Whoosh!
Suddenly, a faint, piercing whistle cut through the air, followed by a figure racing toward them like a gale-it was Ying Ming Hao!
After racing all the way there, he finally appeared before everyone, like a dazzling meteor streaking across the sky, instantly drawing every eye.
Steward Jin gazed at Ying Ming Hao, who looked somewhat hurried and was drenched in sweat, an odd gleam appearing in her eyes.
Her keen eyes swept carefully over Ying Ming Hao from head to toe like a scanner, as though she wanted to see through his appearance to the secrets deep within his heart.
Ying Ming Hao clearly noticed Steward Jin's highly intrusive gaze. Without hesitation, he raised his head to meet it, the corners of his mouth lifting into a strange smile.
Steward Jin knew that smile all too well. She immediately understood its hidden meaning, and a powerful intuition surged within her: one of her earlier suspicions was probably about to become reality.
So she returned an equally inscrutable little smile, indicating that she understood.
"Hall Master Liu, I'm terribly sorry!
I was handling some matters outside the Sect just now. As soon as I received the message, I rushed back without stopping. I'm truly sorry to have kept everyone waiting so long."
Ying Ming Hao explained earnestly, wiping the fine beads of sweat from his forehead as he spoke, looking utterly sincere and convincing.
"Young friend, don't address me so carelessly. That could easily cause misunderstandings. Don't do it again!"
Deputy Hall Master Liu spoke with a solemn expression, yet the corners of his mouth involuntarily curved upward.
"Of course, Hall Master Liu!"
Ying Ming Hao spoke with an apologetic expression, leaving everyone else dumbstruck. Wasn't this blatant bootlicking?
Ying Ming Hao couldn't be bothered with any of