Don't take an aphrodisiac

There's a right way to handle Han Yu's sudden prostration, and a wrong way, and Xi Zirui has never been so tempted in his life.

It takes all he has to lower himself to the floor and pull Han Yu up by the elbow.

"Han Yu did nothing wrong," he says, looking into Han Yu's confused, worried eyes and pulling the ends of his robe closer around his neck. "This master knows Han Yu was just trying to preserve his identity in front of Blood Crane sect members, and doesn't begrudge him taking the initiative."

"Shizun...," his voice wavers. "This disciple doesn't understand."

It takes a considerable amount of energy for Xi Zirui not to sigh loudly. "There is nothing to understand, this master doesn't wish to punish his disciple for trying evade detection."

Han Yu lowers his eyes and sucks his bottom lip between his teeth, the kind of unconscious unaffected gesture that spells devastation for Xi Zirui's thin grasp on self-control.