Bai Xu's heart tightened.
I can't tell the truth... she thought anxiously. If I speak honestly, everyone might realize that I'm the one behind the White Mask.
Suppressing the panic rising in her chest, Bai Xu deliberately put on a frightened expression. She lowered her head slightly, her voice trembling just enough to sound genuine.
"I never intended to cause trouble for anyone," she said softly. "I only noticed that there was a crack in the protective shield stone. I was on my way to inform Grandpa about it..."
She paused, as if recalling something unsettling.
"But just then," she continued, "I heard someone calling out to me from the forest. The voice sounded urgent, so I followed it without thinking."
Her fingers clenched tightly beneath her sleeves.
"When I reached the forest, I realized the truth. There was no one there—only a small green mantis-type illusion beast. It had used an illusion to lure me away."
"Then... I saw His Majesty Jiang Lin approaching from behind me," Bai Xu continued.
Her voice grew softer, as if the memory still unsettled her.
"Before he could do anything—or before I could even react—the area was suddenly engulfed in thick smoke. It came out of nowhere, so dense that I couldn't see my own hands."
She paused, swallowing lightly.
"When I regained consciousness, I found myself still inside the forest. I don't know how much time had passed. I was afraid something might happen, so I came straight back to the academy."
As soon as she finished speaking, Bai Xu moved quickly to Jia Hai's side. Like a frightened child seeking shelter, she reached out and gently clutched the corner of her grandfather's sleeve, hiding herself behind him.
Her small action spoke louder than words.
Jia Hai's expression darkened slightly, his presence naturally shielding her from the probing gazes around them.
No one spoke.
The hall fell into an oppressive silence.
After hearing Bai Xu's explanation, none of the elders immediately questioned her. Yet every one of them sank into deep thought. The appearance of an illusion beast, the sudden smoke, Jiang Lin's presence—each detail felt coincidental, yet strangely connected.
Too neat.
Too convenient.
And yet... there was no clear flaw to point at.
Bai Xu lowered her head obediently, appearing timid and shaken. But behind her calm breathing, her heart beat steadily.
Silence means doubt, she thought coolly. But doubt without proof is harmless.
The atmosphere grew heavier by the second, as unspoken suspicions lingered in the air—unable to take shape, unable to be voiced.
Elder Nu Shi-Jie's expression darkened abruptly.
Slamming her staff against the ground, she spoke coldly, her voice laced with fury.
"What do you think this is?" she snapped. "A childish game played by ignorant brats?"
Her sharp gaze locked onto Bai Xu.
"The story you just told—every single word of it—is utterly unconvincing. Princess Bai Xu, do you realize where you are standing? This hall is filled with elders of the highest rank, figures who uphold the dignity of the Academy."
Her tone grew harsher with each sentence.
"And yet you dare fabricate such a clumsy tale to deceive them? Are you trying to insult us with these petty tricks?"
The moment those words fell, Bai Xu visibly trembled.
Her face drained of color as she hurriedly retreated further behind Jia Hai, clutching the back of his robe tightly, as though terrified. Her shoulders shook, and she hid herself completely behind him, playing the role of a frightened child to perfection.
Seeing this, Jia Hai's expression changed instantly.
His aura surged as he stepped forward, his voice booming through the hall.
"Elder Nu Shi-Jie," he roared, "I have always held you in the highest respect. But how can you speak to my granddaughter like this—right in front of me?"
A faint pressure spread outward with his anger, causing several elders to frown in concern.
The atmosphere grew tense in an instant.
Whispers died before they could even begin. Every person present felt the weight of the confrontation. A single wrong word could shatter the fragile balance in the hall.
Nu Shi-Jie narrowed her eyes, then sneered coldly.
"You have spoiled your granddaughter beyond measure," she said icily. "You shield her at every turn, refusing to see her faults."
She paused, her voice steady but cutting.
"When Huang Lin was only thirteen years old, she was already the most outstanding summoner among her peers—without exception."
A trace of complicated emotion flickered in her eyes.
"I may not be fond of Huang Lin," Nu Shi-Jie continued, "but talent is talent. I acknowledge it when I see it."
Her gaze swept across the hall, heavy with implication.
"In this world, status and protection mean nothing without true ability."
The words struck like a blade.
Bai Xu remained hidden behind Jia Hai, her body trembling as if she were on the verge of tears. Yet deep within her lowered eyes, her thoughts were calm—cold even.
Comparing me to Huang Lin... she thought silently. So this is where the blade truly lies.
Being compared to my mother was one thing—but the cold hostility she showed toward Bai-Xu's mother was something else entirely. It was too deliberate, too deep to be simple dislike.
If I could uncover the reason behind it, perhaps every tangled mystery surrounding us would finally begin to unravel.
With that thought in mind, Jia-Hai's gaze darkened. His voice was low, steady, yet carrying an invisible pressure as he slowly asked,
"Bai-Xu... did something happen in the forest? Something that could shake the balance—something I should be wary of?"
At those words, Bai-Xu's body stiffened.
She instinctively stepped closer, hiding behind Jia-Hai's back, her fingers clutching the edge of his robe. Her voice dropped to a trembling whisper, as though even the wind must not hear it.
"Yes... something did happen."
A faint chill spread through the air.
"But this is neither the time nor the place to speak of it," she continued softly. "The forest carries secrets soaked in blood and resentment. I will tell you everything later."
Her eyes shifted toward the danger surrounding them, sharp with urgency.
"For now," she said, "we must first survive this calamity... and escape the trouble before it tightens its grip around us."
As the tense atmosphere grew heavier by the moment, Heavenlyland King Jiang-Lin finally spoke.
His expression remained composed, yet his voice carried an unquestionable authority that filled the hall.
"Elder Nu Shi-Jie," Jiang-Lin said slowly, "I speak with full awareness of your esteemed position, and I hold you in the highest respect. Seeing how deeply you care about the friendship between our two nations truly makes me happy."
His gaze then shifted—steady and unshaken—toward Princess Bai-Xu.
"But to speak honestly," he continued, "I believe Princess Bai-Xu is telling the truth."
A faint ripple of shock passed through the crowd.
"From the moment we entered the forest until our arrival here, she remained by my side at all times. Every event she just described happened exactly as she said. Not a single word differs from what I personally witnessed."
The hall fell into a heavy silence, as the weight of the Heavenlyland King's testimony pressed down on everyone present.
Nu Shi-Jie bowed respectfully before Jiang-Lin and said,
"Thank you, Your Majesty. However, it is still difficult for me to believe that someone of your stature could be trapped by the illusion of a mere low-level mental beast."
Upon hearing this, Jiang-Lin lifted a hand to his chin and smiled faintly.
"Oh? Is that so?" he replied lightly. "Then perhaps the beasts of your country are far more... interesting than I imagined. Or maybe," he added with a soft chuckle, "it was simply my own carelessness."
With those words, he laughed openly.
Hearing Jiang-Lin's tone, the people present exchanged glances and forced awkward smiles, laughing along without truly understanding whether they should.
Nu Shi-Jie also smiled, then quietly stepped back.
Bai-Xu had heard everything.
Instead of feeling relieved, her confusion only deepened. A faint unease settled in her heart as she thought to herself:
There is no benefit in getting entangled with this king. His intentions don't feel pure. Why would someone like him help me without reason?
No... the safest choice is to keep my distance from him—as much as possible.