"Traitorous disciple! How dare you betray the sect!!"
A large orange tiger galloped in from outside the hall, kicking up a gale. Its broad paws stomped on the ground, cracking it slightly and sending up a shower of gravel.
Even sitting on the stool, Xian Shiyu felt her legs go weak instantly. She almost slipped off the stool and knelt on the ground.
"Master, I was wrong!!! Wuwuwu, I'll never dare again!!!"
The big tiger pounced on Xian Shiyu, opening its mouth wide. Its sharp teeth seemed ready to snap Xian Shiyu's slender neck in the next instant.
Shen Qing tensed up instinctively and unconsciously tightened her grip on Li Xian's hand beside her.
Li Xian turned his head in surprise and saw Shen Qing staring intently at the tiger that was the incarnation of True Lord Hu Xiao. She swallowed hard.
Noticing Li Xian's gaze, Shen Qing turned back and smiled sheepishly.
"I don't know why, but I've been extremely afraid of tigers since I was a child. Don't mind..."
Li Xian replied dully, "It's okay. You can hold my hand as long as you like."
Hearing this, Shen Qing just realized that the hand that was originally meant to hold the handle of the stool was actually on Li Xian's.
She quickly let go of Li Xian's hand, and a blush crept up her face. "Sorry, I grabbed the wrong thing."
True Lord Hu Xiao slapped the stool under Xian Shiyu's butt, shattering it. Xian Shiyu was caught off guard and fell to the ground.
Then, True Lord Hu Xiao resumed his true form and stood in front of Xian Shiyu.
This was the first time Shen Qing was so close to True Lord Hu Xiao.
True Lord Hu Xiao's hair was not as black as ordinary people's. It was more like the color of the big tiger he transformed into, a bit brownish.
He was very tall. Sitting and looking up at True Lord Hu Xiao, Shen Qing felt he was almost two meters tall.
True Lord Hu Xiao snorted. "The Beast Taming Sect has nurtured you for so long, yet you abandoned your parents and the sect and ran away with an arrogant male cultivator. Have you ever considered those who care about you?!!"
"Moreover, that Li Xian is already engaged to Shen Qing of the Azure Cloud Sword Sect. You have no chance. Do you really want to be a concubine?"
Hearing this, a hint of shyness appeared on Xian Shiyu's face. She quickly looked at Shen Qing and Li Xian and waved her hands in a hurry.
"No, no, no, no!"
Shen Qing understood the panic in Xian Shiyu's eyes. She was trying to convey: Sister, I don't mean that!
But in a hurry, Xian Shiyu felt her tongue was tied. And True Lord Hu Xiao standing in front of her was like a huge mountain bearing down on her. His imposing manner was so overwhelming that Xian Shiyu wished she could drill into the ground immediately.
Li Xian was just regretting that Shen Qing had pulled her hand away when he suddenly heard Xian Shiyu mention him. He looked up, his eyes flashing with danger.
Shen Qing sighed helplessly. She felt that Xian Shiyu's previous actions had indeed been a bit too much, causing a lot of misunderstandings.
She and Li Xian stood up together and respectfully saluted True Lord Hu Xiao.
"Shen Qing of the Azure Cloud Sword Sect pays respects to True Lord Hu Xiao."
"Li Xian of the Five - Element Dao Sect pays respects to True Lord Hu Xiao."
Hearing two strange voices behind him, True Lord Hu Xiao quickly turned around.
His attention had been entirely on his troublesome disciple before, and he hadn't noticed that there were still a few people sitting beside them.
When he saw Li Xian and Shen Qing, True Lord Hu Xiao's face changed greatly. He flushed with anger.
"What? You even brought your fiancée here to propose marriage. Do you really plan to make my little disciple your concubine?"
"Don't even think about it! Although our Beast Taming Sect is not as powerful as your Five - Element Dao Sect and the Azure Cloud Sword Sect, we still value our reputation. Moreover, in the cultivation world, there's no such thing as concubines like in the mortal world."
As he spoke, True Lord Hu Xiao seemed to get angrier and angrier. He clenched his fists tightly, like huge boulders.
Shen Qing's attention was always on True Lord Hu Xiao's fists. She was afraid that he would throw a punch if he got angry.
If that happened, she and Li Xian's small statures might not be able to withstand a few blows from True Lord Hu Xiao.
Xian Shiyu was anxious and quickly explained.
"Master, it's not like this. Don't misunderstand..."
"Misunderstand?!!"
"You clearly wrote in that letter that you have deep feelings for Li Xian of the Five - Element Dao Sect and will marry no one else in this life. Did you write this or not? You still don't admit it!"
"I'm telling you, I'll never agree!!"
For the last few words, True Lord Hu Xiao roared with all his might. The veins on his neck bulged.
His roar was like the howl of a tiger in the mountains, making people feel afraid. Standing aside, Shen Qing felt as if the roar of a giant beast was constantly ringing in her ears.
After a flurry...
Everyone was sitting on the stools out of breath. True Lord Hu Xiao coughed lightly and sat on the high seat, blaming, "It turned out to be a misunderstanding. Shiyu, you should have explained it earlier. You made your master make such a fool of himself."
At this moment, Shen Qing and Li Xian's throats were burning with pain. They had just had a hearty debate with True Lord Hu Xiao.
True Lord Hu Xiao's voice was extremely loud. Li Xian and Shen Qing had to raise their voices to be barely heard under True Lord Hu Xiao's voice. Otherwise, their voices would be completely drowned out.
Chu Lanqiu had been sitting beside them, gracefully sipping tea. A beautiful woman sipping tea was a pleasing sight, but Shen Qing didn't have the mood to appreciate it now.
"Since the two of you are here as guests, let Shiyu entertain you. Lanqiu is about to conduct the disciple selection and may not be free."
Chu Lanqiu said confidently, "Master, don't worry. I'll remember your teachings and will surely win this competition."
True Lord Hu Xiao laughed heartily. His eyes were full of confidence and expectation for Chu Lanqiu.
"Lanqiu, this competition is more important than you think. So, you must come out on top no matter what. Your master has placed all his hopes on you."
Hearing True Lord Hu Xiao's words, Shen Qing felt something was wrong.
Logically speaking, True Lord Hu Xiao knew the real purpose of this disciple selection, which was to select the next sect master for the Beast Taming Sect.
The position of the sect master of the Beast Taming Sect had always been passed down to men, not women. Shen Qing clearly remembered that if it hadn't been for True Lord Hu Xiao in the previous life, the position of the young sect master would surely have fallen to Chu Lanqiu.
But why was True Lord Hu Xiao now implying in his words that Chu Lanqiu must win this competition?
Didn't this mean that True Lord Hu Xiao actually hoped that Chu Lanqiu would win the position of the young sect master?
Then why did True Lord Hu Xiao in the previous life turn to support Fei Fei instead?
Was there some hidden secret in this?
True Lord Hu Xiao exhorted Chu Lanqiu a few more words. For a moment, the atmosphere in the hall was harmonious. But at this time, an uninvited guest arrived.
"True Lord Hu Xiao, it took this disciple a long time to find you. This disciple, Fei Fei, pays respects to True Lord Hu Xiao."
When True Lord Hu Xiao saw the person coming, a hint of dislike flashed in his eyes. But as a senior in the sect, he had to force a strained smile.
"So it's Fei Fei. What do you want to see me about?"
True Lord Hu Xiao's tone was flat. On the contrary, Fei Fei's face was full of smiles, looking obsequious.