She had gone out intending to broaden Luo Yi's horizons. Instead, he had ended up opening her eyes.
Even when they finally parted ways, he had never told her exactly what lay behind the incident.
That was enough to make one thing clear.
The young man had a strong sense of boundaries. He had not taken the alliance between the Nine Sons of the Endless Sea as a reason
to saddle the Heavenly Star Sect, his ally, with his feud against that Canghai Lobster.
Nor had he made a single request of her, despite the attitude her mother had shown earlier.
And he had effortlessly torn the pair of claws off a lobster whose strength rivaled her own.
Whether in strength or temperament, he was far beyond ordinary people.
Deacon Gao knew that if she possessed the young man's formidable ability to fight above her level, she would have spread word of it throughout the Heavenly Star Sect.
Even if she did not make sure everyone in the sect knew, she would at least have told the Outer Sect and the Personal Disciples.
"His temperament and strength are both exceptional."
"It's just a shame he comes from the Tianyan Continent. A place that barren..."
As the Bamboo Grove came into view, Steward Gao gathered her thoughts and forced a faint smile.
She waved away the Array, knocked, and entered. Then she stopped beside her mother.
"Elder Gao, I'm back."
The stern-faced woman inside gently set down the Jade Slip in her hand and rubbed her brow wearily.
"Why are you back so soon? Did something happen?"
Seeing that her mother had noticed her unease, Steward Gao recalled Luo Yi's performance and raised her head like a proud peacock.
"Things may have gone even more smoothly than you imagined, Elder."
"Oh?"