"Not seeing you off!" Zhen Ye replied in kind.
Once Xiang Min's figure had vanished from sight, Xiangyang and Yan Qinglian stepped forward and bowed. "Greetings, Martial Uncle Zhen Ye. Had Martial Uncle not arrived, we juniors would have perished at that scoundrel's hands!"
"Mm, rise!" With a sweep of his sleeve, Zhen Ye had them stand, his gaze swiftly shifting to Xiao Hua.
Xiao Hua and Xue Xue hurried forward as well to complete their salutations. Zhen Ye swept his sleeve and smiled. "Rise! I had secluded myself to refine pills. Though your message reached the sect long ago, I had instructed the attendant boys not to accept any messages. Fortunately, the moment I saw it, I rushed here at once. Hehe, I truly hadn't expected that you would actually encounter Xiang Min!"
"Indeed, Martial Ancestor Zhen. It was fortunate that you arrived. We juniors were inexplicably... restrained by Senior Xiang. It was utterly baffling!" Xiao Hua looked so innocent that even an icy-pure maiden could not compare.
"Mm, this matter has nothing to do with you!" Zhen Ye did not wish to say more. With a wave of his hand, he said, "Leave Yanlin Mountain Marsh quickly. This place is no longer suitable for your training!"
"Martial Ancestor Zhen..." Xiao Hua said urgently.
"Oh, Xiao Hua, you sent this old man news of the Thunder Beast. This old man discussed it with Xiang Min just now, and there truly is a Thunder Beast within Yanlin Mountain Marsh. You have already completed the task this old man entrusted to you, so this old man will no longer punish you over the earlier matter!" Zhen Ye had clearly misunderstood Xiao Hua and spoke with a smile.
Xiao Hua cupped his hands. "Martial Ancestor Zhen rewards and punishes fairly. This junior