Chapter 45: The Old Sect Leader Has Actually Returned!

After arranging the remaining affairs, Liang Chuan gathered all his disciples in front of the main hall.

This could be said to be the very first time that almost the entire White Sect was mobilized en masse.

Only those in the Qi Condensation stage and three in the Foundation Establishment stage were left behind, while Liu Ruyan was specifically assigned to remain within the sect.

Naturally, the sect could not be left completely undefended, and it was precisely for this reason that Liu Ruyan was designated to stay.

"Junior Sister, the sect is in your hands. No matter what happens, you must proceed according to the original plan!"

This abrupt remark from Liang Chuan left a look of confusion on Liu Ruyan's face.

After all, when Liang Chuan had previously gone down the mountain to set up the ambush, he had given her no such special instructions.

Noticing the bewildered expression on Liu Ruyan's face, Liang Chuan took a deep breath and said, "I've had a strange feeling lately. So much time has passed, yet the sect master of the Blood Moon Sect has yet to make a move. That simply doesn't make sense!"

"It's very likely they are just waiting for us to leave so they can strike at the sect. That's why I specifically left the gun with you!"

Hearing this, Liu Ruyan nodded thoughtfully. Had Liang Chuan not reminded her, she would have almost forgotten about the Blood Moon Sect's master.

"Senior Brother, rest assured. Even if there are enemies, we now have plenty of spiritual stones; defending the sect will certainly not be a problem."

Liu Ruyan patted her chest with a firm and solemn promise.

Although the sect's reserve of spiritual stones had been depleted quite a bit recently, a good portion still remained.

Even if a practitioner in the Core Formation stage were to attack the sect, the grand defensive formation alone would be enough to give them a hard time.

"Right." Just as Liang Chuan was about to leave, he suddenly stopped in his tracks. He carefully scanned the surrounding area with his spiritual sense before speaking, "Keep a close eye on Zhao Wu."

"Why?" Liu Ruyan froze. Zhao Wu was, after all, their fellow junior brother; there should be no need to guard against him.

Furthermore, Zhao Wu had always bustled about working for the sake of the sect. Being told to be wary of him made her feel thoroughly unsettled.

In truth, she had sensed that something was amiss lately, as Liang Chuan had intentionally or unintentionally avoided Zhao Wu, constantly sending him away on errands to sell medicinal pills.

Matters within the sect were also deliberately kept from Zhao Wu's participation. At first, she thought Liang Chuan simply didn't trust anyone else with selling the pills.

However, Peng Shan and Peng Hai were available after all; a few individuals could easily have been dispatched to take over without necessarily keeping Zhao Wu away from the sect.

"Junior Sister, haven't you felt that the way Master and the others died is rather strange?" After hesitating for a moment, Liang Chuan took a deep breath and said, "When we arrived at the scene, we unexpectedly laid eyes on Master and the others' corpses right away, and they had supposedly been killed by spiritual beasts!"

Liu Ruyan hesitated for a brief moment before speaking doubtfully, "But it's not like Master and the others were a match for spiritual beasts."

Liang Chuan adjusted his emotions before shaking his head. "Even if Master and the others were no match for the spiritual beasts, they were fully capable of escaping. That's precisely why I feel something is wrong."

"Yet what does that have to do with Zhao Wu?" Liu Ruyan asked, her face filled with perplexity.

Even if the cause of Master and the others' deaths was suspicious, it still had no connection whatsoever to Zhao Wu.

After all, when Master and the others left the sect, Zhao Wu had remained behind at the White Sword Sect right alongside them.

"In fact, after my suspicions were aroused, I began searching for clues." As he spoke, Liang Chuan retrieved a collection of gathered intelligence from his storage ring. "Look here. When we departed from the sect, Zhao Wu found an excuse to leave for a brief period. The guards at the gate stated at the time that Zhao Wu was going out to patrol personally.

"At first, I didn't think anything of it. But just a few days ago, disciples stationed in Nanyang City reported a piece of information to me: Zhao Wu had asked them where the corpses of the Yangsheng Sect disciples had been buried. Later, when I sent people to investigate, I discovered that all the corpses had vanished."

Upon hearing just these words, Liu Ruyan's expression shifted from bewilderment to solemn gravity.

Clearly, those corpses must have been secretly excavated and taken away by Zhao Wu. But what on earth could Zhao Wu want with stolen corpses?

After all, needing corpses for anything was a practice exclusive to demonic cultivators; at the very least, the White Sword Sect possessed no cultivation techniques that required corpses.

Subconsciously, Liu Ruyan clenched her fists, biting her lower lip. "Senior Brother, do you know what he wants those corpses for?"

"I would very much like to know what Zhao Wu is plotting as well," Liang Chuan sneered, then continued, "However, one thing is certain: Zhao Wu is definitely hiding something from us, and it is certainly no small matter!"

In the memories of the body's original owner, Zhao Wu was perceived as quite young, yet sharp-minded and fiercely driven in his pursuit of powerful strength, spending practically all day and night immersed in cultivation.

It was precisely because of this that Zhao Wu's cultivation speed far surpassed theirs back then.

Liang Chuan wasn't afraid of someone being cleverly ambitious; what he feared was someone like Zhao Wu, who concealed himself thoroughly from start to finish.

On the surface, he appeared honest, steady, and devoted to the sect in every way, yet behind the sect's back, he engaged in unspeakable deeds.

"I will keep an eye on him."

Liu Ruyan understood that this was a critical juncture. With a large number of disciples heading down the mountain, mishaps could easily occur within the sect.

If Zhao Wu intended to scheme in secret, an unprepared sect might genuinely suffer an unexpected disaster.

"I reckon Zhao Wu will make his move within these next few days. He has been slipping out more and more frequently." Although Liang Chuan wore a smile on his face, his voice was exceptionally chilling.

Had he not feared startling the snake in the grass, coupled with a lack of time to deal with the matter until now, how could he possibly have dragged it out this long?

With those words, Liang Chuan departed, leading the outside disciples in a swift dash down the mountain to gather intelligence while simultaneously laying out ambush locations.

As the bulk of the disciples left, the sect appeared exceptionally quiet and desolate.

At the entrance, two Foundation Establishment disciples stood guard outside the gates.

"I wonder if we'll be able to deal with those fellows from the Yangsheng Sect."

Huang He held his longsword against his chest, casting a worried look down the mountain.

From the time he entered the White Sword Sect until now, he had successfully advanced to the early Foundation Establishment stage.

This was something he wouldn't have even dared to imagine in the past, and because of this, he had long since regarded the White Sword Sect as his home.

"Who knows? But ever since the Sect Master took over the White Sword Sect, our lives have been much better than before!"

The other disciple nodded in deep agreement and replied.

"Wait, someone is coming!"

At that very moment, Huang He, who had been looking down the mountain, experienced a drastic change in expression and instantly drew his longsword.

Hearing this, the other disciple hurriedly looked down the slope as well. When he caught sight of the incoming figure, he froze, involuntarily letting out two words: "Sect Master?!"

For the person coming up the mountain was none other than their former sect master, Huang Lian!

Huang He was stunned at first, but quickly snapped back to his senses. Wasn't this supposed to be the previous sect master? But wasn't he dead?!

"Are you not even going to welcome me upon seeing me?"

Huang Lian stroked his beard lightly, looking at the two of them with an amiable smile.

"Greetings, Sect Master!"

Although Huang He was still dazed, he was promptly pulled down into a kneeling position by the other disciple.

"Go on, let everyone know I have returned!"

With a grand wave of his sleeve, Huang Lian walked into the mountain gate with a smile.

The other disciple hurriedly rushed off to ring the bell.

As the news spread, the entire sect was shaken to its core!

The old sect master... had actually returned?!