"Hmph! You've got some nerve. You'd only been at Zhen Thunder Palace for a little over two months, yet you already dared to neglect your duties. Junior Brother Zhen Ming went to East Ridge Medicine Garden every year to gather Xiao Yan Grass and had never made a mistake. Yet this year, just when Patriarch Zhen Han opened his furnace to refine Minghua Pills, you shut down the formation, leaving Zhen Ming unable to gather the spirit herbs. Tell me... how could Zhen Ming possibly avoid punishment?"
"Ah!" Xiao Hua cried out in alarm. "This was this junior's fault. How could I let Senior Brother Zhen Ming take the blame? Please report this to the deacon, Senior Brother. This junior is willing to accept punishment!"
The duty disciple looked Xiao Hua over and nodded. "Not bad. You're a man willing to shoulder responsibility. Come, follow this poor Daoist inside."
As he followed the duty disciple into Shuo Lei Hall, Xiao Hua cautiously asked, "Senior Brother, this junior has a question. I wonder whether I should ask it."
The duty disciple shot him a sidelong glance and sneered. "Say what should be said. Don't say what shouldn't be said!"
"Hehe..." Xiao Hua gave an ingratiating smile. "This disciple merely wanted to ask: although East Ridge Medicine Garden is guarded by a formation, that formation was laid down by the sect elders. Why not ask the elders to break it? Or perhaps... is there only one token for East Ridge Medicine Garden?"
"One look at you tells me you're still harboring a shred of luck!" The disciple was not at all surprised. Rolling his eyes, he said, "East Ridge Medicine Garden is very far from Zhen Thunder Palace. Zhen Ming only goes there once a year, when Patriarch refines Minghua Pills. Usually,