“My disciple, why are you doing this to yourself?”
"Sect Master, please trust me this once. The dignity of the righteous path shall not be violated. I am willing to bear any responsibility for my actions today, but I beg you to thoroughly investigate Chu Hongluan and Liu Jinghong!"
The Sword Pavilion Sect Master remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a deep sigh and saying, "Ah... although your consideration was inadequate, given your righteous intentions and the fact that no major disaster has yet occurred, I will only issue a minor punishment as a warning—"
"The Sword Pavilion Sect Master is being far too overtly protective of his own!"
A powerful voice interrupted him, and Chu Hongluan clearly recognized it as the voice of the Sword Sect Master.
"Which of these disciples wasn't born of parents? Do you think you can get away with Mo Yu's premeditated murder by saying he didn't think things through? It didn't cause a major disaster... Ha, it didn't cause a major disaster because your good disciple, who kept pointing out the traitor, sacrificed himself to shield them from all the demons, and now his fate is unknown! Don't be so shameless!"
"Since the Sect Master of the Sword Sect speaks up for Chu Hongluan like this, does he perhaps know something?"
The Sword Pavilion Sect Master retorted sarcastically, "Then why don't you enlighten me on why Chu Hongluan chose to undergo the Mahayana stage tribulation within the Ten Thousand Demon Cave? Could it be that she intends to shake the seal through the tribulation?"
The Sword Pavilion Sect Master's questions came like a barrage of bullets, raining down on the Blade Sect Master.
"Why did Chu Hongluan entrust all the most crucial array points to her own people? Did she already know that there was a problem with the core array points and deliberately conceal it? Or did she want to send everyone away so she could have a private conversation with the Demon Lord?"
"Stop making baseless accusations! Sima Jiyuan! You must provide evidence before you speak!"
Sword Pavilion Sect Master Sima Jiyuan hadn't heard anyone call him by his full name for many, many years. Suddenly being reprimanded with his full name, he almost lost control of his expression.
He couldn't help but curse inwardly: Damn the Sword Sect! They're all shameless and have no manners whatsoever!
"It's just a reasonable analysis; there's no intention to convict anyone. Why is the Sword Sect Master so agitated?"
With the support of the Sword Pavilion Sect Master, Mo Yu became increasingly reckless, even directly confronting the Blade Sect Master:
"Forgive my bluntness, but is Chu Hongluan some kind of saint? She took all her closest people to the most dangerous place in the heart of the Ten Thousand Demon Cave, while letting complete outsiders do the easiest work in the safest place. I find it hard not to suspect that she has ulterior motives."
Ke Tinghe was so angry he jumped up and down: "You're judging a gentleman by your own petty standards! Wait until Elder Chu comes out, and see if you still dare to make such baseless accusations!"
"Hmph, how could two mere people survive against so many immortal demons? If they really did come out alive, I can only conclude that they and the demons were in cahoots from the start!"
Mo Yu's voice grew increasingly impassioned, as if he had even convinced himself:
"Why is it that every time you are in danger, she manages to save you? Perhaps this is just her way of winning people over and infiltrating her ranks."
"Have you investigated Chu Hongluan's background? Eighteen years old, at the Tribulation Transcending stage... oh no, she's at the Great Ascension stage now. Where was she born? Which sect did she follow? What kind of cultivation technique does she practice?"
"This...this..."
"You didn't investigate, but I did!"
"Chu Hongluan's past is completely blank! Her first appearance was near the desolate wilderness! How do you explain that!?"
"You don't need to blame me for slandering her. If they really come back, we can use the Arcane Spell to test them and find out!"
These words immediately caused an uproar.
"Spellcaster! You're insane! That's an interrogation spell used on traitors!"
"Yes! To test demonic energy using the Demon-Slaying Technique, a brand must be placed on the forehead of the person being interrogated. Regardless of the outcome, the mark will remain like a disgrace, forever following the person being interrogated, impossible to conceal or erase! That's too cruel!"
"Exactly! It's as if Elder Chu and the others have already been convicted! What if the test shows no problem? How will you make amends then!"
Mo Yu said firmly, "If I have wronged them, I am willing to atone with my death."
Suddenly, the magic detector at Mo Yu's waist started to get hot again.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
Three crisp claps.
"Young Master Mo has excellent eloquence."
The red-clad swordsman and the black-clad youth approached side by side, each with a playful smile on their face, showing no sign of panic.
"Elder Chu!"
"Sister Hongluan!"
"That's great! I knew you'd be alright!"
The members of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion all gathered around, their joy evident. The disciples who had gone down into the Ten Thousand Demon Cave earlier also hesitated before approaching to express their gratitude.
However, now was not the time for reminiscing. Chu Hongluan remained silent, keeping a distance of neither too close nor too far, and stared directly at Mo Yu.
"You mean you're going to use the Spellbinding Force on us?"
Although there was no emotion in those eyes, Mo Yu inexplicably felt as if a large hand was tightly gripping his heart, making it hard for him to breathe.
"yes."
"You know that the Soma Summoning Technique is an interrogation method used to deal with traitors, which means that you have already unilaterally concluded that we are traitors."
"...So what if it is?"
"Where's the evidence?"
Mo Yu coldly took out the magic detector from his waist: "The proof is that the magic detector only gets hot and shiny when you are present."
"Oh?" Chu Hongluan looked at him meaningfully for a while, then suddenly burst out laughing. "That's it?"
"What's the meaning?"
"We just fought against the demons and had close dealings with the Demon Lord. Isn't it normal for us to be covered in demonic energy?"
"Stop making excuses! The demon-detecting device already showed a reaction before you even entered the Cave of Ten Thousand Demons!"
"We fought with demonic beasts in front of the Ten Thousand Demon Cave, and were even injured and tainted by demonic energy. What's wrong with that?"
"W-what?" Mo Yu's face turned pale.
"Young Master Mo, your evidence is insufficient to convict us."
Chu Hongluan sneered, "But perhaps you should first explain why you didn't report it to your superiors when you discovered that the demon detector was sensing something. Instead, you waited until we were all in the Ten Thousand Demon Cave before engaging in these underhanded tactics behind our backs."
"I……"
"If I hadn't intervened, we would all have died together in the Demon Cave, which would have fulfilled your wish. At this critical juncture when the seal on the Demon Cave is loosening, you've targeted the elites of various sects. Does that mean I can suspect that you, Mo Yu, the chief disciple of the Sword Pavilion, are colluding with the demons, intending to sacrifice half of your companions to the demons in order to weaken the righteous path, suppress its morale, and damage its cohesion?!"
Upon hearing Chu Hongluan mention the title of the Sword Pavilion's top disciple, the Sword Pavilion Sect Master's heart immediately went on alert. He narrowed his eyes and rebuked her:
Elder Chu, please be careful with your words!
Chu Hongluan looked him straight in the eye, her aura overwhelming him:
"I don't think I was careless in any of my words. Besides, I'm not saying this to condemn anyone; it's just a rational analysis."
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