For these inner sect disciples, a small peripheral member was nothing at all. Dead was dead. Even outer sect disciples were about the same. This was the difference in class, or perhaps it could be said to be the difference in strength.
Although this inner sect disciple had decent strength and was among the upper-middle tier of his generation, Xiaoyao still had ways to dodge this attack. Don't forget, back when Xiaoyao was still in the foundation stage, he could escape for so long even under the Eldest Princess's pursuit.
However, at this moment Xiaoyao didn't dodge. This wasn't because he didn't want to expose his strength, but because someone stopped this situation from happening.
"How audacious!"
A figure flashed over, and a delicate jade hand appeared in front of Xiaoyao, blocking that palm strike.
There weren't many people here who would block for Xiaoyao. Among those with this strength who were also female, it seemed there should only be Dongfang Wunian.
Xiaoyao thought this way, and when he saw the owner of that jade hand, she indeed had some relationship with Dongfang Wunian. Although Xiaoyao had never seen this young lady before, he could be certain she was related to Dongfang Wunian, because she had some of Dongfang Wunian's qualities.
Simply put, she resembled Dongfang Wunian somewhat!
Among the young ladies in Heavenly Gate who resembled Dongfang Wunian, there seemed to be only one, at least only one that Xiaoyao knew of.
"Eldest Miss!"
"Senior Sister Wuqing!"
The newcomer was Dongfang Wunian's older sister, Dongfang Wuqing. Her features were somewhat similar to Dongfang Wunian's, but she had a temperament that Dongfang Wunian lacked. Her entire being emanated a cold aura, like an iceberg, very fitting with her name "Wuqing" (Ruthless).
"Senior Sister Wuqing is right. This kid is too audacious, actually daring to be arrogant here. He doesn't even look at his own status," That inner sect disciple pointed at Xiaoyao and said. Just now Dongfang Wuqing had only neutralized the palm force without using strength or injuring him, which made him think that Dongfang Wuqing just wanted to personally teach Xiaoyao a lesson.
Dongfang Wuqing was someone who paid great attention to rules - this was the result of the sect master's constant cultivation. In her eyes, if there were any irregular matters, she would definitely help the Law Enforcement Hall take action, without considering any personal feelings. Ruthlessness was her characteristic.
Heavenly Gate's sect master didn't necessarily want to cultivate Dongfang Wuqing to become the sect master, but felt she was definitely the best choice for controlling punishments. In the future, Dongfang Wuqing would definitely have a place in Heavenly Gate's Punishment Hall.
Believing in Dongfang Wuqing's qualifications and talent, it probably wouldn't take ten years before she could enter the Punishment Hall to administer punishments!!
Now, Dongfang Wuqing already had a bit of the Punishment Hall's flavor - when someone violated rules, she would punish them. At this moment, that inner sect disciple believed Xiaoyao's behavior was a violation, that Dongfang Wuqing's "audacious" referred to him, and that Dongfang Wuqing now wanted to punish him.
"Eldest Miss, I wasn't..." Xiaoyao also thought Dongfang Wuqing felt his coming here was somewhat against regulations, so he wanted to explain.
"No need to say more!" Dongfang Wuqing stopped Xiaoyao's words. "Although I haven't interacted with you much, I've heard some things from my little sister. You're not the type to cause trouble for no reason. Coming here to find my little sister must have your reasons, and very important reasons."
"Ah..." Xiaoyao was stunned. He hadn't expected Dongfang Wuqing to say this. She wasn't blaming him, which meant her "audacious" wasn't referring to him either.
"Senior Sister Wuqing, you're..." That inner sect disciple was somewhat confused. If Dongfang Wuqing wasn't talking about Xiaoyao, then was she talking about him?
"You're not wrong in your suspicion. I'm talking about you - you're truly audacious!! Xiaoyao is the only person who can make my little sister eat food. You actually dared to harm him. Do you know this would make my little sister very uncomfortable? When my little sister is uncomfortable, I'm also uncomfortable," Dongfang Wuqing looked coldly at that inner sect disciple.
So she wasn't truly ruthless. At least she was very good to her little sister. Even over a meal, she didn't want it interrupted. Anyone who injured Xiaoyao would make her very unhappy. Most importantly, Xiaoyao hadn't done anything wrong - he was completely within reasonable bounds.
Although Xiaoyao was a peripheral member and shouldn't come here, this place didn't prohibit peripheral members from entering. It was just that those inner sect disciples were too arrogant, truly treating this as a rule and thinking that peripheral members coming here for no reason was wrong.
In fact, even coming for no reason couldn't find any grounds for punishment - at most a warning. Dongfang Wuqing wouldn't think Xiaoyao came here to cause trouble. As she said, she believed Xiaoyao coming here must have his reasons. Whatever the reasons, they would justify his coming here.
"Senior Sister Wuqing, I didn't mean that. I was just a bit anxious. Actually, I was just saying that he, as a peripheral member, shouldn't come here," That inner sect disciple said.
"Didn't I just say that he must have reasons for coming here? Why shouldn't he come?" Dongfang Wuqing asked coldly.
"He came here wanting to get close to Junior Sister Dongfang. A toad wanting to eat swan meat - can Senior Sister Wuqing allow such reasons?" That inner sect disciple said.
"Getting close to my little sister? Just the two of them - I think it's impossible in this lifetime!" Dongfang Wuqing let out a cold laugh. As an older sister, she had long understood her sister's relationships with others. She was also very clear about Xiaoyao's situation. She had secretly observed them and felt the relationship between the two was basically impossible to develop - they were just ordinary friends. This point also put her at ease.
She had also suspected Xiaoyao might be pretending, but it had been such a long time. If Xiaoyao was pretending, he was too good at it. Moreover, recently Xiaoyao had even refused recruitment to become an outer sect disciple. From this point, this Xiaoyao didn't care much about status and position.
This matter was based on his own qualifications. Even if he wanted to pretend with Dongfang Wunian, there was no need to refuse. Everyone thought this was very normal and that anyone would agree, but he refused.
While confirming he wasn't pretending, Dongfang Wuqing also began to doubt Xiaoyao's purpose in entering Heavenly Gate. She investigated the causes and consequences of Xiaoyao entering Heavenly Gate, and there were indeed aspects worth suspecting. How could Xiaoyao, a herb gatherer, come here, and so coincidentally break through the Mountain-Protecting Formation?
But although these were worth suspecting, no reasons could be found.
Xiaoyao practiced the Divine Farmer's Art - this was the main reason for recruiting him into Heavenly Gate. Because of this, many people gave up their suspicions, including Dongfang Wuqing.
The Divine Farmer's Art really had no attack power at all, only assistance. What purpose could such a person have? Even if he had one, what trouble could he stir up?
Based on Xiaoyao's performance over more than a year, he seemed to have never had any malicious intent. Although his purpose was unknown, it shouldn't be harmful to Heavenly Gate.
There were also people in Heavenly Gate secretly watching Xiaoyao, not giving him any opportunity to launch conspiracies. Heavenly Gate hadn't reached the point of not taking such precautions.
"Junior Sister Dongfang couldn't possibly look favorably on him, but inevitably some people have wishful thinking." That inner sect disciple seemed not to understand Dongfang Wuqing's meaning and continued speaking.
"Indeed, there are many people with wishful thinking, but he's precisely not among them. Rather, you're among them!" Dongfang Wuqing said with a cold smile.
"Senior Sister Wuqing, how can you say that? I'm worried about Junior Sister Dongfang." That inner sect disciple couldn't save face.
"Enough, I don't want to say more to you. Anyway, you didn't injure him! Also, let me tell you, his role in Heavenly Gate is no less than yours. You're not qualified to look down on people! Xiaoyao, I'll take you to see my little sister. I estimate she should be coming out soon!" After Dongfang Wuqing said a few words to that inner sect disciple, she left with Xiaoyao. She didn't ask Xiaoyao's reason for finding Dongfang Wunian.
This was also because she didn't want to meddle in others' affairs. At the same time, she felt her sister would handle any matters well and didn't need her to ask much.
"Xiaoyao? You came to find me?" When Dongfang Wunian saw Dongfang Wuqing bringing Xiaoyao, she was very surprised, because she had never thought Xiaoyao would take the initiative to find her.
For over a year, it had always been her finding him. She hadn't expected Xiaoyao to actually come find her today. How could this not surprise her?
"Yes, there's something I want to tell you," Xiaoyao nodded and said.
"What is it?" Dongfang Wunian asked puzzledly. What would Xiaoyao come find her to talk about? For ordinary matters, he wouldn't come find her at all. Most importantly, what matters could she help Xiaoyao with?
Thinking about it, Dongfang Wunian felt helpless. She seemed unable to help Xiaoyao with anything. If Xiaoyao wanted status here and wanted to climb up, she might have the ability to help a bit, but the problem was Xiaoyao didn't want that at all.
As for other matters, there were only things she couldn't do, nothing Xiaoyao couldn't do.
"You talk slowly. I still have some matters," Dongfang Wuqing didn't stay to listen at this moment, but chose to leave. If there were nothing else, she would have stayed. At this moment she happened to have something to do.
"Goodbye, Eldest Miss, and thank you," Xiaoyao said with a smile.
"You're welcome," Dongfang Wuqing replied coolly, then quickly disappeared from their sight.
"What did you want to find me about?" After watching Dongfang Wuqing leave, Dongfang Wunian asked again.
"I'm leaving!" Xiaoyao said.
"What?" Dongfang Wunian couldn't react for a moment.
"I'm leaving, departing from here. I probably won't have a chance to return," Xiaoyao said with a smile.
"..." Dongfang Wunian was silent. After a while she said: "You said you're leaving here. Are you coming to bid me farewell now?"
(End of Chapter)