Chapter Twenty-Two: Clinging to Master’s Leg

In my heart, the noble and gentle Zilian is as flawless as jade—when did he become so sharp-tongued? I began to suspect that the Zilian before me was, in fact, some mischievous disciple from Lingyun Mountain, disguising himself to play tricks on me, the new arrival.

This... this is outrageous—far too much for a poor fish like me to bear.

Fueled by indignation, I clenched my fists and strode up to him, stopping only when my nose nearly touched his. I caught a fleeting flash of surprise in his eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared.

"You are not this lotus—how would you know if it doesn't like to be near me?"

I shouted, thoroughly disgruntled. "Honestly, in all my years, I've never met a cultivator as vain and self-important as you. Hurry up and change your face back—don't you dare pretend to be Zilian!"

As I spoke, I reached out to tug at his face.

"You..."

His expression froze, his fine brows knitting together like two fuzzy caterpillars.

"Let go."

A sharp pain, as though a knife had sliced my arm, made me wince, and he brushed away my hand from his face.

"No, I won't let go!"

Why should I? I lunged forward and clung tightly to his arm, ignoring his struggles, determined not to release him. How could I let such a scoundrel get away so easily?

I grabbed his sleeve, giving him a sinister grin. "Trying to escape, are you? No chance. If you dare use Zilian's appearance, you'd better have the guts to face the consequences. I'll drag you right over to him this instant a