Inside the cave dwelling, Big Tiger whimpered softly.
Though the wound was deep enough to expose bone, it was not fatal—but it hurt terribly.
Jiang Hao applied medicine to Big Tiger while soothing him.
Under Jiang Hao's comfort, Big Tiger had been treated, and the wound gradually stopped bleeding.
However, the excessive blood loss would still require a period of rest before he could fully recover.
Watching Big Tiger drift into sleep, Jiang Hao sank into thought.
Big Tiger had cultivated the Heavenly Demon White Tiger Scripture for over a year now, and his progress was plain for all to see.
At the very least, many Ming Jin disciples of the Outer Gate were no match for Big Tiger.
As for Hidden Force martial artists, they might be able to injure Big Tiger, but they could not possibly leave such a terrifying saber wound.
It had to have been a martial artist at Transforming Force or above!
"Transforming Force..."
Jiang Hao murmured under his breath.
A Transforming Force martial artist could be an Inner Disciple, or perhaps a deacon.
Time passed bit by bit.
Two hours later, Xia Hong returned to the cave dwelling.
"Sister Hong, how did the investigation go?"
Jiang Hao asked.
Xia Hong glanced at Jiang Hao, seeming as though she wanted to say something but hesitated.
Yet she ultimately spoke. "Jiang Hao, I asked around about it. It actually wasn't difficult to investigate. Many people in the Inner Gate saw the entire process of Big Tiger being injured."
"It's just a little troublesome."
Jiang Hao frowned. "What trouble?"
"Jiang Hao, the one who injured Big Tiger was the Inner Disciple Leng Yue."
"The cause was that Big Tiger and Leng Yue's spirit pet fought over food, then started fighting fiercely. Leng Yue's spirit pet was no match for Big Tiger, and Leng Yue saw it. In her panic, she drew her blade and injured Big Tiger."
"Leng Yue?"
Jiang Hao sneered. "Sister Hong, just say what you mean. Does this Leng Yue have quite the background?"
Jiang Hao had already guessed as much.
If she had been an ordinary Inner Disciple, how could Xia Hong possibly have hemmed and hawed?
"Jiang Hao, I'm afraid you've guessed it. This Leng Yue's identity is indeed far from ordinary. She is royalty!"
"Royalty?"
Jiang Hao frowned and asked doubtfully, "I remember that the Huangtian Sect governs many cities. I've never heard of any dynasty or kingdom."
"Leng Yue comes from the Great Gan Imperial Family. Great Gan is an enormous dynasty neighboring the Huangtian Sect. Its strength is roughly comparable, but its imperial family suppresses all under heaven. Those of imperial blood possess extremely high status."
"The Great Gan Imperial Family sends many imperial descendants to cultivate martial arts in the various sects and factions nearby. Over the years, the Great Gan Imperial Family has accumulated many people within the Huangtian Sect and gained a measure of influence."
Jiang Hao understood.
Leng Yue's identity had nothing to do with the Huangtian Sect.
But Great Gan was powerful.
Yet no matter how powerful Great Gan was, it could not interfere in the Huangtian Sect's affairs.
"No matter who Leng Yue is, she injured Big Tiger. She must give me an explanation!"
Jiang Hao said with absolute finality.
He was usually very low-key and generally did not make enemies with others.
But if someone provoked him, Jiang Hao would not be afraid.
Especially now, when Big Tiger had been injured so severely. Jiang Hao was furious.
"Big Tiger, wake up."
Jiang Hao patted Big Tiger on the head.
Big Tiger had slept for two hours and received treatment, so his energy had recovered somewhat. He no longer looked as miserable as before.
"Big Tiger, come with me. I'll seek justice for you!"
With that, Jiang Hao rose and led Big Tiger out of the cave dwelling.
He was going to find Leng Yue.
"Jiang Hao, I'll go with you!"
After considering it, Xia Hong still hurried after him.
She was from the Qingyang Xia Family. Great Gan could not control the Qingyang Xia Family.
Leng Yue's cave dwelling.
At that moment, Leng Yue was applying medicine to her spirit pet.
Her spirit pet was a rabbit.
But now, the rabbit was covered in wounds.
Even as a Heterogeneous Species, it would need all manner of precious spirit medicines to fully recover.
Leng Yue's heart ached for it.
This rabbit had been a gift from her mother.
She cherished it dearly.
Now that the rabbit had been injured so badly, she wished she could kill that tiger.
However, Leng Yue had restrained herself at the time and held back.
She had not killed the tiger.
After all, a tiger that could wander around the Inner Gate was generally someone's pet.
If she killed the tiger, it would likely bring considerable trouble.
"Princess, I've found out who that tiger's owner is."
"Who is it?"
Leng Yue asked.
The maid took a deep breath and said gravely, "That tiger's owner is the Inner Disciple Jiang Hao!"
"Jiang Hao? Why does that name sound so familiar?"
"Princess, he's the Jiang Hao who passed the Ninth Floor of the Desolate Heaven Tower two years ago and was directly promoted to the Inner Gate."
"What? Him?"
Leng Yue remembered.
Two years ago, Jiang Hao's great name had been like the blazing sun at high noon, spreading throughout the entire Huangtian Sect.
However, Jiang Hao had kept an extremely low profile during his two years in the sect. Gradually, there had been no news of him, so Leng Yue had not recalled him at once.
"Princess, you injured Jiang Hao's tiger pet. Will Jiang Hao come knocking?"
Leng Yue calmed down as well and said coldly, "What is there to fear? His spirit pet isn't dead. It's merely injured."
"I know Jiang Hao is valued by the Huangtian Sect, and he may even become a Seed of the Dao in the future, with hopes of Entering Dao."
"But so what? I have no intention of currying favor with him. If I cannot become a True Disciple, I'll simply return to Great Gan. I won't remain in the Huangtian Sect forever."
Leng Yue wanted nothing from Jiang Hao, so naturally she feared nothing from him.
As for offending Jiang Hao?
Leng Yue was not afraid in the slightest.
She would return to Great Gan anyway.
Could Jiang Hao travel to Great Gan to cause her trouble?
Thus, Leng Yue did not take this matter to heart.
"Leng Yue, get out here!"
Just then, an unfamiliar voice rang out from beyond the cave dwelling.
"This is bad, Your Highness! Jiang Hao has come to your door!"
Leng Yue immediately rose to her feet.
"He really came knocking? Come, let's go out and take a look."
Leng Yue led her people toward the entrance of the cave dwelling.
By then, quite a few Inner Disciples had gathered outside Leng Yue's cave dwelling.
They had all seen Jiang Hao.
They had also heard what Jiang Hao had shouted just now.
"Is that Jiang Hao, the one directly promoted to the Inner Gate?"
"Yes, that's him."
"How did he come into conflict with Leng Yue?"
"I heard Leng Yue injured Jiang Hao's spirit pet."
"Jiang Hao has been very low-key ever since entering the sect, and he even went to the Outer Gate to attend lectures. They say he was preparing to break through to Hidden Force. Has he broken through now?"
"It's been two years. If he still hasn't broken through to Hidden Force, that's far too slow. That doesn't seem like the cultivation speed a Seed of the Dao should have."
"Forget whether Jiang Hao has broken through. He's come to find Leng Yue—there's going to be a show. Leng Yue isn't someone to provoke. She's even quite fiery. Jiang Hao will probably hit a wall..."
These Inner Disciples clearly all knew Leng Yue's temperament.
Leng Yue was not easy to provoke.
Jiang Hao could not keep her in check.
After all, although Jiang Hao was also an Inner Disciple, he was only at Ming Jin.
Even if he had broken through to Hidden Force, so what?
Leng Yue was a Transforming Force martial artist!
It was rare for the Inner Gate to get such entertainment, and countless disciples watched with great relish.
At last, Leng Yue emerged.
Jiang Hao spotted Leng Yue at a glance.
"Leng Yue, what do you have to say for injuring Big Tiger?"
Big Tiger beside Jiang Hao also let out a low growl at Leng Yue.
"Jiang Hao, have you come to demand an explanation?"
"This beast bit my spirit pet, and I haven't even settled accounts with you yet. Yet you came to my door first."
Leng Yue sneered.
"Fights between spirit pets may lead to injuries, but you only needed to drive the spirit pets apart. Why did you strike so heavily?"
"Since you call Big Tiger a beast, then you, an Inner Disciple, are actually squabbling with a beast..."
Jiang Hao shook his head.
Some of the Inner Disciples around them were already laughing aloud.
Everyone could understand the meaning behind Jiang Hao's words.
"Jiang Hao, you..."
Leng Yue was so furious that she nearly exploded.
She was a dignified princess of the Great Gan Imperial Family, a golden branch and jade leaf from childhood, always surrounded by people who fawned over her.
Even after arriving at the Huangtian Sect, hardly anyone had dared to provoke her.
Yet Jiang Hao had actually humiliated her in public?
"Jiang Hao, cut the nonsense. Although the Sect Master promised you the status of a Seed of the Dao, you are not one yet. You're not even at Transforming Force, and you dare stand up for this beast?"
"Forget injuring this beast. Had I known, I should have slaughtered it. What could you have done?"
Leng Yue laughed from extreme anger.
She was not afraid of Jiang Hao.
Even if he was the Huangtian Sect's future Seed of the Dao, what could he do to her?
Leng Yue was burning with anger. Once those words left her mouth, the surroundings instantly fell silent enough to hear a needle drop.
Everyone's gaze turned toward Jiang Hao.
What Leng Yue said had actually voiced the thoughts of some Inner Disciples.
Jiang Hao was a genius.
He might even be a future Seed of the Dao, but so what?
Right now, Jiang Hao was only at Ming Jin or Hidden Force. He was not even at Transforming Force.
They might give Jiang Hao face normally, but if things truly came down to it, what if they refused to give Jiang Hao face?
Before you continue