The pearly gate

The man swiveled toward me, glaring harshly.

"And you are here, boy. Did you kill my cousins?"

I frowned.

"Yes, since they stubbornly attacked me. Or do you suggest I should've instead broken their limbs and dumped them gently out of the mountain, inviting every cultivator in the neighborhood to attack me?"

Guying shook his head, although I wasn't sure if that was his answer to me or to his own thoughts.

"Of course. More people fucking dying," he said. "And you followed me, and probably think I'm a dirty, stinking liar, hiding treasures from you. Hah!"

"Right now, I just think you are hysterical and even more drunk than usual, and you should calm down. Then, yes, I'd love to hear your story. I feel like it's interesting."

With a heavy sigh, Guying flopped to sit on the floor, leaning his back on the pearly gate. At least he stopped crying openly anymore.