Zhao Yunxiao was not the only one who sensed the hostility coming from Qian Luming.
As someone who had known the Origin Lake Sect core disciple for years, Hu Nan felt that something was wrong as well.
"Have you met Junior Martial Brother Zhao in the past?" Hu Nan asked out of curiosity.
Zhao Yunxiao looked towards Qian Luming in confusion. He, too, wanted to know why the other party was acting this way all of a sudden.
"Why do you ask that, Brother Hu? I was just asking out of pure curiosity, wanting to know what Brother Zhao feels," Qian Luming shrugged.
"Perhaps we can do that next time when all of us gather again," Hu Nan suggested. "Junior Martial Brother Zhao still has to bring us back to meet Elder He, isn't that right?"
"Do you?" Qian Luming asked before Zhao Yunxiao could reply. "If I remember correctly, didn't you mention that Elder He only asked Brother Hu and Sister Song to join him?"
"Brother Zhao might not need to join the meeting, but I would still need him to bring me to Elder He," Hu Nan said. "Besides, who knows if Elder He might need anything else?"
"Will you be able to do that instead? I have something to discuss with our guest," Qian Luming turned towards Li Teng who had arrived along with Zhao Yunxiao.
"This... if Elder He has any special requests..." Li Teng timidly glanced towards Zhao Yunxiao.
"Are you not even confident of being a mere attendant?" Qian Luming narrowed his eyes.
"I-I can do it!" Li Teng had no choice but to agree.
No matter what, Qian Luming was his superior in the sect.
Even though he did not exactly agree with Qian Luming's actions, Li Teng was not in the position to go against his wishes either.
"...Why don't you give your view then, Junior Martial Brother Zhao? Just a little will do," Hu Nan said in a helpless manner.
While he was feeling slightly irritated by how Qian Luming was not giving him face, Hu Nan also knew that Qian Luming was not the type to act like this for no reason.
Before understanding the full story, he decided to just mediate things a little for now.
While he felt the duty to protect Zhao Yunxiao who was from the same sect, Hu Nan also valued his good relationship with the core disciple Qian Luming much more than his relationship with an outer disciple like Zhao Yunxiao.
If possible, he would prefer not to fall out with Qian Luming for no good reason.
But when he saw Zhao Yunxiao turned his gaze towards him, Hu Nan could only smile awkwardly in response.
At this moment, Zhao Yunxiao's silent gaze seemed to be blaming him for not acting his part as an inner disciple, failing to protect an outer disciple who was considered a subordinate.
"I have nothing worth sharing," Zhao Yunxiao finally turned away from Hu Nan and said to Qian Luming.
Hu Nan frowned.
Qian Luming raised an eyebrow.
Even Zheng Biru and Yu Hang turned towards him in surprise.
Yes, it might be difficult for outer disciples like them to enter a long and meaningful discussion, sharing their thoughts about something like the recent surge of demons in the region.
However, it was definitely not difficult to just give a comment or two!
"What do you mean, Brother Zhao?" Qian Luming was the first to ask.
"Exactly what I said, I have nothing worth sharing," Zhao Yunxiao repeated with a shrug.
"Why don't you just give everyone a short explanation of what you think?" Hu Nan added. "Don't worry even if it is not much."
At the same time, Hu Nan tried to secretly wink towards Zhao Yunxiao.
As long as Zhao Yunxiao said something, no matter how short or vague, Hu Nan was intending to step in and bail him out.
But it was as though Zhao Yunxiao never noticed his gestures.
"That's not it, Senior Martial Brother Hu," Zhao Yunxiao shook his head in response. "I simply have nothing worth sharing."
A smile started to creep across Qian Luming's face.
"Nothing worth sharing?" Qian Luming shook his head in disappointment. "Brother Zhao must be joking. How can a member of an orthodox sect not have anything to say about the proliferation of demons? It's not that I want to say this. But if that's really the case, can you really still call yourself a member of an orthodox sect?"
"Isn't this person taking things a little too seriously?" Zhao Yunxiao asked in a confused manner.
This person...?
Qian Luming felt the corner of his lips twitch.
Though come to think of it, Hu Nan had introduced Zhao Yunxiao to him, but not the other way around. With that considered, Zhao Yunxiao could not be faulted for not knowing his identity.
Still, wasn't it obvious from his disposition and attire that he was someone of importance?
To address him like that... wasn't that a little rude?
Even Hu Nan felt slightly awkward upon hearing the way that Zhao Yunxiao addressed Qian Luming. But before he could interject, Zhao Yunxiao continued to speak.
"Sigh... In any case, you should learn not to jump to conclusions, whoever you are."
Whoever you are...?!
Qian Luming could not believe what he was hearing.
"If you would just try to listen to others for once, you will realise that no one said anything about having nothing to say about the recent surge of demons. Instead, what I said is that I have nothing worth sharing," Zhao Yunxiao shook his head as he continued. "After all, I'm sure Senior Martial Brother Hu has much deeper insights than I do, and he has probably already shared everything that I have to offer. Considering that, there is no reason for me to waste everyone's time by repeating what he said, and at a lower level of insight too."
Hu Nan's frown lightened upon hearing that.
This was surprisingly not a bad reply – one that made perfect sense!
Of course, he was the only one who felt pleased with that answer, and for obvious reasons too.
Apart from Hu Nan himself, be it within the pavilion or outside, from Zheng Biru and Yu Hang to the other Origin Lake Sect disciples, all of them were shocked by the way in which Zhao Yunxiao just spoke to the core disciple Qian Luming!
Their gazes could not help but move towards Qian Luming, wondering what his reaction would be.
Perhaps understandably, Qian Luming's smile completely vanished.
Qian Luming widened his eyes in a mix of rage and disbelief.
This was the first time in a long while that he was being shown this much disrespect by another disciple.
Even Han Xing did not treat him in such a manner in the past, so how dare this lowly outer disciple...!
"Junior Martial Brother Zhao is as humble as always," Hu Nan patted Zhao Yunxiao on the shoulder while Qian Luming was still raging inside. "But it is indeed as you said. If one has nothing to add, there's no need to waste everyone's time!"
"Thank you for your kind words, Senior Martial Brother Hu," Zhao Yunxiao nodded. "If there's nothing else, I still have to bring Senior Martial Brother Zheng and Junior Martial Brother Yu back to our assigned rooms as well. Elder He has told us to standby for further instructions."
"Haha, why didn't you say so earlier?" Hu Nan laughed before turning towards Qian Luming. "Brother Qian, let's end things here since Elder He has instructions for all of us. I'm sure there will be a chance to discuss this matter further in the coming two days. Farewell."
He naturally noticed the ugly expression on Qian Luming's face as well, but Hu Nan was not too bothered.
In a way, he could only blame himself for this outcome.
Qian Luming had not given him face when he decided to put Zhao Yunxiao on the spot in front of everyone, so Hu Nan naturally would not defend Qian Luming now that he had gotten slapped in the face in return.
Hu Nan did not know what happened between Qian Luming and Zhao Yunxiao, and he did not want to get involved either.
Since he had not helped Zhao Yunxiao at the beginning, he naturally would not help Qian Luming at the end.
"F-Farewell," Qian Luming forced out through gritted teeth while staring daggers at Zhao Yunxiao.
It was fine.
Since Elder He Luoxuan had already passed instructions for the Black Tortoise Sect disciples to be elsewhere, Qian Luming decided not to pursue this matter for now.
After all, the members of the Black Tortoise Sect would be here for another few days.
Qian Luming did not believe that he would not cross paths with that arrogant outer disciple again during this period of time!
With that, Zhao Yunxiao and the rest of the Black Tortoise Sect disciples left Twilight Wall with Li Teng's accompaniment.
They did remember the way back and were more than capable of returning to the main hall themselves, but it was not too appropriate for them to be moving around in the Origin Lake Sect territory all by themselves.
"Do you know who that person is?" Hu Nan casually asked Zhao Yunxiao on their way there.
"Qian Luming, core disciple of the Origin Lake Sect," Zhao Yunxiao answered frankly.
"What?!"
"You knew?"
"Then why did you...?!"
Zheng Biru, Yu Hang, and even Li Teng exclaimed in shock.
"As I thought," Hu Nan smirked. "Elder He mentioned to me that you appear rather prepared for this trip. It seems like he is not wrong about that."
"I appreciate the kind words," Zhao Yunxiao responded with a smile.
It definitely felt good to be complimented.
"Then tell me this as well, what caused the enmity between the two of you?"
"That even I am not sure of, Senior Martial Brother Hu," Zhao Yunxiao sighed helplessly. "This is actually my first time speaking to him, so I was caught by surprise as well. Otherwise, there is no way that I can pretend like I did earlier."
"That's true as well," Hu Nan pondered. "Could you have accidentally done something that offended him somehow?"
"I'm really not sure how I offended him at all," Zhao Yunxiao shook his head. "If possible, I'm still hoping that Senior Martial Brother Hu will be able to help me find out."
"Oh? Did I hear you right?" You want me, an inner disciple, to do something for you?" Hu Nan asked in a teasing manner.
"It is only because you are an inner disciple that I can ask you for help with this, Senior Martial Brother Hu," Zhao Yunxiao answered helplessly. "If possible, I really don't want trouble while I am here, especially not with a core disciple!"
"Haha, all right. If I get the chance, I will try to find out what happened from Brother Qian," Hu Nan nodded. "Looks like we are here. You guys go back to your rooms first then. And make sure to stay out of trouble while I am not there!"
"Yes, Senior Martial Brother Hu!"
After parting ways at the main hall, Li Teng brought the outer disciples back to their assigned rooms which was not too far away.
The Origin Lake Sect had arranged for the Black Tortoise Sect entourage to stay at a huge courtyard, with each member assigned an individual room.
Since He Luoxuan and the two inner disciples were having a meeting at the main hall right now, the outer disciples were naturally the only ones present after Li Teng left.
That was when Zhao Yunxiao decisively stopped the other two at the courtyard, preventing them from returning to their rooms.
"All right, Senior Martial Brother Zheng, Junior Martial Brother Yu," Zhao Yunxiao said. "We need to talk."