19: Chapter 19 The Mystery of Severe Injury: Who is Loyal and Who is a Traitor?

The news of the infiltration squad's total annihilation dropped like a bombshell within the Thousand Faces Cult, yet it strangely did not provoke immediate retaliation. The eerie fog around the Fortress seemed to grow denser, a suffocating sense of impending doom enveloping everyone.

Amidst this tense atmosphere, a shocking piece of news suddenly exploded within the Fortress—Lin Chen was gravely injured!

The source of the news was unknown, but the rumors were vivid and detailed: The Master had encountered a top-tier assassin from the Thousand Faces Cult while on patrol last night. Although he managed to counter-kill the assailant with his formidable strength, he himself sustained extremely serious injuries, seemingly from some sort of sinister curse. After returning, he immediately entered seclusion in the core control room, and his condition was unknown!

Instantly, panic spread among the people inside the Fortress.

Zhang Hao was the first one who couldn't sit still. Like a mad dog whose tail had been stepped on, he grabbed his enchanted cleaver and charged towards the core control room, his eyes bloodshot, cursing the ancestors of the Thousand Faces Cult with every foul word imaginable.

"Get out of my way! All of you, get the hell out of my way! I need to see the Master! Anyone who dares stop me, I'll chop them down!" he roared at the two Yin Soldier Centurions guarding the control room entrance, spittle flying. His posture suggested that if Lin Chen gave the order, he would dare to charge into the Thousand Faces Cult's lair alone.

Su Qingyu rushed over upon hearing the news, her expression grave, but she forced herself to remain calm and intercepted the nearly berserk Zhang Hao.

"Zhang Hao! Calm down!" she shouted sternly. "What good will charging in there do now? If Lin Chen truly needs quiet rest, you'll only disturb him!"

"Calm? How can I be calm?!" Zhang Hao bellowed, his neck stiff with rage, but seeing the worry yet clear-headedness in Su Qingyu's eyes, his fury subsided slightly. "Miss Su, the Master... he'll be alright, won't he?"

"I don't know," Su Qingyu took a deep breath, her gaze sweeping over the gathered survivors, their faces filled with terror. She raised her voice, "Everyone, listen up! The Master only needs temporary rest! The Fortress's defense systems remain fully intact, and the Yin Soldiers continue their loyal patrols! Everyone, return to your duties! No panic, no spreading rumors! Violators will be severely punished!"

She quickly took command, arranging personnel to strengthen patrols, stabilize resource distribution, and soothe everyone's nerves. Though her own heart was filled with worry and uncertainty, she knew the Fortress must not fall into chaos now. Her composure exceeded even her own expectations.

As for Qin Weiwei, upon hearing this news, her heart almost leaped out of her chest!

Opportunity! A heaven-sent opportunity!

Lin Chen gravely injured? A curse? If the news was true, this was a once-in-a-thousand-years chance! Even if he wasn't gravely injured, as long as he was in a weakened state, it would be extremely advantageous for the Cult's final assault!

Suppressing the wild joy within, she instantly switched her expression to one of tearful, panicked distress. Stumbling her way to the control room, she cried out past the Yin Soldiers, "Brother! Brother, how are you? Don't scare me! Let me in to see you!"

She cried with such genuine-seeming emotion, as if truly worried sick. Yet, deep within her lowered eyes, a cold, excited light flickered. She needed confirmation! To confirm whether Lin Chen was truly gravely injured! If so, she had to immediately relay this momentous news!

Inside the control room, it was not the deathly silence of rumors.

Lin Chen sat perfectly fine in the main seat. The light screen before him displayed split-screen feeds: Zhang Hao's irritable, Su Qingyu's calmness, Qin Weiwei's "grief," and the varied reactions of the other survivors.

His complexion was ruddy, his breathing steady—not a trace of injury to be seen.

The so-called "grave injury" and "curse" were nothing but a test he had orchestrated himself—a test to discern the loyalty and true faces of those inside on the eve of a major battle.

The results were... interesting.

That vicious dog Zhang Hao, though a bit foolish, was unquestionably loyal, truly willing to risk his life at critical moments.

Su Qingyu's performance surprised him somewhat. This former "white moonlight" who needed his protection in a past life, after facing reality, had displayed excellent crisis management skills and mental fortitude. She was indeed a competent "chief steward." Her loyalty, built on reason and maintaining the Fortress's order, was equally reliable.

And Qin Weiwei...

Lin Chen looked at the light screen showing that "sister" of his, weeping as if heartbroken, yet subtly trying to peer through the gaps between the Yin Soldiers to see inside. The corner of his mouth lifted in a cold, mocking sneer.

Her acting skills were still on point. Unfortunately, the eagerness and calculation in her eyes couldn't escape his notice.

Through the system, he had even detected Qin Weiwei's small action of trying to activate a shadow recording worm the moment she returned to her room (using the excuse of being too grief-stricken to be alone). It was only because she was unsure of the intel's authenticity that she forcibly held back from sending the message immediately.

"That's about enough," Lin Chen murmured to himself.

This farce needed to end. If it continued, the morale within the Fortress would truly collapse.

At noon the next day, just as various speculations and panic were about to reach their peak, the door to the core control room slowly opened.

Under the stunned, ecstatic, and disbelieving gazes of everyone, Lin Chen stepped out calmly.

His expression was normal, his aura steady, even appearing more profound and unfathomable than before the "injury." Not a single trace of being hurt remained.

"M-Master! You're alright?!" Zhang Hao was the first to rush forward, stammering with excitement, circling Lin Chen, wanting to touch him but not daring to.

Su Qingyu also let out a long sigh of relief, her tense shoulders finally relaxing. She looked at Lin Chen, her eyes complex—a mix of relief and a hint of understanding.

As for Qin Weiwei, her expression instantly froze. The forced look of pleasant surprise stiffened on her face, her eyes betraying unconcealed shock and... a sliver of panic!

He wasn't injured?! Then yesterday's news... was false? Why? Was it a test?!

A wave of chilling cold instantly swept through her entire body!

Lin Chen's gaze swept calmly over the crowd, finally resting for a moment on Qin Weiwei's rigid, smiling face. That look seemed to pierce through her skin, gazing directly at the tempest raging within her heart.

"A minor inconvenience, already resolved," he said lightly, putting a definitive end to the turmoil.

He didn't expose anyone's performance, nor did he praise or criticize anyone.

But everyone could feel that after this incident, certain invisible things within the Fortress had changed.

Zhang Hao's loyalty had been tested.

Su Qingyu's capabilities had been displayed.

And as for certain individuals...

Lin Chen looked at Qin Weiwei's barely maintained smile and sneered inwardly.

The fox's tail was hidden deeper now, but also... more obvious.