Chương 104: Chapter 102 – A Desperate Exodus

Once it became clear that Jiao Yue wouldn't return, the vice sect leader heaved herself to her feat and turned silently toward him. Knowing he couldn't avoid the situation, Ren stepped out from where he had been crouched. The vice sect leader looked wan and pale, a trail of blood leaking from the corner of her mouth. With the skies above muted but still lit with the apocalyptic scene of lightning, it gave her the air of a fallen hero.

Ren had no idea what to say, so he just approached and bowed his head partly to hide his inner turmoil. It was vice sect leader Shao Jing who broke the silence by saying, "The sect had long suspected there to be a traitor hidden in our ranks. The sect leader had even granted the responsibility of rooting them out to the elder of the Hall of Discipline, Elder Sha. Unfortunately, his investigation was diverted and ran out of clues to investigate." She gave Ren a knowing look. Ren listened silently.

Even without the look, he knew why she was speaking in this stilted manner. By speaking of 'commonly known facts,' she was attempting to subvert the order of secrecy Jiao Yue had given. While he wasn't sure why Elder Shao Jin was obeying, it no doubt had something to do with that scorpion poison mentioned. It was an unfortunately common method of controlling others. By poisoning someone while holding the unique antidote only you could provide, the victim would be forced to do your bidding.

Detestable but extremely effective. A technique used even by mortals, how could cultivators not have improved upon it? He spoke up hesitantly, "If one were to come across clues then…" he trailed off. Elder Shao Jing nodded, pleased that he understood, and said, "Then it would be their duty to inform only those concerned elders to avoid leaking word!"

"Can I ask what the traitor's goals are?" Ren tried to obtain more information he could use, but this time the elder only looked silently at him. In a flash of inspiration, Ren reframed his question.

"How else could one thwart the traitor's goals?" She couldn't betray Jiao Yue with her answers, but she could answer general questions. The elder gave a weak smile as more blood trickled out of the corner of her mouth and said, "I'm afraid you can't do much, as we will be taking you and the disciples to the main branch of our sect, the Azure Mountains." Ren understood what she was implying. Jiao Yue's goals required her to be at the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Then he remembered what she had said about her inheritance, and he started to piece it together. The only inheritance he knew of in the sect was the recently uncovered one, the Blood Moon Elder's inheritance trial, the same slaughter trial he had been trapped in. Something had awakened it, and while people assumed it had to do with the comet, he had been too insignificant back then to know the truth. He did know that it had been Elder Jiao Yue that had calculated the time of its opening.

He also knew that the trial hadn't reached its true conclusion back then. He recalled with a shudder that enormous drop of blood that had formed in the clouds above the center of the subspace as an offering to some 'Ancient'. It had gathered until it looked like it may fall, but it ultimately didn't and dispersed through the clouds before ending the trial.

'If that lunatic, the Blood Moon Elder, is her ancestor, he must have left some means behind for his descendants. It might make sense if that is what she's after. Then did she use the vice-sect leader as a shield, or did she have another nefarious purpose?' Elder Shou Jing interrupted his musings and gently said, "The plots of ancient cultivators can take decades or centuries to play out. Until one can compete on such battlefields, it's best to keep your head down and nurture your strength.

Now, we cannot linger here any longer. We must return." She waved a hand above her head, and the array was peeled open. The thunderclaps once more drummed into his ears. She turned and gave a faint nod. Her straight back seemed particularly broad to Ren in that instant. She then leapt and vanished from sight. His head was starting to hurt.

Traitors, inheritances, and the confirmed fact that they would be flown to the Azure Mountains and not home, all of which threatened to overwhelm him, but Ren was no longer in a fragile mental state. He sucked in a deep breath… then another. He needed to deal with things one at a time, and right now, he had to return to their assigned quarters. He made his way to the landmark he had identified before stumbling into this plot and rushed back. He even spotted a few disciples on the way, like him, hurrying back.

At the hall, he found nearly everyone gathered. Elder Ding was roaring for silence and order, and Jiao Yue was kindly consoling some of the more panicked disciples. If Ren hadn't just seen her twisted visage not too long ago, he too would have been fooled. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. The vice sect leader soon stepped forward and addressed them.

"We will be cutting short our recovery here. We will be departing immediately, so you have a scant few moments to gather your belongings, and then we will head toward the main courtyard. Along the way, if anyone delays, they will be left behind. So steel your hearts and make haste! GO!" The disciples scrambled. Ren ran to his room and made sure he had everything. He spotted a small sapling sitting near the door and remembered Subo's other gift.

He picked it up and paused as he looked back before shaking his head and leaving. Apparently he wasn't the only one who thought of it but unlike him, many other disciples had ripped out the meditation mat and were stuffing it into their pouches. Ren found Hua and stuck by his side as they gathered in the hall once more. By happenstance, he recognized Jian Feng standing directly in front of him, who had a look of grim determination. He was entirely too calm.

It occurred to Ren that a young master of the major families of the sect might have known about the evacuation. And that realization brought up an idea so appealing, he couldn't stop thinking about it even as the elders led the disciples back out into the storm. Ren had become caught up in a massive conspiracy, but that didn't mean he had to dig himself further into it! What if he could find someone to take up the responsibility of bringing the news to the proper authorities?

That way, he would have absolved himself of the duty and avoided the consequences it came with. He couldn't act hastily either. There was a possibility that Jian Feng's family might also be involved with the traitor Jiao Yue, and if that were the case, he would be serving himself up to the jaws of the tiger, as a witness to be silenced. Still, while he was cautious of the young master, Ren hadn't known him to behave dishonorably. But what if he prioritized his duty to his family over the sect?

They were running through the tiled pathways, ignoring the chaotic scenes all around them. Ren was forced to harden his heart and follow his fellow disciples or risk being left behind. Hua had noticed his complex emotions but likely misattributed them to their current circumstances. Ren was still grateful for the steady hand on his shoulder, making sure he was matching pace.

'If I can't find anyone to trust, then how will I ever get the chance to meet the right elders? They won't grant an audience to a nobody like me. Even if this trial earns me some repute, wouldn't they be too busy dealing with the fall of the sect? Jian Feng still seems to be the best option. And didn't Jiao Yue say there won't be a chance to talk later? If we are leaving on the sword, then she's right! I have to make a choice now!' Ren was feeling sick in his stomach. The pressure was immense.

They were almost halfway to the main courtyard. He frantically came up with ways to involve Jian Feng. He had to discard the idea of anonymously leaving a jade slip on his person because it would be implicating a respected elder without proof. He also couldn't share his experiences through an illusion because those could be tampered with. With time running out, Ren had but one path open to him. Tell Jian Feng directly while treating it as a chance for him to earn merit.

Having come to a decision, Ren didn't hesitate to act. He grabbed Hua and the robes of the young master running in front of him. The other disciples flowed around them and started to vanish into the darkness ahead. Jian Feng looked furious at what undoubtedly looked like an attempt on his life, and qi began to swirl around him, but Ren quickly spoke.

"I have critical news for you! Elder Jiao Yue is a traitor who has the vice sect leader under her control. I have witnessed it with my own eyes. I swear upon the heavens!!" Hua, who was already stepping in to absorb the blow, froze along with Jian Feng. A cultivator couldn't swear upon the heavens without severe consequences, so it earned him a moment of hesitation. Seizing the opportunity, Ren related the events he had witnessed in the shortest phrases possible.

He concluded it with,"This piece of meat is too large for me to swallow, so you can have it. You'll attain immense merit for revealing a traitor, and you can leave me out of it!" Jian Feng appeared almost convinced by that look of avarice in his eyes, but Ren knew he still had some doubts holding him back. So he said, "As I have granted this favor to you, you owe me. In return I want you to tell me all that you know about the Azure Mountains, what pitfalls to avoid, and how best to find a new home there."

And that was it. Ren had assuaged Jian Feng's fears and requested an appropriate reward instead of an unknown favor. And the mention of the Azure mountains had sealed the deal because there was no way Ren could have found out about it other than through the vice sect leader. Or at least Ren hoped that's how Jian Feng saw it. He waited for a breath, then two, and nearly collapsed in relief when Jian Feng nodded. He then threw a jade slip at him and turned to catch up with the other disciples.

Ren could see Hua had more questions, but he muttered, 'Later,' and then hurried to ensure they weren't left behind. They were among the last to reach the courtyard, where the large flying transport sword was already hovering. Ren only heaved a sigh of relief when he climbed aboard, only to freeze when he saw 3 disciples were still missing. He took his previous spot amidst oppressive silence. However, in the instant before the sword took off, he noticed 5 monks had gathered to see them off.

And then they were a blur, as the sword launched itself into the storm. Behind them, he saw huge barriers of light being raised. A bell tolled, but that pure note was cut off halfway as the barriers closed. The bolts of lightning were splashing uselessly against it, leaving not a scorch mark. They had flown for a while when Ren thought, 'Is it just me or is the storm following us?!' Ren gulped.