[This legitimately has him stunned and he stares down at her like she's somehow managed to heal her damaged immortal root by... sneezing, perhaps.]

This-

This venerable one-

This venerable one...

[For what possible reason would he lie about something like that?

This venerable one is certain that if he said something like that-

...had Changheng tried to take her back to Shuiyuntian again?

He shut his mouth and took a deep breath, contemplating for a long moment before very tentatively and contritely in a curious manner asked very nonchalantly:]

If this venerable one did say such a thing... then it must have been needed to be said?

[A statement that was definitely a question.]


[[ooc: very late bc life hit me with an oomph. feel free to ignore this if it's too old!]]