Cough cough cough!
Xiao Beichen vomited blood and his body was shaking violently.
Although he had the Blood Oath Pearl just now, the power of Da Siming's palm was too terrifying.
If Xiao Beichen hadn't been strong and strong, he might have been a dead man.
Even so, Xiao Beichen's injuries were still too serious.
It was so severe that Xiao Beichen had to grit his teeth to endure the pain. If you relax even a little bit, you will immediately faint from exhaustion.
All supported by one breath.
He forced himself to cheer up and prevent others from seeing his injuries. A pair of dark eyes stared at Da Siming in front of him.
Xiao Beichen also thought of what Da Siming was thinking.
How could he not know that the Blood Oath Pearl cast by himself could put pressure on Da Siming.
However, it still couldn't suppress her.
Remember URL
If the force is too much and she fights back with all her strength...she will lose her Taoist heart, and everyone present will die. Mu Ziyan will also be taken away.
Then the gain outweighs the loss.
How to make good use of the blood oath beads is particularly important to Xiao Beichen.
When the situation becomes urgent, Da Siming will fight for his life.
If it is too loose, it will not have a deterrent effect.
Choosing this degree is extremely important.
After a while, Xiao Beichen took a deep breath and made a decision.
"You are not allowed to leave Gusu City within a month!"
Da Siming was stunned for a moment.
So simple?
It's not scientific.
She looked incredulous: "Then what?"
Xiao Beichen said: "In a month, I will come to your door and have a showdown with you. The outcome will be determined by life and death. If you beat me, you can take my wife with you. If you lose, you will die." "
Da Siming smiled happily: "I thought you were going to use the blood oath bead left by the empress to do something big. It turns out that this is it..."
Xiao Beichen said: "Yes, as long as you make this oath, it will be enough."
Da Siming looked Xiao Beichen up and down, with a little more admiration in his eyes: "In my eyes now, you are no different from an ant. You actually want to defeat me in a month? It's just a fantasy!"
"You don't want to find help during this period, do you?"
Da Siming does have such worries.
There is a huge gap between Xiao Beichen's strength and hers at the moment.
Let alone give Xiao Beichen a month, even if you give him ten years. Da Siming didn't even think that Xiao Beichen could compete with him.
Looking for help?
It seems that this is the only way he can go.
Xiao Beichen said: "I can swear an oath in front of the blood oath bead, and I will never ask for help during the period. In one month, I will fight with you to the death. But you must also swear an oath not to notify anyone in the temple or to the public during this period." any news."
"During this period, my wife will be by my side. We will never leave Gusu City. A month later, I will bring my wife here. You and I will decide the outcome and decide whether my wife will stay or go."
Not loud, but very confident.
Xiao Beichen spoke from the bottom of his heart.
If he can't protect his wife...then he doesn't deserve to have this woman.
Yes, not worthy!
Xiao Beichen has always been a cruel person!
Da Siming nodded heavily: "Okay. I promise you."
call!
Xiao Beichen breathed a sigh of relief.
People are self-interested.
She accepted this plan.
Xiao Beichen threw the blood oath bead in his hand into the air.
Buzz!
I saw the Blood Oath Pearl floating above the heads of the two people, gradually releasing black light. It enveloped Xiao Beichen and the high priest.
An invisible peerless force imprisoned the brains of the two people.
This is not spiritual power, but a higher and extraordinary force.
Xiao Beichen said: "Then make an oath to the blood oath bead."
Da Siming knew very well what this meant, and without any hesitation, he raised his right hand, with his palm facing the sky, and spoke loudly: "I, Da Siming, swear an oath in front of the Blood Oath Pearl - within thirty days, I will not leave Gusu City, nor will I leave Gusu City for thirty days. Pass any message to the temple. Wait thirty days and have a life-or-death showdown with Xiao Beichen under the unnamed Buddha outside Gusu City!"
As she spoke, every word she spoke was turned into black text visible to the naked eye under the influence of the blood oath bead, and was fiercely injected into Da Siming's brain.
That is truly extraordinary power.
It is the Empress's unique skill.
This oath is not empty, but is strengthened in her brain by the power of the Empress's unique skills. Whenever she violates this oath, she will immediately be counterattacked by the power of the Blood Oath Pearl and be directly killed.
After the oath ended, Da Siming clearly felt that his brain was enveloped by an invisible force.
His expression was pale.
"Is this the Empress of Northern Liang's Great Oath Technique? It's really amazing!"
Blood oath bead!
Refined with the blessing of the Empress's Great Oath Technique.
Anyone who makes an oath under the Empress's Great Oath Technique must abide by it. You cannot disobey, otherwise you will be killed by the Great Oath Technique.
What Da Siming didn't expect was that the empress would give such a good thing to Xiao Beichen.
Can Da Siming take Mu Ziyan away without making an oath?
Can!
But she knew very well that the Empress's Great Oath Technique had a higher method - to make oaths on someone else's behalf.
As long as you are present.
If you are unwilling to take the oath yourself, Xiao Beichen can take the oath on her behalf.
In this case, she must either obey or resist.
At least it's a lose-lose situation.
Da Siming was no ordinary person, and he knew very well how terrifying the Empress's Great Oath Technique was. Now Xiao Beichen gave her a result she could accept, and she accepted it happily.
That's great, just delay it for another month.
One month later, can Xiao Beichen still be able to change the world?
Absolutely impossible!
After making up his mind, Da Siming said: "Xiao Beichen, I have made an oath, it is your turn. I will not ask for help during this period."
Xiao Beichen nodded and swore an oath to the blood oath bead.
——No help for thirty days. Thirty days later, he went to Weiming Buddha to have a life-or-death battle with Da Siming.
This was also the first time that Xiao Beichen faced the Empress Master's Great Oath Technique.
After swearing, I clearly felt a vast and overbearing power blessing my brain.
If he dared to violate this oath, Xiao Beichen would feel like he would lose everything.
Is this the Great Oath Technique of the Empress Master?
It's too scary.
Don’t even let yourself go...
"Very good. Thirty days later, I will be waiting for you at the bank of Pingjiang River. The Unnamed Buddha will be waiting for you." Da Siming nodded, then glanced at Mu Ziyan, and said with a faint smile: "Your Highness, in one month, let's meet again Go back to the temple. I hope you will cherish the next thirty days with Xiao Beichen. He has stained your bloodline and will eventually die."
"Remember, the temple is where you belong. Xiao Beichen...can't be your backer."
After leaving a few words, Da Siming walked directly into the water.
Zhu Zitong glared at Xiao Beichen fiercely: "Xiao Beichen, it is because of the empress's blood oath that Da Siming is particularly kind to you today. Thirty days later, what should happen will still happen. You want to use thirty days It is absolutely impossible to challenge one of the Nine Saints of my temple in a short period of time. You are overestimating your capabilities!"
Then, Zhu Zitong followed and quickly disappeared.
The two of them walked so fast that they didn't even want the yacht.
He walked directly on the water and soon returned to the shore of Gusu City.
Zhu Zitong then spoke: "Da Siming, do you really want to follow your oath?"
Da Siming said solemnly: "Of course."
Zhu Zitong was a little disapproving: "It's just an oath, is it that important?"
swear?
To ordinary people, this is no different than farting.
How many men and women in love have made vows... but in the end they all turned out to be shit. Even oaths have become a way to cheat each other's trust.
If the oath works, there will be countless less people in this world...
Da Siming said seriously: "The blood oath bead is blessed with the Empress' Great Oath Technique. Anyone who dares to violate the oath will be shot and killed by the Great Oath Technique. Even I am no exception."
"The Great Oath Technique?" Zhu Zitong was horrified: "Is the Empress so powerful?"
Da Siming nodded heavily: "That's natural. Looking at the entire Xingyue Temple, only the three deputy hall masters can barely resist the empress. That's the Empress of Northern Liang!"
The Star-Moon Temple is known as the Holy Temple, so it is naturally a powerful and unrivaled existence.
He claims to be superior to others and has extraordinary blood. Treat the world as ants.
But facing the empress, she still didn't dare to be careless.
This shows how terrifying the Empress is!
Zhu Zitong took a deep breath: "But... the empress didn't come today. We can obviously take away Her Highness the Saint by force. Why do we have to agree to Xiao Beichen and what other oaths do we make?"
Da Siming shook his head: "You don't understand. The Empress' Great Oath Technique is not that simple. If I don't agree and fight hard, I may be able to take the Saint away in the end. But my heart will collapse and I will be a waste for the rest of my life." Now that there are better options, there is no need to lose both sides.”
Zhu Zitong was silent for a long time, speechless.
A blood oath bead left behind by the empress actually contains a great oath technique that even Da Siming is afraid of.
It's too scary.
You know, Da Siming has always been a god-like existence in her heart.
it turns out……
Da Siming looked indifferent: "So what if I give Xiao Beichen a month? An ant is an ant after all. Just treat it like I am visiting Gusu City for a month."
Zhu Zitong finally came to his senses: "Are we really not going to inform other people in the temple?"
Da Siming said: "No need. Once I come, I can't break my oath. Otherwise, the Empress' Great Oath Technique will kill me. Besides, I can decide the overall situation by myself. Why do I need to ask other people in the temple to come forward?"
Zhu Zitong did not dare to speak anymore and said respectfully: "Yes. Everything will be obeyed by the commander!"
…
Above the sea.
Xiao Beichen breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Da Siming leave.
"Beichen!"
Mu Ziyan swam over like crazy and hugged Xiao Beichen tightly.
Hug very tight.
Crying uncontrollably.
“I thought I’d never see you again!!!”
Listening to the sobbing sound, Xiao Beichen felt that his heart was broken.
In the past, due to lack of ability, I watched the Longshan Xiao family perish in front of my eyes, and watched countless relatives die in front of me without being able to do anything. Now five years have passed. Even his wife was almost taken away.
Thinking of this, Xiao Beichen's heart hurt like a knife.
It hurts so much that I can't breathe!
Guilt, self-blame.
But Xiao Beichen knew very well that it was not because he was too weak. But the other party is really too strong.
Temple!
Looking at the whole of Daxia, how many temples are there?
That is comparable to the existence of Yaochi Palace. If the empress hadn't been in charge, the level and strength of the temple would have been far above that of the Yaochi Palace.
Facing such a tyrannical existence, it was indeed difficult for Xiao Beichen, who was only twenty years old.
After a while, Xiao Beichen slowly came to his senses, gently caressed the delicate body in his arms, and comforted: "It's okay, everything is okay. No one can separate us without my permission. !!!”
At this time, the Qian Ji Yin outside Chen Yuqiong had also disappeared. She walked over and snorted: "Hey, there are people around. Can you pay attention? I am also a scholar after all, and I need to be refined. "
Xiao Beichen and Xiao Beichen separated.
With tears in her eyes, Mu Ziyan thanked Chen Yuqiong and said, "Sister Ninth, thank you. If it weren't for you today, I wouldn't be able to see Xiao Beichen."
Chen Yuqiong smiled softly: "That's right. You are my junior brother's wife, and you are also half of my Yaochi Palace. They bully others too much, how can I just sit idly by and watch."
"Sister Ninth, thank you." Xiao Beichen thanked him, then his eyes darkened and he fell directly onto the water.
Fainted.
Mu Ziyan was shocked: "Beichen, what's wrong with you?"
Chen Yuqiong sighed: "Da Siming's palm just now was too strong. It's amazing that my junior brother can bear it. But it has already damaged the bones. We need to go back for treatment."
After saying that, Chen Yuqiong picked up Xiao Beichen and boarded the yacht with Mu Ziyan.
Set sail and return to Gusu City.
…
Northwest Pier.
Hua Yuqing and Hua Yunfeng stood on the rooftop at the highest point of the pier, overlooking the entire pier.
They even took out their binoculars.
in a hurry.
Hua Yuqing said: "Father, Xiao Beichen...will nothing happen?"
Normally, Hua Yunfeng would definitely say it was okay.
After all, he has absolute confidence in Xiao Beichen's strength.
But today, Hua Yunfeng fell into silence: "Whether there are masters from Xiling or Gusu, I believe that the young master can handle it. But this time it is the great commander of the Xingyue Temple. One of the Nine Saints. , the strength has reached an unfathomable level. The incident happened suddenly, and the young master was not fully prepared. If one mistake is not made, big trouble will really happen."
Hua Yuqing gritted his teeth: "Then what are we waiting for? Order the fleet to go to sea to pursue."
Hua Yunfeng shook his head: "You underestimate the heroes of the world. Not to mention that it is difficult for ordinary thermal weapons to hit a strong person like Da Siming. Even if they can hit her, they may not be able to severely damage her. What's more, she has a pinched hand. Look at Miss Mu. The fleet is useless."
Hua Yuqing was extremely surprised.
She really couldn't imagine that even the fleet couldn't restrain a martial arts master...
How strong is this?
Eh!
She sighed deeply: "If Miss Mu separates from Xiao Beichen because of this, I will feel bad for him. Xiao Beichen has suffered so much these years. It is not easy to find a loving woman. We have to separate..."
As she spoke, she actually shed tears.
At this moment, Hua Yunfeng was suddenly shocked: "Look, there is a yacht coming back from the sea ahead!"
Uh-huh!
Hua Yuqing raised the telescope and looked.
really.
The yacht returns.
And there were three people on the rooftop of the yacht.
One of them is Mu Ziyan.
Hua Yuqing was overjoyed: "I'm back. Go and greet me."
This girl ran so fast that she didn't even care about her image.
However, Hua Yunfeng ran faster...
When they saw Xiao Beichen, both father and daughter were stunned.
Xiao Beichen was seen unconscious.
Mu Ziyan shouted impatiently: "Mr. Hua, arrange a yard for us quickly. Hurry!"
Hua Yunfeng didn't even think about it and immediately ordered: "Follow me."
…
Washington Mansion, the other courtyard where Mu Ziyan used to retreat, was suddenly emptied out and left for Xiao Beichen to recover and rest.
Chen Yuqiong rushed into the room with Xiao Beichen in her arms, immediately locked the door and told outsiders not to disturb her.
Everyone had to wait anxiously at the door of the room.
Mu Ziyan, in particular, shed all her tears.
Hua Yuqing comforted her for a while, but Mu Ziyan couldn't listen at all. She squatted on the ground, sobbing and screaming without caring about her soaked clothes.
Hua Yunfeng saw this and sighed: "Yuqing, leave Miss Mu alone for a while. Let's go to the outer hall."
After the two left, Mu Ziyan seemed unconscious. Keep lying there. Thinking back on everything Xiao Beichen had done before, he felt indescribable sadness in his heart.
in the room.
Chen Yuqiong placed Xiao Beichen on the bed and carefully treated his wounds. Then Xiao Beichen took a pill.
Sure enough, Xiao Beichen's injuries improved significantly after the pills entered his body.
After about an hour, he woke up.
Opening his eyes and seeing the familiar Chen Yuqiong, an indescribable warmth surged through his heart.
Chen Yuqiong asked: "How do you feel?"
Xiao Beichen smiled bitterly and said, "Did you give me Yaochi Jade Dew?"
Yaochi Jade Dew is one of the most precious things in Yaochi Palace. After taking it, it will be of great help to your cultivation. More importantly, it can promote the growth of the physical body and is an excellent tool for healing injuries.
Chen Yuqiong nodded: "That's right."
Xiao Beichen smiled: "No wonder my whole body feels as good as before, and even better. It's fine now."
Chen Yuqiong stretched out her slender hand and tapped Xiao Beichen's forehead: "You. It wasn't easy for me when I was in Beiliang. Now that I'm outside, it's even more troublesome."
"Master is not here, so you need to be more steady when doing things. Do you understand?"
Xiao Beichen nodded like a chicken pecking at rice.
Chen Yuqiong shook his head and smiled bitterly: "You rest here, I will send a message to Yaochi Palace and ask Fifth Senior Sister to come over. Just kill Da Siming. As for the oath you made under the blood oath bead, don't worry about it. .Master can release it with just a snap of his fingers."
When Chen Yuqiong was about to leave, Xiao Beichen grabbed her hand fiercely.
"Ninth Senior Sister, wait a moment."
Chen Yuqiong turned back: "What? Are you really planning to fight Da Siming? Don't be fooled, my junior brother. Her strength is at least seven chakra levels. How old are you? How can one month be enough?"
The seven chakras are Chen Yuqiong's judgment of Da Siming's strength.
Xiao Beichen was doubtful: "Are you sure there are only seven chakras?"
Chen Yuqiong said firmly: "I'm sure. I have fought against her and I can feel it."
Xiao Beichen frowned: "No, she is one of the Nine Saints of the temple. It is said that she is at the peak of chakra strength, and may even surpass the chakra realm."
Chen Yuqiong shook his head: "You don't understand the Star-Moon Temple. If you are on the territory of the Star-Moon Temple, Da Si Ming will be blessed by the power of the temple, and his strength can indeed reach the peak of the chakra realm. But if you are far away from the temple Territory, strength level will be greatly reduced. In Gusu, she is the Seventh Chakra."
Xiao Beichen nodded heavily: "In that case, I will be more confident after one month."
Chen Yuqiong gave Xiao Beichen a hard look: "Are you kidding? You are only in the fourth chakra now! And you have only entered the fourth chakra for the first time. In one month, do you want to reach the seventh chakra?"
That's right!
Xiao Beichen's current strength is at the early stage of the four chakras!
Others may not know it, but Chen Yuqiong knows it.
At the age of twenty, reaching the fourth chakra is already a super-defying existence.
Xiao Beichen smiled: "Senior Sister Ninth, are you so unsure of me?"
Chen Yuqiong said: "This is not a question of confidence. It is the objective facts before you. In the face of the huge chakra gap, you have no chance of winning. Just like today. Do you understand?"
Xiao Beichen said: "Sister Ninth, you know me very well, but you don't know me well enough. I won't do anything I'm not sure about."
Chen Yuqiong raised her eyebrows: "Hey, you actually cheated on me? Tell me directly if you have anything to say."
Xiao Beichen said: "The side effects of the cold jade bone in my body are gradually disappearing. Moreover, the extremely cold properties of the cold jade bone are beginning to be used by me."
Uh-huh!
Chen Yuqiong stood up suddenly and looked at Xiao Beichen in disbelief: "Seriously?"
Xiao Beichen nodded heavily: "Of course. Otherwise, how could I dare to make such an oath?"
"As long as there are no side effects of Cold Jade Bone, I am sure that I can advance from the fourth chakra to the sixth chakra within a month."
Chen Yuqiong shook his head: "That's not enough. Far from enough. Among the nine chakras, the sixth to seventh chakras are the biggest dividing line. Once you step into the realm of seven chakras, you have entered the powerful realm of Daxia Martial Arts. Forest of Zhe. This step is as difficult as climbing to the sky. You want to use the six chakras to resist the seven chakras. It is impossible. Such cases have rarely happened in Beiliang."
Xiao Beichen said: "I can!"
The voice was not loud, but it was full of steely determination.
Chen Yuqiong saw this and knew that she could not change Xiao Beichen's decision, so she murmured: "Little junior brother, why do you have to embarrass yourself so much? You are my Xiao Bei King of Beiliang. You are also the fourteenth son of my Yaochi Palace. Just say something and I, the Yaochi Palace, will come forward to solve it for you."
Xiao Beichen smiled bitterly and said: "Senior Sister Ninth, the relationship between Beiliang and Daxia is very delicate. Especially in recent years, although the two sides appear to be in harmony, they are both sending troops to the border. A few months ago, the two sides displayed troops at the border. The army has reached millions. As long as there is a fuse, it may cause a war between Beiliang and Daxia."
"I, Xiao Beichen, am the fourteenth son of Yaochi Palace, and even more so, the King of Xiao Bei. Therefore, I cannot let the people of Beiliang and Daxia fall into the flames of war for my own personal affairs."
Chen Yuqiong was a little tearful after hearing this, and nodded secretly: "Okay. Since you have decided, then I support you. One month later, I will go with you to Weiming Buddha. Witness the peak battle between you and Da Siming!"
Xiao Beichen breathed a sigh of relief and smiled brightly: "Okay, in one month, I will defeat Da Siming in the name of the fourteenth son of Yaochi Palace. I will not disgrace the reputation of Yaochi Palace!"
Chen Yuqiong felt a little sad.
"Get up and go see your fiancée. She was crying outside. I'm going to rest too."
After leaving a few words, Chen Yuqiong turned and left.
As soon as her front legs left, Mu Ziyan rushed in and threw herself into Xiao Beichen's arms.
Not saying a word, just holding her like this.
Hug tightly.
He seemed afraid that if he let go, he would never see her again.
Xiao Beichen gently stroked her back and comforted her softly: "Okay, I'm fine."
Mu Ziyan said deeply: "If something happens to you, I, Mu Ziyan, will not be alive either. I will follow you!"
After saying that, she bit Xiao Beichen's shoulder hard.
It's like making a vow.
"This tooth mark is the proof of my oath today."
Xiao Beichen endured the pain and smiled helplessly.
However, it felt strange to be bitten so hard by a beautiful woman?
Isn't this a feeling only perverts have?
How could I, Xiao Beichen, do this?
no!
He shook his head quickly to get rid of the distracting thoughts in his mind.
Mu Ziyan let go of Xiao Beichen: "Did you hear that? If something happens to you, I will follow you. Therefore, you must cherish yourself even more."
Xiao Beichen smiled bitterly: "Okay."
The two looked at each other and smiled, and were speechless for a long time.
At noon, Hua Yunfeng prepared a sumptuous lunch. Xiao Beichen was shocked.
Hua Yuqing couldn't help but be curious and asked about what happened outside the pier.
Facing Hua Lao and his daughter, Xiao Beichen did not hide anything and told everything.
After hearing this, Hua Yunfeng and Hua Yuqing were stunned and speechless for a long time.
"I, Hua Yunfeng, have never seen many powerful people at the seventh chakra level in my life. Such a terrifying existence has come to Gusu City. In one month, young master, do you really want to go to the appointment?"
Xiao Beichen drank tea lightly: "Of course I will go. I have to fulfill what I promised."
Hua Yuqing was horrified: "Xiao Beichen, this is a strong man of seven chakras..."
Xiao Beichen said: "The master of the seven chakras is indeed amazing, but I, Xiao Beichen, only need one month. Maybe everyone will think that I am overestimating my abilities, but... after one month, everyone in the world will understand. .What kind of existence am I, Xiao Beichen?"
hiss!
Everyone in the audience gasped and were speechless for a long time.
After a long time, Hua Yunfeng slammed the table: "Okay! You are worthy of being my young master. You should have such ambition and ambition. I will give the order now and reject everything that follows. Give the young master a month. Time for seclusion. During this period, no one will be allowed to disturb the young master."
Xiao Beichen couldn't help but smile bitterly when he saw the old god in his presence: "Mr. Hua, it doesn't have to be like this. As for matters in Gusu City, everything should be business as usual. Just do whatever you have to do."
Hua Yunfeng was shocked: "Young Master, are you so sure?"
Xiao Beichen nodded: "Yes. I have shouldered the mission and last wishes of countless people. There are many things I have to do. Compared with before, there is just one more agreement. Don't take it too seriously. .”
Hua Yunfeng said two words in his heart: Awesome!
My young master is awesome!
In the next two days, Xiao Beichen continued to eat and drink as usual. When he had something to do, he took Mu Ziyan to go shopping, and when he had time, he practiced the black and white method together.
The days were very leisurely.
It was as if everything that happened in the waters outside the Northwest Pier had never happened.
Only Xiao Beichen has such a mentality.
But what no one knows is that as the fellow practitioners continue to practice, the cold nature of the cold jade bones in Xiao Beichen's body is constantly being disintegrated, turning waste into treasure.
Without the obstacle of Han Yugu, Xiao Beichen's strength is increasing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Only Xiao Beichen himself knows all this.
On this day, Xiao Beichen, Mu Ziyan, Hua Yunfeng and Hua Yuqing were having lunch.
Everyone had a good time drinking and chatting.
At this moment, a disciple rushed in hurriedly and said out of breath: "General Hua, there is someone outside the door. He said he wants to see Xiao Beichen."
Hua Yunfeng asked: "Who?"
The disciple said: "Eagle. The chief manager of Prince Pingnan's Mansion."
Uh-huh!
Hua Yunfeng stood up suddenly: "What? The eagle is here in person?!"
Xiao Beichen was very calm: "Mr. Hua, is there any problem?"
Hua Yunfeng said: "Yingjiu is Luo Nanxiao's most capable assistant and confidant, and his attitude is that of King Pingnan. Before you killed Luo Nanxiao's wife and children in Yanming Lake, King Pingnan never expressed his stance. If we let Yingqiu come this time, I'm afraid we'll have to settle the accounts."
Xiao Beichen waved his hand: "It doesn't matter, just let him in."
Soon, the eagle walked in.
A pair of eagle-like eyes stared straight at Xiao Beichen.
Xiao Beichen said calmly: "Eagle, what do you want from me?"
