The defensive barriers surrounding White Moon Sect had existed for generations.
Detecting hostile entities was one of their primary functions.
Yet they had failed completely.
Wu Haruto narrowed his eyes.
"What do you an?"
The elder swallowed.
"When the invasion occurred. Even after the Pishachas entered. The barrier showed no abnormalities."
The implications were obvious.
The Great Elder, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.
His aged voice carried considerable weight.
"You an either the Pishachas have discovered a thod of bypassing our defenses..."
He paused.
Then continued.
"Or soone within the sect is helping them."
The mont those words fell, the atmosphere beca even colder.
Several elders subconsciously exchanged glances. Suspicion imdiately appeared among them towards each other.
Wu Haruto’s expression turned ugly. The veins on his forehead visibly bulged.
"If there truly is a traitor among us..."
His voice beca frighteningly calm.
"...I will personally skin them alive."
No one doubted his sincerity.
Those who died today weren’t strangers.
They were elders and disciples who had spent years contributing to White Moon Sect.
So had been personally promoted by him.
Others had been disciples he watched grow up.
Now they were dead.
If their deaths were caused by betrayal from within... How could he not be furious?
Just as the atmosphere was approaching its breaking point, hurried footsteps echoed from outside.
A ssenger disciple entered nervously.
Seeing the expressions throughout the hall, he nearly turned around and fled.
"What is it?" Wu Haruto asked impatiently.
The disciple imdiately bowed.
"Sect Master, Elder Song has arrived."
Wu Haruto paused.
Then he nodded.
"Send her in."
A mont later, Song ilin entered the hall.
She quickly noticed the tense atmosphere.
However, her expression remained unchanged.
Walking to the center of the hall, she cupped her fists.
"Greetings, Sect Master."
"Rise."
Wu Haruto looked directly at her.
"I’ll ask plainly."
"Where were you during the invasion, Elder Song?"
The mont the question was asked, nurous gazes landed upon her.
So curious,
So neutral, and
So openly suspicious.
Song ilin understood imdiately.
The Sect Master wasn’t accusing her.
He was giving her an opportunity to explain herself publicly.
"Reporting to the Sect Master," she replied calmly, "I had left the sect to receive my guests."
Before Wu Haruto could respond, an elder suddenly stood up.
"What kind of guests require your personal escort during such a dangerous period?"
Another elder imdiately followed.
"Indeed."
His eyes narrowed.
"The timing seems rather convenient."
"You departed shortly before the invasion and returned imdiately after it ended."
The implication was obvious.
Song ilin looked at him calmly.
"It was a coincidence."
The elder sneered.
"I don’t believe in coincidences."
Then he spoke words that instantly caused the hall to stir.
"Or perhaps... You’re the traitor."
Murmurs imdiately erupted.
Several elders frowned.
Others looked toward Song ilin with suspicion.
However, before the situation could escalate—
"Silence!"
Wu Haruto’s voice exploded through the hall.
Instantly, everyone shut up.
The Sect Master slowly swept his gaze across the troublemakers.
His expression remained calm.
Yet everyone understood.
He was warning them.
Song ilin’s loyalty was sothing he personally trusted.
Still, trust and procedure were different matters.
As the Sect Master, he couldn’t openly favor anyone.
Thus, he continued questioning.
"Elder Song."
"Even if you were receiving guests, it shouldn’t have taken so long."
"What delayed your return?"
Song ilin answered truthfully.
"I encountered several Grade Two Pishachas."
"I was unable to leave until after dealing with them."
Imdiately, Elder Zhang stood again.
His expression was filled with dissatisfaction.
"How do you prove that?"
"Did you bring back the corpses?"
Song ilin turned toward him.
Her expression remained completely indifferent.
"Elder Zhang."
"If you have doubts, I can provide the exact location."
"You may personally inspect the battlefield."
A few elders couldn’t help glancing toward Elder Zhang. Everyone knew his cultivation level. How would he dare to go out in such a dangerous period?
Song ilin continued. Her voice remained polite.
"Of course. I should remind you that Grade Two Pishachas have been unusually active recently."
"Considering your cultivation only reached Foundation Building Level One last year..."
She paused briefly.
"It would be best not to travel alone. This advice cos from a concerned senior. I would hate for another unfortunate accident to occur."
Several elders imdiately lowered their heads. Their shoulders trembled slightly.
Elder Zhang’s face turned red, then green, and then back to red again.
Everyone understood exactly what Song ilin was trying to achieve.
On the surface, she was expressing concern.
In reality, she had politely reminded everyone that Elder Zhang was barely qualified to sit among the Inner Elders. Even less qualified to question her.
"Elder Song!"
His eyes beca bloodshot.
"You—"
"Enough."
Wu Haruto interrupted before the argunt could continue any further.
The Sect Master’s gaze swept across everyone. Since the matter was sufficiently explained, there was no need to waste ti.
"The issue regarding Elder Song is concluded."
No one objected. Not even Elder Zhang, as he felt that if he spoke anymore, he would offend the Sect Master.
Wu Haruto then slowly stood from his seat. The mont he rose, the atmosphere in the hall imdiately changed.
The elders straightened subconsciously, because they knew what was coming next would be an extrely important matter.
His expression beca solemn.
"Now then."
"We shall discuss the abnormalities regarding the Pishachas in the past week."
"Because if today’s events are any indication..." His gaze swept across the hall, "...then White Moon Sect is facing a far greater threat than any of us anticipated."
The hall imdiately beca silent once more.
This ti, however, no one was thinking about internal disputes anymore.
Their enemy was outside, and it was growing stronger. Not only in terms of strength but also in terms of the ans.
For now, they could only set aside their internal grudges for the well-being of the sect.
***
During that ti, the eting that considered the future of the White Moon Sect was in motion.
Zhi Mo had brought Sub Mo and Yang Qingxi to Elder Song’s courtyard.
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