Returning a peach with a plum

Zhao Yunya clapped her hands and smiled. "You guessed quite accurately! It's Tuoba Xing."

"It really is him?" Huang Xiao asked in some surprise. "Can a Retainer even hold the position of Arrest Sage?"

"It's more or less settled on him. As for whether he's a Retainer, that no longer matters," Zhao Yunya said. "There are no restrictions on a person's status for the position of Arrest Sage this time."

Huang Xiao had not expected this. If status really could be disregarded, then Retainers would naturally qualify too.

"Even if Retainers qualify, surely Tuoba Xing still wouldn't get his turn?" Huang Xiao asked, still somewhat puzzled. "His martial power puts him among the best of the younger generation, but there are plenty of seniors among the Retainers whose martial power surpasses his. How could it possibly be his turn?"

"Yes, there are indeed quite a few senior masters among the Retainers. However, certain rules were set for the candidates for Arrest Sage this time: this opportunity must go to the younger generation. Those senior masters therefore won't participate, nor are they allowed to," Zhao Yunya said with a smile.

"Huh?" Huang Xiao did not quite understand. There was actually such a rule?

"Consider it Huang Qitao returning a peach with a plum!" Zhao Yunya said. "With the help of the Tuoba Family in Lin'an, Huang Qitao has greatly increased his influence within the Six Gates. So after forcing me out of the Six Gates, he wanted to put Tuoba Xing in the position of Arrest Sage."

"The Tuoba Family?" Huang Xiao nodded. "So that's how it is. The Tuoba Family is said to have been one of the forces under the Heavenly Demon Sect back then. They're powerful. If they're helping Huang Qitao, that really is troublesome."

"You're mistaken," Zhao