Yun Qing and Ji Huang met, nodded, then brushed past each other. The slender figure disappeared into the depths of the Immortal Grove.
Behind Ji Huang, an accompanying elder glanced at that retreating figure, a trace of disdain surfacing in his eyes. This "elder brother" who had appeared out of nowhere probably counted for less than an ant in the young master's eyes. He merely refrained from acting himself out of respect for the Lady Sovereign.
Ji Huang's influence was growing ever greater. If he could vent this anger on the young master's behalf, then in the future...
At that thought, a gleam flashed in the elder's eyes. He immediately stepped half a pace forward and bowed. "Young master."
"What is it?" Ji Huang continued walking without looking back.
The elder looked in the direction Yun Qing had gone, a hint of coldness curling his lips.
"Young master, he is nothing but a lowborn outsider, with neither roots nor backing. Only by bewitching the Lady Sovereign with honeyed words did he receive a shred of her favor, yet he dares lay claim to a place in our Ji Clan and accept being called your elder brother. He truly has no sense of propriety."
Ji Huang's steps paused slightly.
Seeing that he had guessed correctly, the elder grew even more brazen. "At the end of the day, his surname is not Ji, nor does he possess our Ji Clan bloodline. In terms of status, he probably ranks below even a household slave of the clan." He sneered.
The young Ji Huang stood with his hands behind his back, his snowy robes spotless, his bearing straight and imposing. Slowly, he turned his face, his golden pupils slanting toward the elder as though his interest had been piqued.
"Oh?"
The accompanying elder rejoiced