The disciple received the order and left. Shortly after, he returned and said, "Sect Leader, I have found out clearly that most of those below are originally Xuanyue Sect members. The coming and going are mostly handled by them."
He Yizhu laughed and said to the dozen or so disciples on either side, "I mentioned when I arrived that these two sects have been at odds for a thousand years. Even though they now seem united, the grievances accumulated over centuries cannot be easily dispelled. Although Zhongtai appears strong, it actually harbors hidden worries, like a thousand-year-old decayed tree. The branches seem sturdy, but they are hollow inside and not to be feared."
The disciples under the sect all expressed agreement.
The elder did not speak up because he understood that these words were merely to boost morale among their own people.
