Chapter 77: Who Is the Traitor

Unexpectedly, after the thunderous words of the disciple from the Thunder Sect, he vanished as if into thin air; no one stepped forward to answer Liu Shenghua’s questioning.

Master Wang said, “Vice Master Liu, the Thunder Sect disciple’s remarks were not unfounded. I, too, wish to inquire: What has become of the five-member team sent to the Wind and Thunder Cavern? Has the Calamity of Wind and Thunder been successfully dispelled? I heard that Lei Jianqin and the others have returned, yet they are nowhere to be seen.”

Zhao Dongqiang stepped forward and said, “Thanks to the blessings of our ancestors, the tenth Calamity of Wind and Thunder has indeed been resolved! However, once Lei Jianqin, Chu Feng, Fan Qianjun, and Tang Jiao entered the cavern, the four acted on their own, flatly rejecting Liu Run’s reasonable suggestions and even conspiring to ostracize him, causing him to suffer greatly at the hands of the Thunder Beast! In truth, Lei Jianqin and the others have only brought trouble, not merit. The three are now facing the wall in self-reflection!”

“What? Facing the wall? And Chu Feng—where is he?” Master Wu asked.

“According to Liu Run, Chu Feng, proud of his talents and disdainful of others, treated Liu Run as a mere servant within the cavern, even brazenly harassing Liu Run’s fiancée, Tang Jiao. Now, his whereabouts are unknown,” Wen Lie replied, shaking his head.

Master Wang, Master Wu, and Master Song exchanged uneasy glances, clearly dissatisfied with this answer.

“Vice Master Liu, regardless, if you wish to assume the position of Master, you must present Master Lei and Lei Jianqin for us to see! Otherwise, our Thunder Sect will continue to recognize Lei Yingfeng as the Martial Hall Master!” Master Wang declared.

“Master Lei is currently resting in seclusion and must not be disturbed!” Zhao Dongqiang replied loudly.

“Then let us reconvene when Master Lei has recovered enough to appear. There’s no need to gather us here now,” Master Wang responded sharply.

“Master Wang, the urgent matter is to select a new Hall Master. Master Lei may need three months, perhaps even a year or more to recover. Are we to wait that long to choose a new leader?” Xu Ye demanded angrily.

“Indeed! Unless Master Lei, Elder Fan, Master Han, and Lei Jianqin appear before us, we will not agree to appoint a new Hall Master!” Master Wang insisted, his tone resolute.

“You—!”

Xu Ye was out of options. He looked to Liu Shenghua on the platform, seeking a decisive answer.

At this point, without bringing forth Lei Yingfeng and the father-daughter pair of Lei Jianqin, not only would the new Hall Master fail to win the crowd’s support, but turmoil might well arise.

Liu Shenghua’s mind raced. He said calmly, “Very well. Master Wen, please summon those whom Master Wang wishes to meet.”

“Yes!”

Master Wen called several disciples of the Wind Sect and hurried off. Meanwhile, those in the great hall waited anxiously, whispering among themselves, speculating what state the demon-stricken Lei Yingfeng, Fan Shang, and Han Mo might be in.

After about the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Master Wen returned briskly to the council hall.

Behind him, twelve disciples of the Wind Sect carried six small sedan chairs, arranged in a line and brought directly into the hall.

The sedan chairs were set down on the platform.

Seated within were Lei Yingfeng, Fan Shang, Han Mo, Lei Jianqin, Fan Qianjun, and Tang Jiao.

Lei Yingfeng, Fan Shang, and Han Mo showed no obvious signs of injury; their faces were not pale, but their bodies seemed limp and powerless, leaning back against their chairs as if unable to sit upright without support.

Lei Jianqin, Fan Qianjun, and Tang Jiao also sat motionless in their chairs like three statues, their faces expressionless, eyes open yet seemingly asleep.

“Master Lei, how are you?”

“Master Lei, can you hear me? Is there anything you wish to say?”

“Elder Fan, Master Han, how did you train with Master Lei, and how did you succumb to demonic frenzy?”

Master Wang, Master Wu, and Master Song of the Thunder Sect immediately pressed Lei Yingfeng and the others with questions.

“Enough! Master Lei, Elder Fan, and Master Han have lost all strength and cannot speak due to their demonic affliction. Questioning them further only worsens their suffering!” Wen Lie said gravely.

“Master Wang, you have seen those you wished to see. For the sake of their safety, they should promptly return to their seclusion chambers!” Liu Shenghua declared. “Master Wen, escort Master Lei and the others back to their rooms.”

“Vice Master Liu, this—how can this count as a meeting?” Master Wang protested, bewildered.

The Thunder Sect’s Masters Wang, Wu, and Song hoped to question Lei Yingfeng and his daughter face-to-face about the Wind and Thunder Cavern and their so-called demonic affliction.

But now, Lei Yingfeng and the others were mute and immobilized, like clay or wood figures. Such a meeting could reveal nothing.

Wen Lie, efficient as ever, called the twelve Wind Sect disciples to carry Lei Yingfeng and the six others away.

“Wait!”

At that moment, the voice of the Thunder Sect disciple rang out again from their ranks: “From what I know, Master Lei was not demon-stricken, but poisoned! All six were poisoned by a strength-dissolving gas! Someone is controlling Master Lei, seeking to usurp the position!”

“Who is speaking? Step forward this instant!”

As soon as the Thunder Sect disciple finished, Liu Shenghua, furious, shouted from the platform, his gaze sweeping over the Thunder Sect disciples.

Curiously, the disciple’s voice seemed to shift with each utterance, coming from different directions within the hall.

Yet the distances between these positions were vast; if the disciple was moving as he spoke, his movements were truly uncanny.

In response to Liu Shenghua’s inquiry, the nearly thousand Thunder Sect disciples looked at each other, none knowing where the speaker was.

“Hmph! Since when did the Thunder Sect harbor such cowardly, skulking types? Bold enough to speak, but lacking the courage to appear?”

Liu Shenghua glared at the Thunder Sect’s masters, his face flushed with anger.

This time, as Liu Shenghua sought to seize power, none from the Wind Sect opposed him; only the Thunder Sect’s masters voiced their dissent, earning his ire.

“Vice Master Liu, whoever the speaker is, his words ring true!” Master Wu interjected, stopping the Wind Sect disciples from moving the sedan chairs. “From what I see, Master Lei’s condition is nothing like a demonic affliction! Consider: Master Lei is always cautious in training, warning us many times against reckless ambition. How could he, himself, succumb to frenzy? Furthermore, Master Han and Elder Fan have their own duties—how would they all gather to train together? And all three afflicted simultaneously? Too many doubts remain!”

“Master Wu! Master Lei is clearly demon-stricken—what doubts remain?” Wen Lie snapped. “The urgent matter for the Wind and Thunder Martial Hall is to elect a new Master. If you won’t support Vice Master Liu, at least refrain from obstructing us. What is your true intention?”

“My intention? Hmph! You are all too eager to push Liu Shenghua to the top—what are your intentions?” Master Wu retorted loudly.

“Enough nonsense!” Zhao Dongqiang shouted. “Master Wu, if you no longer wish to lead the Thunder Hall, you may leave at any time! But if you remain as Thunder Hall Master and persist in blocking the new appointment, your motives are suspect. Beware, or I will hold you to account!”

With these words, Zhao Dongqiang drew his sword with a swift motion.

“Zhao Dongqiang! Who is truly suspect—who is scheming?”

Master Wang drew his sword as well, declaring, “Let’s be honest—over the past year, you masters have been plotting around Liu Shenghua. Han Mo noticed and advised Master Lei to be wary. Now you use poison to control Master Lei, forcing the Thunder Sect to bow to you. Do you think we’re blind to your ambitions? Rebellion is a capital offense!”

At these words, Liu Shenghua’s expression changed drastically. He shouted, “So, rebellion! I say the rebels are you! Master Wen, Master Xu, seize these traitors from the Thunder Sect!”

With Liu Shenghua’s command, both sides responded without hesitation—blades drawn, they clashed in front of the hall.