The Assembly Hall remained silent long after the Grand Elder's words faded.
"The enemy remains within the Heng Ming Sect."
The statement hung over the crowd like a dark cloud.
No one spoke.
No one dared to.
Because everyone understood what it meant.
The enemy was no longer a distant threat lurking beyond the sect's walls.
The enemy was here.
Among them.
Perhaps standing beside them.
Perhaps sitting only a few seats away.
The realization alone was enough to make even seasoned cultivators uneasy.
High above the gathering, Xiaoyu sat upon the Sect Master's seat.
The position that countless people dreamed of possessing now felt more like a prison.
Every gaze in the hall seemed to carry weight.
Suspicion.
Expectation.
Pressure.
She could almost feel them pressing against her shoulders.
Inside, panic was slowly building.
Outside, Yuchen's face remained as cold and unreadable as ever.
At times like this, Xiaoyu found herself grateful for the villain's naturally expressionless face.
If she had been in her own body, someone would have noticed her anxiety long ago.
The Grand Elder stepped back.
Silence followed.
No one appeared eager to speak first.
Then Tianyu finally rose.
His movements immediately drew everyone's attention.
As expected.
Even though Yuchen was now the Sect Master, Tianyu remained one of the most respected figures within the Heng Ming Sect.
Years of achievements could not simply be ignored.
His reputation had been earned through strength and action.
"We must seal the mountain."
The statement echoed throughout the hall.
Several elders immediately nodded.
Others frowned.
One elder spoke.
"Would that not create panic among the disciples?"
Tianyu's expression remained calm.
"Panic already exists."
The elder fell silent.
No one could refute that.
The attack.
The deaths.
The murder of Elder Han.
Fear had already spread throughout the sect.
Pretending otherwise would solve nothing.
"The killer remains among us," Tianyu continued.
"Until we discover their identity, nobody leaves the sect."
This time, more elders nodded in agreement.
Xiaoyu quietly listened.
She was beginning to understand why so many people respected Tianyu.
He spoke with confidence.
Authority seemed to follow him naturally.
It was the complete opposite of her current situation.
Every sentence she spoke felt like walking across thin ice.
Meanwhile, Tianyu appeared completely at ease.
The contrast was painful.
Very painful.
A younger elder suddenly stood.
His expression was troubled.
"What if the killer attempts another attack?"
The question immediately drew everyone's attention.
The hall grew even quieter.
Because that possibility was very real.
The enemy had already succeeded twice.
Who could guarantee they would stop now?
Nobody.
The Grand Elder from earlier slowly stroked his beard.
"We will strengthen security around all important personnel."
Several officials immediately began discussing arrangements.
Additional patrols.
Restricted movement.
Night watches.
Emergency response teams.
One order after another was proposed.
Yet the atmosphere remained heavy.
No amount of preparation could erase the fact that someone had already infiltrated the sect.
Someone intelligent.
Patient.
Dangerous.
As the discussion continued, Xiaoyu found her gaze wandering across the hall.
One face after another entered her vision.
Elders.
Officials.
Disciples.
Everyone looked normal.
That was the frightening part.
The culprit could be anyone.
The kind elder comforting frightened disciples.
The respected instructor teaching younger cultivators.
The quiet servant pouring tea.
Anyone.
A sudden thought caused her stomach to tighten.
What if the traitor was someone close to Yuchen?
Someone she interacted with every day?
The possibility was terrifying.
Then another thought appeared.
An even worse one.
What if Yuchen himself had known something?
The thought emerged so suddenly that Xiaoyu almost froze.
She remembered the masked leader's final glance.
The strange feeling she experienced.
The fact that Yuchen was one of the few important figures left completely unharmed.
Immediately, she pushed the idea away.
No.
That was dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Yet no matter how hard she tried, the suspicion remained.
After all...
The original Yuchen was not a good person.
He was manipulative.
Cruel.
A sociopath who viewed people as tools.
A future villain capable of destroying entire lives for his own goals.
The thought alone sent chills down her spine.
Because she now lived inside that person's body.
The body everyone saw.
The body everyone feared.
The body everyone trusted.
The irony was almost laughable.
"Sect Master."
The sudden voice pulled her from her thoughts.
Xiaoyu nearly jumped.
Fortunately, nobody noticed.
A senior elder had stepped forward.
His expression was respectful.
Yet his eyes were sharp.
Observant.
"Do you have any thoughts regarding this matter?"
Instantly, the hall became silent.
Every eye turned toward her.
Xiaoyu's soul nearly left her body.
Inside, she was screaming.
Outside, Yuchen remained calm.
The contrast had become ridiculous.
She desperately searched for an answer.
Anything.
Something that sounded intelligent.
Something worthy of a Sect Master.
Her mind raced.
Then she remembered a simple principle from detective novels she used to read.
When you don't know who the culprit is...
Start with information.
"We investigate everyone."
The words left her mouth before she could reconsider.
The hall became silent.
Even Tianyu looked surprised.
Xiaoyu forced herself to continue.
"Everyone who entered Elder Han's residence."
"Everyone who spoke with him today."
"Everyone who served him."
She paused briefly.
Then added the most dangerous part.
"No exceptions."
The atmosphere changed immediately.
Several elders exchanged glances.
Others frowned.
One even looked offended.
Xiaoyu continued before anyone could interrupt.
"If we exclude certain individuals from suspicion, then the investigation becomes meaningless."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then, unexpectedly—
Tianyu nodded.
"The Sect Master is correct."
The simple statement immediately carried weight.
More elders began nodding.
Reluctantly at first.
Then with greater certainty.
Even those who disliked the idea found it difficult to object.
Because the logic was sound.
If everyone was a suspect, then no one could claim favoritism.
The investigation would be fair.
For the first time that night, Xiaoyu felt a small sense of relief.
Maybe she had not embarrassed herself.
Maybe.
Then her gaze shifted.
Only one person remained motionless.
An elder seated near the rear of the hall.
He had not spoken once.
Had not voiced agreement.
Had not shown disagreement.
He simply sat there.
Watching.
The elder appeared ordinary.
Almost forgettable.
Yet something about him felt wrong.
Very wrong.
As though he were deliberately trying to disappear into the background.
For a brief moment, their eyes met.
A chill immediately ran through Xiaoyu's body.
The sensation was familiar.
Unpleasantly familiar.
It was the same feeling she experienced when the masked leader looked directly at her during the coronation attack.
The elder slowly lowered his gaze.
Calm.
Unhurried.
As though nothing had happened.
But the uneasy feeling remained.
Deep within her chest.
And for the first time since arriving in this world—
Xiaoyu felt she might have just found her first suspect.