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"Sect Leader Jiang commends you," Nie Huaisang said gaily. "I do hope you haven't been flirting with him, Zhu Bajie?"
Zhu Bajie carefully didn't meet either his eyes or those of Nie Fengyong.
"No, Sect Leader," he said. "I did my best to represent the sect respectably and honourably at all times."
"You'd better," Nie Fengyong muttered, taking the sheet of paper Nie Huaisang passed to him.
"I'm glad," Nie Huaisang said, his face open and innocent. "I'd be devastated to think you thought of someone else in such a manner. Simply devastated, little Bajie."
Zhu Bajie thought of placid lakes. Cool, still water. The chill of morning. He couldn't help it: he felt the blush rising. Nie Huaisang's eyes glittered with definite amused malice. He'd stop now, Zhu Bajie knew. He'd won.
"Did Jiang Wanyin say why he and his sons are going to Lanling so early?"
"No, Sect Leader."
"He really doesn't like my poor San-ge," Nie Huaisang sighed. "Yet he's visiting Lanling days before the cultivation conference! Ah-Yong, do you think Jin Ling is in trouble?"
"I haven't heard of any other clans' tombs being ransacked recently," Nie Fengyong said drily. "It may just be a family visit he can't get out of."
"Well, it is good of Jiang-xiong to write," Nie Huaisang said, smoothing out the letters Zhu Bajie had delivered. "I'm sure they're very interesting. Oh, look, Ah-Yong, here he says he looks forward to seeing me at the conference."
"Yes, Sect Leader," Nie Fengyong said, almost smiling. "I'm sure the characters could be read that way."
"You have to understand how he thinks: I suppose I'll see you at Jin Guangyao's damn-fool show - little Bajie, you've been in Yunmeng so long, doesn't that sound like I hope to see you there when translated to Qinghe dialect?"
"Yes, Sect Leader," Zhu Bajie said. He paused. He really wanted to spend a long time in the Unclean Realm with Kanan, but – "Sect Leader, will you require me to go to Lanling with you for the conference?"
"Zhu Bajie," Nie Fengyong growled, "do not quiz the Sect Leader on his plans."
"Ah-Yong," Nie Huaisang said cheerfully, "Don't be so fierce! Zhu Bajie wishes to be useful, in case I have messages to send to Sect Leader Jiang, isn't that so?"
"Yes, Sect Leader."
"We shall see. Hold yourself ready for me, little Bajie. I may require your services at any time of the day –" He looked Zhu Bajie slowly up and down. " – or night." As the blush spread over Zhu Bajie's cheeks again, Nie Huaisang smiled brilliantly. "But not just now! You may go. Enjoy some time with your little wife."
Zhu Bajie withdrew and fled for safety. That wasn't fair, Nie Huaisang had already won! But he'd asked a question out of turn. He sighed. It was a less stinging form of rebuke than any Nie Fengyong could hand out, but more embarrassing.
He really didn't know why his sect leader had to be so silly.