Finally, when everyone else was done presenting their reports, Master Swamp Leech spoke.
He carefully placed a large transparent cylinder onto the table.
Inside it...
Dozens of pale worms wriggled slowly through dark liquid.
Han Yu’s expression imdiately beca serious.
Because he recognized them.
Mother and Child Heart Parasites.
A dangerous silence filled his mind instantly.
Master Swamp Leech spoke calmly now, entirely different from the emotional wreck earlier.
"The next batch is ready."
Even Lady Rot Rose’s gaze sharpened slightly while observing the parasites.
Han Yu carefully studied them.
Each worm was barely larger than a grain of rice, pale white with thin crimson veins visible beneath translucent skin.
They looked harmless.
Which made them even more terrifying.
Han Yu knew exactly what they were capable of.
A Child Parasite could be implanted into a cultivator silently. Once lodged within the body, it would slowly integrate itself near the heart and the ridian nodes surrounding it.
The victim would never realize it.
anwhile the Mother Parasite remained under the owner’s control.
Commands. Suggestions. Emotional influence.
Complete obedience if refined enough.
The stronger variants could even influence Dao Treading realm cultivators.
They were essentially slave seals in living form.
Far more insidious than ordinary thods because victims often never realized they had lost their freedom. They would think that they were fully in control and their thoughts were their own, never realizing they were being strongly influenced.
Han Yu suddenly understood why Master Swamp Leech held such importance within this group.
This man was horrifying in ways appearance alone could never explain.
Lady Rot Rose observed the parasites carefully.
"How many?"
"Two hundred and sixteen viable Child Parasites," Master Swamp Leech replied. "Seven mature Mothers."
Mistress Love Wine smiled lightly.
"That should be enough for the next stage."
Han Yu silently listened while remaining expressionless.
Internally though...
Alarm bells were ringing.
Because whatever these Legacy Disciples were planning...
It was far larger than he had initially imagined.
Han Yu had experienced many shocking monts ever since arriving at the Blood Continent.
He had seen monstrous sect rituals, watched cultivators turn corpses into weapons, learned forbidden arts, and even created intelligent Jiangshi that should not exist according to common sense.
Yet strangely enough...
The current conversation around this table still managed to unsettle him.
Because the people seated here were speaking far too openly.
Far too casually.
Golden Eagle Province rebellions being exterminated.
Enthralled subjects.
Heart parasites ant for controlling powerful individuals.
This was no longer the casual scheming expected from the Blood Sect.
This was sothing much larger.
Han Yu remained silent for several monts while carefully studying everyone around the pavilion.
Not one of them seed nervous.
Not one of them feared speaking openly.
Which ant they either trusted this place completely...
Or they trusted Lady Rot Rose completely.
Possibly both.
Han Yu slowly placed his wine cup down.
For the first ti tonight, his usual cold composure visibly shifted.
It was subtle, yet Lady Rot Rose noticed it imdiately.
A faint smirk appeared on her beautiful face.
"Surprised?" she asked lazily.
Han Yu exhaled slowly before speaking honestly.
"I have to admit that I am."
There was little point pretending otherwise now. These people clearly understood what they were doing. And they clearly understood how dangerous it was.
Han Yu looked around the table again before finally speaking directly.
"You are all showing your hands very openly in front of ."
Mistress Love Wine smiled.
"You make it sound romantic."
Han Yu ignored her expertly now.
"If even half of this was leaked outside..." Han Yu continued calmly, "the Sect Patriarch himself would likely intervene."
This ti nobody laughed.
Because everyone knew he was correct.
What they were discussing bordered dangerously close to organized factional power struggles at the highest level. Lady Rot Rose calmly inhaled from her pipe before releasing slow drifting crimson smoke into the air.
Then surprisingly...
She answered directly.
"We are rely laying the groundwork for my eventual ascension to the position of Matriarch."
Han Yu’s eyes narrowed slightly.
At first the answer surprised him.
Then...
Understanding gradually appeared.
Of course.
Everything suddenly connected together.
The influence.
The political movents.
The hidden operations.
The gathering of loyal supporters.
The manipulation of provinces and people.
It all fit perfectly now.
Yet even after understanding the goal, confusion still remained.
One massive question.
Han Yu slowly looked around the table.
"Why are all of you helping her?"
That question caused slight smiles to appear on several faces.
Han Yu continued calmly.
"Legacy Disciples exist to compete for the future position of Patriarch. Everyone within the sect knows that."
And it was true.
The Slaughtered Moon Divine Blood Sect did not follow hereditary succession. The position of Patriarch was seized through strength, influence, achievent, alliances, and fear. Every Legacy Disciple was theoretically a candidate.
Every single one.
That was precisely why their status held such weight.
They were the future rulers of the sect.
Or at least supposed to be.
Which made the current situation strange.
Four Legacy Disciples supporting another openly.
That was no small matter.
Mistress Love Wine spoke first while swirling wine lazily inside her cup.
"You are thinking too rigidly."
Han Yu looked toward her.
She shrugged elegantly.
"Not every Legacy Disciple actually wants the position."
Han Yu remained silent while listening.
Mistress Love Wine smiled faintly.
"The position of Patriarch sounds glorious from the outside. Power. Authority. Influence."
Then her smile beca slightly mocking.
"In reality it also ans endless responsibility, political headaches, elder disputes, sect managent, balancing factions, suppressing rebellions, negotiating with old monsters, and spending centuries buried under paperwork."
Han Yu subconsciously thought about ng Jueyan’s endless stacks of docunts.
Suddenly he understood slightly.
Mistress Love Wine pointed toward herself dramatically.
"Do I look like soone suited for managing all that?"
Han Yu honestly looked at her.
Then rembered her attempting to kiss him five minutes ago.
"...No."
Mistress Love Wine nodded proudly.
"I enjoy freedom too much. I like beautiful things, enjoyable company, good wine, interesting n, and doing whatever pleases ."
Then she leaned slightly closer again.
"Being Matriarch would ruin all the fun."
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