Taijing, who was bowing in salute, received no response for a long while.
This left him puzzled.
He then looked up at the elder seated above, as well as the sect elders seated properly to either side. The three elders wore differing expressions, yet none voiced any clear opinion on the matter.
No clear opinion clearly meant they did not wish to dispatch troops for rescue. Taijing frowned and anxiously spoke up, "Elders..."
The elder seated above wore a white-gold dharma robe patterned with dark clouds and clear qi, with a clustered flying-flower crown atop his head. His long, gaunt face remained calm, without the slightest change in expression. He raised a hand to cut off Taijing's next words and said, "Taijing, you should know what sort of place the Righteous Dharma Divine Forbidden Land in Yuanyang Domain is."
"Even the sect had to pay no small price to send you and your fellow disciple into it."
"It is not as though we can easily mobilize troops just because we wish to."
"Indeed."
The somewhat plump elder on the left sighed. "Move one hair, and the whole body is stirred. The sect is in a period of recuperation and renewal. If we rashly wield the blade now, others may seize upon it to make trouble."
"But..."
Taijing was immediately angered by the elders' evasions. "Are we simply not going to save them?"
"Ah, it is not that we will not save them. This matter merely requires careful deliberation."
The elder on the right waved his hand slightly.
He spoke earnestly, "Though you have cultivated for many years, you do not understand the treachery of the human heart. What if this is merely a pretext, or yet another conspiracy aimed at the sect? If we become entangled in it, how are