Everyone showed a hint of surprise in unspoken unison. They had not expected Han Luo's first question to be directed not at the leaders of the four great martial schools, but at Lin Nan, who had remained silently within the group all along.
Lin Nan was likewise mildly surprised, but he swiftly composed himself.
"I believe the master of this house spoke half-truths and half-lies. We cannot trust him completely..."
"What makes you say that?"
"If keeping watch through the night according to the rules allowed us to leave, then those people who vanished before could not have failed to come out. Therefore, there must be a problem with the rules for keeping vigil," Lin Nan analyzed.
"Furthermore, the second rule says we must not move around without permission at midnight, and that we would bear the consequences ourselves. Yet it does not say we would certainly die. Whether it is a trap or an inducement remains unclear..."
"My suggestion is that we split into two groups. One group stays here to keep vigil, while the other searches the surroundings to see whether we can uncover any clues."
"What you said was as good as saying nothing," Mo Ming retorted.
"A contrarian personality?"
Lin Nan countered, "Oh? Then what brilliant insight do you have?"
"In my view, Brother Qin is right. Why should we obey the rules of some evil entity? Better to gather our strength and search for clues outside. If gods stand in our way, kill gods; if Buddhas stand in our way, kill Buddhas."
Mo Ming smiled faintly, as though victory were already in his grasp, then turned toward Yan Ling.
"Little Sister Ling, am I right?"
"No. I'm staying here with Lord Han and Lin Nan," Yan Ling said decisively.
Mo Ming's expression froze at once.