Chapter 82: Undercover

Such a scene would strike anyone as rather strange. All eyes were drawn to Gu She, who, until now, had merely been a servant in the Prince of Qi’s household and thus rarely noticed. Unexpectedly, at this very moment, she became the center of attention. Even with the Prince’s permission, she seemed hesitant, as if there were words she found difficult to utter. After a brief adjustment, she forced herself to continue, “Frankly, I find it hard to believe myself, given the gravity of the matter. But as Your Highness said, we cannot afford to overlook something so important, so I must speak. Whether it is true or not, I hope the esteemed elders and the heroes present will judge accordingly.”

With that, Gu She paused again, her gaze shifting to Han Tan Yi. The two appeared to be of similar age, and in Gu She’s eyes there shone a peculiar light. Among those prone to wild speculation, some might have thought the woman harbored feelings for the young man. But Han Tan Yi felt something else entirely; the look she sent him felt cold, making him uneasy. He wondered, “Why is she staring at me for no reason? Could there be something on my face? And what did she say just now—could it be related to me? But what could I possibly have done?”

This thought left the young man confused. Of course, he couldn’t stop others’ actions; after all, a person is born to be seen by others. Yet in that instant, his eyelids began to twitch uncontrollably. Where previously it was fleeting, now it was pronounced, almost continuous, making it difficult for him to keep his eyes open. Just as he closed his eyes, he suddenly heard a voice declare, “This morning, we received news that a spy from the Blue Lotus Sect has infiltrated this martial assembly, and that spy is him!”

The word “him” reverberated with shock. Han Tan Yi opened his eyes abruptly, only to find Gu She’s finger pointing directly at him. He was confused at first, not understanding her gesture, but soon realized what it meant. The so-called spy—could it be him? In that moment, his mind was blank, utterly bewildered by the turn of events. It wasn’t just him; everyone present, both on and off the stage, was equally perplexed. All eyes were fixed on him, full of confusion.

“Fairy Gu She, you mustn’t joke about such matters. Though I lost to Brother Dao, it was due to my own lack of skill and I concede willingly. Han Tan Yi is his chief disciple and grew up at the foot of Qilian Mountain. How could he possibly be a spy sent by the Blue Lotus Demon Sect?” Shen Wan San’s expression betrayed his unease. Even though he had made prior arrangements with Xiao Jing Hao—who sought to help him claim the title of Martial Alliance Leader—this sudden accusation was hard to believe. Shen Wan San had witnessed Han Tan Yi’s acceptance as a disciple of Dao Tian Feng; it was difficult for him to accept such claims. Still, deep down, he hoped Gu She would produce compelling evidence. If Han Tan Yi truly had ties to the Blue Lotus Demon Sect, Dao Tian Feng could never become Martial Alliance Leader, and the position would naturally fall to Shen Wan San.

“Master, I—” No matter to whom such an accusation was leveled, it would be hard to accept. Han Tan Yi was always proud and never cared for others’ opinions, so at this moment he stared straight at Dao Tian Feng. Perhaps only his master mattered to him now. He started to speak, but stopped at the word “I,” unsure how to defend himself. Thoughts of the Blue Lotus Sect flashed through his mind. He had indeed been there, and had promised Shui Linglong not to reveal anything about the sect. If these facts were known to those present, they would see no difference between him and a traitorous spy. Thus, he could not utter a word in his defense, not even a plea, which stuck in his throat. Only his eyes glimmered, silently begging for his master’s trust.

“Gu She, you must not speak recklessly. Young Hero Han is the chief disciple of Qilian Mountain, everyone knows this. Elder Dao and the Blue Lotus Demon Sect are mortal enemies—his wife, Fairy Yao Ji, was killed by Water Lotus. How could anyone from Qilian become a sect spy?” The voice was clearly admonishing, though it wasn’t directed at Gu She herself. The speaker might have feigned ignorance, but Gu She had come to him first, so he too harbored suspicions. Yet the rebuke was aimed at Dao Tian Feng, placing him in an impossible position. If the spy accusation stuck, even if he wasn’t directly involved, he could never continue as Martial Alliance Leader. Others might not understand, but Dao Tian Feng—an old hand in the martial world—knew well the underlying meaning. He did not rush to reply; his gaze did not respond to Han Tan Yi’s silent plea, but he pondered his next move internally:

“Tan Yi may be unruly, but I doubt he’d go this far. As his master, I ought to trust him. But this situation is fraught; Gu She is merely a pawn, and behind her stand Xiao Jing Hao. Their goal is clear: to help Shen Wan San ascend to the Martial Alliance Leader’s seat. If they dare make such accusations, they surely have more up their sleeve. I must be cautious. If I fall into their trap, losing the position would be the least of my worries—ruining the reputation of the Qilian lineage would be disastrous. Furthermore, thinking of Dongfang Mingyue’s wound, though it was caused by a sharp weapon, it may not have been the Kunwu Sword at all, but rather an imitation. If attacked by someone familiar, even a martial expert might not have a chance to resist, giving the impression it was the work of the Blue Lotus Demon Sect. If that’s so, their motive becomes clear. No matter who is truly responsible, I must not relinquish the Martial Alliance Leader’s seat, or else the next body lying in the main hall could be mine!”

These thoughts were tangled and complex. Even with such considerations, Dao Tian Feng could not immediately think of a countermeasure, so he remained standing motionless. Xia Wuyai watched, feeling he ought to say something. He glanced over Han Tan Yi’s face, and his heart jumped. Truth be told, among all in Qilian Mountain, only Han Tan Yi could rival him for the successor’s position. If Han Tan Yi were confirmed as a spy, it would eliminate his strongest competition, making his own claim nearly certain. Dao Tian Feng was old; even if his martial prowess gave him another decade or so, eventually the fate of Qilian Mountain would be in Xia Wuyai’s hands. The thought filled him with triumph, and a voice in his mind whispered, “Butterfly, oh Butterfly, you always act so aloof, untouched by worldly matters. When Qilian Mountain is mine, I’ll see how you escape my grasp! No—this won’t do. Senior Brother and I are of the same lineage; how can I plot against him? If not for his rescue, I would have died at the cliff’s edge years ago. Such ingratitude would be shameful. Xia Wuyai, how can you do such a thing?”

“Master, I believe in Senior Brother’s character. He would never betray our sect. Please trust him!” Though reluctant to speak, Xia Wuyai ultimately voiced these words. Perhaps a petty part of him lingered within, but his nature was not truly malicious. At this moment, apart from Han Tan Yi, the most anxious was Qiu Wan’er below the stage. Her gaze was fixed on the platform, her face twisted with anxiety. She and Han Tan Yi were the closest of companions in Qilian Mountain, like true siblings. Seeing this scene, she felt the urge to rush onto the stage—if not for Zola Weiyang’s gentle restraint, she might have acted on that impulse already. Zola Weiyang, an outsider, had no interest in meddling, but precisely because of that detachment, he saw things more clearly than the anxious girl. While stopping Qiu Wan’er, he whispered, “Girl, don’t be hasty. This matter won’t be so simple. Let’s watch and wait. Even if you rush up, it may do no good. Better to calm down—your senior brother will be safe for now.”