A fierce gale rose, stirring clusters of dark shadows.
The dying sun embedded in the dome of the sky was almost buried by the encroaching night. The bright moon cast a turbid, dim, and gloomy light, making the blood-red hues filling the heavens starkly visible. Swirling in the wind was a scent, invisible yet lingering—the smell of blood. Pei Du lifted his gaze and saw pools of crimson liquid on the open ground not far away.
An overwhelming sword intent enveloped the wilderness. Pei Yu gritted his teeth, not making a sound. The spectators outside the illusion realm had also fallen completely silent, not daring to utter a word.
In the cultivation world, gossip about the Pei family had never ceased.
Pei Fengnan had once happily married his childhood sweetheart, the young lady of the Li family, and welcomed his first child. It could be said to have been a blissful and enviable union.
Unfortunately, fate was unkind. Miss Li perished in a great calamity, and the eldest young master was also exceedingly frail, passing away at a tender age.
Only many years after that did Pei Fengnan marry Bai Wan as his second wife. The sole reason for adopting the young master Pei Du was that he bore a face similar to that of the deceased eldest young master.
Miss Li was undoubtedly Pei Fengnan's cherished memory, his "white moonlight." Though Bai Wan never spoke of it, she undoubtedly found it hard to let go in her heart.
Later, the adopted Pei Du proved to be exceptionally talented, achieving fame overnight and utterly overshadowing her two biological sons. Many cultivators whispered behind closed doors, claiming that not only Bai Wan, but probably even Pei Mingchuan and Pei Yu thoroughly disliked him.
Given this, the so-called incident in the Ghost Tomb—"Pei Du colluding with evil spirits, attempting to kill Bai Wan"—inevitably took on a rather intriguing flavor.
No matter how one looked at it, the current outcome greatly benefited the mother and her two sons.
The cultivation world was full of shrewd individuals; they weren't all fools. With just a little thought, one could see the trickery involved.
It was precisely because of these numerous entanglements that today's battle between Pei Du and Pei Yu appeared especially fascinating.
"Pei Yu is nearing the Golden Core breakthrough. Pei Du, after all, is still young. Even if his spiritual sense isn't damaged, his cultivation level should still be a notch lower,"
Yun Zhaoyan analyzed coolly. "But in terms of swordsmanship, Pei Du is definitely a cut above."
"But Pei Yu isn't bad either, right?"
Someone stroked their chin in thought. "He is, after all, Pei Fengnan's own son. His innate talent should still be quite good."
The spectators were all intently watching the scene within the circular mirror, not noticing that before Pei Yu's mirror, a woman's eyes darkened as she secretly clenched her hand into a fist.
This person was Bai Wan.
She had complete confidence in Pei Yu, firmly convinced that her exceptionally strong son would still win the championship this time.
Therefore, she had personally come to this place, standing before the mirror to bask in the endless admiration and praise from others.
Everything should have proceeded in an orderly fashion.
Phrases like "like mother, like son," "the Madam has taught him well," and "a deserving young hero" had surrounded her, making her unconsciously curl her lips into a smile. Yet, without warning, at this moment, they all shattered into pieces on the ground.
No one paid any more attention to Pei Yu.
The few phrases she could still catch were all expressing surprise that Xie Jingci was actually that "Ruler Among Demons," praising her for taking an unconventional path and being eye-opening.
—But the one who had killed so many demonic creatures should have been her son, shouldn't it? That wretched girl was nothing but a ridiculous buffoon, always playing cheap, mystifying tricks. How could she, by what virtue, steal the attention that belonged to Pei Yu?!
Xie Jingci's method, once revealed, starkly contrasted Pei Yu, making him appear like a brutal, bloodthirsty villain.
Bai Wan was so angry her mind went numb.
But she could still turn things around.
As long as Pei Yu won this battle... as long as he could win, Pei Du would be utterly disgraced before everyone, reduced to a worthless good-for-nothing, cast out by the family and lacking in strength.
He was merely a pitiful wretch picked up from somewhere. How could a firefly compete with the sun and moon?
She had faith in Pei Yu.
Bai Wan took a deep breath and looked up at the circular mirror.
Pei Yu had already swung his sword again.
He was well aware of Pei Du's strength and dared not be the least bit careless or underestimate his opponent. Thus, every attack was launched with his full power.
The surging winds around them suddenly changed direction, as if drawn by some force, slowly gathering towards the young man's side.
When he abruptly thrust his sword, the converging air currents shot forth like drawn blades, carrying layers of killing intent straight towards the white-clad youth not far away.
Pei Du's posture remained unchanged. He quietly watched the dragon-like surge of sword energy and light, the long sword in his hand faintly stirring.
This was the sword Xie Shu had gifted him.
Everyone knew that the Sword Venerable doted exclusively on Lady Yun. Regarding swords, he was also unwavering from start to finish, disdaining to cast even a glance at any other blade.
Therefore, the Xie family did not possess any particularly superb treasured swords. Knowing that Pei Du's Zhan Yuan had been taken and the Dao-Seeking Assembly was imminent, Xie Shu had asked a sword-forging friend for a sharp weapon.
Though not a divine weapon, it was sufficient.
—Sufficient for him to settle things with Pei Yu.
A breeze brushed past the sharp tip of the sword, drawing out a clear, resonant hum.
Like a sudden storm rising from calm ground, Pei Du moved.
His movement technique was extremely fast, his steps light as if treading on snow, swiftly closing in on the young man. His usually gentle eyes seemed steeped in thick, dark ink, exuding a terrifying resolve.
The long swords collided, producing a metallic clang like the roar of gongs and stones.
Pei Yu could barely withstand the spiritual power hidden within this sword strike. His heart jolted with shock, and his anger flared even hotter: "A stray dog, wanting to kill me? As you are now, you're not worthy!"
He absolutely would not lose.
He was the biological son of the Pei family head. From birth, he had inherited talent and strength that ordinary people could only look up to. How could an orphan like Pei Du, with no parents, living under someone else's roof, possibly match him?
Moreover... he still had Zhan Yuan.
The divine sword Zhan Yuan, originally belonging to Pei Du—even if it had recognized a master in the Sword Tomb, hadn't he still taken it? He had his cultivation to protect him, a divine weapon to empower him. The Zhan Yuan sword was invincible. What did Pei Du have to win with?
—He absolutely could not lose!
Pei Du's sword strikes grew faster and faster.
He had shed his usual smile, his gaze colder than the clear moon in the sky. Even the cultivators watching the spectacle outside the illusion realm could see at a glance that the Second Young Master Pei was about to be overwhelmed.
Too fast.
His sword techniques were unpredictable, every move executed with supreme mastery. The moment Pei Yu hastily parried one strike, the next gust of sword wind would already be descending.
The young man retreated step by step, several ragged gashes torn open on his body by the sword energy, the whites of his eyes streaked with crimson blood vessels.
How could he possibly lose?
A lowly brat like Pei Du clearly could only—
Amidst the spreading night, accompanied by the urgency of the evening wind, a long, clear sword hum, like the cry of a dragon, rang out.
Pei Yu saw the white-clad youth's calm, dark eyes, and a stray lock of hair lifted by the night breeze.
And a spray of bright red blood, flying upwards.
All sound abruptly vanished from the surroundings. The crisp clang of swords, increasingly hurried breathing, the frantic pounding of a heart—all merged into the void of the long night in that single instant.
He had been stabbed.
He had imagined he might lose, but he had never imagined he would meet such a miserable defeat in such a wretched, utterly helpless manner.
His earlier arrogance, contrasted with the present moment, seemed like a joke, a slap in the face.
He was the exalted bloodline of the Pei family. He was clearly... wielding the Zhan Yuan, which should never know defeat.
...How could this be?
Not only him, but the onlookers outside the illusion were also stunned, completely unprepared for this outcome.
For a moment, silence fell within the vast Xuanwu Realm.
"My heavens—"
Among the cultivators gathered before Xie Jingci and Pei Du's mirror, a burst of laughter erupted instantly: "Pei Du won! Incredible, absolutely incredible! It's only been a few moments! Slaying across levels truly lives up to its name, brilliant!"
That voice was like a spark falling onto a deathly silent haystack, immediately igniting a wave of fervent excitement.
"So fast, so fast! What just happened? I didn't see a thing!"
"Amazing! He was inferior in both weapon and cultivation level—how did he manage to suppress Pei Yu at every turn?"
"He won, he won! The top spot in this Inquiry Conference is settled!"
While their side was buzzing with lively excitement, the area before Pei Yu's mirror, in contrast, was as quiet and still as death.
"Um, Lady Bai..."
A cultivator standing beside Bai Wan glanced at her cautiously and ventured tentatively: "Victory and defeat are common in battle, that, perhaps..."
Before he could finish, he was startled by the fierce rage in Bai Wan's eyes and obediently fell silent.
The atmosphere was oppressively heavy. The gorgeously dressed, beautiful woman secretly clenched her fists, letting her nails dig deep into her flesh.
That wretched boy...
Even though she was seething with resentment, she couldn't vent it here. She had no choice but to swallow her fury back down and said coldly to the maid beside her, "Let's go."
The woman's departing figure was as stiff and sharp as an arrow, disappearing from the view of everyone present in no time.
The cultivators exchanged looks. After a long pause, in the space that had been as silent as a funeral, an involuntary snicker burst out, followed by another roar filled with heroic passion.
"Pei Du is amazing, Miss Xie is amazing—!"
"Hey, hey, why is this mirror slowly starting to go dark?"
"Fool, Pei Yu is about to die, what else is there to see? Let's change locations! How on earth did Xie Jingci manage to reign supreme among the demons? Unbelievably strong!"
Pei Yu was indeed about to die.
That sword strike had landed squarely on his chest. The fierce spiritual energy erupted layer by layer, each wave capable of tearing his flesh and meridians.
After all, the Xuanwu Realm was just an illusion. Dying within it would only forcibly eject one's divine consciousness.
Even now, watching his own body and sword gradually turn transparent, he still refused to accept reality.
Pei Du was holding an unknown sword, looking down at him from above.
This gaze was extremely brief, as if he were an insect unworthy of attention. Soon, that white figure turned abruptly away.
Pei Du wanted to go to Xie Jingci's side.
He hadn't expected that as soon as he turned his head, he would see her already standing beside him.
The young man gave a slight nod, adopting a posture of submission and obedience: "Miss Xie."
"Second Young Master's sword is truly quite beautiful."
Xie Jingci's tone was indifferent, not bothering to conceal the mockery in her eyes in the slightest: "This stolen thing probably doesn't feel very comfortable to use, does it?"
The thought that countless people were watching outside the illusion made Pei Yu tremble with rage. Unfortunately, his wound hurt so badly he couldn't utter a single word.
"Divine weapons and sharp blades are certainly good, but a sword is ultimately an inanimate object. How well it's used still depends on the wielder—how could a worthless person bring out even one-tenth of a treasured sword's value? Don't you agree?"
Having said that, she shifted her gaze away, not sparing him another final glance. Her eyes turned to a blood-soaked patch of empty ground not far away.
Whether the targets were demons or monsters, Pei Yu's slaughter had always been merciless.
The blood had almost congealed into a winding, flowing stream, appearing especially eerie and strange in the night. In the center of the blood pool lay a trembling rabbit, its leg a bloody mess, likely injured by a sword.
The forest breeze stirred gently. The female cultivator in red took light steps, slowly moving forward.
Her figure was slender and graceful. Her willow-leaf-shaped, narrow eyes held a flickering, profound light, carrying a knife-edge-like coldness. Passing through the night, she resembled an unexpected flame.
Then, Xie Jingci bent down and gathered it into her arms with the utmost gentleness, wiping away the moisture from its eyes.
[Current value: Five thousand and four... five thousand one hundred... five thousand five hundred...]
From all directions—east, south, west, north—a continuous stream of demonic winds surged forth.
More and more demonic creatures, drawn by the news, arrived. Their glowing demonic eyes were like clusters of suddenly ignited fire, illuminating the entire mountain forest.
Pei Yu, having slaughtered countless beings, had long become the terrifying god of slaughter that all demonic creatures in this land dreaded. Yet now, he had been slain by Pei Du's sword.
He was undoubtedly the natural enemy most feared and dreaded by all demons and monsters within this illusion.
And when that fear was completely transferred onto their group—
"The villain has been dealt with. There's no need for you all to be afraid anymore."
The bright and beautiful young girl chuckled softly, gently stroking the white rabbit's head in her hand, relaxed and gentle.
Her movements were tender, her tone likewise calm, yet it inexplicably carried an intangible, lofty, and imposing aura. Finally, her gaze swept around: "Please remember today's events well. Since you have submitted, do not harbor any thoughts of betrayal."
[Current value: Five thousand eight hundred... six thousand six hundred and one... eight thousand four hundred and fifty-two...]
Xie Jingci raised an eyebrow slightly: "What he did, I can do tenfold, a hundredfold, to any one of you present here—understand?"
Tonight, the moon was bright and the stars sparse. Within the dense forest, the dark, shadowy trees resembled solitary islands, shrouded in a thin mist like blue smoke.
The night's essence flowed silently. In the dreamlike, cold twilight, the sound of rustling tree branches and leaves arose.
Before Xie Jingci, countless glowing figures leaped down from the trees, willingly bowing down: "—Understood."
"Ahhh, that was so satisfying!"
As soon as Meng Xiaoting entered the courtyard, she immediately shed the icy mask from her face, excitedly pacing all over the yard: "The expression on Pei Yu's face the moment he fell—it made all the pent-up foul energy in my body puff right out and dissipate!"
Now that the dust had settled and Pei Yu had indignantly taken his leave of his grand stage of dreams, the little demons of the village, mindful of the group's hardships and fatigue, had specially prepared fine guest rooms for Xie Jingci and the others to rest.
Mo Xiaoyang's eyes were also shining: "Miss Xie's speech truly made me prostrate in admiration and feel ashamed of my own inadequacy. Even though I know the young lady isn't actually that kind of personality, seeing that scene still gave me goosebumps all over."
"Exactly, exactly! Super cool!"
Meng Xiaoting said while happily nuzzling her head against Xie Jingci's neck: "Cici, how many points do you have now?"
Xie Jingci: "Just over nine thousand. The Inquiry Conference lasts three days in total. By the time it ends, it should break ten thousand. I wonder how the others are doing."
"Ordinary people couldn't possibly accumulate ten thousand?"
Meng Xiaoting snorted proudly: "Most of them use slaughter as their method. To earn such a high value, I'm afraid killing every last demon and monster in the illusion wouldn't be enough. Moreover, Pei Yu was probably the strongest combatant in the Inquiry Conference. With him eliminated, we basically have a guaranteed win."
The group had been rushing about all day, and at night they had dealt with the big trouble that was Pei Yu. Now was the time they were most exhausted. So, after chatting for a bit, they each entered the rooms within the courtyard.
The night was cold, and Pei Du had gone to bed early. Before he could extinguish the lamp, a crisp knocking sound suddenly came from the door.
His heart stirred slightly, guessing the identity of the visitor. He got out of bed and pulled open the wooden door, and indeed saw Xie Jingci's face, as bright and fair as the bright moon.
After leaving that group of demon tribesmen, she had shed all the overbearing ferocity and aloofness from not long ago, returning to her usual smiling self. Her willow-leaf eyes curved slightly: "Aren't you going to invite me in to sit?"
Pei Du didn't make a sound, stepping aside to make way for her. After a long moment, he asked her in a low voice, "Why has Miss Xie come here?"
"Must I have a reason to come find you?"
Xie Jingci familiarly sat down on the wooden stool by the table, tilting her head and propping her cheek in her hand to look at him: "Can't it just be that I want to talk with you?"
She used a half-joking tone.
Although Pei Du sensed the teasing, unserious meaning in her words, the tips of his ears still grew quietly warm.
She was truly outrageous, speaking so casually, completely unaware of the consequences her unintentional provocation would have on him.
Pei Du lowered his gaze slightly and sat on the other side of the wooden table opposite her.
"The reason I came is that I wanted to praise you."
Xie Jingci smiled: "If it weren't for you, things wouldn't have gone so smoothly. It wasn't convenient to say in front of all those little demons earlier... but thank you. It's been a year, and you wield your sword even more skillfully than before, much better than Pei Yu."
She never minced her words, always speaking directly. At the end, she blinked at him: "We will definitely get the Hanming Flower this time. You are the most talented sword genius in the cultivation world, backed by its most powerful family. Don't mind Pei Yu's nonsense; he's nothing but trash compared to you."
She still remembered... back when they were about to draw swords, Pei Yu had called him a stray dog, unworthy of fighting him.
Truthfully, he wasn't accustomed to others' thanks or praise.
In the Pei family, everyone took it for granted that he was born to practice the sword. No matter how hard he tried, he would only ever receive a faint "acceptable" from Pei Fengnan. At the academy, everyone also treated everything he did as a matter of course.
Even he had grown accustomed to it... treating it all as a matter of course.
Only Miss Xie was different.
She was willing to praise him.
Pei Du lowered his head slightly, pressing his lips together as he replied, "Mm."
"And also, Zhan Yuan is your sword, right?"
Speaking of the Zhan Yuan Sword, Xie Jingci seemed to grow somewhat indignant, unconsciously frowning: "If the Black Tortoise Realm hadn't been an illusion, I would have snatched that sword right out of his hands on the spot. They say a sword cultivator loves his sword like his wife. He tried to steal your wife—how could you tolerate that?"
—Pei Yu dared to try and take Miss Xie?
Pei Du's knuckles tightened. For the first time, he replied with a touch of childish indignation: "No."
His tone was both aggrieved and serious, as if he had genuinely suffered the pain of losing a wife. Xie Jingci couldn't help but laugh, then imitated Pei Du's expression, putting on a serious face: "Right! So there's plenty of time ahead; we must definitely take it back. Your wife should be yours!"
Zhan Yuan was Pei Du's lifebound sword. Rumor had it that obtaining it from the Sword Tomb back then had required considerable effort.
The thought of handing it over to Pei Yu made her feel even sicker than swallowing a fly.
She was filled with righteous anger, while Pei Du beside her, for some reason, lowered his head. Although his thin lips were pressed together, the slight upward curve at the corners of his mouth was still visible.
Xie Jingci leaned in a little closer.
The girl's clear, pleasant voice approached suddenly and unexpectedly. When she spoke, Pei Du faintly sensed a wave of sweet warmth: "Don't move."
Hearing this voice so abruptly, he obediently froze, meeting Xie Jingci's gaze in confusion.
The candle flame by the bed flickered unsteadily, swaying gently.
They sat at opposite ends of the wooden table, which wasn't very wide. She only had to lean in a little before she was right there, close at hand.
Pei Du didn't understand her intention. He could only feel Miss Xie's gaze lingering on the side of his face, as if it had physical form. Every light touch and shift of her gaze sent a tingle down his spine.
"I just noticed," she said, a smile curving her lips, "Pei Du, you have dimples when you smile."
...Dimples.
Pei Du blinked in confusion, listening as she continued, sounding somewhat disappointed: "Ah, they're gone."
Once his smile faded, the dimples naturally disappeared.
Was Miss Xie... interested in them?
This thought flashed through his mind. Before Pei Du could respond, he suddenly saw her prop her cheek on her hand, tilting her head slightly. Her pair of dark, bright eyes curved like crescent moons, reflecting dots of light from the candle flame.
"Pei Du."
"Yes?"
"When you drew your sword today, it truly took my breath away. Good heavens, how could there be such a pure, transcendent, peerlessly skilled swordsman in the world! Every move hit right on my screaming points. At that moment, I wanted to announce to the entire cultivation world, no, the entire world, that Pei Du is the most handsome, the most outstanding, the most amazing sword cultivator!"
By the time her first sentence was out, Pei Du had already sensed something was off and issued a futile protest: "Miss Xie, please... please don't tease me."
But this still couldn't stop his face from suddenly flushing red. Unable to help himself, he lowered his head, a light smile tugging at his lips.
"How is this teasing?"
Xie Jingci, her scheme successful, was utterly pleased. Seeing his expression, she abruptly raised her hand without warning, found the slight indentation of the dimple on his right cheek, and quickly poked it: "This is called strategy."
Soft, cool, a strange sensation.
The young man sitting opposite suddenly stiffened.
"I rarely see dimples; I've always wanted to touch them."
She seemed to be in a good mood: "I never noticed before; it must be because you rarely smile at me."
But it was really strange. She and Pei Du had known each other for so long; how could she have never realized it at all?
Pei Du, lost in thought, pressed his lips together and didn't speak.
His sudden silence made Xie Jingci inexplicably a little nervous.
"You don't like being poked there?"
She asked cautiously, testing the waters: "Alright, everything I said earlier came straight from the heart. Pei Du is the number one sword cultivator in my mind; no one can compare, truly, truly."
"Miss Xie has always wanted to... try touching there?"
Pei Du's reply held some hesitation.
He hesitated for a good while, too embarrassed to directly say the word "touch," so he found a word with a similar meaning to substitute. Soon, he heard her answer his question with another: "Why do you ask?"
The young man's fingertips on the wooden table twitched.
All around was silence, not even the sound of wind, making his voice seem especially clear.
Pei Du's chest felt as if it were on fire. Suppressing the heat spreading in his mind, he asked her in a deep voice, "Do you... still want to try?"
Xie Jingci didn't think much of it: "Mm-hmm!"
Only after answering did she finally realize something was off.
—Wait, wait, try... try again? What does Pei Du mean by that?
This time, it was Xie Jingci's turn to be stunned.
Her dazed expression was truly a rare sight. Pei Du was amused into a light smile. Seeing she still hadn't moved, he called softly, "Miss Xie."
His voice was low, carrying a gentle, almost indulgent smile.
Xie Jingci felt as if her brain exploded with a bang.
Then, in the very next instant, a layer of cool softness settled over her wrist.
Pei Du had taken hold of her hand.
Xie Jingci felt like she was about to die.
The young man's fingers were slender and distinct-knuckled. In comparison, her right hand seemed like a small, boneless lump.
Under the candlelight, the young man's face was as clear and bright as white jade, flushed with a deep crimson, whether from the candle's glow or something else.
Within the academy, Pei Du was famously ascetic and aloof. Probably no one could have imagined he would ever have a moment like this: long eyelashes trembling faintly, restrained and flustered.
Pei Du's fingers seemed to be trembling slightly.
When his fingertip touched the dimple, Xie Jingci's entire mind went blank.
"Miss Xie."
He said: "...It will disappear very soon."
This was telling her to hurry.
It was also explaining why he had taken her hand, guiding it upwards.
The room fell into silence once more. Pei Du could hear his own violently pounding heart.
He had heard she liked it and wanted to give it to her unreservedly. Only now did he belatedly realize this action was far too presumptuous, so he could only hurriedly let go of the hand he was holding, mentally preparing himself for Miss Xie's reprimand.
The finger resting on his cheek did not move away.
A soft force poked at his cheek, then gave it a gentle squeeze.
It felt as if it were squeezing his heart.
Xie Jingci: "...It's not bad, the feel of it."
―Damn it, why was she so nervous she ended up using inverted sentence structure!
Xie Jingci's mind was a complete muddle, and she soon bid Pei Du farewell.
And it was only after she had left, within the circular mirror outside the illusion, that the scene inside Pei Du's room finally became visible―
Every time she was alone with Pei Du, the system would come out to cause trouble. Worried about suffering social death under everyone's watchful eyes, Xie Jingci had simply turned off the projection for this place as soon as she entered the room.
"Why does Cici always specifically block the view whenever she's with Xiao Du?"
Xie Shu was going crazy: "Doesn't that just make it more suspicious? Even if they didn't do anything, everyone will think they did!"
"Ooh, finally we can see!"
The music cultivator beside him looked up eagerly: "Only Young Master Pei is there. Miss Xie has already returned to her room."
In the image, Pei Du was sitting alone at the table, lost in thought. Notably, a faint blush still lingered on the young man's face.
He sat for a while longer, then suddenly lowered his head and took out a storage pouch. With a flash of white light, a white outer robe appeared in Pei Du's hands.
Someone in the crowd spoke up at the right moment: "That robe... it seems like the one Miss Xie wore before―"
He didn't get to finish before his mouth twitched.
The young swordsman, who not long ago had been overflowing with killing intent and peerless sharpness, now cradled it in his palms. A faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, and then he lowered his head slightly, carefully giving it a touch.
...Ew.
A female cultivator covered her mouth sympathetically: "Young Master Pei has never participated in the Dao Inquiry Conference before. He wouldn't... not know that people are watching outside, would he?"
And so many of them at that.
Because of that sword strike with which he had slain Pei Yu, sixty percent of the spectators in the entire venue had already shifted over to the mirror showing him and Xie Jingci.
"This, this, this," someone kept tutting, "I came specifically to observe swordsmanship, why did I have to see this sort of thing―what a sin!"
Yun Zhaoyan: "..."
Xie Shu: "Ahem. Wife, about this matter... after Xiao Du comes out, should we tell him or not?"
