Inside the Law Enforcement Hall's main chamber, candlelight flickered. Yun Zishan had gone out of her way to dismiss all the disciples, and even Xu Yinyin had been stopped outside. At that moment, the vast hall held only her and Yang Ning.
Yang Ning sat in a sandalwood chair, lifted the hot tea beside him, and took a small sip. Then he casually leafed through the booklet in his hands, which recorded all the Undercover Agents' information, including their departments, ages, names, holding cells, and autopsy results.
Yang Ning skimmed the information about the Undercover Agent who had gone mad. His gaze paused, then continued down the page. Across the tea table, Yun Zishan sat upright, her eyes fixed on his face.
"If Advisor wants to examine the bodies, you can come with me to Zhaoyu Tower."
Yang Ning shook his head. "There's no need to rush." He smiled. "This booklet is quite detailed. Besides, according to the records, these spies died in horrific ways... I wouldn't dare look..."
To Yun Zishan, his admission that he didn't dare look at the corpses' gruesome deaths made him seem all the more like a shopkeeper, putting her mind somewhat more at ease.
Yang Ning turned another page and mused, "These Undercover Agents were clearly given poison that took effect after a delay. They died because they failed to take the antidote within the allotted time."
Yun Zishan nodded. "The autopsy results do point to that. And judging by the time they were brought to the Law Enforcement Hall, the poison should take effect after twelve shichen."
Yang Ning slowly closed the booklet. He had already been running a fever, and after the cold wind on the way here, he now felt dizzy and disoriented. He picked up his teacup and drained a large mouthful before continuing, "Since someone was able to poison them, that means the Undercover Agents haven't all been rooted out. Relying on the Magic Stones to search will inevitably let some slip through. Those cautious ones have probably already hidden their Magic Stones elsewhere. That's only to be expected."
Yun Zishan had naturally thought of that too. She looked straight at Yang Ning. "Do you think we could interrogate the Undercover Agent you questioned yesterday again, to see if we can get any more information out of him? He's already gone mad, but he might still let slip some way to identify Undercover Agents."
Yang Ning shook his head. "There's no need."
Yun Zishan's brows furrowed at once. "What do you mean?"
Yang Ning looked up and met Yun Zishan's deep blue eyes. "First, that Undercover Agent has already gone mad. Never mind whether we can get any information out of him—if he does speak, would you really trust the words of a madman?"
Yun Zishan insisted, "Even if we can't believe everything he says, as long as you can get a few scraps of information, the Law Enforcement Hall can follow the clues. Even if the information is false, we can search the Sword Sect again, just to be safe."
Yang Ning still didn't look away. "Hall Master, don't forget your real purpose."
A flicker passed through Yun Zishan's eyes, but she persisted. "My purpose, naturally, is to purge the sect of its spies!"
"No!" Yang Ning suddenly raised his voice. "Your purpose is to use the credit for purging the spies to gain an advantage in the Sect Master election at year's end, and ultimately claim the position of Sect Master!"
Yun Zishan sprang to her feet and stared into Yang Ning's black eyes. Their gazes clashed in midair. "Advisor, do you think I'm the sort of person who covets fame and fortune?"
"No, I don't." Yang Ning could feel waves of chill creeping toward him, while his forehead grew hotter and hotter.
"Then what exactly do you mean?" Yun Zishan's voice was icy.
"Back when your master, Qingxia Fairy, ran for Sect Master, she lost to the Sword Sect's current Sect Master Lei."
At the mention of her master, Qingxia Fairy, Yun Zishan's eyes began to tremble.
Yang Ning noticed at once and spoke up. "The old story of the Sect Master election isn't a secret. A little asking around is all it takes to learn about it.
"I know your master lost to Sect Master Lei back then. That must have been a knot in your heart for a long time. Now that you're running for Sect Master, it isn't because you covet the authority of the position. It's to make up for your master Qingxia Fairy's regret, and to lay to rest the obsession you've carried for three hundred years."
Yun Zishan was cold by nature. Other than her junior sister, Shi Xuanfei, she had no friends, and no one understood her thoughts. Even she and Shi Xuanfei had grown more distant since taking charge of the Law Enforcement Hall and Jade Maiden Peak, respectively. Shi Xuanfei was one of the few who understood why she was running for Sect Master, but even she didn't know the whole story.
Ever since announcing her candidacy, Yun Zishan had heard too many rumors.
Her supporters, such as the disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall, hoped she would lead them to greater heights, bringing them greater benefits and letting them get one over on the other peaks. Her opponents spread all sorts of speculation. Some said she coveted power; others said Qingxia Fairy's defeat had left her resentful toward Lei Lifeng. Still others said that with her cold and unfeeling nature, she must have already started to succumb to inner demons.
Yet no one truly understood what she felt. She did hold Lei Lifeng in contempt, thinking him a drunken old man who was muddleheaded all day long. But all these years, she had always kept to her duties and managed the Law Enforcement Hall so well that no one could find fault with her.
Before you continue