Although Xie Hanmo understood that Fang Yuan's proposal to take the blame could indeed resolve the crisis before their eyes, she rejected it without the slightest hesitation. As a result, Xie Hanmo and the others were thrown into a passive position.
The turning point came three days later, when intelligence was delivered to Xie Hanmo.
When Xie Hanmo saw the report, she was stunned for a moment before sighing. "So Qiu Shuang is no longer pure."
She handed the intelligence to the Red Scale Guard, the Blue Scale Guard, and Fang Yuan for them to read.
After reading it, the three looked at one another in dismay.
Qiu Shuang was the Saintess candidate secretly backed by Clan Leader Hanchao. During the Sea God Festival, she had been in the limelight, hailed as the person most likely to seize the position of Saintess from Xie Hanmo.
Yet who would have thought that she was no longer a virgin?
Mermaids throughout the generations had to be virgins in order to qualify to compete for the position of Saintess. This was one of the foremost prerequisites.
The Red Scale Guard was overjoyed. "Wonderful! Who would have thought that Qiu Shuang was no longer a virgin? With such a hold over her, the Cold Tide Tribe is finished!"
The Blue Scale Guard remained composed. "The Sea God Festival is the most important ceremony of our race, and its inspections have always been exceptionally strict. How did Qiu Shuang slip through the net? Could it be that corruption within our race has already eaten its way into the rites themselves? If so, then the situation is far too serious."
Fang Yuan frowned slightly. "There is one thing we need to be wary of. If we reveal this news now, people will likely think we are