"What did you say?" Miao Jun was clearly taken aback.
"Just now, this old man asked why you came so late." Gao Qiang no longer spared his feelings, fixing him with a cold stare.
"This poor Daoist... this poor Daoist only just received the sect's message and obtained the talisman for entry and exit!" Miao Jun had clearly not expected Gao Qiang to question him about this, and he could not help growing flustered.
Gao Qiang stared at Miao Jun for the time it took half a cup of tea to cool before speaking again. "According to the elders' arrangements, you mid Foundation Establishment disciples should have arrived here yesterday. Everyone else came. Even those who were late were only late by half an hour. But you? You were actually a whole day late. If the grand formation did not need more hands, this old man absolutely would not have let you in!"
"This younger brother... truly had some other matters to attend to. I hope Senior Brother Gao can be lenient," Miao Jun said with a hurried ingratiating smile when he heard Gao Qiang's tone soften somewhat.
"Lenient?" Gao Qiang swept a glance over the several storage bags before Miao Jun's eyes and said with a smile, "Junior Brother Miao, do you think that just because you do not say it, Gao does not know what you went to do? When the elders issued the Sect Token, they made it clear that this matter was of grave importance. You were to be cautious with your movements and not stir up any trouble. Gao naturally would not concern himself with whatever happened before the Sect Token was issued. Whichever friends you invited, whichever spirit beasts you subdued, that was all your freedom, and it also suited the sect's intention of