A startled, almost panicked look spread across Mo Bai's face at the sect leader's question. He lowered his head slightly, stammering.
"T-This… I… I swear, I didn't mean anything bad."
"Then explain yourself. What you did clearly shows malicious intent. Were you ordered to do it by someone? Speak," the clan leader said, his voice cold and sharp, pressing Mo Bai harder with each word.
"No! No one told me to do anything, I swear. It was entirely my idea!" Mo Bai raised both hands in denial, speaking quickly with clear panic on his face.
"Please, just let me explain myself, Leader."
"Go on then," the elder replied flatly, his face stern. But internally, he was observing carefully.
'Mo Bai's expressions seem genuine… could I be wrong? Could it be that no one is pulling his strings from behind? I'll listen to what he says first. I have to focus and watch for any signs of lying in his voice or face. If I'm right, the faction may be in danger.'
Mo Bai took a deep breath as if to force the tension away, then began speaking without pause. His voice was low, filled with nervous fear, but also earnest.
"Even though my father is a second-tier Seal Master, he never gives me any resources. He always tells me to gather them myself—it's some kind of training to build independence. So ever since I was young, I've been hunting beasts and collecting Niya stones on my own, waiting for the day I'd be old enough to start cultivating."
"But when I finally began my training, I realized those resources wouldn't last me more than a few months—not if I wanted to progress quickly. I had to find another way. And I realized the best solution was to secretly take from other students... but only from the weaker ones, and only just enough so that the teachers wouldn't interfere."
"Still, even if I kept it discreet, there would be problems. Their families would eventually cause trouble, and maybe even the academy itself if they noticed the students' progress slowing down compared to previous years."
"So, I thought of a better plan. If someone high-ranking acted as the face of the operation—someone like Mo Fan—then neither the families nor the academy would dare touch him. This way, I'd get what I needed, he'd benefit as well, and our faction would grow stronger. It was a win-win-win for everyone. That was how I saw it."
"I see. So, you're telling me you just wanted to push your cultivation forward, and after thinking it through, you found a method… risky, yes, but one that would help everyone, not just yourself. You claim you meant no harm at all. Is that right?" Elder Mo finally spoke after quietly listening the whole time. His voice wasn't accusatory, but it held a hint of challenge.
"Yes, exactly, Leader," Mo Bai responded firmly. His voice still held a hint of fear, but his expression showed unwavering loyalty.
'If he's telling the truth… then this is actually great. He's clever, came up with a strategy in a few days to speed up his progress, and showed loyalty to the faction by involving others rather than hoarding the benefit for himself. But… there's no proof he's being honest. Still, his body language, his tone… nothing seems fake about it.' The elder's thoughts swirled as he stared at Mo Bai with the same serious face.
"But tell me this," Elder Mo continued, his voice becoming colder. "Do you really think using Mo Fan like that, tricking him to act as your cover so you could gather resources, is not malicious? You're dragging down the reputation of the Mo heir! That suggests someone else instructed you, someone who wants to tarnish Mo Fan's image. If you truly were his friend, and you had no ill intent, would you have deceived him? Answer me."
The elder's glare grew colder still. His mind sharpened.
'Let's see what you say now. I'm sure something is hiding behind all this. Time to catch you—and whoever is behind you—in the trap.'
Yet despite the tension in the room, despite the elder's accusing tone, Mo Bai's expression didn't change. Deep inside, however, he was laughing—an overwhelming, devilish joy bubbling within. A silent image danced in his mind like a smirk of victory.
'This is it. Checkmate.'
Mo Bai raised his hands again in a gesture of confusion and urgency, his expression surprised but earnest.
"No, no! I didn't trick him at all. As I said—we're close friends. I told him everything about the plan. I asked him to act as the leader and explained the reasons. He only kept it from you because I asked him to. I knew you wouldn't approve. I'm truly sorry for that."
"What?" Elder Mo rose from his seat, shocked and slightly angry. "Mo Fan knew? And agreed to this?! I can't believe it!" His voice boomed across the office before he shouted:
"Mo Xina!"
A masked woman appeared in the room as if summoned from the shadows, her entire outfit black, with only her gleaming golden eyes visible. She knelt silently beside Mo Bai.
"Yes, Master."
"Go. Tell the guards to bring Mo Fan here immediately. I want him in my office within ten minutes. No delays."
"Yes, Master," she replied coldly before vanishing in a gust of wind. Even Mo Bai's enhanced senses barely caught her movement.
'The Thunder Shadow Division… the faction leader's personal elite team. They're not as specialized as the Bai Faction's Shadow Division with their affinity for darkness, but they're still formidable.' Mo Bai mused silently for a second, then turned his gaze back to Elder Mo, his head still slightly bowed, the image of a frightened junior.
The clan leader sighed heavily, massaging his temple as he sat back down.
'This doesn't make sense. I was so sure someone was behind Mo Bai—maybe even his father turning traitor and siding with the other two elders. But all my suspicions just collapsed. Mo Fan knew? So Mo Bai wasn't deceiving him at all? That means… he's not a traitor. No, he's a rare talent. With his mind, he could become Mo Fan's right hand one day.'
Seven minutes passed. Neither of them spoke. Mo Bai sat silently, nervously playing with his fingers. The pressure in the room remained thick.
Then the door opened—no knock, no warning, just the sound of it swinging wide.
"Grandfather! They said you called for me—" Mo Fan walked in with a bright grin, then paused when he noticed Mo Bai. "Oh? Mo Bai! You're here too? What's going on?"
"I called him first," Elder Mo replied firmly. "This matter is important. You can talk later. For now, I want you to answer me truthfully: Did you know Mo Bai was using you as a front to cover his actions, and did you accept that knowingly?"
The elder stared at Mo Fan with seriousness, but his tone remained soft, almost fatherly.
"Uhhh… yeah, Grandpa. I did. But I didn't want to tell you because I knew Mo Bai might get in trouble. So I claimed the idea was mine. I'm sorry," Mo Fan scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, chuckling a little.
"Hah… fine. You can go now. But don't ever hide something like this from me again. The clan's reputation is not something to be taken lightly." Elder Mo rubbed his temples again, exasperated.
"Sure, Grandpa," Mo Fan said casually, clearly unfazed. He turned to Mo Bai with his usual carefree grin.
"Hey, let's meet outside in a bit, yeah? I'll wait for you. See ya!" With a wave, he strolled out, hands behind his head.
'So… Mo Bai was innocent after all. All that suspicion… wasted time.' The elder thought, but his expression soon softened.
'No… not wasted at all. I just discovered a true gem. Mo Bai's intelligence is beyond what I expected. He could become the mind behind Mo Fan's strength, the one who lifts our faction higher. With someone like him, we may actually surpass the Bai Faction in a few decades. But I need to draw him closer.'
"Well, Mo Bai," the elder finally said warmly, completely different from before. "I understand everything now. You may continue with your resource strategy. It's already showing great results. But next time, if you have a plan that might affect the entire faction, come to me directly. Don't just tell Mo Fan. Understand, my boy?"
"Yes, Leader. I'll inform you about everything from now on. I promise." Mo Bai nodded deeply, respectfully.
"Good. And from now on, you can just call me Elder Mo. No need to be so formal. You're a close friend of my grandson, after all."
"U-Understood… Elder Mo," Mo Bai replied hesitantly, scratching the back of his neck.
"Haha, good. You may go now—Mo Fan is waiting for you." The elder finally smiled in satisfaction.
"Thank you." Mo Bai nodded twice, turned, and left with quick steps.
'Haha… He's still just a boy after all. I must've pressured him too much.' Elder Mo chuckled softly, watching him leave.
But deep inside Mo Bai's heart, as he walked away, he was bursting with joy.
'You foolish old man… you walked straight into my trap. Not only did I cover my tracks, I got even closer to you… and paved the way for my next move. Slowly… surely… I'll get everything I want. Hahahaha!'