48: Chapter 48 There's a mole!

Silence filled the hall, the atmosphere oppressive.

A moment later, Second Elder Ye Wenshan stood up first, his expression grave as he said: "Clan Chief, the nature of this matter is extremely vile!"

Regardless of whether it was done by the Lin Family, it shows that a force has already placed a butcher's knife against the throat of our Family!

It was pure luck that Ye Tian managed to escape danger this time.

But what about next time?

The enemy is in the dark, and we are in the light; it is impossible to guard against them!"

His tone turned resolute: "I believe the Family can no longer just passively defend!"

We must take strong measures and strike back!

Otherwise, it will only make the enemy think our Family is weak and easy to bully, causing them to intensify their actions!"

"Second Elder speaks reason!"

An Elder in charge of Family industries echoed, "Recently, many of our industries have been harassed by unknown forces, causing significant losses.

If we continue to swallow our pride, I fear the people will be in a panic, and the Foundation of the Family will be shaken!"

However, Discipline Hall Elder Ye Zhengfeng held a different opinion. He frowned and said: "Clan Chief, Second Elder, while striking back would certainly be satisfying, we must be cautious!

We currently have no concrete evidence to prove it was done by the Lin Family.

If we rashly go to full-scale war with the Lin Family, it will inevitably lead to mutual destruction, and then the Chen Family will reap the benefits, putting our Family in danger!"

He paused and looked at Ye Qingtian: "The most urgent task is to strengthen internal security and ensure the safety of the younger generation in the clan.

At the same time, investigate in secret and collect evidence.

Once the evidence is solid, it won't be too late to settle accounts with the Lin Family!

If you cannot tolerate small things, you will ruin great plans!"

"Tolerate? How much longer must we tolerate this?"

Another hot-tempered Elder shouted angrily, "Do we have to wait until Ye Tian... or other outstanding disciples in the clan meet with misfortune before we regret it?

Ye Zhengfeng, what exactly are your intentions?!"

Ye Zhengfeng's face sank: "What kind of talk is that?

Everything I do is for the sake of the Family's overall situation!"

"Overall situation? I think you are..."

"Enough!" Seeing the Elders arguing endlessly, Ye Qingtian immediately shouted to stop them in a deep voice.

He scanned both arguing sides and finally spoke slowly: "Elder Zhengfeng's concerns are not without reason.

Going to full-scale war with the Lin Family is indeed the worst strategy, and it must not be done unless absolutely necessary."

He changed the subject: "However, our Family absolutely cannot continue to be beaten passively!"

He stood up, his voice echoing throughout the hall: "Pass on my orders!"

"First, initiate the Family's highest alert! All core disciples, unless necessary, may not leave the Family residence at will in the near future! Those who go out must be escorted by an Elder or Deacon!"

"Second, draw out elite forces to form a Secret Guard, personally commanded by the Second Elder. On one hand, they are responsible for secretly protecting the safety of core disciples like Ye Tian, and on the other, they must fully investigate the origins of last night's assassins! At all costs, we must dig out the mastermind behind the scenes!"

"Third, double the guard strength for all Family industries, especially important resource points! If any outlaws harass them again, the guard teams are permitted to kill them on the spot!"

"Fourth," Ye Qingtian looked coldly toward the direction of the Lin Family, "Strengthen surveillance on the Lin Family! I want to know their every move! At the same time, send people to secretly contact the Chen Family and test their attitude. Even if we cannot form an alliance, we must ensure they remain neutral when our Family conflicts with the Lin Family!"

One order after another was issued, swift and decisive, demonstrating the resolve of a Clan Chief.

"Everyone," Ye Qingtian looked around at the crowd, his tone heavy, "A troubled autumn has arrived! Whether our Family can survive this disaster depends on this! I hope everyone will work together to overcome these difficult times!"

"We obey the Clan Chief's orders!"

All the Elders replied in unison.

The meeting dispersed, and the Family began to make arrangements in accordance with the Clan Chief's orders.

Visible sentries and hidden guards were set up; security was strict.

At this moment, Ye Tian was standing in the courtyard where he was temporarily residing, listening to the Second Elder relay the Clan Chief's decision.

His expression was calm.

"Secret protection... investigating the killer?"

Ye Tian sneered inwardly, "It seems the Family has still chosen a relatively conservative strategy."

He understood the Clan Chief's concerns, but he knew even more clearly that true safety never comes from the protection of others, but from one's own absolute strength!

"Lin Family and Black Cloud Stronghold..." Ye Tian clenched his fists, "Just you wait.

I will personally collect the debt from last night with interest!"

He turned and walked into the quiet room, immersing himself in Cultivate once again.

He needed stronger power to deal with the coming storm!

Meanwhile, in the Lin Mansion, Lin Batian also received news of the Family's full alert.

He stood by the window, a cold, sinister smile hanging on the corner of his mouth.

"The reaction is quite fast... unfortunately, it's already too late."

"Ye Qingtian, do you think you can defend against it this way? The game has only just begun..."

He turned and whispered to a blurry figure in the shadows: "Tell Yan Laosan that the plan can proceed to the next step."

From the darkness came a hoarse response: "Yes."

The next day, the Family entered a state of full martial law, with everyone on edge.

On the surface, everything seemed to have temporarily returned to calm, but the undercurrents were becoming increasingly turbulent.

Ye Tian moved to a safer courtyard in the Family's core area, guarded day and night by several trusted guards personally arranged by Second Elder Ye Wenshan.

He himself lived a more reclusive life, pouring all his energy into Cultivate.

Having experienced the assassination attempt last night, he was even more urgently in need of increasing his strength.

However, he always had a question in his mind: How did those two Qi Gathering Eighth Layer men in black precisely know his residence, and how were they able to sneak into the core area and launch an attack as if entering an empty land even after the Family had strengthened its guard?

Although the Family's defenses could not be called impregnable, they were certainly not something an ordinary Martial Artist could easily break through.

Unless... there was an inside traitor providing assistance!

This thought made Ye Tian's heart turn cold.

Inside the Family, someone was actually colluding with external forces, wanting him dead!

"Who could it be?" Faces flashed rapidly through Ye Tian's mind.

Someone from Ye Long's faction?

That lineage of Ye Hua?

Or even... Elder Ye Zhengfeng?

Or someone else who had a grudge against him, or was simply bought off by benefits?

He dared not jump to conclusions.

Meanwhile, Clan Chief Ye Qingtian and Second Elder Ye Wenshan did not relax their investigation either.

The Secret Guard was secretly dispatched to investigate all suspicious personnel and clues.

However, the two men in black were too meticulous in their actions, leaving behind no traces whatsoever.

Such meticulous anti-reconnaissance capability was alarming.

Late one night, several days later, Second Elder Ye Wenshan quietly came to Ye Tian's courtyard.

"Ye Tian, there have been some discoveries, but the situation is more complex than we imagined."

Ye Wenshan's expression was grave, and after dismissing those around him, he said to Ye Tian in a low voice.

"Please speak, Second Elder." Ye Tian's heart trembled.

Ye Wenshan said in a deep voice: "The Secret Guard investigated the origins of those two assassins; although they couldn't find the individuals themselves, they did discover some indirect clues.

The poisoned short blades they used had a very specific forging technique, bearing the distinct style of the Black Cloud Mountains region.

And the Black Cloud Mountains is exactly where the Black Cloud Stronghold's lair is located!"

"Black Cloud Stronghold?!"

Ye Tian's eyes narrowed, "It really was them!"

"Not only that," Ye Wenshan continued, "We also found that in recent times, several high-ranking Deacons and stewards within the Family have had large sums of money of unknown origin appear in the accounts of their Family members or distant relatives.

And the flow of funds points to several banks controlled by the Lin Family!"

Ye Tian gasped: "Do you mean... within our Family, not only is someone colluding with the Black Cloud Stronghold, but they might also be connected to the Lin Family?"

"I'm afraid that is exactly the case!" A cold light flashed in Ye Wenshan's eyes, "The Lin Family and the Black Cloud Stronghold have likely already colluded together!

And they have planted nails inside our Family!

The one who assassinated you last night was very likely an expert from the Black Cloud Stronghold, but the one who provided the intelligence and assisted in the infiltration was very likely a traitor hidden within us!"

This deduction made Ye Tian feel a chill down his spine.

With strong enemies eyeing us from the outside and traitors lurking and causing trouble from within, the Family's situation is far more dangerous than it appears on the surface!

"Can you determine who it is?" Ye Tian asked in a deep voice.

Ye Wenshan shook his head, his expression ugly: "Those fund movements are hidden very deeply; the other party is very cunning and left no direct evidence pointing to any specific person.

Moreover, the several stewards involved have quite a lot of seniority in the clan. Without concrete evidence, we cannot easily move against them, otherwise it would be easy to alert the enemy, or even trigger internal strife."

He sighed: "The Clan Chief was also extremely furious upon finding out, but he is afraid of damaging the vase while trying to kill the rat.

For now, we can only strengthen surveillance in secret and wait for the other party to reveal their flaws again."

Ye Tian was silent for a moment, a trace of resolve flashing in his eyes: "Second Elder, since they are in the dark and we are in the light, passive defense is ultimately not a solution.

Perhaps... we can lure the snake out of its hole?"

"Oh?" Ye Wenshan looked at Ye Tian, "What idea do you have?" Ye Tian lowered his voice and slowly explained his plan...

The next day, a piece of news quietly spread within the Family: Because Ye Tian was frightened by the assassination attempt the day before, and was eager for success in his Cultivate, his True Qi became disordered, causing him to suffer serious internal injuries. He was currently in seclusion in his courtyard to heal, with the Second Elder personally acting as Protector, and was declining all visitors.

The news spread secretly, but it cleverly flowed to certain specific channels.

Sure enough, that night, outside the Family residence, at a certain secret contact point.

A dark shadow appeared silently and stuffed a rolled-up note into a hidden crevice in the wall.

The note only had a few short words on it: "Target seriously injured and in seclusion, security is strict, difficult to act for now.

Suspected to be bait, be cautious."

A moment later, another, even more sneaky figure took the note and quickly disappeared into the night.

However, they did not know that in the shadows in the distance, two pairs of eyes were firmly locking onto their every move.

"The fish... has finally taken the bait."

In the shadows, Second Elder Ye Wenshan whispered to Ye Tian beside him, his eyes revealing murderous intent.

Ye Tian nodded slightly, staring tightly at the second figure who had taken the note.

Although the other party was masked, the posture of their walk and their faint silhouette made him feel a sense of inexplicable familiarity.

"This... could it be!?" Ye Tian was startled and suspicious in his heart, seemingly having some guesses, but he dared not believe it.