"Brother Zhai, where is my disciple?" Jun Fei'er asked Zhai Ge, her voice soft and lingering.
"Haven't seen her," Zhai Ge replied calmly. He hadn't forgotten the threatening gaze his martial aunt had given him as she left. If he dared to say he had seen Xiao Man in the sect, his martial aunt might just return and beat him to death! To preserve his own life, it was best to pretend he hadn't seen anything. Moreover, he had a feeling there was a secret here that he shouldn't know.
"Martial Aunt is back, and my disciple isn't?"
A thought flashed through the sect leader's mind, and he couldn't help but look at Jun Fei'er. "Was Xiao Qin with Martial Aunt?"
"I don't know," Jun Fei'er shook her head. "Xiao Qin went to the East Yue Forest ahead of time. Martial Aunt came with us. Later, Martial Aunt disappeared, and my disciple disappeared too. I thought they were together."
"Martial Aunt said Xiao Qin would return to participate in the trial, so she should be safe. We'll see her on the day of the trial," Zhai Ge said quickly. Foolish junior sister, you're selling out your disciple. "Besides, the trial grounds are a good opportunity for them to get acquainted with disciples from noble families and various sects. This trial might just lead to a sudden ascent."
"Who came in first in this hunt?"
"Lie Yang Sect."
"How was our sect's performance?"
"Fifteen kills, ranking third. We can bring five disciples in," Jun Fei'er replied. "Besides my disciple, there are four spots left. You decide."
"Xiao Qin hasn't returned yet?"
"Since Martial Aunt said she would participate, she will. I'll wait for her at the trial grounds." At this moment, a small, robust head peeked out from Jun Fei'er's embrace. Zhu Qing and the others' eyes widened.
"Junior Sister, this is..."
"A cub of the Earth Splitting Tiger. My disciple caught it and gave it to me," Jun Fei'er said with a smile. "As expected of my disciple!"
Zhai Ge looked at his disciple entering behind him.
"Master."
Zhai Ge extended his hand towards Kong Qing.
Kong Qing looked at Zhai Ge's outstretched hand in confusion. After a moment, as if realizing something, he took out two candies from his pocket and placed them in Zhai Ge's hand.
"Master, these candies are quite delicious."
Zhai Ge looked at the candies in his palm, his expression twisting violently. Why did other people's disciples catch young demonic beasts to give to their masters, while his disciples only knew how to eat?
Seeing his master's grim expression, Kong Qing thought, perhaps he hadn't brought enough. He immediately took out all the candies from his pocket and put them into Zhai Ge's hand.
"Master, if you like them, they're all yours."
Zhai Ge gnashed his teeth fiercely and looked at Fu Shen. Fu Shen was startled and quickly rummaged through his pockets. After a moment, he pulled out a handful of nuts and placed them in Zhai Ge's hand. Since Zhai Ge's hands were already full, a few nuts slipped from his fingers and fell to the ground.
Xuan Hu curled his lips, coughed, and walked out. "Leave a spot for my disciple. Sect Leader, do you need a spot?"
Zhu Qing pursed his lips. "I'll take one. The remaining two, let Junior Brother Third Brother decide."
"Thank you, two Senior Brothers." Zhai Ge gritted his teeth. Other people's disciples were so sensible, while his were more unreliable than the last. Although Xiao Man was a troublemaker, she genuinely cared for her master and always brought gifts when she went out, be it her master's favorite pastries or young demonic beasts. Jealousy contorted his face.
"Master, Junior Brother Xiao..."
"If you had even half of Junior Brother Xiao's ability, I wouldn't be this worried!" Zhai Ge roared through gritted teeth. "A bunch of scoundrels, all you know is to eat, eat, eat! One day you'll eat yourselves to death!"
Zhai Ge stormed off. Kong Qing and Fu Shen looked at each other. "Why is Master angry?"
"Who knows, he's always angry," Fu Shen rolled his eyes. "Could it be that he doesn't like the candy you bought?"
Kong Qing peeled one and put it in his mouth. "It tastes good. Master usually likes these, doesn't he? Why is he angry today?"
"Idiot!" Shi Lan slapped Kong Qing on the head. "Master is jealous!"
"Jealous? Jealous of what?"
"Boss Xiao prepared a young demonic beast for Martial Aunt. Once this demonic beast grows, Martial Aunt's combat power will surely advance by leaps and bounds," Shi Lan said with frustration. "But you only know how to eat, making Master feel ashamed!"
"Junior Sister, not everyone can be as abnormally brave as Junior Brother Xiao!" Fu Shen retorted. "Let alone the two of us, even if the four of us joined forces, we wouldn't be Junior Brother Xiao's match."
"That's true," Shi Lan covered her mouth and smiled. "You don't need to be dejected if you can't beat Boss Xiao. After all, in this world, there aren't many people as abnormal as her."
"Right, we won't compare ourselves to freaks!" Fu Shen was good at self-consolation. The group left together and went to study alchemy. Shi Lan covered her face with her hand, quite helpless. Even if you can't compete, you can't just lie down! Once you lie down, there will be no possibility of catching up later!
"Sect Leader Senior Brother, you see..."
"Alas, Martial Aunt has gone to the Tian Ling Sect. For him, his future is boundless. He has been in the Hundred Herbs Hall for too long. We can no longer obstruct him from pursuing a higher position." The sect leader sat down dejectedly. "Go and find out where Xiao Qin is."
"Yes, Senior Brother."
"Don't let Junior Sister know," the sect leader said softly. "After you find her, bring her to see me."
Xuan Hu looked puzzled. "Senior Brother, why bring Xiao Qin to see you secretly?"
"In the forbidden area, Martial Uncle was indeed holding me back, so who was he covering for?" the sect leader said softly. "Normally, Martial Uncle rarely leaves the sect and knows few people. Recently, the only person he has interacted with extensively is Xiao Qin."
"Sect Leader Senior Brother, you suspect Xiao Qin..."
"Xiao Qin was with Martial Uncle. Martial Uncle is back, but Xiao Qin is nowhere to be seen. Doesn't that seem strange to you?" The sect leader had a vague sense of unease. Given Xiao Man's talent, many people would want to recruit her. Why did she choose the inconspicuous Jun Fei'er?
Did Xiao Man have ulterior motives? Moreover, even the elders didn't discover the Five Poisons Sect's hidden demonic clan. How did Xiao Qin find out? Could it be that Xiao Qin was a spy for the demonic clan? Did the demonic clan pave her way with countless lives for her to enter the Seven Sects and seize... Just thinking about it sent a chill down Zhu Qing's spine.
"Sect Leader Senior Brother, you suspect Xiao Qin of having malicious intent?"
"I suspect she is a spy for the demonic clan!"
"That can't be right?" Xuan Hu shook his head incessantly. "How is that possible? Xiao Qin almost died at the hands of the demonic clan!"
"What if this was a feigned injury?"
Xuan Hu's spine felt a chill. If Xiao Man was a spy for the demonic clan, and she had already sent Martial Uncle Lu away, coupled with his junior sister's doting and affection for her, if they wanted to deal with her, they might end up turning against each other!