I decided that it was a good time to start panicking again once I see his frown. No, I wasn't being nonsensical; there is a legitimate aura of danger oozing from the protagonist's frame at this moment! No, I wasn't being delusional; the protagonist is legitimately giving off an pressure that's a hundred times more imposing than my master's! No, I wasn't too scared to move; it's a natural thing to freeze up in the face of unending, impending and threatening doom!
Should I have entered a sliding dogeza even before I got into the protagonist's line of vision? Would that have save me? I'm too young to die! Ah? Am I seeing my life flashing before my eyes? Stop! Stopppp! That's something that happens to someone who's about to die; a definite death flag! I don't want to have a death sentence on my head!
Mother of this body, I'm sorry, your son will be going to meet you in heaven soon. Father of this body, wherever you are, damn you for never showing your face to me. Master, I've always wanted to say this to your face, you're hopeless. Fruit keeper from earlier, I'm sorry for stealing your buns, they looked so delicious. Merchant Lu, I'm sorry for having you put up with my crap on a weekly basis, your food rocks. Old Lady Feng, I apologize for taking your clinic's bed so many times, I liked your comfortable bedding. I'm starting to run out of people to apologize to. When's Lu sui-Yan going to get the show on the road?
I calm myself from my tangent and open my eyes, which were closed and aimed towards the ceiling in preparation for the protagonist's retribution, to look back to Lu Sui-Yan. He is still looking at me with the frown but now that I've reined my fear a bit, I notice that his gaze wasn't so much on me as it was just staring in my general direction. It's a frown of contemplation, I observe. He's debating about whether he should be doing something or not. My master has on a similar look whenever he considers training me, which is pretty much daily, so I should know.
Nia Ying puts on a slightly annoyed face and walks over to him and lightly nudge him. Lu Sui-Yan looks at her upon contact and then looks back at me. He takes in a deep breath and bows toward me when he exhales. I did not miss the brief look of displeasure that he had on his face; mixed within the act of lowering his head.
"This younger martial brother begs for Senior Brother's forgiveness. My earlier act was inexcusable for someone of my station and it is my sincerest hopes that you'll forgive me."
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Logic decides to kick in and tell me to roll with it, even if I'm thoroughly surprise at what's happening. My body go into auto-senior brother mode, something that master nailed into my head, while my mind celebrate on not having to die early.
"Do not worry, Martial Brother Lu. If anything, I should be the one apologizing. I interfered with the intentions of mediating the fight and ended up having to use violence. I've brought some fruits in hope that you'll forgive me for that and get better soon."
How my master trained me to spew this nonsense on a moment's notice is beyond me, seeing as he does it subliminally when I'm sleeping, but it works great for getting the job done. Nia Ying smiles in approval to the both of our action and Lu Sui-Yan raises his head again with a troubled look. He does not gaze at my general direction anymore. I can seen that he's agitated at having to lower his head to me. I can think of several reasons and even ask him for the reason right not but my panicky side is telling me to leave immediately; less the protagonist changes his mind.
"You two must be hungry. You've skipped lunch and it's almost dinnertime, I'll go get you two something to eat. It might take a while though so have these buns, during the meantime."
I listened to my panicky side and grab at the quickest excuse I can think of. My stomach offered up the first answer and I took it. I changed the answer a bit from the original thought but the main idea still stands; I get away from the protagonist, I get food and I appease the protagonist. It's a well thought out all rounder answer that kills three birds with one bun, as expected of my stomach.
"Thank you very much for the offer Senior Brother!"
Nia Ying's eyes sparkle at the mention of food and rushes to the door to open it for me. Am I in the presence of a fellow gluttonous comrade? No, I would have sensed it long earlier. This younger martial sister is a miser, one who likes free things. I should really leave these kinds of thought for later, when I'm far away from the protagonist. Putting the bag of apples here, buns next to it and leaving now. Please don't change your mind anytime soon, protagonist! I don't want to have a death sentence on my head!
Nia Ying continues to happily wave me off even when I'm far across the halls. I'll buy her something cheap.