Chapter 61: Reconciliation

Zi Yan jumped in fright when she saw how pained I looked and hurriedly explained, “N-no, no, no, I didn’t mean that. I just meant… you two sleep together at night, and you’re so deeply attached—how could you not get intimate? I truly didn’t mean anything else.”

After hearing that, I felt much better. I sighed and said, “My injury just healed—what could I do? And right now, I honestly don’t really dare to get intimate with you two anymore. I’m afraid you’ll start thinking that way again. I…”

Before I could finish, my mouth was suddenly sealed by Zi Xue’s soft, warm lips. All my worries were dissolved by that tender kiss.

When our lips parted, Zi Xue was slightly out of breath. “A Xiang, we really have forgiven you. Don’t keep overthinking it, alright? Yes, you were wrong back then, but everyone makes mistakes. And you lost control because you were worried about Sister. Don’t leave a shadow in your heart. Trust us, okay?”

As she spoke, she took the initiative to lean into my broad chest.

I reached out and pulled Zi Yan in as well. The three of us were filled with deep affection. Nothing needed to be said. I truly wanted time to stop, so we could stay forever in this wonderful feeling.

The door suddenly opened, and we were so startled we quickly separated. Feng Wen poked his head in and teased, “Oh wow, I’m really sorry—interrupting your good time. Should I come back later?”

Zi Yan and Zi Xue lowered their heads shyly. I laughed and scolded, “Get in here. You already interrupted.”

Feng Wen grinned and walked in. Behind him was Kai Lin.

Seeing Kai Lin, I immediately shot back, “You brat, you’re impressive. In just a few days you already got Miss Kai Lin.”

Kai Lin’s face flushed slightly. “You’re injured (the Vice Principal told everyone you hurt yourself while cultivating) and you’re still so….”

Feng Wen’s face reddened too, and he changed the subject. “Lei Xiang, my injury is basically healed. What about you?”

I gave him a grin. “Same as you. With love nourishing us, how could we not recover fast?”

Feng Wen nodded lightly. “You’ve really got skills. You even secretly got Zi Yan too. You took two academy beauties in one go—what are the brothers supposed to do?”

Kai Lin, behind him, kicked him once and said shyly, “I’m leaving. If I stay with you all any longer, I’ll die of embarrassment.”

I laughed loudly. “You can’t die. Feng Wen would fight me to the death. You need to get used to how we brothers talk.”

Kai Lin glared at Feng Wen, stuck her tongue out at me, and turned and ran out. When she reached the door, she turned back and said to Feng Wen, “Come find me later.”

Then she dashed off in shy embarrassment.

Zi Yan complained, “A Xiang, how could you chase someone’s girlfriend away?”

I laughed. “I didn’t chase her away. She ran from embarrassment. Feng Wen barged in and ruined our good moment, so I just got a little revenge.”

Feng Wen gave a bitter smile. “I’m wronged. I didn’t see anything.”

That one line—trying to deny it—made Zi Yan and Zi Xue lower their heads again in embarrassment. Still, they weren’t willing to leave me now, so they simply stopped talking.

Feng Wen said, “Lei Xiang, since you’re already better, we should head back to the academy. The other two academies left yesterday. The Vice Principal told me to ask you—when can we depart?”

When he said that, the smile on my face vanished. I sighed and said, “Feng Wen, I know the brothers care about me, but I can’t go back yet. There are still many things waiting for me to do. Sigh…”

How could I bear to leave Zi Yan and Zi Xue? But the task the Beast Emperor gave me still wasn’t finished, and I also had to go to the demon race and find Mo Yue, to settle what happened between me and her. All of that had to be done.

Feng Wen froze. “What? You’re not going back to Tianshou? How can that be. You won’t get past the Vice Principal. You have no idea—this time you fought on behalf of Tianshou and brought the academy such great honor. He has very high expectations of you. If you don’t go back, he won’t agree.”

I thought to myself: if he doesn’t agree, what can he do? Can he stop me from slipping away?

I smiled slightly and said, “Alright, let’s not talk about that first. I can’t leave right now anyway. You need to cultivate well. Don’t forget—when there’s a chance, I still want to fight you again.”

Feng Wen laughed. “Like I’d be afraid of you. Anytime. I’m only afraid you won’t dare fight me. I’m going to go find her first. We just started—better to be proactive.”

His face was full of happiness.

I pretended to be angry. “You guy who values women over brothers—get lost.”

Feng Wen grinned and didn’t argue. He turned and ran off.

After Feng Wen left, the Zi sisters finally relaxed again. Zi Yan said somewhat sorrowfully, “Are you really leaving?”

I pulled them both into my arms again. The broken bone had been set, but with even slight force it still hurt. I frowned, then said softly, “You should know—I have to go. I still have many things to handle. Back then, we agreed on three years, didn’t we? Within two years, I will definitely come back for you. When that time comes, I’ll never separate from you again. Alright?”

Zi Xue asked, “Then how do you plan to handle Mo Yue’s matter?”

I kissed her forehead and said, “Don’t worry. I promise you—no matter what the outcome with Mo Yue is, I will definitely come back safely to find you. Don’t worry.”

Zi Xue nodded with reddened eyes. “You have to remember what you said. Sister and I discussed it. If Princess Mo Yue doesn’t mind us, then you should take her in too. You did something that outrageous—you have to give her a proper name, no matter what.”

Her words moved me deeply. For Mo Yue, I only had two choices: repay with my life, or win her heart and make her mine. Since I had promised the Zi sisters I would come back alive, then only the second path remained. Zi Xue’s words untied the knot in my heart.

I said with deep feeling, “Thank you. I’ll do my best to earn her forgiveness. If it really can’t be done, I’ll find a way to compensate her.”

Zi Yan sat up straight. “You still haven’t answered the question I asked earlier. Speak. If you don’t, we won’t let you go.”

I thought they had forgotten. Looks like I couldn’t dodge it. And those things did need to be known—otherwise they would resent me later.

I sighed. “Alright. Since you insist on knowing, I’ll tell you. But you’d better be mentally prepared.”

Zi Xue said in shock, “Don’t tell me you really do have another new lover? I won’t allow it. I—”

I lightly pecked her lips. “So little confidence in me? Making that mistake once already made me regret it deeply. How could I do it again? It’s not me. It’s about your father.”

Zi Yan and Zi Xue both cried out, “Father?”

I nodded.

Zi Yan said, “How could you know more clearly than us about something involving Father? It’s related to that Ling Ling, isn’t it?”

I nodded. “You’re right. Don’t interrupt. Listen while I tell you a story about your father.

“Decades ago, your father—the Duke—was also a student at Tianshou Academy. Because he grew up poor, it forged in him a will to rise. So he tested into Tianshou Academy, and relying on his own effort, he kept improving…”

I retold the Duke’s story in my own way. “…Miss Ling Ling disappeared just like that. The Duke was devastated. Several times he secretly went to the Beastmen nation to search for her, but found nothing.

“After some time, he gradually emerged from his grief. Having lost the woman he loved most, he could only turn toward another goal. So he accepted your maternal grandfather’s demand, married into the Zi family, and from then on rose step by step until he reached his current high position.”

After hearing this, Zi Yan was so shocked she couldn’t close her mouth, while Zi Xue was moved to tears by her father and Ling Ling’s story.

Zi Xue said, “Father is so pitiful… So he… he’s been hiding such a deep story in his heart.”

Zi Yan’s mind worked faster. She immediately saw the problem. “Then that means Father and Mother came together for political purposes. Doesn’t that make Mother a political sacrifice? No wonder—no wonder I’ve always felt there’s a barrier between Father and Mother. So that’s the core of it. They didn’t come together out of love.”

I sighed. “I’m afraid that’s exactly it. To your mother, it’s unfair. But how easy has it been for your father and Ling Ling, either?

“When I came from the Beastmen nation to Dragon God and entered Tianshou Academy undercover, I fell in love with Zi Xue. Do you remember the first time I went to your home? The Duke originally had many suspicions about me, but when he saw the token Ling Ling had me deliver, he changed completely. Even though so much time had passed, your father still hadn’t erased that love from his heart.”

Zi Xue looked at me in confusion. “How did you come to know that Ling Ling? And how is she now?”

Zi Yan asked, “And back then you said I should tell Father to go to the Beastmen’s Rui Prince’s Mansion to find Ling Ling—what was that about?”

I kissed each of them once. A fierce longing for my mother surged in me. My eyes went distant and unfocused as I said, “You two are the first to know this secret. Even the Duke doesn’t know the true relationship between Ling Ling and me.

“I’m telling you now—the pitiful girl your father loved… is my birth mother.”

“What?”

The sudden shock robbed them of the ability to think for the moment.

“That’s right. That pitiful Dragon God princess, Ling Ling, is my mother.

“My mother suffered too much in her life. In the war between Dragon God and the demon and Beastmen races, she was unfortunate enough to be captured by the Beastmen’s number-one warrior, the Bimon King. Bimon King Lei Ao raped her and took her as his concubine. And I… am their son.

“It was seeing Mother’s pain that strengthened my resolve that I must take responsibility for Mo Yue. I absolutely cannot let Mother’s tragedy repeat itself.

“Because of my identity, I didn’t tell these things to the Duke. Mother also always loved him. When I first came to Dragon God, Mother entrusted me to deliver her token to the Duke, and told me to tell him to forget Ling Ling.

“Only after I gained standing among the Beastmen did I take her out of the Bimon King’s Mansion. I know this is unfair to your mother, but my mother has suffered so much. I truly couldn’t bear to watch her continue like that.”

Zi Yan gradually came back to herself. “Then what do you plan to do?”

I kissed her cheek and said softly, “I want to bring Mother back to Dragon God. She has always been thinking about returning. So many years have passed. The Duke and Mother are both old now. Let them meet once.

“But don’t worry—Mother will never affect your mother. Originally, Mother said even if she returned to Dragon God, she would never meet the Duke. She only wanted to secretly look at him from a corner, and that would be enough.

“But as children, how can we let them suffer like that for a lifetime? I want to settle Mother in a small courtyard within the imperial capital. As long as the Duke goes to see her occasionally, that’s enough. What do you think? I really want to make this happen.”

Zi Yan and Zi Xue fell silent. They looked at each other, unable to speak. After all, one side was their lover’s mother, the other side was their own mother—it really did put them in a difficult position.

After a long time, Zi Yan sighed. “There’s only that. As long as Auntie doesn’t make things too hard for my mother, it’s fine. I can understand Father and Auntie’s feelings.”

Zi Xue said, “I agree too. If Father had truly been with Auntie back then, we wouldn’t even exist. Let’s fulfill them.”

I hugged both of them tightly, eyes reddened. “Thank you. Thank you for understanding. I’m really so happy.”

Zi Yan asked softly, “Then when do you plan to bring Auntie back? And how did Auntie end up in that Rui Prince’s Mansion?”

I smiled slightly. “When I return to find you two, I’ll bring Mother back with me. And that Rui Prince’s Mansion… happens to be my residence.”

Zi Xue struggled out of my arms and said in surprise, “Your residence? You’re the Beastmen’s Rui Prince?”

“What? Is it not allowed? Let me tell you—so the Beast Emperor could win me over, he took me as his adopted son and granted me the title of Rui Prince, as well as Commander-in-Chief of the Beastmen’s entire army. Your husband is impressive, right?

“The Beastmen’s hundreds of thousands of troops are now completely under my command. But you can rest assured—Beastmen nation is focused entirely on its own development now and will never go to war with Dragon God. I promised Mother that for my whole life, I would never lead troops to seize even a blade of grass or a single tree from Dragon God.

“When the time comes, I’ll quietly bring Mother back, resign that post, and then we can be together forever. Then I’ll take you two to some secluded, tranquil place and live in seclusion, and we’ll have a whole bunch of children—alright?”

Zi Xue puffed her cheeks. “Who’s going to have a whole bunch of children for you? Do you think we’re pigs?”

I grinned. “How could that be? Even if you were pigs, you’d still be the prettiest, cutest little pigs. Ow—”

The moment I teased them, the Zi sisters immediately attacked, aiming right for my armpits.

“That tickles… I was wrong… spare me, two great mage ladies!”

A few days later, when the Tianshou Academy group set out on their return journey, I split off from them. The Vice Principal tried to keep me again and again, but he couldn’t withstand how determined I was to leave—and Zi Yan and Zi Xue also spoke on my behalf.

Before parting, I told Zi Yan and Zi Xue to take care of their health, and not to tell the Duke about my relationship with Mother. I also promised them again that I would return within two years to reunite with them.

Suppressing the ache in my heart, I headed toward Baiyan Mountain. The injuries in my meridians had completely healed. With my tough body and astonishing recovery ability, my broken arm had healed seven or eight tenths as well. Aside from not being able to use great force, it had little real impact.

I had to deal with the mission the Beast Emperor assigned me. Even if I only went to take a look, I still had to go. After all, the Beast Emperor had treated me well, and this was my responsibility.

Just as I was heading for Baiyan Mountain, Panzong also finished his closed-door cultivation.

Beastmen Nation, Rui Prince’s Mansion.

Panzong, newly out of seclusion, ran to the room where Jin and Yin were in seclusion and pounded hard on the door. “Second, I’m out. You two come out too.” If this weren’t his sworn brother’s home, he would have broken the door down long ago.

It took a long while before the door opened and Jin and Yin came out. Jin said, “Big Brother, you’re out. How did cultivation go—did you break through to the Extremity Realm?”

Panzong puffed out his chest and said proudly, “Of course. With your big brother’s skill, how could it be bad?”

Jin and Yin sized Panzong up. Sure enough, compared to before, there was now an aura of kingly dominance about him—his power had clearly advanced greatly.

Yin said disdainfully, “So you reached the Extremity Realm. Big deal. You still probably can’t beat Fourth. Why are you in such a hurry to wake us up?”

Panzong froze. He didn’t know I had already cultivated the Heavenly Demon Art to the seventh level and could perform four-wing transformation. “Why can’t I beat Fourth? Right now, even if you two joined forces, you still might not be my match. Hmph. If you don’t believe it, let’s test it right now.”

Jin gave a crafty smile. “We’re not testing you. If you’ve got the ability, go test Fourth. Let me ask you—can you beat that four-wing guy from back then (Gu Chuan)?”

Panzong’s nine serpent heads coiled together. After a long while, he said, “Probably still not. That guy’s power was too strong.”

Yin said, “Then there you have it. Fourth can also grow four wings now. Doesn’t that mean you still can’t beat him?”

Panzong said in shock, “What? Fourth actually cultivated into a four-winged fallen angel? You’re not messing with me?”

Yin snorted. “Why would I mess with you? Fourth told me himself. Otherwise, would we two have gone into seclusion? If ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you don’t believe it, let’s go find him right now. Spar with him and you’ll know.”

Panzong said, “Fine. Let’s go to Dragon God right now. I’ll test Fourth and see if he’s as strong as that guy that day.”

Jin blinked. “Go to Dragon God? For what?”

Panzong froze too. “You don’t know either? Just now, after I came out, I went looking for Fourth, but Auntie said he already went to Dragon God to carry out some task. She also said we should stay home and obediently wait for him.

“This Fourth is too much—he went out to have fun and didn’t even call us. I came to find you two because I want you to come with me to Dragon God to find him.”

Yin snapped, “Oh, so Fourth slipped away alone. Fine—let’s go. After we find him in Dragon God, we’ll deal with him. Even if his power is stronger now, he still has to listen to me, his older sister.”

After saying that, Panzong and Jin and Yin hurried to the front courtyard. Mother was talking with Bai Jian. Seeing them all come out, she smiled. “You’re all out of seclusion. How did cultivation go?”

Yin said, “Auntie, Big Brother said Lei Xiang went to Dragon God. Something that fun—why didn’t he wait and go with us?”

Mother helped me cover. “Xiang said it would be too inconvenient for you. Your appearances are hard to conceal, and his task was urgent, so he didn’t disturb you. When he left, he even told me to keep an eye on you and not let you go find him. You two just came out of seclusion—rest properly. In a bit, Auntie will make you something tasty to nourish you.”

Even though Mother’s cooking was extremely tempting to them, their longing for Dragon God won out. Jin said, “Auntie, it’s too dangerous for Lei Xiang to go alone. We should go help him. Don’t worry—we won’t cause trouble. We’ll definitely bring Lei Xiang back to you quickly.”

Mother smiled. “I knew you wouldn’t listen to me. But Xiang’s concerns are right. With your looks, if you want to go to Dragon God, you probably can’t even get through the gates of Stru Fortress.”

Panzong gave a sly laugh. “Let me show you the result of my closed-door cultivation.”

As he spoke, his nine heads all murmured incantations. The nine heads slowly coiled together. In the blink of an eye, they fused into a single head. Gradually, the scales vanished, revealing a face identical to mine.

Not only Mother and Bai Jian were stunned—Jin and Yin were shocked too. Jin said, “Big Brother, what kind of skill is that?”

Panzong—now wearing my face—laughed. “You don’t know, do you? After a nine-headed serpent reaches the Extremity Realm, we can freely transform our nine heads. How about it—impressive, right? Now I can go to Dragon God. You two big-heads can’t transform, so you stay here and guard the house. I’m going to go have fun alone.”

He turned and started to walk out.

Jin and Yin hurriedly grabbed him. Jin forced a flattering smile. “Big Brother, take us with you. Worst case, we’ll put on cloaks, not talk on the road, and keep our heads close together. That should work, right?”

Hearing Jin call him “Big Brother,” Panzong shook his head smugly. “How could that be? I’m freer on my own. Saves me from you two always arguing with me. Unless…”

Jin hurriedly asked, “Unless what?”

Panzong chuckled and glanced at Yin.

Jin said warily, “What are you trying to do? Yin is my wife—don’t set your sights on her.”

Panzong froze for a moment, then burst out laughing. “What are you thinking? You two are hermaphroditic—what ‘sights’ could I set on her? What I mean is, let her call me ‘Big Brother’ too, and I’ll reluctantly take you along. And on the road, you’re not allowed to argue with me anymore. Everything must be led by me. Agreed?”

Jin and Yin exchanged thoughts in silence. Yin lowered her head and softly called, “Big Brother.”

That one “Big Brother” made Panzong immensely pleased. “Good brother, good little sister-in-law. We set off now.”

Mother looked at them helplessly, knowing she couldn’t stop them, so she could only say, “Be careful on the road. It would be best if you first go to the imperial palace and ask the Beast Emperor for a map of Dragon God, then find out clearly where Lei Xiang went, and only then set off.”

“Got it.” Two figures shot out like lightning.

Leaving Zi Yan and Zi Xue made my heart feel empty, but I also felt extremely light. That thorn in my heart had finally been removed. Now I could focus completely on finishing the Beast Emperor’s task.

Baiyan Mountain—my blessed land where I went into seclusion and broke through into the two-winged ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fallen-angel realm. This time, would it bring me more surprises?

I calculated that if I traveled purely on foot, it would take about seven or eight days. With the Heart-Protecting Mirror’s mysterious energy, I no longer feared the Aura of Death’s erosion, so I decided to transform and fly.

After one night of flight, I covered more than half the distance. At dawn, I found a deserted place and quietly landed, returning to my original form.

The mustard-seed pouch really was convenient. With it, I no longer needed any bundle—everything could be stored inside. But I discovered that putting Mo Ming into the mustard-seed pouch consumed a great deal of energy, so much that I couldn’t support long-distance flight. I had no choice but to sling it back on my back.

Even though my energy hadn’t decreased, I was still somewhat tired. Better to find a place, eat a proper meal, and sleep, then travel again at night.

There weren’t any major towns nearby. When I landed earlier, I saw a village not far away.

As I approached, calling it a “small village” wasn’t an exaggeration. This simple hamlet was enclosed by a crude fence, with only about a dozen households inside. The surrounding scenery was quite good—trees everywhere, lush green grass, and all kinds of plants. Occasionally, crisp birdsong sounded out, refreshing the spirit.

The moment I stepped into the village, I heard a deep voice shout, “Who are you? What are you doing here?”

I turned and saw a hulking man like an iron tower beside me. He was at least 2.2 meters tall, bare-chested, his body packed with granite-like muscles. Among humans, I was already considered sturdy, yet standing beside him, I looked smaller. Earlier he had been bent over repairing the fence, so I hadn’t noticed him.

I said politely, “Hello. I’m passing through and want to find a place to stay and rest for a day. I’ll leave tomorrow.”

The big man looked me over suspiciously. “Sorry. Our village doesn’t welcome outsiders. Please leave.”

Weren’t humans usually hospitable? Why was he rejecting me? But this was his place—I couldn’t force my way in.

“Then can you tell me where there are other villages or towns nearby?”

He said coldly, “Don’t know.” Then he went back to repairing the fence.

This guy was basically a block ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of wood. I didn’t have the best temper to begin with, and after being brushed off twice, my anger rose. I said with a hint of irritation, “I’m just a passerby. Can’t you make an exception? I’m only staying one day. I can pay you more.”

The big man flew into a rage. “So having money makes you fucking great? I hate trash like you who use money to bully people. Fine—if you want to stay here, then as long as you can get past me, I’ll let you stay, and I won’t take a single coin. If you can’t, then get out.”

As he spoke, he stepped forward and blocked my way.

If it came to fighting, who had I ever feared? Looking at his stubborn face, I was both annoyed and amused. Since he insisted on being stubborn, I would indulge him.

“Fine. Remember what you said.”

I extended my left hand and used only two parts of my strength, probing as I pushed him. With my Bimon body, I was naturally strong. Even without battle energy, it wasn’t something an ordinary person could withstand.

The big man planted his stance firmly. My push had no effect. He gave a contemptuous smile. “Overestimating yourself.”

I added three more parts of strength. He still didn’t move. That meant I was using half my strength now—enough to shove over a strong bull weighing more than 400 kilograms. Yet he stood there unmoving.

So he really did have brute strength. I kept increasing my force bit by bit. The big man’s expression grew slightly serious, but he still did not budge.

I withdrew my hand and praised him. “Good strength. Even with full strength, I still couldn’t push you.” His robust body was stronger than I expected. With that kind of strength, he was no weaker than an ordinary Bimon behemoth.

Seeing me pull back, the big man snorted. “Now that you know how strong I am, leave.”

When he turned to go back to work, I shouted, “Wait.”

He froze. “Why are you still clinging on? You think us country folk are easy to bully?”

I shook my head. “I didn’t use my full strength just now. How about this—we have no grudge. If I injure you, it won’t be good. I’ll do something. If you can do the same, or do better than I do, I’ll leave immediately.”

He looked at me. “Don’t try to fool me. If you pull out a needle and start embroidering, do I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠have to do that too?”

I felt bitter anger rise in my chest. As Commander-in-Chief of the Beastmen’s entire army, I was being treated like some despicable liar here. I said heavily, “I’m comparing strength with you. Watch.”

I deliberately showed off. I stepped back two paces and raised Berserk Battle Energy. A hazy golden-yellow glow immediately appeared around my body.

The big man jumped, staring at me intently.

I shot him a glance and shouted, “Berserk War Under Heaven!”

I punched backward hard. A golden-yellow pillar of energy blasted out with my fist, bursting forth and shooting toward a huge tree five zhang away that took three people to embrace.

Boom.

The tree didn’t fall, but it shook wildly. Leaves rained down. A round hole nearly half a meter across appeared in the trunk where my attack struck.

Looking at that hole, I couldn’t help shaking my head. My power still wasn’t pure enough—otherwise, I should’ve punched a hole without making the tree sway or the leaves fall.

The big man stared blankly at the tree. “Are you doing a magic trick?”

His honest, simple look was oddly cute. I smiled faintly. “Not a trick. This is called battle energy.”

He shook his head. “You must’ve prepared it beforehand. I don’t believe you can punch a hole in a tree from that far away.”

Truly—trying to reason with a brute was hopeless. My patience was close to running out. I snapped, “Then what will make you believe it?”

The big man straightened his chest. “Unless you knock me down.”