It Must Be a Ploy From Feng Ao Xiu Himself

Kong Ling Jue went back into his office, accompanied by Tu Jiun. The former was too tired after the previous situation, he sat down into the sofa and let out a big sigh. Meanwhile, the latter sat on the opposite side, puzzled and worried.

"Now, where were we?"

"We were talking about Feng Ao Xiu, senior. Is he really Feng Ao Xiu?"

"Yes..." Kong Ling Jue massaged his temple slowly as he explained, "That kid, Fei Bao Xing was actually Feng Ao Xiu. I've seen him before, and he also used that fake name Fei Bao Xing previously during the Four Arts Contest. He did not use that name much, but I remember he introduced himself as Fei Bao Xing."

"This... This..." Tu Jiun did not know what to say. His face darkens, and sweat was pouring down like waterfall after remembering what he did to Feng Ao Xiu previously.

"I have shared what I know," said Kong Ling Jue. "Not knowing he's Feng Ao Xiu is one thing. But, When he registered as a new recruit, did you not find anything suspicious about him?"

"Ummm... He was actually recommended by Yu Liang. Also, he said he was not a cultivator. Other than that, nothing much."

"Idiot!" Kong Ling Jue yelled. "Right now, Yu Liang was assigned to be a spy at the Feng Clan Residence. And, don't you think that someone claiming to be not a cultivator was suspicious? Don't tell me, you really think he was not a cultivator."

"No way... There's no way I really thought him to be not a cultivator. I thought he was using some sort of secret treasure at first." Tu Jiun said. [I can't tell him that I really thought he was not a cultivator. But, it's not my fault, the juniors who brought him here took his sausage skewer from him. Now that I think about it, it must be a ploy from Feng Ao Xiu himself.]

"Then, why you did not report to me?" asked Kong Ling Jue.

"I did report him to you. I put him along with the other potential recruits list three days ago."

"Really? I did not see his name. Did I miss him?" said Kong Ling Jue while scratching his head. He opened the drawer nearby and took a stack of paper from inside.

He started to look through them one by one. "Let's see. Guan Ru Na, Guan Ru Yi, Chang Miao, Deng Huan, Guo Jin..."

Suddenly, Kong Ling Jue's hand stopped at the paper in the middle. His face was grim. Steam rose from his head uncontrollably. You did not even have to see his face to know he was angry.

"What is this?!" Kong Ling Jue slammed a paper into a table. It contained a profile of Fei Bao Xing information, and in the centre was a text "FEI BAO XING: DEAD."

"Ehh... That...", Tu Jiun's face became pale. He could not believe he made such a big mistake. Then, he said in a small voice. "I... I forgot to erase it."

When these papers come, Kong Ling Jue looked through them all one by one except for the one that was noted as dead. He did not even look at it and hurriedly skip it to the next one. That was the reason he did not notice Feng Ao Xiu's presence until it was too late. And, precisely because of this mistake, he was scolded by Feng Ao Xiu.

Tu Jiun bit his lip in bitterness. Because of this, his relationship with Kong Ling Jue has become not so good anymore. But, what's done was done, there's no use regretting it anymore. He could only hope that Kong Ling Jue will always remember that in the past, he saved his life. So that, Kong Ling Jue will still help him earn the Unwavering Iron Pill.

As he could not let the atmosphere to become worse, Tu Jiun changed the topic, "So, what is Feng Ao Xiu doing here? Why all the trouble to be a recruit?"

"Ths is actually the important part." Kong Ling Jue's eye changed. His gaze became deeper as if he has thought of everything. "But, first let me hear what you think."

Tu Jun gulped. Then, he slowly said. "First, we can eliminate the fact that he wants to join the Silver Hands Owl. There's no point on being a recruit in the first place. All he had to do is ask, and we would have given him an Elder position right away."

Tu Jiun shifted his eyes for a moment, as he saw Kong Ling Jue nodded as an agreement before he continued. "Second, we can also eliminate the fact that Feng Ao Xiu wants anything to do directly with the Silver Hands Owl. Although we have sent a spy to his place with bad intention, it's either we're have not been found, or there's not enough proof. If he wanted to destroy us, he could just do it right away."

"That's right. Even if Feng Ao Xiu was portrayed as a righteous man, he did not do anything big to our clan. In a way, it was lucky for us, as long as we did not offend him in some kind of way, he will let us the dark and unlawful sect to still exist." said Kong Ling Jue. "So, what's your conclusion?"

"I believe that Feng Ao Xiu was looking for something, and it happened to be located within the Silver Hands Owl area. Specifically, the western area where the recruits live. Most likely, he infiltrated us because he wanted to know if this something has any affiliation with the Silver Hands Owl." Tu Jiun said. "Unfortunately, that's as far as I go. I haven't got a clue of what he's searching for."

"I see, so you got the same conclusion as me." Kong Ling Jue nodded. Then, he sighed. With a hint of fear within his words, "Then, there's no mistake, it is what I fear it is..."

"Call the emergency meeting right away!" He yelled.

***

The highest emergency meeting was issued. All the Elders available were called without question. This was the first time since the inception of the Silver Hands Owl, this meeting has taken place...

"Kong Ling Jue, what is it? You dared to issue the highest emergency meeting. Don't you know how busy I was?!" One of the Elder said. "You even interrupted the Sect Master when he's cultivating. And, it'll only take a few years more until his breakthrough!"

Obviously, this Elder was not on good terms with Kong Ling Jue, he will always make a reason to make Kong Ling Jue look bad if he has to.

"He has a reason for calling this meeting!" Tu Jiun said. "Please refrain from making any assumption before the information is delivered."

Of course, there was someone like Tu Jiun who will defend Kong Ling Jue no matter what.

"Enough!" an old man said.

One word from him and all the Elder in the room shut their mouth. He was so old that made one wonder his age was. But there's a reason he was so respected, he was the Sect Master of the Silver Hands Owl. He was actually one of the few people in Xiang Lan Nation who have reached the Ancient Mortal Realm.

"The emergency meeting was issued, it can't be helped even if interrupt my cultivation." the Sect Master said. "Now, then tell us, what's the problem? It better be a good reason."

Kong Ling Jue nodded, "Thanks to the Sect Master for your understanding. Everyone, I'm sorry to call all of you over when you're so busy. But this is a grave matter that will decide the fate of our sect. If we make the wrong move, our sect could be annihilated."

Kong Ling Jue took a deep breath before he continued, "That grave matter, I''m talking about is Feng Ao Xiu, the youngest Ancient Sky Realm ever. Let me tell you, he already infiltrated our sect as one of our new recruits."

"What?! Feng Ao Xiu! Really?"

"Are you serious? This could be bad..."

"What is he after? Could it be revenge?"

"Calm Down!" As the Elders look after one another in surprise, Kong Ling Jue yelled. "I believe that many of you are anxious, but I've investigated this long and hard. Finally, I have realised what is he after."

"Feng Ao Xiu's target is none other than the person currently under our protection, the Number One Assassin, Chang Jian."

"!!!"

"There's no mistake!" Kong Ling Jue stated. "On multiple occasions, Chang Jian has tried to assassinate Feng Ao Xiu, but he failed. Thus, Feng Ao Xiu must have found some clue that leads him to this place. And, that's also why he infiltrated as a recruit since Chang Jian's resting place was around the western area, not too far from the new recruit's place."

The more Kong Ling Jue explained, the more the other Elder grew restless as if they just saw a ghost.

"Silence!" It was only until the Sect Master words that they became quiet again. Then the Sect Master gazed deep into Kong Ling Jue's eyes. "Then, what do you propose?"

"Obviously, doing nothing will not work in our favour. Sooner or later Feng Ao Xiu will find out that we are protecting Chang Jian. So, we have to come to a decision." Kong Ling Jue said.

"Either we inform Chang Jian right away, then work together with him to eliminate Feng Ao Xiu. Or, we betray Chang Jian and kill him as a sign that we have no affiliation with him."