The heavy doors of the Council Hall slowly swung open.
A wave of quiet conversation immediately faded.
One after another, the elders rose from their seats.
"This elder greets the Sect Master."
Their voices echoed in perfect unison.
Xiaoyu gave a slight nod before walking toward the seat at the head of the hall.
Behind her, Tianyu entered without a word.
Unlike the Sect Master, his place was among the elders and senior members of the sect.
He quietly took his seat.
His gaze instinctively swept across the hall.
Everything appeared familiar.
Yet...
Something felt different.
He couldn't explain why.
Perhaps it was the atmosphere.
Perhaps it was the people.
Or perhaps...
It was simply because he had been away for several days.
His eyes unconsciously drifted toward Li Jianghong.
Li sat where he always had.
Calm.
Silent.
Expressionless.
Tianyu knew him well.
Ever since Li's friendship with Yuchen had fallen apart, the two of them had gradually become closer.
Not inseparable.
But close enough to understand one another.
Because of that...
Tianyu knew better than most how distant Li and Yuchen had become.
The two rarely exchanged more words than duty required.
They seldom even looked at one another.
Yet...
As Tianyu looked between them now...
A strange thought surfaced.
...What happened while I was away?
The thought disappeared as Xiaoyu's voice echoed through the hall.
"Be seated."
The elders resumed their seats.
Silence followed.
Xiaoyu's gaze calmly swept across everyone present.
For the first time since becoming Sect Master...
She wasn't merely attending a council meeting.
She was presiding over it.
Although her expression remained composed...
Her thoughts were anything but.
Stay calm...
Listen first.
Speak only after understanding everything.
That had become her rule.
She couldn't pretend to know everything.
But she could make sure every decision was based on enough information.
An elderly man slowly stood.
"Sect Master."
"The patrol reports from the southern districts have arrived."
He respectfully handed over several scrolls.
"The disciples have completed three consecutive searches."
"No unusual individuals have been discovered."
Another elder stood soon afterward.
"The Medical Pavilion has finished treating those injured during the assassination."
"Fortunately, no further complications have arisen."
One report followed another.
Security.
Supplies.
Outer branches.
Disciplinary matters.
Every issue requiring the Sect Master's attention was presented one after another.
Xiaoyu listened quietly.
She interrupted only when clarification was necessary.
No unnecessary words.
No hurried conclusions.
The meeting progressed steadily.
Before long...
A disagreement arose.
An elder from the Enforcement Hall rose to his feet.
"I believe the mountain should remain completely sealed."
"The assassins infiltrated our sect once."
"They may attempt it again."
Almost immediately, another elder disagreed.
"If we continue sealing the mountain indefinitely, trade with the surrounding towns will suffer."
"Our medicinal supplies have already begun decreasing."
"The disciples cannot cultivate without resources."
"The sect's safety should come first."
"And what good is safety if the sect gradually exhausts its own supplies?"
The discussion quickly grew louder.
More elders joined.
Each had their own reasoning.
Each believed they were protecting Heng Ming Sect.
From his seat, Tianyu quietly observed.
Arguments like these were common.
Normally...
Yuchen would simply hear every opinion before issuing a final order.
Few dared question his authority afterward.
Yet today...
Xiaoyu did something unexpected.
She did not interrupt.
She allowed every elder to finish speaking.
Only after the hall naturally fell quiet did she raise her eyes.
Her gaze settled upon Li Jianghong.
"Senior Brother Li."
"If the mountain remains sealed..."
"Will our current investigation be affected?"
Every eye turned toward Li.
Even Tianyu looked slightly surprised.
Li rose calmly.
"Yes."
"If movement becomes too restricted..."
"The investigation will eventually reach a standstill."
"We require information from outside Heng Ming Sect."
His answer was concise.
Nothing more.
Xiaoyu nodded thoughtfully.
Then she turned toward Tianyu.
"Senior Brother."
"You have recently returned from inspecting the outer branches."
"What is your opinion?"
For a brief moment...
Tianyu paused.
Not because he lacked an answer.
But because...
Yuchen had asked for his opinion.
Without hesitation, he replied.
"The mountain should remain sealed."
"But only internally."
Several elders frowned in confusion.
Tianyu continued.
"Movement between the inner and outer disciples should remain strictly monitored."
"However..."
"Trusted messengers assigned by the Council may continue travelling under heavy escort."
"In that way..."
"The investigation continues."
"The sect remains supplied."
"And security is not compromised."
Silence settled over the hall.
Every elder began considering the proposal.
Xiaoyu looked around the room.
"Does anyone object?"
None spoke.
She slowly nodded.
"Then we shall proceed according to Senior Brother Tianyu's proposal."
Her voice remained calm.
Yet carried unquestionable authority.
"The mountain remains sealed."
"Council-authorized escorts will continue external operations."
"The Medical Pavilion will prioritize the requested supplies."
"The Enforcement Hall will strengthen inspections."
She paused briefly.
"Our objective is not merely to prevent another attack."
"It is to ensure Heng Ming Sect continues functioning while doing so."
No one argued.
No one questioned the order.
One by one...
The elders cupped their fists.
"As the Sect Master commands."
Tianyu quietly lowered his gaze.
The meeting continued.
More reports followed.
More discussions unfolded.
Yet his thoughts lingered elsewhere.
Yuchen had not become more intelligent.
He had always possessed the ability to lead.
That was never in doubt.
What surprised Tianyu...
Was something else entirely.
Yuchen listened.
Not passively.
Deliberately.
He allowed each elder to speak.
He drew answers from those most familiar with each matter.
Then...
He gathered every opinion together before reaching a decision that satisfied the needs of the sect as a whole.
The final decision still belonged to the Sect Master.
But for the first time...
The elders felt that their voices had been heard.
Tianyu's eyes drifted toward Li Jianghong once more.
Throughout the meeting...
Whenever Yuchen sought information concerning the investigation...
His gaze naturally found Li.
And every time Li answered...
Yuchen immediately understood the implication without requiring lengthy explanations.
The coordination between them felt...
Effortless.
Almost instinctive.
Tianyu frowned almost imperceptibly.
...What happened while I was away?
The question surfaced once again.
Because he knew.
Before leaving the sect...
Such a scene would have been impossible.
Not because Li and Yuchen had become close again.
They remained formal.
Reserved.
Even distant.
Yet...
Somewhere beneath that distance...
The understanding they once shared still remained.
And Tianyu could not understand why.
Nor...
Could he understand what had changed.