Cang Dongqing returned to the observation stand and recounted Duan Xianxing's words exactly to Le Changxi and the others.
"So Zhu Yinxi was just faking how terrible his flute playing was?" Le Changxi said thoughtfully. "That would certainly make sense..."
Li Nanyi nodded in agreement. "It must be. In the entire cultivation world, have you ever heard of any other music cultivator capable of making such a sound?"
"But Duan Xianxing's words can't be fully trusted," Qu Chen said, his finger lightly tapping the table. "What if they're trying to mislead us?"
"That shouldn't be the case," Cang Dongqing said with a smile. "I feel that what he said is true."
Lin Shuang glanced at her. "Even so, we must remain vigilant."
"Does Senior Sister Lin not trust me?" Cang Dongqing pursed her lips, putting on a distressed expression.
"I didn't say I didn't trust you, Little Junior Sister," Qu Chen said, a flash of determination in his eyes. "Whether it's true or false, we'll simply crush them!"
Hearing this, Cang Dongqing smiled again, but the mirth did not reach her eyes.
"On another note," Pei Ji spoke up, "Little Junior Sister, you mentioned earlier that Duan Xianxing was asking about my condition?"
Cang Dongqing nodded slightly. "However, he didn't manage to find out anything."
"I knew he was up to no good," Li Nanyi snorted. "He probably wants us to descend into chaos ourselves."
Lin Shuang, who had fallen silent, suddenly looked up, a hint of struggle flashing in her eyes.
"But this additional match... don't you all feel it's a bit too despicable?"
The room suddenly fell silent.
Cang Dongqing chuckled softly, the bead bracelet on her wrist glowing faintly. "Senior Sister Lin, you speak as if we've committed some heinous crime..."
She lightly stroked her hair at the temple, her tone gentle yet carrying a hint of grievance. "We are merely fighting for a future for our sect. If the Five Elements Dao Sect rises, wouldn't the first one to have their resources cut be our Sword Heart Sect?"
Qu Chen's expression softened. "Little Junior Sister is right..."
"But last time at the ancient cultivator's cave dwelling," Lin Shuang's hand gripping her sword trembled slightly, "Li Nanzhu and the others saved us."
A flash of impatience crossed Cang Dongqing's eyes, but her voice became even more tender. "Senior Sister Lin... one thing is one thing; this is another." Her fingertip tapped the table. "Should we just hand over the sect's interests simply because they once saved us?"
Le Changxi hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Besides, back then... we left them pills, not to mention they were saving themselves as well..." His voice grew quieter and quieter.
Pei Ji had not experienced the events in the Forest of Demonic Beasts and had only heard rumors. Furthermore, regarding the Blackwater Marsh incident, he felt the other party was hiding something. Hearing his juniors' conversation now, he couldn't help but frown.
"If they only acted to save themselves, it truly doesn't count as much of a favor. If things were settled then, why dwell on it?"
Li Nanyi nodded in support. "Little Junior Sister is right again! The cultivation world is governed by the law of the jungle. Aren't we doing this for the sect's sake?"
Even Qu Chen completely sided with them, looking at Lin Shuang.
"Junior Sister Lin, the big picture is more important."
Lin Shuang's fingers unconsciously rubbed the hilt of her sword. The cold touch helped her calm down slightly. Looking at her fellow disciples' approving expressions, the sense of discomfort in her heart grew stronger.
"But Master taught me..." her voice was tight.
Cang Dongqing gently interrupted her. "But the Sect Leader also said that the sect's interests must always come first~" She tilted her head, revealing an innocent smile.
"That's not the same!" Lin Shuang suddenly raised her voice, startling even herself.
The room fell into a sudden hush.
Everyone looked at her in surprise—the usually taciturn Lin Shuang had never been so agitated.
A flash of displeasure crossed Cang Dongqing's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a look of grievance. "Is Senior Sister Lin... shouting at me?"
"I'm not..." Lin Shuang took a deep breath, trying to calm her emotions. "I just feel that our reputation after this..."
"Reputation?" Li Nanyi sneered. "Senior Sister Lin, are you worried about the Five Elements Dao Sect?"
Le Changxi sighed and laid out everything he knew.
"Senior Sister Lin, it's already a given that the Five Elements Dao Sect will enter the team battle. But if they truly regain their former status, our Sword Heart Sect's resource quota will be reduced by at least twenty percent."
Cang Dongqing also nodded. "That's why Master wants to use this competition to completely suppress the Five Elements Dao Sect's prestige."
Lin Shuang's face turned pale. "But like this..."
"Senior Sister Lin~" Cang Dongqing suddenly grabbed her hand, tears welling in her eyes. "Are you really going to watch the sect's interests suffer for the sake of a trivial life-saving favor?"
Lin Shuang abruptly pulled her hand back. "I..."
Looking at the uncomprehending eyes of her fellow disciples, she suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness. However, the stifled air in her heart could not be suppressed.
"I just..." She gripped her sword hilt, her knuckles turning white. "I don't want our sword hearts to be clouded."
Scorn flashed in Cang Dongqing's eyes, but it quickly turned into a gentle smile. "Actually, Senior Sister Lin is right."
She lightly stroked the beads on her wrist. "But have you considered this? If the Five Elements Dao Sect rises, will our position as the top sect in the Sword Heart Sect remain secure?"
"Exactly," Li Nanyi added. "When that time comes, forget about cultivation resources; they might even lay their hands on our Sword Heart Sect's Sword Mound!"
Lin Shuang opened her mouth but found herself speechless.
She knew they were right; the cultivation world was a place where the strong preyed on the weak. But seeing her fellow disciples take it all so for granted made them feel so distant in that moment, and the fire in her heart burned even brighter.
"Then what about our sword hearts?!" She suddenly slammed the table and stood up. "Senior Brother Pei, are you so sure you'll lose to Zhu Yinxi? There are plenty of times to suppress the Five Elements Dao Sect; why must it be this specific match?"
This question was like a clap of thunder, leaving the room in dead silence.
Ignoring the others, Lin Shuang looked at Pei Ji and continued coldly.
"Senior Brother Pei Ji, I respect you as my senior. This is my final reminder: this is the only Sect Competition in a hundred years. This is your match!"
"Are you truly going to sacrifice your own sword heart for the sake of a reputation-suppressing scheme that might not even succeed?!"
"Don't forget, only six people from the Five Elements Dao Sect are participating! Can they really single-handedly prop up their entire sect again?"
"Why can't we use clean methods to win the match?!"
Cang Dongqing's expression changed slightly, and she was about to speak—
"What clean methods?"
A cold voice came from outside the door.
Everyone froze and turned to see a tall figure in ink-black robes stepping into the hall.
It was the Eldest Senior Brother, Qi Yunze, whom they hadn't seen in a long time.
"Eldest Senior Brother?!" everyone exclaimed, hurriedly rising to salute.
Qi Yunze's face was stern, his brows carrying an aura of natural authority. His gaze swept over everyone before finally landing on Pei Ji. "I heard you added an extra finals match?"
Pei Ji subconsciously straightened his back. "Yes."
"Do you have confidence?"
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