Xu Wu studied them with his emotionless eyes. His posture was relaxed but his gaze was intensely focused on Grim. "So, sons of Ao Guang, you claim to pursue your wayward brother through my lord's domain without prior permission or formal announcement."
"The circumstances required swift action," Bi'an replied. "There was no time to ask for permission."
Xu Wu's expression remained impassive. "And yet you had time to collect a human companion. Curious, where your priorities are."
"The human is essential to our mission," Suanni interjected. "He has faced Jiaolong before."
"Has he indeed?" Xu Wu's eyebrow arched slightly. "How interesting that a mere human would survive such an encounter."
Grim met the minister's gaze steadily. "I wouldn't describe it as surviving so much as postponing an outcome."
