"If I am not mistaken, the 'Xiao' in your name, Senior Sister, should be the 'Xiao' meaning 'to understand,' right?" Lin Tian replied hesitantly, a sense of guilt creeping into his voice as he looked at the glaring Xiao Min.
"What did you say?" At these words, Xiao Min's face turned an alarming shade of red. "My 'Xiao' is the 'Xiao' meaning 'size,' not 'to understand.' Does my name seem so hard to remember?"
Staring at the furious Xiao Min before him, Lin Tian was completely dumbfounded. He could not fathom what was going through her mind at all.
"You lot don't even know my name?" Xiao Min's voice was seething with anger as she fixed a sharp gaze on the group of disciples, including Lin Tian. "If I don't properly punish you all, I would be letting down my parents!"
Upon hearing these words, Lin Tian finally understood why Xiao Min had become so enraged. Apparently, she was using this excuse to make them come to her residence and help cultivate spirit herbs.
Indeed, within the Xuanwu Sect, there were rules: outer disciples were expected to serve the Elders and Deacons of the outer sect. Inner sect disciples like Xiao Min had no authority to command outer disciples. Yet, using this trivial matter, Xiao Min could seamlessly make these outer disciples help her with herb cultivation.
Though her method seemed somewhat naïve, it still proved to be somewhat effective. Particularly the outer disciples who had been scolded earlier—they were now lowering their heads, too afraid to even breathe loudly, fearing that they might anger Xiao Min further.
As for the request to help with the spirit herb cultivation, although Lin Tian did not directly agree, it was clear from their demeanor that they had tacitly accepted. After all, offending an inner sect disciple was an unwise course of action for any outer disciple.
"Senior Sister, I believe this might not be entirely appropriate," Lin Tian finally spoke up, unable to keep quiet any longer. He had come to the Medicine Peak not to grow spirit herbs for someone else. If he agreed to Xiao Min's unreasonable demand, it would waste an entire month of his time.
As someone who treated time as a form of currency, Lin Tian valued every moment. Naturally, he was unwilling to waste his precious time on Xiao Min's affairs.
"Boy, do you know what you're saying?" Xiao Min's gaze snapped to him, suspicion flaring in her eyes. She seemed to be studying Lin Tian, clearly intrigued by the audacity of a disciple daring to refuse her.
"According to the rules of Xuanwu Sect, only Elders and Deacons have the authority to assign tasks to outer disciples. Inner sect disciples, like yourself, are not permitted to command outer disciples," Lin Tian said firmly, emboldened by his disguise, which made him confident that Xiao Min wouldn't recognize him.
"Am I ordering you?" Xiao Min's face darkened slightly as she heard these words. Though she had intended to get the outer disciples to help her cultivate herbs, as an inner sect disciple, asking the outer disciples to do so was a delicate matter. Even if they resented it, their fear of the inner sect's authority would have kept them silent.
Yet, Lin Tian had bluntly exposed her intentions, tearing away the façade she had carefully maintained. Clearly, Lin Tian had struck a nerve, angering Xiao Min profoundly.
"Senior Sister, by using your status as an inner sect disciple to coerce us into helping you cultivate spirit herbs, you're not 'ordering' us, but rather 'forcing' us, wouldn't you agree?" Lin Tian spoke with calm defiance, his tone neither obsequious nor insolent. "In fact, the nature of this is far more egregious than simply giving orders."
At these words, the surrounding outer disciples stared at Lin Tian in shock, their eyes wide. They could hardly believe that he had dared speak such words. After all, most of them had been subject to Xiao Min's coercion during their time at the Medicine Peak. Despite suffering in silence, they had never dared to speak out against her.
However, now that Lin Tian had voiced their collective grievances, they couldn't help but feel a sense of solidarity. Still, they viewed his actions with mixed feelings—admiration for his bravery, but also apprehension. Defying someone like Xiao Min, who was well-regarded in the inner sect, was no small feat. It was tantamount to courting disaster.
Xiao Min, however, only laughed coldly, her eyes glinting with a mixture of amusement and malice. "You think I'm forcing them? Why don't you ask the outer disciples here if I've truly coerced them?"
She knew full well that the outer disciples feared her, and no one else would dare speak up, even with Lin Tian's bold declaration. Her confidence was palpable as she stood before them, utterly unchallenged.
"Never thought I'd hear you speak so domineeringly, Senior Sister," Lin Tian remarked, applauding sarcastically. "It seems that you've quite a history of bullying the outer disciples here. No wonder they're all so frightened of you."
"Boy, since you clearly have a death wish, I'll be happy to teach you a lesson," Xiao Min's smile turned icy as she stepped closer. Despite the Xuanwu Sect's rules forbidding disciples from engaging in combat, Lin Tian's continuous provocations had pushed her to the brink. All she could think of now was tearing him apart.
She knew full well that as an inner sect disciple, she held considerable sway within the Medicine Peak. Even if she killed an outer disciple, the most she would face would be a mild reprimand from the Elders.
But before she could act, an unexpected twist occurred.