Returning to Tianmu Peak

"Mm, I understand." Deputy Hall Master Xu waved a hand. "You may leave first."

After the disciple left, Deputy Hall Master Xu pinched his chin and pondered for a long while. This fellow is quite lucky. I wonder whether Lu Lihong ever made his move? Mm, he probably did not. Otherwise, this fellow would have died in Qi Hua Forest long ago. He would not even have lived to see the beast tide, much less evade it.

"Alas, poor Lu Lihong. He could not even handle such a trivial task I assigned him. He deserved to die in the beast tide! For nothing, I lost several Jade Return Pills. Had I known, I would have waited until he returned before giving them to him."

"Mm, Ren Xiaoyao actually managed to escape the beast tide. He must have some skills. It seems my original suspicions were correct. Hmph, how could a mere medicine boy from Hui Chun Valley possess such abilities? He saved eight disciples and even escaped the Grand Canyon alone? Even with the aid of Misty Hall disciples, that should have been impossible. If there was no trickery afoot, not even pigs would believe it. Only a short-sighted fool like that old thief Elder Purple Ginseng could believe it!"

"'You Lan Mu Lian' is quite a good opportunity. Since I failed to get rid of him now, I have instead allowed him to make a name for himself. It will be rather troublesome to find another excuse later. Forget it, let him be for now. He is not the only eyesore in the Incense-Passing Cult. I cannot deal with every last one of them."

Deputy Hall Master Xu then rose to his feet and muttered to himself, "This fellow really knows how to bewitch people's hearts. 'Even if beaten