There was, after all, a touch of youthful impulsiveness in Xie Gu's actions.
But the story behind them gave Su Jiu much to ponder.
The story was simple...
That day, for once, Xie Gu had not been cultivating. Instead, he had taken Xie Li out to the market to buy supplies.
On their way back, as they passed through a pine forest, Xie Gu overheard several people talking.
They wore the sect robes of some unknown minor sect.
Each had a knowing smile on their face.
"I reckon the Azure Tide Sect is in for it this time."
"How so?"
"Everyone says their Ice Veil Peak took in a once-in-ten-thousand-years disciple. Who would have thought that, barely thirty-odd years later, the Heavenly Dawn Sect would have a disciple like that too?" The man hunched over and deliberately lowered his voice, but the malice on his face was plain.
"What? What's this?" His words had certainly piqued the other disciples' curiosity.
The man shook his head. "Nothing much. Just a rumor that Sect Leader Li of the Heavenly Dawn Sect had another fortuitous encounter after reaching the out-of-body realm. She rescued a young girl while out traveling. The girl is exceptionally gifted and looks almost exactly like Su Jiu. Some say she might well be Su Jiu's real family."
"Su Jiu's real family?
"Isn't Su Jiu-isn't she from the Su Family?" another disciple asked outright, unable to hide the curiosity in his eyes.
The man gave a mysterious smile. "Apparently, the lady of the Su Family found Su Jiu and took her in."
A female cultivator covered her mouth in disbelief. "So Su Jiu was actually abandoned?"
"Then the family who abandoned her must be regretting it until their guts turn green, now that they've seen what she's achieved."
The man