Chapter 386: Chapter 346: Besides Him, Who Else Is Qualified?

One look at the list was enough to make Old He draw in a sharp, cold breath.

This wasn’t just infiltration; it was a full-blown invasion.

The Demon Hunting Bureau, the Town Martial Department, the Martial Arts Alliance, and even the various universities—they all had their people.

They had even managed to infiltrate the upper echelons.

’It’s a good thing we discovered this in time. Otherwise...’

The men in black wouldn’t even have had to do anything. Just give them a few more years...

...and the entire Huawu Alliance would have fallen into their hands.

The thought terrified Old He, sending waves of cold sweat down his back.

After a long moment, he looked up at Meng Die and asked, "How credible is this list?"

"Over eighty percent, perhaps even ninety percent!"

"We’ve confirmed it several times. There are basically no discrepancies!"

Old He nodded and looked over the list again.

He noticed that the most heavily infiltrated organizations were the Martial Arts Alliance and the Demon Hunting Bureau.

What was especially surprising was that all their current positions were quite high.

This caught Old He off guard.

’How were these people brainwashed? Why would they willingly choose betrayal?’

’What kind of benefits could they have possibly received to make them do such a thing?’

After a long period of contemplation, Old He spoke cautiously. "This matter is of the utmost importance!"

"I must report the situation to my superiors before we can make any arrests!"

"You must remember this: do not let a single word of this leak out!"

As he finished speaking, Meng Die and Yang Biao both stood up.

"Yes, sir! We won’t leak a single word!"

"Good. You two go get some rest."

Old He waved his hand, dismissing Meng Die and Yang Biao from his office.

Then, he took the list, returned to his desk, and sat down.

He didn’t make a call right away. He simply held the list, leaning back in his chair and gazing out the window.

At that moment, he was lost in deep thought.

A number of familiar names had appeared on that list.

Their faces flashed through his mind one by one.

What he couldn’t understand was this:

Why would these people choose to betray them?

For a moment, even Old He, a man known for his uncompromising integrity, found himself desperately trying to invent excuses for them.

But he quickly cast those reasons from his mind.

’It’s no use.’

’None of it holds up.’

No excuse could justify their actions.

The only explanation was that they had done it all willingly.

Perhaps their stance was firm and their objective clear from the very beginning.

They had simply hidden themselves too well all these years.

Only today had they finally let their true intentions slip.

"SIGH..."

After a long time, Old He let out a heavy sigh.

He turned back around and picked up the phone on his desk.

Without any hesitation, he dialed a number.

...

「Dragon Tiger Mountain.」

"Junior Martial Uncle Zhong, Little Junior Uncle has been in seclusion for almost a month now, right?

How come there hasn’t been any news at all?"

A young Daoist approached Zhong Yan and couldn’t help but ask.

Ever since Lin Yi returned to Dragon Tiger Mountain and entered seclusion again...

...a full month and then some had already passed.

However, there was still no sign that Lin Yi intended to emerge.

This had piqued the curiosity of all the young Daoists.

Some even suspected that Lin Yi was breaking through another bottleneck to reach the next realm.

But that idea was quickly dismissed.

Who could possibly cultivate that fast?

He had just entered the Star Tempering Realm less than half a year ago, and now he was already aiming for the Divine Abyss Realm?

If that were true, would cultivation be easier for him than drinking water?

However, it wasn’t just the young Daoists who were suspicious.

Even Zhong Yan himself couldn’t help but have his doubts.

’Even if it’s as Lin Yi said, that there were some things in his cultivation he hadn’t fully grasped...’

’And that he needed to enter seclusion to carefully reflect on them...’

’He’s taking a bit too long.’

Besides, with Lin Yi’s talent for cultivation and his powers of comprehension...

How could he possibly need this much time to figure things out?

Then the only other possibility was that Lin Yi was truly trying to break through a bottleneck.

Just as Zhong Yan’s mind was racing with wild thoughts...

Suddenly, a young Daoist ran over. "Junior Martial Uncle Zhong, Second Senior Uncle wishes to see you!"

"Second Senior Brother wants to see me? Did he say why?" Zhong Yan asked, startled.

The young Daoist frowned and said, "It’s probably about the Martial Arts exchange. Second Senior Uncle wants you to personally lead the team!"

"Me?"

Zhong Yan glanced at the barrier, then nodded. "Help me keep watch here!"

"No matter who comes, no one is allowed to enter!"

"Then again, it’s not like they could get in even if they wanted to."

Zhong Yan finished, as if talking to himself.

He then got up and walked off into the distance.

He left behind the bewildered young Daoists, who just stood there staring at each other.

Zhong Yan’s muttering had left them a bit stunned.

’This barrier? Does he think just anyone can walk through it?’

That was a barrier personally set by the Elder Celestial Master.

There was no way they could possibly break through it on their own.

Even if Second Senior Brother, Third Senior Brother, and Little Senior Sister all attacked it together, they might not be able to shatter the barrier.

Let alone them...

When Zhong Yan arrived at the Cultivation Room and walked in...

He found that besides his Second Senior Brother, his Third Senior Brother and Little Senior Sister were also seated there.

"Second Senior Brother, you were looking for me?"

Zhong Yan sauntered inside.

Second Senior Brother nodded, gesturing for him to sit down first.

Only then did he say, "The Martial Arts exchange is in half a month!"

"Junior Brother Zhong, your Third Senior Brother, Little Senior Sister, and I have discussed it, and we’d like you to personally lead the team. What do you think?"

Zhong Yan glanced at them.

"Wait a minute, Second Senior Brother. If you were going to discuss it, you could have at least included me, right?

So you all made a decision without telling me and just handed me the assignment?"

At his words...

Second Senior Brother and the others all scratched their heads in embarrassment.

"Junior Brother Zhong, you’ve been guarding the barrier ever since you got back, so we just decided to discuss it ourselves... Of course, you can choose not to go!"

"We’re not forcing you to go!"

Little Senior Sister quickly added with a smile.

Zhong Yan’s brow was deeply furrowed as he looked at them.

Before he could speak, Third Senior Brother jumped in with another smile. "It’s mainly because we all have things to do and can’t get away. If you don’t want to go, we can discuss it again. I or your Little Senior Sister could go instead!"

Seeing that they had put it that way...

Zhong Yan finally nodded. "Senior Brothers, Senior Sister, since you’ve all said so much, I’d just be making things difficult if I refused. It’s just that I’m worried about our little junior brother..."

"I can go, but then I’ll have to trouble you, my senior brothers and sister, to look after our little junior brother!"

"What are you talking about? He’s your junior brother, but isn’t he ours as well?"

"Don’t worry, nothing will happen to him on the mountain!"

Second Senior Brother quickly interjected.

Zhong Yan gave them a long, hard look, then nodded slowly.

"Alright, I’ll lead the team. And while I’m at it, I’ll bring you all back first place.

I’ll show them the glory of our Dragon Tiger Mountain and put a proper scare into those foreigners!"

"..."

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