Qingxuan Sect.
Merit Hall.
Located on the main peak, the Merit Hall is a place every disciple must visit after returning from their trials, for only by presenting the token to the Elder within can their mission be considered complete.
Xu Taiping was no exception.
After returning from the mountains, he was sent directly here by Elder Yunye.
“Disciple Xu Taiping of Seventh Peak has completed the sect’s trial mission. Here is the token I’ve retrieved, please review it, Elder.”
Upon arriving at the Merit Hall, he handed a small box containing a jade bracelet to the grey-robed Elder.
This jade bracelet was naturally the one he had obtained from Haitang.
“Seventh Peak’s Xu Taiping, let me see your trial mission…”
The grey-robed Elder nodded, placed the jade bracelet on a bronze mirror in his hand, and lines of text began to appear on it.
“Your mission took you to Black Vulture Nation?”
After reading the lines that appeared on the mirror, the grey-robed Elder looked at Xu Taiping with a hint of suspicion.
“Yes.”
Xu Taiping nodded.
The look in the Elder’s eyes gave him a bad premonition, but he wasn’t overly worried since he had mentally prepared himself before returning.
“Who gave you this half of the jade bracelet?”
The grey-robed Elder picked up the half bracelet and looked at Xu Taiping with a stern expression.
“The Sixth Princess of White Tree Nation.”
Xu Taiping replied.
“What’s the matter, Elder Sun?”
Just as Xu Taiping was considering whether to explain to the Elder before him, an old man in a white Taoist robe suddenly descended from the upper floor.
“Elder Lu, what brings you here?”
Upon seeing the white-robed Elder, the other Elder immediately greeted him with great respect.
This white-robed Elder, named Lu Zimu, held a position in the Merit Hall second only to a few vice hall masters.
The white-robed Elder nodded and then turned his gaze to Xu Taiping, saying:
“Are you Xu Taiping of Seventh Peak?”
“Xu Taiping pays his respects to Elder Lu.”
Xu Taiping greeted the white-robed Elder with a bow.
“How did you obtain the other half of this jade bracelet?”
Elder Lu picked up the half bracelet from the table and asked Xu Taiping again.
“Reporting to Elder Lu, after escorting the Sixth Princess Li Yu of White Tree Nation to the palace of Black Vulture Nation, she handed over the other half of the bracelet, which served as the token, to this disciple.”
Xu Taiping had guessed why Hall Master Lu and Elder Sun were repeatedly questioning him about this matter, but he decided not to mention the affairs of Senior Haitang and Senior Xiang Nantian just yet.
Given their special identities, it was best to avoid mentioning them if possible, as it could potentially lead to unnecessary complications.
“You’re lying!”
To Xu Taiping’s surprise, Elder Lu suddenly rebuked him loudly after hearing his explanation.
“The Sixth Princess of White Tree Nation has been killed within the palace of Black Vulture Nation. That jade bracelet must have been taken from her before her death.”
As Elder Lu spoke, he took the bronze mirror from Elder Sun’s hand and placed it in front of Xu Taiping.
Xu Taiping looked closely and saw four large characters and a line of smaller text emerge on the mirror:
“Trial Failed.”
“We have received news that the Sixth Princess of White Tree Nation, under the guise of peace talks, attempted to assassinate the Emperor of Black Vulture Nation. The Emperor was gravely injured, and the Sixth Princess was killed on the spot within the palace of Black Vulture Nation. Xu Taiping failed to complete the mission of safely escorting her back to White Tree Nation.”
After reading the two lines on the mirror, Xu Taiping thought to himself:
“So the false news has reached Qingxuan Sect after all.”
He had been holding onto a sliver of hope that possessing the token would be enough to conclude the mission, thus avoiding the need to reveal the Talisman Scroll given by Senior Haitang and Senior Xiang Nantian.
“Elder Lu, Elder Sun, you are not aware, although the Sixth Princess did use the peace talks as a pretext for assassination, she is still alive, not only alive…”
“Nonsense.”
Just as Xu Taiping was about to explain, Elder Lu interrupted him abruptly.
“We are also aware of the Empress of White Tree Nation’s plot today. Even with the Infant’s Cry sword, it’s impossible for her alone to contend with so many experts in the palace of Black Vulture Nation!”
At this moment, Elder Lu took out a Jade Scroll.
The dense lines of text on the Jade Scroll detailed the intricate plot orchestrated by the Empress of White Tree Nation.
So you knew all along?
Xu Taiping’s brow furrowed slightly.
It seemed that Senior Haitang was right; the upper echelons of Qingxuan Sect were only outwardly uninvolved in this conflict, yet they tacitly allowed it to happen.
Does that mean this trial mission was deliberately arranged by the sect leaders?
As he pieced together the situation, Xu Taiping became more composed.
If this trial was orchestrated by you, then this current difficulty must also have been prearranged, right? Creating such a commotion, is it really just to trouble a minor cultivator like me?
While pondering this, Xu Taiping dismissed the idea of immediately producing the voice transmission Talisman from the Haitang couple to prove his innocence. Instead, he began to observe coldly, wanting to see what these people were truly up to.
“Xu Taiping, do you have anything else to say?”
Seeing Xu Taiping’s silence, Elder Lu questioned him again.
“Elder Lu, this disciple has not lied; the Sixth Princess of White Tree Nation is indeed still alive.”
Xu Taiping insisted.
“Would you dare to repeat that in front of the Heart-Reflecting Mirror?”
Elder Lu snorted coldly.
“Of course.”
Xu Taiping nodded without hesitation.
He was familiar with the Heart-Reflecting Mirror, one of Qingxuan Sect’s famous treasures. When standing before it, if your words do not match your true intentions, the mirror will reveal your innermost thoughts.
Since every word he spoke was the truth, he had no fear of the Heart-Reflecting Mirror exposing anything else.