The Unavoidable Truth

Deep in the night, within the main hall of the Lingzhou sub-branch, a somber assembly had gathered.

All the primary stewards of Tianhe Gate currently stationed in Lingzhou were present.

Candles as thick as an arm burned, their flickering flames casting long, dancing shadows that mirrored the grim expressions on their faces.

It was a stark reflection of their current mood.

“The investigation results for the Lion’s Den are largely complete. The fire originated from within the secret chamber, and Ma Shuang perished inside.”

“Although his body was charred beyond recognition, the coroner’s examination indicated that his neck had been broken, and he had likely been tortured before death. Most of the other operatives met a similar fate.”

Yan Qing’s face, usually jovial, was now strikingly stern. “Furthermore, news just arrived that an external contact point was raided at some unknown time. The bodies, having been left for approximately two days, were only just discovered.”

“This morning, the Disciplinary Hall went to the He family to apprehend someone. Not only did the target escape once more, but our forces also fell into an ambush, resulting in the loss of three brothers.”

Elder Chen’s expression was equally taut.

“The Mountain God Temple outside the city also proved to be empty today.”

Zhan Changfeng, the youngest among them, could no longer maintain his composure, his demeanor quite agitated. “I personally led the team. It was a sudden, emergency assembly, and apart from myself, no one else knew the target or any leaked information.”

“Yet, by the time we arrived, they had already retreated, even setting traps within the temple. Had I not been present, several more brothers would likely have been lost.”

Among those present, only Hu Hai managed to retain a semblance of calm. The primary task of their Imperial Guard Hall was currently to watch over the sub-branch and the two Demonic Sect operatives, and for now, nothing untoward had occurred.

However, his mood was equally heavy.

Clearly, events were unfolding with alarming speed.

“The Demonic Sect’s reinforcements have arrived,” Elder Chen stated gravely.

The others remained silent. It was an obvious conclusion.

They had indeed anticipated a counterattack from the Demonic Sect.

However, when the expected Demonic Sect response finally struck, they realized they had, after all, underestimated their foe. After only initial skirmishes, the intensity of the enemy’s retaliation had already far exceeded their wildest imaginings.

The Rumor Hall suffered the most significant losses. The Lion’s Den was their largest stronghold in Lingzhou, second only to the main branch. They had even deployed additional personnel to gather intelligence, yet it had been utterly decimated, wiped out from within.

This was the most devastating blow the Rumor Hall had endured since the Bai family’s defeat. Yan Qing had even personally penned a letter to the gate, requesting punishment for their failure.

Such an unyielding and brutal display could only mean one thing: the Demonic Sect intended to… declare full-scale war?

Hu Hai’s gaze involuntarily drifted to the main seat, where a woman in white robes sat silently, propping her chin with one hand, maintaining an attentive posture.

Since Elder Chen and the others had arrived, the Fifth Madam had not uttered a single word, entrusting all major affairs to them. Each day, she would either instruct her two disciples in the courtyard, cultivate in her room, or even occupy herself with needlework.

She presented the image of someone completely secluded, never leaving the inner chambers.

It appeared as though she placed complete trust in Elder Chen and his colleagues.

However, the outcome had been… after the initial few days of relative success, they had recently encountered obstacles at every turn. From start to finish, they had been led by the nose by their adversaries.

The first wave of attacks crippled the Rumor Hall, followed by widespread skirmishes, a relentless chipping away at their forces.

Yet, all their own assaults had failed. Three out of five times, they had fallen into ambushes, and the remaining two times, they had walked into traps.

Their informants, scouts, and even skilled martial artists were slowly being whittled away in successive battles. Meanwhile, they remained utterly ignorant of their opponents, not even knowing who was orchestrating the resistance.

The continuous failures and fruitless efforts gradually eroded the high morale that had once permeated the Battle Hall, the Disciplinary Hall, and even the local sub-branch. Rumors began to circulate within the local sub-branch, causing many members who had hoped to atone for past mistakes to now slack off.

They possessed immense strength, yet found themselves unable to exert it, their fists repeatedly striking empty air.

The enemy, however, resembled a spider lurking in the shadows, constantly weaving its web, ensnaring them, slowly tightening its grip, and patiently waiting for their strength to wane.

Hu Hai knew, deep down, that Elder Chen and the others were not to blame. From the beginning, their methods of handling and responding to the situation had been largely sound, and they had minimized the impact on Lingzhou City as much as possible.

But he couldn’t help but wonder: if this madam had taken charge from the start, would things have been… different?

“Fifth Madam, you are the Gate Master’s appointed Special Inspector. Before your departure, the Gate Master specifically instructed that in matters of great difficulty, the final decision should rest with you. Given the current situation, how do you… see it?”

Yan Qing suddenly looked up, his gaze fixed on the quiet woman in white robes seated at the head of the table.

This was, in essence, a plea for help.

At that moment, several pairs of eyes converged upon her.

Yet, Bai Yuan’s eyelids remained lowered, her face betraying no particular emotion. After a long moment, she finally spoke slowly.

“Me? I have no particular view. Elder Chen, Elder Zhan, and Elder Yan, you three have handled things exceptionally well these past days, and your cooperation has been excellent. Even I would not have been able to uncover so many clues with such meticulousness in such a short time.”

Her voice was faint. It sounded like praise, yet also like modesty. In such a solemn setting, however, it carried an odd, unsettling tone.

Elder Chen frowned, his voice deep. “Nevertheless, Fifth Madam, our current situation is far from favorable.”

“That’s simply unavoidable.”

Bai Yuan sighed softly, as if stating a helpless but undeniable truth. “I often told my subordinates that if you possess ten parts of ability, it’s sufficient to use eight or nine parts for your tasks. Reserve the remaining one or two for emergencies. Never push yourself too hard, always striving to do twelve parts of work; that often leads to breaking.”

“When undertaking tasks, it’s crucial to know your limits. Don’t demand perfection, and don’t expect too much of yourself.”

“For instance, in our current predicament, our cultivation is inferior, our experience is lacking, and our methods are outmatched. With the enemy hidden and yourselves exposed, it’s natural to be on the defensive. As the ancient saying goes, ‘a single step ahead in skill is boundless superiority.’ Under such circumstances, where you are inferior in every aspect, maintaining this much is already commendable. There’s no need to demand further improvement; that’s simply unrealistic.”

Her words were as calm as still water, yet they chilled the hearts of everyone present.

“Madam, do you mean to say—”

Having served by her side for a long time, Hu Hai felt he could grasp the underlying meaning of her words, yet he still hesitated, pressing for clarification.

Bai Yuan finally raised her head, her clear eyes shimmering with an uncertain light, reflecting the candlelight.

“I mean to say that the individuals who have arrived this time have clearly exceeded your capacity to handle them. Therefore, there’s no need to deliberate further; it would be utterly meaningless.”