Inside the City of Fools, Sun Tiecheng cradled a teapot, taking a sip straight from the spout. He hummed a few lines of a ditty: "West of Moxiang Shop where the willows turn green, lived a fair maiden named Bai Junying. Deft with the brush, in painting refined, nineteen winters had graced this beauty sublime. Her husband toiled hard at his studies down south, as mid-fourth-month came creeping right in—"
Before Sun Tiecheng could finish the tune—called "Painting the Fan"—the Smiling Ghost King, Gui Jianchou, arrived. "City Lord, I've looked into it thoroughly. A giant river snail appeared over by Qishuiyao. It strung up more than fifty people from the Outer States in a line, taking only their bones and leaving no flesh or blood behind, scrubbed squeaky clean, hanging right out in front of the entrance."
Sun Tiecheng took another swig of tea and asked, "Where did those fifty-odd Outer States folks come from?"
"All people of status, on par with those from the Garrison Office. This time, the Outer States will definitely go to war. Dog eat dog—who knows how many will get mauled to death!"
Sun Tiecheng chuckled. "Let's see how much blood flows this time."
Beside him, Ye Jianhuang spoke up. "City Lord, doing something like this... does it count as defying heaven and destroying morality?"
Sun Tiecheng shot Ye Jianhuang a glare. "The things you did back in the City of Fools—did those not count as defying heaven and destroying morality?"
Ye Jianhuang hung his head. "Haven't I reformed? All these years, I've lived in regret over what I did back then. I decided to turn over a new leaf. As they say, put down the butcher's knife and turn back to shore."
Sun Tiecheng snapped in anger, "You committed every evil under the sun in the City of Fools, and now you have the nerve to preach about putting down the butcher's knife? Besides, that's not even how you use the saying! The original words are: put down the butcher's knife and stay meek and mild!"
Ye Jianhuang said, "Let's not dwell on the original words. Let's talk about the meaning."
"Don't give me that meaning crap! You've never read a book in your life, yet you dare put on airs like a scholar before me!" Sun Tiecheng was furious. Turning to Gui Jianchou, he barked, "Ah-Gui, bring out the house discipline!"
Gui Jianchou produced a cudgel and asked, "City Lord, where should I hit?"
The City Lord waved a massive hand. "Smash his balls!"
Hearing that, Ye Jianhuang bolted to run. Sun Tiecheng roared, "You can't run, and you won't be able to run!"
Ye Jianhuang remained frozen in a running stance, yet truly couldn't take a single step.
Gui Jianchou walked over, cudgel in hand. Ye Jianhuang shouted frantically, "Old Ghost, we're friends! We're on the same side! You can't be this ruthless to me! In the future, we still have to—"
Crack!
Gui Jianchou swung the cudgel upward from below.
Ye Jianhuang convulsed violently, clamped his legs together, and dropped into a crouch on the ground.
Sun Tiecheng was thoroughly satisfied. "See? Isn't this putting down the butcher's knife and staying meek and mild?"
Ye Jianhuang kept his head down, tears brimming in his eyes, sobbing for a good long while.
Sun Tiecheng assigned him a task: "Pass word to the local spirits in every territory: mind your own business, and don't go poking your noses where they don't belong!"
***
Li Banfeng put on a suit of plain, clean sportswear, shaved off his stubble, and made himself look as youthful and green as possible before returning to Yuezhou University.
Yuezhou had changed a lot over the past two years, but Yuezhou University seemed largely the same.
It was right on the eve of the new semester, and the campus was bustling with energy. Walking up to the school's east gate, two students came over peddling phone SIM cards. Li Banfeng had worked that hustle himself in the past. Hearing them call him "handsome bro" one after another sounded pleasant enough to his ears, so he actually bought one.
Behind them were vendors selling washbasins, mosquito nets, thermoses, immersion heaters, and rechargeable desk lamps, all shouting to drum up business with Li Banfeng.
"You have the nerve to ask fifteen for a rechargeable lamp like this? You take me for a freshman?" Li Banfeng was thoroughly unimpressed by the price.
The student selling the lamp was a junior. He looked Li Banfeng up and down, a trace of disdain in his eyes.
Li Banfeng had indeed leaned into looking inexperienced, but they shouldn't have pegged him for a brand-new freshman!
Yet thinking it over carefully, he really had made the kind of rookie mistake only freshmen made—like buying a phone card the moment he walked through the gate.
And then there was his outfit.
Sophomore guys cared about appearances, usually wearing a brand-name piece or two.
Junior guys cared about individuality, always sporting an artsy vibe.
Senior guys cared about reaching a higher state of mind. In weather like this, a basketball jersey, baggy shorts, and a pair of flip-flops—a simple ensemble that fully captured the poise of an elder.
Li Banfeng, dressed in clean, plain sportswear, looked every bit like a raw, green first-year.
He couldn't very well visit Teacher Song empty-handed, so Li Banfeng bought a washbasin, a mosquito net, and a pair of slippers before finding Teacher Song in the School of Science office building.
University lecturers didn't have to clock in for regular office hours, so managing to run into her so easily was no small feat.
Teacher Song was a mathematics lecturer. Li Banfeng hadn't planned on asking a math teacher about dark matter; he merely hoped she could refer him to an expert in the field.
Unexpectedly, Teacher Song had conducted deep research into dark matter, held numerous scientific accomplishments, and had even won international awards.
Li Banfeng did not disclose his true identity, saying only that he was an industrious, motivated student.
Teacher Song enthusiastically walked him through the latest developments in dark matter research. She avoided dwelling too heavily on complex derivations and calculations, presenting the research findings in a far more direct manner.
"Dark matter generally does not interact electromagnetically, nor does it participate in strong interactions. This was once an ironclad rule in the field of dark matter research. But at present, this rule is very likely to be overturned. Dark matter barely interacts with photons, which causes it to emit practically no light. Yet certain disordered fluctuations still exist within it—it's just that these fluctuations interfere with one another, rendering them nearly unobservable..."
Teacher Song earnestly explained her research for a full three hours.
Li Banfeng filled two entire notebooks. Near the end, he pulled a thick stack of banknotes from his pocket and pressed them into her hands.
"What are you doing?" Teacher Song's brow furrowed slightly, her gaze carrying a hint of displeasure. She was offended.
Li Banfeng bowed deeply to her. "Thank you, Teacher."
Handing the money back, Teacher Song asked, "Which class are you from?"
"I'm from Class Seven." Li Banfeng tossed out an offhand excuse, turned on his heel, and walked away.
He truly wished he could tell Teacher Song that he was Li Banfeng.
Doing so, however, would only bring her endless trouble.
Teacher Song called after him, "At least leave me your contact information!"
*Leave contact information?*
*Did she recognize me?*
Anyone capable of recognizing Li Banfeng was no ordinary person.
Li Banfeng pondered for a moment, then left her a phone number—not from the Dark Star Bureau, but from the SIM card he had just bought at the front gate.
Teacher Song glanced at the number and dialed it immediately. "Don't try fooling me. Let's see if it rings!"
"Hold on a second." Li Banfeng slipped the card into his newly purchased phone, and the call went through.
Teacher Song smiled; her dimples were as lovely as ever.
Li Banfeng bowed once more, then quietly departed the campus.
***
The moment he returned to his residence, the projector hurried to inform him: "A call came from the Dark Star Bureau. They said there's an urgent assignment for you."
The call had been from Shen Jingye. When Li Banfeng dialed back, Shen Jingye was frantic. "Today is a workday! It's one thing for you to be away from your post, but why weren't you answering your phone?"
"Xiao Shen, watch your attitude."
Brought back to his senses by Li Banfeng's reminder, Shen Jingye's tone softened considerably. "Director Li, the situation is this: we have established a certain degree of contact with the Inner States. On the foundation of mutual benefit, we wish to deepen cooperation further, which requires the balancer to play an active intermediary role—"
Li Banfeng remained silent, yet Shen Jingye could sense waves of chill radiating through the earpiece.
This was Li Banfeng's way of telling him to cut to the chase.
"In short, we hope you can proceed to Qishuiyao as soon as possible, striving to lay a solid foundation for the next round of negotiations."
Li Banfeng asked, "What exactly are you going to negotiate with the Inner States?"
"The specific content hasn't been finalized yet. The primary objective of these talks is to demonstrate our sincerity and expectations for mutual benefit and win-win cooperation..."
Shen Jingye knew Li Banfeng despised such empty talk, but he had no choice but to push through with it. The incident at Qishuiyao was currently classified under strict secrecy; even someone at Shen Jingye's rank had not been briefed on the exact details.
Shen Jingye had already bought a train ticket for Li Seven for tonight, hoping he would set off for Qishuiyao immediately.
Li Banfeng refused flatly. "Without a shred of substantive information, what am I going for? Rushing over to play the clown, or rushing over to take the fall?"
Shen Jingye was left thoroughly embarrassed. By the afternoon, he came to Li Banfeng's office again to discuss a departure time.
Li Banfeng was reviewing materials related to dark matter. Shen Jingye droned on and on beside him for ages, but Li Banfeng didn't even raise his head.
"Director Li, when exactly are you setting off? You have to give me a straight answer."
Li Banfeng finally looked up. He fixed his gaze on Shen Jingye. "Once you've investigated the matter thoroughly, then we'll discuss leaving."
Shen Jingye wore a helpless expression. "The matter involves classified intelligence. What I know right now is all there is."
Li Banfeng spoke with earnest gravity: "It is precisely because useful information is so scarce right now that you need to go investigate. The purpose of an investigation is for you to seek out information, not wait for information to come looking for you. This is a task the bureau has entrusted to you. You need to elevate your ideological awareness..."
Shen Jingye pulled out a small notebook and jotted down every word with painstaking care.
Yet no matter how carefully he took notes, it was useless. Relying on Shen Jingye to uncover the full story would be impossible. Li Banfeng contacted Ma the Fifth to ask about the situation in Qishuiyao.
Xu Shouming had locked down the news, so Ma the Fifth hadn't heard what had happened in Qishuiyao either, but he could tell it was no simple matter.
"Old Seven, don't be in a rush to come back. The moment you return, you'll be dragged in completely. I'll go take a look at Qishuiyao first."
Ma the Fifth set off for Qishuiyao, while Li Banfeng held his ground on his end. No matter how much Shen Jingye pressed, he simply refused to budge.
***
Critick uncovered the identity of the operator behind the Night Fragrance Newspaper Office. It hadn't been hard to find—the core members of the office all referred to Boss Ye as Seventh Master.
From this, Lü Shuigong confirmed one thing: on the surface, Li Seven appeared to have bad blood with He Jiaqing, but in secret, the two were covering and protecting each other.
He even made a bold deduction: both the Sage and the Imperial Seal were in Li Seven's hands.
"Li Seven became a balancer and is now in the Outer States." Lü Shuigong took out half a flatbread from his begging bowl and chewed a couple of bites. "Do you know anything about his recent situation there?"
Critick gave a dry laugh. "Patriarch, you aren't thinking of having me go to the Outer States to investigate this, are you?"
Lü Shuigong looked at Critick. "Did you expect me to go myself? I granted you so much cultivation—don't you think you ought to do something for me?"
Critick agreed. That very day, he secured his travel permit, bought a train ticket, and prepared to head to the Outer States.
As he was packing his bags, a man wrapped head to toe in bandages entered his room.
Critick looked the man up and down. "I really didn't expect you to hold out this long. Your vitality is far more tenacious than I imagined."
He Jiaqing adjusted the bandages across his face so he could speak. "Even the most tenacious life has its limits. I came here to seek an opportunity to cooperate with you."
"Pardon me." Critick dabbed a bit of pus from He Jiaqing's face and tasted it. "Your condition is very grim. The chances of preserving this body are microscopic."
He Jiaqing did not deny his state. "That is why I desperately need your help."
Critick folded a necktie and placed it into his suitcase. "I appreciate your candor. But any cooperation must be built upon value. What value do you still hold for me?"
He Jiaqing was prepared. "That depends on your definition of value. I possess many invaluable magical treasures and numinous items, as well as plenty of assets with far more tangible worth."
Critick shook his head slightly. "I have no interest in your assets. Not because I dislike money, but because I most likely wouldn't be able to get my hands on it. Even if you converted all your assets into cold, hard silver and gold, you would certainly have ways to keep them out of my reach. As for your magical treasures and numinous items, I am indeed very interested, but compared to your life, the values on either side simply do not balance out. Furthermore, I have a better idea: I could call the Patriarch back right now, have him kill you, and then figure out a way to take your treasures, numinous items, and assets. What do you think of that approach?"
He Jiaqing blinked. "I think you aren't that kind of heartless person."
Critick smiled. "My sentiment depends entirely on your value."
He Jiaqing fell silent for a long time. Because his face was concealed behind bandages, Critick could not read his expression.
"Truth be told, I didn't want to come looking for you originally. I intended to seek out an old friend," He Jiaqing finally said. "I haven't seen that old friend in a long time. Did you kill him?"
"Are you referring to my senior brother, Wan Jinxian?" Critick's brow twitched. "Senior Brother's whereabouts are unknown, and I am just as anxious. If you are trying to pin this on me, that would be trampling on what little friendship exists between us."
He Jiaqing coughed twice, a large amount of pus clogging his trachea and making breathing difficult. "I never said Old Wan's death had anything to do with you. I was merely thinking: Old Wan is gone. If Lü Shuigong were eliminated as well, you would be the only Disease Cultivator left in the world. Wouldn't that further deepen the friendship between us?"
Critick shut his suitcase, but with too many items packed inside, the latch wouldn't fasten. "Is there any point to such a hypothetical? If you truly had the power to kill him, you wouldn't have ended up in such a wretched state."
He Jiaqing pressed down on the suitcase for Critick. "Yet we share the same objective. I must get rid of Lü Shuigong; my very life depends on it, and I will spare no effort. If you can help me keep the disease focus somewhat under control, I can provide far greater value in this partnership. With greater value, there will be deeper friendship between us. A logic so smooth and sound—you shouldn't be able to refuse it."
Critick successfully snapped the latch shut, straightened up, and dusted off his hands. "The logic is impeccable. Yet I still refuse to cooperate with you, because I am unwilling to work with anyone. I refuse to pin my hopes on others."
He Jiaqing looked at Critick and asked, "If I'm not mistaken, back in Moxiang Shop, you once cooperated with Li Seven. Was he an exception?"
Critick nodded. "That's right. He is an exception."
He Jiaqing asked again, "If he were willing to join as well, would you consider working together?"
Critick looked at He Jiaqing expressionlessly. "I will say it once more: do not entertain such pointless hypotheticals."
He Jiaqing departed Boundless Hospital.
***
Not long after he left, the figure of Lü Shuigong materialized before the hospital entrance.
He Jiaqing had come to Boundless Hospital and met with Critick, yet Critick hadn't breathed a word to him.
Faced with such an outcome, Lü Shuigong hardly knew what to think.
Recalling the dealings between Critick and Li Seven—seemingly purposeless, yet marked by tacit understanding:
When he sent the Beggar Cultivator Gouweicao to ambush Li Seven and had Critick monitor from the sidelines, Critick came back claiming Gouweicao was dead, killed by an unidentified assailant.
When he sent Critick to Moxiang Shop to scout out the local spirit, Critick reported that the spirit was in poor shape. Yet instead of the local spirit, Lü Shuigong encountered people from the Inner States, endured a grueling battle, gained nothing, and even ended up injured.
Later, word spread that Li Seven had been in Moxiang Shop at the time as well. Did that affair have anything to do with him?
When he had Critick accompany him to Sage Peak, Critick's whereabouts were completely unaccounted for during the first half, and during the second half, Critick never once lifted a finger.
Critick hadn't offered him the slightest bit of help, yet later came the news that Li Seven had escorted that bunch of wretches from Slut Mound all the way to Huangtu Bridge. Had Critick run off to give him a hand?
And after that, Wan Jinxian went to Huangtu Bridge and vanished without a trace. Could he have been Li Seven's man as well?
The more he thought about it, the more Lü Shuigong suddenly chuckled.
*Could everyone around me belong to Li Seven?*
*Should I go into the hospital right now and slaughter Critick?*
After long deliberation, Lü Shuigong did not go in to kill him.
If one assumed the worst of everything, even an innocent man became a villain.
If Critick truly was Li Seven's man, killing him would only deprive Li Seven of a single pawn.
If Critick wasn't Li Seven's man, killing him would mean Lü Shuigong was taking a massive loss.
Scooping a handful of dirt from the ground, Lü Shuigong sniffed it. It carried He Jiaqing's scent, tinged with a faint trace of pus.
Lü Shuigong concealed his form once more and continued tracking He Jiaqing.
***
He Jiaqing traveled north all the way to Guangming Town.
From Guangming Town, he entered the newland, walking until daybreak when he reached Wuyouping. After trekking through Wuyouping for the better part of a day, he stepped into another stretch of newland. By dusk, emerging from the newland, He Jiaqing had already arrived at Tiemen Fort.
At Tiemen Fort, he went into the lake and entered the newland once more. After trekking for a full day, He Jiaqing finally arrived at Huahu Park.
He had come to Yuezhou to seek Li Banfeng's help; only through Li Banfeng could he earn Critick's trust.
Yet how was he to convince Li Banfeng? How could he persuade him to join this alliance?
He Jiaqing couldn't think of a single reason to open the conversation.
Perhaps there was someone who could lend him a hand.
He pulled up his coat collar, concealing as much of the bandages on his face as possible, and walked in the direction of Yuezhou University.
***
A few hours later, within the lake waters of Huahu Park, a drop of bloody pus trembled faintly.
More and more pus coalesced, forming a viscous raft of floating grime on the lake's surface.
As the scum gathered together, a face covered in pustules broke through the surface.
"So this is the Outer States." The face on the water opened its eyes, taking in the surroundings.
The floating mass gradually assumed human shape, reforming into the ragged-clothed Lü Shuigong.
Lü Shuigong climbed onto the shore and took two steps along the lake when a voice suddenly barked from behind him: "Where did you come from? What are you doing here?"
Lü Shuigong turned around and saw a man walking toward him.
"I asked what you're doing here! Can't you hear me?" the man demanded loudly.
Lü Shuigong rattled the bowl in his hand. "I'm a beggar."
"Who let you into this park? Get out of here right now!" The man stepped forward and shoved Lü Shuigong, sending him staggering.
Lühuazi stared at the man in disbelief. "You shoved me?"
The man glared at Lühuazi. "What if I did?"
Lühuazi had a foundation in the Martial Cultivator path; the only reason the shove had sent him staggering was that he had been completely off his guard.
This man seemed to carry some status—if compared to Puluo Province, he would probably be someone from the Garrison Office, wouldn't he?
"Higher-ups are coming for an inspection any minute, and a beggar shows up to make a scene? Where are the security guards? How did they let you in!" The man looked around, saw no guards, and found only Lü Shuigong standing there dazed.
"Still not leaving?" The man stepped forward to shove Lü Shuigong again, but this time, he couldn't summon any strength.
His hand felt numb, then soft.
Truly soft. From the elbow down, the lower half of his forearm drooped, as if stripped of all bone.
"Uh, gurgle—" The man opened his mouth to cry for help, but the sound was choked by a flood of pus and blood. His lower jaw dropped limp, unable to close.
His face collapsed in an instant. His head hung against his chest like a sack of raw meat, thick fluids gushing from his mouth and nose.
It wasn't just his face that collapsed. The bones throughout his entire body were being voraciously hollowed out by the disease focus, riddled with countless perforations, turning brittle and spongy until they crumbled into powder.
The disease focus within the powder continued corroding his flesh until he dissolved into a pool of pus.
Under the corrosive onslaught, even his clothes melted into sludge, seeping into the soil alongside the pus.
Lü Shuigong paid no mind to the puddle on the ground. Holding his begging bowl, he continued strolling through the park.
Upon emerging onto the street, Lü Shuigong looked at the streaming cars and crowds of pedestrians, unable to suppress a gasp of admiration: "There are so many people in the Outer States, even more than in Green Water City. I can kill as many as I want, and there won't be any..."
*Thud!*
A man shoved Lü Shuigong from behind, sending him staggering once more.
"Who said you could beg here? Move along right now, or I'll arrest you on the spot!"
*Shoved me again?*
Lühuazi turned around. Standing behind him were a young man and woman. Neither looked particularly old, yet both clearly held authority; the street vendors selling balloons, sausages, and cotton candy all looked terrified of them.
The man had his hands behind his back, swaying his head as he barked angrily, "I asked you a question! Who said you could beg here?"
He looked somewhat like a patrol officer, yet officers weren't usually this arrogant.
He might also be the scion of some prominent family.
Lü Shuigong smiled and asked, "Which family are you from?"
The man froze, brows shooting up. "Why do you care? Is it any of your business?"
Lü Shuigong sighed in marvel. "The people of the Outer States really are something. Back where I come from, there are precious few who dare shove me."
"I shoved you, so what—" Before he could finish, the man began coughing violently.
At first, thinking he had merely swallowed a gust of wind, the woman paid it no heed and continued urging Lü Shuigong to leave.
Yet the man's coughing grew fiercer and fiercer, his body trembling uncontrollably. On the verge of collapsing, he still couldn't stop.
The woman stepped forward to support him, only to see his face turning a bruised purple, his eyes bloodshot, coughing non-stop, leaving her at a complete loss for what to do.
Lü Shuigong turned and walked away, chuckling as he went: "Not a bad place. The people are quite interesting, and there's no Peddler here.
"Once I take care of Li Seven, I'll stick around and enjoy myself for a few days."
***
Having arrived in Qishuiyao, Ma the Fifth first rented a residence to settle down, then gathered a group of acquaintances to sniff around for news.
There had been a clash between the Qingyun Society and the Baihua Sect that resulted in casualties, which was the only major event in Qishuiyao of late.
Yet an incident like that wouldn't warrant calling in a balancer.
Ma the Fifth went to inquire with the Garrison Envoy of Qishuiyao, Yan Song'an, but Yan was evasive and refused to talk.
The more he refused to speak, the clearer it was that the situation was grave. Under such circumstances, Ma the Fifth certainly couldn't let Li Seven come to Qishuiyao.
Come evening, just as Ma the Fifth was wondering what other channels he could tap for information, a guard reported that Garrison Envoy Yan Song'an had requested an audience.
Ma the Fifth hurried to welcome Yan Song'an into the main hall. "Brother Yan, when I sought you out during the day, you brushed me off with platitudes, yet tonight you pay a private visit. What is the meaning of this?"
"There's only one meaning: I wanted to find a proper place to talk with you." Yan Song'an glanced around, feeling the reception hall wasn't quite suitable.
Ma the Fifth ushered Yan Song'an into his study. Yan Song'an lowered his voice: "Something truly did happen in Qishuiyao. Just how big it is, I can't say for sure, but as for where it happened, I happen to know a little."
Yan Song'an gave Ma the Fifth the location of the abandoned factory.
Ma the Fifth felt hesitant. He wanted to go have a look, but had no idea whether it was safe to venture there.
If he simply passed the location to Old Seven, Old Seven would still find it hard to make a call.
Yet if he barged in on his own, he had to weigh his own strength.
Ma the Fifth was currently a fourth-tier Joy Cultivator, accompanied by a few bodyguards whose cultivations sat at the fifth and sixth tiers.
Handling minor figures was trivial, but even the Garrison Envoy was kept in the dark about the truth; whoever occupied that abandoned factory was definitely no small fish.
Ma the Fifth deliberated well into the night. Around two in the morning, he suddenly caught a whiff of fragrance.
It smelled like rouge. Whose scent was this?
A'qin was asleep, and Huo Ling was asleep too; neither of them wore this kind of rouge.
No, this wasn't rouge—it was natural body scent.
Ma the Fifth sprang to his feet and wrapped his arms around the woman behind him.
The woman pouted playfully in his embrace. "Wu-lang is so heartless, forgetting all about me."
Ma the Fifth kissed Feng Daiku's cheek, speaking softly, "That was my fault. You ought to punish me properly."
Feng Daiku had arrived in Qishuiyao.
As they were intimate, Ma the Fifth couldn't help thinking: *Feng Daiku is the local spirit of Kudaikan. Coming to Qishuiyao just like that—did the local spirit of Qishuiyao simply let it slide?*
Feng Daiku patted Ma the Fifth's cheek. "Why did you stop? Something on your mind?"
Ma the Fifth shook his head. "We haven't seen each other in so long. I only wanted to savor every moment."
"Savor what?" Feng Daiku laughed. "Did the flavor change or something? Out with it, what's troubling you?"
Just as Ma the Fifth was about to explain, Feng Daiku patted his cheek again: "Why did you stop again?"
"You're testing me on purpose." Without breaking rhythm, Ma the Fifth recounted the entire sequence of events with even breath.
Wiping the sweat from Ma the Fifth's brow, Feng Daiku asked softly, "Wu-lang, do you truly want to go?"
Ma the Fifth nodded. "I really want to take a look."
Feng Daiku shifted positions with him, tapping the bridge of his nose. "Since you want to go, I'll go with you."
Chapter 517