Next, as long as he didn't speak and let Senior Brother Cui perform, there wouldn't be any major problems.
Xiaoyao was determined on this plan. Afterward, he didn't speak at all, just followed along, letting Senior Brother Cui talk extensively, oh no, demonstrate his profound knowledge. This made Senior Brother Cui view Xiaoyao more and more favorably.
This Senior Brother Cui also had some real substance, so the subsequent matters were easily handled by him without needing Xiaoyao to speak, which pleased Xiaoyao with the leisure.
Soon, this group of disciples completed today's coursework. When it was time to eat, they assembled and left the medicinal garden again. When leaving, Senior Brother Cui nodded at Xiaoyao with great satisfaction, then said to him—
"Work hard, you have great prospects. If anyone bullies you, just mention my name. I'm called Cui Xu!"
Bragging?
When Xiaoyao heard Senior Brother Cui's self-introduction, he was stunned for a moment, discovering that this Senior Brother Cui actually had quite a nice name that seemed very fitting with his recent behavior. This name was really classically chosen.
"Thank you, Young Master Cui," Regardless of the other party's thoughts, since he wanted to protect him, he naturally should give others thanks.
...
...
Then, Xiaoyao's life returned to its previous normal state, tending the herbs in the medicinal garden, eating, sleeping...
After several more days, Xiaoyao was watering plants one day when someone ran over, somewhat out of breath, saying, "Xiaoyao, you've struck it rich. You might have caught the eye of Second Miss and Young Master Cui. This training team specifically requested you to accompany them."
"??" Xiaoyao was somewhat confused, trying hard to organize what the person in front of him said. This statement was somewhat inexplicable and puzzling.
"Speak slowly, what do you mean I caught their eye and need to accompany them?" Xiaoyao said to the person in front of him.
"Oh, you might not know yet. Our medicinal garden sometimes goes out to gather herbs. There are many precious medicinal materials in Heavenly Heart Mountain, we can't waste being in a treasure mountain. However, we herb gatherers aren't very strong martially, so we generally go together with training teams. We can serve as healers along the way while conveniently collecting medicinal materials, killing two birds with one stone."
"This time, Second Miss and her group are going for training and want you to follow the team. Of course, you won't be alone, so don't worry about being overwhelmed, With your qualifications, you can at most assist, don't think too much.”
"However, this is a heaven-sent opportunity for you. Those who can be with Second Miss are all extraordinary people who will become pillars of Heavenly Gate in the future. As long as you follow any one of them, you can rise to success..."
Xiaoyao fell silent. In others' eyes, this was a good assignment that people envied, but in his view, this was troublesome, most importantly, he had to leave here.
What Xiaoyao least wanted now was to leave here, because his purpose was the treasure buried here. He didn't come here to develop within Heavenly Gate, even following the sect master wasn't what he wanted.
Now, having him follow a team out for training, how much time would this waste.
"Tell them I'm sick and can't go," Xiaoyao said.
"I know you must be very happy, so you say you can't go... Wait?! What did you say!! You said you can't go?" The messenger was initially in his own thoughts until he reacted, looking at Xiaoyao somewhat incredulously.
"Yes, I can't go. I'm sick," Xiaoyao said. Anyway, he was a small figure, pretending to be sick shouldn't have anyone testing him, wouldn't waste this effort.
Xiaoyao's idea should be correct. Indeed, he was just an inconspicuous small figure who originally wouldn't attract attention. If he said he was sick, they would definitely replace him with someone else.
Regarding this, although the messenger was surprised that Xiaoyao was faking illness, he felt this was best, because if so, then he might have this opportunity. One less carrot, one more hole.
"Since you're sick, that's really unfortunate. I'll go back and tell them,” The messenger obviously didn't care whether Xiaoyao was really sick or faking it, he went directly to report.
Watching the person leave, Xiaoyao felt this matter should end here, so he began working comfortably. He didn't even think about pretending to be sick because he didn't think others would come to verify for his sake.
Originally, under normal circumstances, indeed there wouldn't be, but there are always coincidental and unexpected things in the world.
"Xiaoyao, didn't you say you were sick?"
A senior supervisor from the medicinal garden returned, bringing Junior Sister Dongfang and Cui Xu. They had originally come back temporarily because they forgot something, but then they saw Xiaoyao energetically drying herbs in the medicinal garden while also sunbathing himself, so they were curious.
"Ah, I just got a bit better. I thought I'd do some work while getting some sun..." Xiaoyao smiled bitterly. Why did you all come back again?
"Let me check your condition. If suitable, you should still come with us." The supervisor said. He felt that although Xiaoyao had shallow qualifications, he was careful and serious in his work, and very good as an assistant.
"I'm fine now, I'm already better after taking medicine,” Xiaoyao said. His current condition couldn't be healthier. The other party was also an expert in medical arts, he definitely couldn't hide it.
"You couldn't be faking illness, could you," Junior Sister Dongfang looked at Xiaoyao, her eyes full of suspicion and playful amusement.
"Ah, how could that be? I really was sick, but the medicine here is good, I got better immediately. Cough cough, now that you're all ready to depart, let's depart together," Xiaoyao was very helpless. If he said he wanted to stay here at this point, he would be suspected and resented, which wasn't what he wanted to see. He just wanted to quietly complete his treasure-digging plan here.
"Then prepare yourself. We're departing immediately. Don't bring too many things, things that can be used in the wilderness," The supervisor said, then stopped paying attention to Xiaoyao and went to get what was forgotten here.
Actually, Xiaoyao didn't need to prepare anything. Just a cloth bag with everything he needed inside. He believed that for outdoor training, those disciples would handle food and drink issues.
As for clothes, Xiaoyao's bag also had them. Xiaoyao was originally prepared to leave at any time, so the bag already contained all necessities. However, to avoid attracting attention, Xiaoyao still returned to his room to pack and prepare, then very reluctantly departed with the team.
Never mind, it wasn't a big deal. Anyway, coming to Heavenly Heart Mountain, he was also prepared to adventure inside and see what valuable things there were. Now following a training team was exactly doing this, and there were people to protect him too.
When departing, Xiaoyao did witness how they entered and exited the mountain-protecting formation. It seemed one person led while others, even after going back and forth several times, still didn't know how to walk this path. If walking alone in the formation, they would quickly get lost.
However, there was no need to worry about being permanently trapped in this formation. The current mountain-protecting formation seemed to merely refuse outsiders entry. After getting lost, as long as one continued walking, they would exit the formation, of course not entering Heavenly Gate, but being sent out by the formation.
The current mountain-protecting formation was in this state. If there were strong enemy invasions, the mountain-protecting formation could upgrade to defensive status. People who got lost afterward wouldn't be sent out but would be trapped to death inside, never able to exit unless they understood how to break this mountain-protecting formation.
However, in this world, except for Heavenly Gate's own internal formation experts, others could almost impossibly break it.
After the team exited the mountain-protecting formation, it was already almost noon. After eating prepared dried rations and resting, they departed again toward the center of Heavenly Heart Mountain.
Although Heavenly Gate was quite close to the center, it wasn't at the center, there was still considerable distance from the center's periphery, because even Heavenly Gate didn't have the ability to survive among so many monster beasts.
Near Heavenly Gate, some high-level monster beasts would occasionally appear. If they went deeper, there would surely be more and higher-level monster beasts.
Because of this, training teams also needed to be strong, at least able to survive under these monster beasts' attacks.
Xiaoyao observed this team. The leader was an elder who obviously possessed Emperor-level strength. The disciples below varied in level, but even the worst had General-level peak strength, while King-level practitioners were numerous.
Cui Xu's strength was around mid-King level, quite high among these people. Among these disciples, the strongest was actually Junior Sister Dongfang, with late King-level strength.
"Second Miss?" Xiaoyao suddenly remembered a title. The messenger earlier didn't seem to call her Miss Dongfang but Second Miss. Why directly call her Second Miss? There were many second misses in Heavenly Gate, being able to use such a general title indicated she must be very special.
"What? Do you need something?" Junior Sister Dongfang had sensitive ears. Hearing Xiaoyao's not-very-loud voice, she asked curiously.
"Second Miss, if I call you Second Miss, won't it be confused with others?" Xiaoyao asked.
"No, if someone in Heavenly Gate says Second Miss, that's me!" Junior Sister Dongfang smiled as she answered.
"??" Xiaoyao was somewhat puzzled. Could this Junior Sister Dongfang be some special figure?
Thinking about it, this seemed possible, otherwise why would Cui Xu pursue her?
The qualities of several other junior sisters also looked quite good, no need for such great effort.
(End of Chapter)