After a few moments, Wei Lan took a deep breath with closed eyes and as she opened them again the anger in them could not be seen. However, Wu Long felt that it did not disappear, only contained and hidden, waiting for the opportunity to be released.
“Protector Gan, you have known me for more than a hundred years, and I have known you to be a reasonable and just person. I do not want to have a conflict with you.
The scandal you mentioned is not something that should be announced but proven to you and all members of the sect so that you can be sure of the veracity of their statements.
I did not collude with any corrupt individuals, nor would I tolerate anyone doing so. Anyone can say that, but anyone can also just say the opposite about me. It only depends on whether my past behavior earned me that trust or not.
You must have also felt something was wrong when they just announced it like that.
Let me through so that I can confront my accusers, and you will get your answers after all of this is done”
Hesitation appeared in the eyes of the leader of the squad. Wei Lan was widely popular with lower-level members of the sect exactly because of her character and personality. Thus the feeling of betrayal from hearing that she was secretly a person who could do such things was very intense. But there was also doubt hidden deep within everyone who knew and respected her, and now that he was talking to her face-to-face this suspicion grew more intense.
“…Senior Gan…Grand Elder Wei has always been just… maybe it is some kind of a mistake?”
“Senior Gan! I trust Grand Elder Wei! Didn’t you also feel strange when Grand Elder Zun was making the announcement?”
“Senior…”
Once someone behind him started to talk in a wavering manner more and more voices began sounding out from the squad. The squad leader hesitated for a little more, and finally raised his hand, quelling the voices of his people.
“…I understand, please follow me”
The way the scandal was dealt with was truly very suspicious, coupled with the fact that all of the accused people were mostly known for their unbending righteous character, while the most hated Grand Elder Zun was now oppressing the former subordinates of the ‘traitors’.
This was another reason that the people in righteous sects had to find sanctimonious reasons for their actions if they acted not justly. It was because staying righteous earned them the support of the masses. This time the cover-up was far too sloppy so their own sect members were left in doubt.
But even if not for that reason, Wei Lan was actually one of the stronger Grand Elders of the sect. They all could not do anything to stop her if she wanted to come into the sect forcefully anyway, so there was meaning in trying to stop her. The fact that she tried to persuade them peacefully already told him many things.
They were escorted by the sect protectors and led through to the inner parts, passing through several more squads and eventually outposts. They had to stop and persuade people several more times until a crowd gathered behind them to follow Wei Lan. Even if they found the scandal suspicious, they were all little people in the sect and had no way of expressing their doubts for fear of retaliation. But now that an influential figure such as Wei Lan appeared, they could finally figure out what was happening.
Before the sect gates, Wu Long suddenly stopped, and when Wei Lan questioningly looked at him, he made her roll her eyes when he just stood and looked at the gates like someone who came to visit. She crossed the threshold of the gate and then turned. She hesitated a little if she should engage in this charade but then greeted and invited him to which he happily smiled and finally entered the gate.
She shook her head at how meticulously he took her word of a warm welcome when he visited the sect. But when he opened up his hands indicating that she should feel free to jump into his embrace to give him a truly ‘warm’ welcome, she nearly smacked him, only staying her hand with the willpower of a Grand Elder.
Once they entered the sect Wu Long began admiring the architecture, sometimes touching the pillars or walls of buildings and praising their construction. Wei Lan looked strangely at this newly turned architecture enthusiast, wondering what he was up to now. But she just shook her head as she partially gave up on understanding him.
The truth was that, despite coming here with the determination to die fighting for truth and what she thought was right, when he decided to tag along, she felt a strange sense of security. The casual way in which he talked about dealing with the people they were about to meet did not sound like a baseless bravado, instead giving off a feeling of reliability and stability. And his light teasing and fooling around allowed her to regain some composure.
The people around also looked at him strangely since he behaved too freely around her but did not give it much thought since the situation was not so lax for them to concentrate on such minor details.
Once they were at the central square of the sect, the news already spread and a massive crowd of people assembled, growing by the second.
“Sect protectors! What do you think you are doing, letting in the traitor!”
Suddenly, a thunderous shout resounded and two people in Foundation Building Realm appeared in the square from the other side with a crowd of elders in the Revolving Qi Realm behind them. The elders did not dare to confront Wei Lan themselves so as soon as they heard the news they immediately began to assemble near the area where the Grand Elders lived.
There were more auras of people in the Foundation Building Realm rapidly approaching this place, and more elders constantly joining the already assembled ones. The whole sect was concentrating in and around the central plaza.
“All sect members! Listen to orders! Prepare for battle and stand by! Activate the sect protection formation!”
A loud voice empowered by a formation resounded over the entire sect. Moments after a dome of Spiritual Qi appeared in the sky above the sect, and a commotion spread through the crowd of disciples, retainers, and protectors who did not know what to do. They would normally execute orders like that immediately, but there was too much confusion going on and the situation was too out of the ordinary for them to quickly react.
“Grand Elder Zun, Grand Elder Wei is here to confront her accusations, I believe all of us are entitled to a proper explanation since she is refusing the charges of treason! If you coul-…”
“Presumptuous!”
Wu Long rolled his eyes at this response.
“Who do you think you are?! I see, so there were still people like you who did not get caught! Sect protectors listen to orders! Arrest this traitor!”
Mass confusion further spread as this protector was one of the more respected ones. Meanwhile Wu Long was continuing to admire the architecture, touching everything like the scene happening now did not concern him at all. The only time he remotely paid attention was when he reacted to Grand Elder Zun’s manner of speaking and reply.
“Hono-…Sect Master Dan!!! Come out here! I demand an explanation!!!”
Just as some of them started to move a long staff appeared in Wei Lan’s hand which stopped them all in their tracks. She did not bother with the Grand Elder she was never fond of, and instead her voice filled with fury and carried by Spiritual Qi resounded over the sect. Her usual address of ‘honorable’ stopped midway as she could not call him that anymore.
“You! You want to fight with the entire sect?”
“Hmph! A traitor is a traitor! Look how she is resorting to violence right from the start!”
“What arrogance! How dare you speak to Honorable Sect Master in such a manner!” 𝘰𝑣𝘭.𝗇𝓔t
More and more Grand Elders appeared as they were called from all over the sect. They looked indignant but Wu Long saw panic and dismay in their eyes. When they got rid of Wei Lan they clearly did not expect her to return in this manner.
“Fairy Wei, offer to speak with them in private, otherwise they will not admit anything and you will not get a clear answer before this all escalates at which point talking will become meaningless, at least behind closed doors you might get a chance of getting an answer”
Wu Long told her. She looked at him, hesitated, and then finally nodded since she also understood that there was no way they would admit anything to her in front of everyone. And she was too aggrieved to not hear at least some words from them.
“Let me speak to Sect Master Dan, we can talk in private”
She declared to the Elders and Grand Elders, and a hesitation appeared among them. Since it was truly favorable to them they started to waver.
“Let her through, I will meet her in front of the Main Pavilion”
“Yes, Honorable Sect Master”
A voice sounded over the sect and all sect members bowed in the direction of the sect’s core area and replied in unison.