121: Chapter 121 Double Agent

Inside Yingxian Pavilion, the lamplight flickered.

The lanterns hanging between the carved beams and painted rafters cast a dim, yellowish glow, stretching long, distorted shadows across the exquisite floor.

Silks as thin as cicada wings rippled soundlessly in the faint breeze, like the sighs of ghosts.

In the main hall on the first floor, the atmosphere was so heavy it was almost suffocating.

Disciples from various sects sat or stood around. The low murmurs that had persisted earlier came to an abrupt halt the moment Long Tianjiao uttered the word 'Sacrifice'.

The word pierced through everyone's forced composure like an icicle.

Instantly, the color drained from the young faces, fear spreading through their eyes and brows like ink diffusing in water.

Some subconsciously held their breath; others clenched their fingers, digging into their own palms.

Still others trembled uncontrollably, their panicked gazes sweeping over familiar companions as if searching for a denial on their faces.

In the understanding of all cultivators, this word had always been associated with bloodshed, cruelty, and despair—never a good omen.

"Sacrifice?"

Chen Zilong stood tall and straight as a pine, arms crossed over his chest, his brow slightly furrowed as his sharp gaze fixed on Long Tianjiao.

"Could you elaborate on what that means?" His voice was steady, attempting to calm the near-panicked emotions of those present.

Long Tianjiao met his gaze, her beautiful face appearing somewhat pale under the lamplight.

She took a deep breath, her red lips parting slightly as she spoke, her voice carrying a trace of imperceptible dryness:

"I don't know the specifics. To get out of here alive, we must stabilize this Demon Suppression Grand Array."

She paused, her eyelashes lowering before lifting again, a flicker of complexity in her eyes. "And the method of stabilization isn't channeling spiritual power into the suppression points as we tried before, but... sending ourselves over."

As her words fell, an intangible chill seemed to spread through the air.

"As long as those... filthy things,"

she seemed to weigh her words, her tone laced with disgust and fear, "kill enough people, vent enough of their resentment and malice, the grand array will naturally stabilize. Then, perhaps, those of us who 'remain' can leave."

At that moment, Jin Mei, a female disciple from the Hehuan Sect nearby, suddenly covered her mouth with her hand, her delicate body trembling violently, her knuckles turning white from the force.

Tears instantly welled up in her eyes, her voice choked with sobs and incredulous horror:

"So... from the very beginning, we were just here for those monsters to kill?! Just to let them... kill to their heart's content?"

Long Tianjiao remained silent, finally giving a heavy nod.

That gesture, like a final judgment, shattered the last vestiges of hope in many hearts.

"Then wouldn't that mean... the others died for nothing?" A voice as cold and clear as a mountain spring rang out.

Everyone looked over. It was Lu Bingyun, sitting quietly beside Chen Zilong.

Her figure was graceful and slender. Even in such perilous circumstances, she maintained an elegant posture, like an orchid blooming alone in a secluded valley, its reflection in the water.

At this moment, her exquisitely beautiful face was veiled in frost. Her slender, jade-like fingers tightened quietly on her knees, the knuckles turning slightly white.

Her clear eyes reflected the flickering lamplight, along with grief for her fallen sectmates and anger at the truth before her.

"Since you knew the truth, why didn't you tell us sooner!" A furious roar suddenly exploded.

Wei Guodong from the Tiansha Sect shot to his feet. The baleful aura around him surged uncontrollably, dark red currents faintly swirling around him, making him appear like an enraged asura.

His eyes were bloodshot, glaring fixedly at Long Tianjiao, his teeth grinding audibly. "Do you know how many disciples my Tiansha Sect has lost these past few days! They died without knowing why!"

Long Tianjiao shot him a direct glance, her eyes filled with undisguised contempt and a hint of icy mockery. The corners of her red lips curled into a scornful arc:

"Demonic path scum, you deserve to die!"

She paused slightly, her meaningful gaze sweeping over Wei Guodong and the few Tiansha Sect disciples behind him, her voice growing colder:

"Weren't you having a grand time these past few nights in the accommodations arranged by the Village Chief, playing with those village girls 'specially' sent to you?"

"That was the 'last meal' Village Chief Su Yuenuang specially picked for you. Even if you die now, you should have no regrets."

"You!" Wei Guodong trembled with rage, veins bulging at his temples.

He took a sudden step forward, a thick, almost tangible baleful aura pressing toward Long Tianjiao. It seemed he was about to strike.

"Enough!"

Chen Zilong's low shout, though not loud, carried unquestionable authority.

His gaze was sharp as lightning, glaring coldly at Wei Guodong. The look clearly conveyed the message, 'We'll deal with your matters later.'

Under his intense stare, Wei Guodong's momentum faltered. Reluctantly, he reined in some of his baleful aura, but his chest still heaved violently, clearly furious.

Chen Zilong no longer looked at him, turning his gaze back to Long Tianjiao, his deep eyes filled with scrutiny:

"Then why have you chosen to tell us these things now? Wouldn't it be safer for you to leave this place alone?"

His question struck at the core, voicing the doubt in many hearts.

Hearing this, a faint, somewhat helpless yet calculating smile appeared on Long Tianjiao's face. She gently smoothed her sleeves, her posture still maintaining the bearing of a disciple from a prestigious sect:

"Fellow Daoist Chen, you are mistaken. Leaving aside whether I, Long Tianjiao, have the capability to break this situation alone, even if I managed to escape by chance, if only my Qingyun Sect disciples survived, wouldn't my sect immediately become the target of all arrows?"

Her gaze swept over those present, her tone turning grave:

"I presume you all are aware that my Qingyun Sect has many enemies."

"At that time, those hostile forces might very well join hands, using this incident as a pretext to slander my Qingyun Sect for colluding with evil demons or using some underhanded method to Sacrifice fellow cultivators for survival, and then launch a large-scale assault on my Qingyun Mountain Gate."

"If my momentary selfishness led to calamity for my sect, that would be a sin for which death would be insufficient atonement."

She paused, her gaze finally settling on Chen Zilong, her tone taking on a hint of candor:

"Therefore, for both public and private reasons, I must at least save a few disciples from other sects and leave together to silence the wagging tongues."

"Fellow Daoist Chen, your strength is formidable. You are the undisputed top figure among the younger generation of the Xuantian Sect, renowned far and wide. With your help, our chances of leaving safely will increase significantly."

She lowered her voice, a glint of shrewdness flashing in her eyes:

"Most crucially, I simply don't believe that Su Yuenuang will truly keep her promise. Cooperating with her is no different from making a pact with a tiger."

Listening to her clear, logical analysis of pros and cons, Chen Zilong's expression remained unchanged, but inwardly, he sneered.

This Long Tianjiao was meticulous and deeply calculating.

Where was she afraid of her sect becoming a target?

She clearly knew the truth would come out sooner or later. Escaping alone carried too much risk and left loose ends. That's why she chose to 'share' the secret, to rope in strong allies, increase the overall chance of success, and simultaneously spread out the risk and responsibility.

He guessed that if she were truly one hundred percent confident she could leave safely alone, she would have slipped away quietly long ago, not caring a whit for the lives of the rest of them.

Most crucially, just moments ago,

this woman had worn a face of 'righteous indignation,' inviting him, along with Wei Guodong from the Tiansha Sect and Jin Mei from the Hehuan Sect, to go to various so-called 'Formation Eyes' to 'channel spiritual power' and stabilize the grand array.

Now, thinking back, that was nothing but luring them to their deaths, to become Sacrifices to pacify the monsters!

He speculated privately that while this woman was now ostensibly cooperating with them, she was probably still scheming in her heart about how to use them up and even find a way to kill them off, so she could leave alone even more safely.

On one hand, feigning cooperation with that eerie female Village Chief, Su Yuenuang; on the other, currying favor with him here, playing both sides.

Tch!

What a fine Double Agent!

All that worry about the Qingyun Sect becoming a target was probably mostly an excuse.

The Qingyun Sect had been established for millennia, with profound heritage ( heritage - heritage, foundation). Its Mountain-Protecting Array was renowned far and wide. Could other forces simply breach it as they pleased?

What she truly feared was probably being unable to face her sect's reprimands and the joint investigations of other forces if she escaped alone.