"Of course there is. It's just that his Dao companion lives far away in the inner sect. Think about it, Junior Brother—Uncle-Master Tie is still in the prime of his life, so how could he lack the seven emotions and six desires? That's why he secretly got involved with a disciple here in the outer sect. Heh heh." Ma Xiaotian lowered his voice as he spoke.
When I heard this, I secretly thought there had to be more to it, so I deliberately asked despite knowing the answer, "Uncle-Master Tie is being so cautious, yet he hasn't publicly acknowledged that female disciple's identity. Is he afraid her inner-sect Dao companion will find out?"
"Smart. That's exactly it." Ma Xiaotian gave me a thumbs-up. Bi Yaokong said with a beaming smile, "Who would've thought our junior apprentice-brother was such a gossip? You caught on instantly. Actually, the inner sect doesn't know about this, but the outer sect has been talking about it all over the place for ages. That female disciple is quite the show-off too. In Uncle-Master Tie's disciple residence, she's been swaggering around every day, practically afraid others won't know about her relationship with him. That's why the news spread so far. Uncle-Master Tie dotes on that female disciple, so he can only turn a blind eye to the matter."
"Oh, so that's how it is. By the way, hasn't Uncle-Master Tie's Dao companion ever come here to see him?" I asked in greater detail.
"She has. Why wouldn't she? She even came once last year. An inner-sect disciple coming here is a major event, so everyone would know." Ma Xiaotian laughed.
Bi Yaokong added, "But so what? The last time she came, Uncle-Master Tie had already hidden Junior Sister Luo away in the Market Ward. Who would pay