectively. Just as Liu Buli had done for him many times before, he took a deep breath and lifted with all his might.
He could feel the smooth skin beneath his hands and sense that his master had indeed shifted slightly with his movement. But that was all; there were no further changes.
Lu Wuming exerted all his strength, his face turning red from the effort.
Finally, Liu Buli chuckled. He ruffled Lu Wuming's hair and said, "Alright, stop trying. If you keep pushing, I'll start to doubt if I'm really that fat!"
Hearing this, Lu Wuming quickly let go.
He shook his head vigorously and, recalling the words he had learned, said earnestly, "Master's figure is great, not fat at all!"
His arms and legs were slender and long, and his waist was incredibly thin.
Not being able to lift him was entirely his own problem. Master was perfect, absolutely flawless!
His praise was so sincere that Liu Buli felt a little embarrassed. He pulled the young man back into his embrace and said seriously, "Alright, you can't gain weight overnight. How long have you been training? It's good enough that you've put on some muscle. It's impossible to have such strength so quickly; this takes time, don't rush."
Lu Wuming nuzzled against Liu Buli's chest and asked in a muffled voice, "Then Master, can Wuming try often to see if there's any progress?"
"Of course," Liu Buli smiled. "But you don't have to use me as a benchmark. You can use stones or other things as substitutes. For example, the stone bench in our courtyard seems pretty good, don't you think?"
Lu Wuming shook his head decisively.
What was the use of stones? His reason for practicing was for his master from the very beginning.
Seeing Lu Wuming's firm resolve, Liu Buli had nothing more to say. He could only shake his head helplessly, chuckle softly, and say, "Then practicing on me is fine, but you must remember that lifting me is just the beginning, not the end. You need to become very, very strong, stronger than everyone else, so that no one dares to bully you anymore, understand?"
Lu Wuming nodded.
This he understood.
Only by becoming strong enough to kill everyone could he guarantee that no one would ever be able to harm his master again.
He lowered his gaze and said, "Master, Wuming wants to learn many powerful spells. Can Master teach them all to me?"
"Of course," Liu Buli smiled. "As long as you want to, I will teach you without reservation."
This was not a comfort, but a promise he was certain he could fulfill.
After speaking, Liu Buli continued to help Lu Wuming clean himself. He pursed his lips and said, "But this will take time, a very long time. For now, Wuming, you should clean yourself properly and help Master scrub your back."
Lu Wuming obediently agreed.
This was not the first time the two of them had bathed together. In fact, when the same thing was repeated many times, Lu Wuming was no longer as shy as he was at the beginning.
After they had both cleaned up, Liu Buli changed Lu Wuming's clothes and put on a loose inner garment himself. Then, he leisurely led Lu Wuming back to his own residence.
As they entered the room, the moon was already high in the sky. Liu Buli yawned and went straight to bed. He beckoned to Lu Wuming, signaling him to rest early with him. However, the young man walked to the bedside and looked at Liu Buli on the bed, but for the first time, he did not happily lie down beside him.
Liu Buli blinked, a hint of confusion in his eyes. He asked, "Wuming, are you not sleeping? Is there something else?"
Lu Wuming nodded vigorously.
Their eyes met, and the confusion in Liu Buli's eyes did not diminish at all.
Lu Wuming knew that his master had forgotten their agreement. He felt a little helpless and could only proactively remind him, "Master, didn't we agree that you would punish Wuming today? We've already bathed, and Wuming will give you a massage until you fall asleep."
Liu Buli froze for a moment, then burst into laughter.
He waved his hand and said, "You child, why are you so serious? I only said I would punish you to scare you. You've had a tiring day, with physical training and meditation. Your cultivation isn't high enough yet, you must be exhausted. Just go to sleep, why bother with punishment?"
As he spoke, he extended his hands towards Lu Wuming.
In the past, when he made this gesture, the young man would unhesitatingly throw himself into his arms and nuzzle against him playfully.
But today, Lu Wuming did not move. He remained stubbornly standing there and said to Liu Buli, "Master, you told Wuming that he must be trustworthy in his words and actions. Wuming has taken your words to heart. Master, you cannot set a bad example by lying."
"But..."
Liu Buli scratched his head.
Who would eagerly ask for punishment?
However, Lu Wuming was right. He was the master, and his words should be his bond. Since he had promised a punishment, he had to keep his word.
With this thought, Liu Buli finally took off his inner garment and lay down on the bed. Yawning, he said, "Wuming, just press as you see fit. Sleep if you're tired, don't force yourself."
Lu Wuming did not reply.
Liu Buli called out again, "Wuming?"
The young man finally responded with a hasty "Mm."
For a moment, he felt as if his master was truly punishing him. Otherwise, why would he need to take off his clothes just for a massage!?