"Quiet! I’m the Sect Leader!"
The moment he finished speaking, the old Daoist waved the young Daoist aside. The young Daoist, clearly not one to back down, spun around and slammed the door shut.
SLAM!
As the great doors closed, the once-bright main hall was plunged into dimness. The old Daoist, seated by the shrine, had most of his face shrouded in darkness.
Wang Ping instantly realized something was wrong. ’A master and disciple arguing, one storming out and slamming the door... It looks like a farce, but in reality, before anyone could react, they’ve completely sealed the main hall. If that guy Xie Shi is still waiting outside, this is a perfect trap—like shooting fish in a barrel.’
Wang Ping’s heart leaped into his throat.
"My fellow members."
At that moment, the old Daoist spoke, his expression full of emotion. "Twenty years ago, it was in this very village that I began my crusade, raising an army to resist the tyranny of the Da Shun."
The old Daoist sighed softly. "’The Lotus Flower descends to save all living beings.’ How mighty our slogan sounded in those days! Was there a single town in Changle County that didn’t answer our call? Wherever the White Lotus Sect went, the people welcomed us with open arms. That vibrant scene, teeming with life and new beginnings, feels like it was just yesterday."
"But..."
At this point, the old Daoist’s tone shifted. "After a mere twenty years, has this place now become our graveyard?"
"Sect Leader... What do you mean by that?" someone asked.
"What do I mean?"
The old Daoist shook his head, his expression growing even more sorrowful. He looked at everyone present and said grimly, "I have discovered that there is a traitor among us."
A traitor!?
The moment he said this, an uproar ensued. Everyone in the main hall was stunned, and they subconsciously looked around at each other with scrutinizing expressions.
At the same time, a look of dawning realization appeared on some faces. One person said hatefully, "No wonder the White Lotus Sect’s cause has suffered so many setbacks in recent years! We’ve had to relocate our halls again and again, only to be hounded by the Government Office like dogs, completely powerless to fight back... So it was because we have a traitor in our midst!"
"Investigate! We must launch a full investigation!"
Just then, Wang Ping stood up. His expression was resolute, his eyes fervent. He spoke with unwavering conviction, "Sect Leader, please give the order!"
As soon as he said this, many people turned to look at him.
"Give the order?"
"What order?"
Even the old Daoist by the shrine looked puzzled, then asked curiously, "Go on, Wang Ping. What order do you want me to give?"
Wang Ping looked around, his tone calm.
"Let’s all commit suicide."
The moment he spoke, the main hall, which had been buzzing with voices just a second ago, fell into a deathly silence. Even the old Daoist’s mouth fell slightly agape, a look of surprise on his face.
Wang Ping, however, paid it no mind and continued, "If the mole had already been identified, the Sect Leader wouldn’t have summoned all of us here. It’s obvious we are all suspects. But trying to pinpoint the mole from among so many people is undoubtedly like finding a needle in a haystack."
"So let’s just solve it all at once."
As he said this, Wang Ping’s tone became incredibly solemn.
"All of us commit suicide. Once we’re all dead, the mole will naturally be dead too. As for the loyal sect members who die in the process, they will enter the Celestial Homeland after death."
"So why shouldn’t we?"
"..."
The silence in the main hall grew even more deafening.
Seeing this, Wang Ping frowned. "What, are you not loyal members of the White Lotus Sect? If you are loyal, you can’t hesitate when it’s time to die."
"You must understand, the most important thing to the White Lotus Sect is the Sect Leader. He is the sun to all our members. If we die, the sun can continue to shine upon all things."
"But if the sun dies, how could we possibly live?"
"Besides, death only affects our physical bodies. Our souls will enter the Celestial Homeland and attain eternal life, so why should we be afraid?"
When Wang Ping finished speaking, the members all looked at each other.
Finally, they all turned to Wang Ping with an indescribable look, as if to ask: ’Seriously, you actually believe that nonsense about the Celestial Homeland?’
People die when they are killed!
Seeing that everyone was still silent, Wang Ping shook his head, then drew the short blade from his waist. "If that’s how it is, then I’ll be the first..."
SWISH—!
A flash of a blade appeared, but no blood spurted forth. Just a second before Wang Ping could end his own life, another dazzling silver glint intercepted him.
"Alright, Little Brother Wang, you’re being too extreme."
The old Daoist criticized him in a measured tone and had Wang Ping sit back down. He then continued, "In any case, rooting out the mole is imperative."
"I have decided to entrust this task to someone loyal, reliable, and worthy of trust."
The old Daoist looked at Wang Ping and smiled:
"Wang Ping, I remember you. When I first left this village to establish the White Lotus Sect, you had just been born. I even held you when you were a child."
"Among all the sect members, besides Xie Shi, I trust you the most."
"You will be in charge of this task."
Wang Ping immediately shot to his feet, saying excitedly, "I guarantee I’ll complete..."
At that moment, the old Daoist seemed to think of something else and quickly added, "Don’t kill the innocent indiscriminately. I want to see concrete evidence related to the mole."
"...Oh."
Wang Ping sat back down, his face devoid of expression.
Seeing his reaction, the old Daoist felt a bit helpless and could only change the subject. "From this day forward, you are the Hall Master of our sect’s hall here in this village."
"As you command."
Wang Ping gave a respectful bow.
Since the task was to find the mole, entry and exit had to be restricted. Everyone was thus placed under house arrest in the main hall. Only Wang Ping was allowed to leave temporarily.
"You’ve been practicing martial arts all morning. You haven’t eaten yet, have you?"
Outside the main hall, the young Daoist Xie Shi was indeed lying in wait. If the mole had actually tried to force their way out just now, they would have been killed by him.
"Come on, I’ll take you to get a bite to eat," Xie Shi said enthusiastically.
"Then I’ll have to trouble you, Senior Brother."
Wang Ping cupped his hands and said casually, "Why don’t we go to my house first? To find out who the mole is, I’m afraid I’ll need some interrogation tools..."
"That works!"
Xie Shi’s tone was casual. The two of them quickly left the Daoist Temple and arrived at a residence in the northwest corner of the village—Wang Ping’s house.
Five years ago, this place had been just a thatched hut.
But ever since he joined the White Lotus Sect five years ago, recommended by one of the village elders, the thatched hut had gradually been upgraded to a brick house, and then to a large courtyard home.
And now, he had even become a Hall Master of the White Lotus Sect.
With this status, he no longer had to worry about food, even in winter. Meat with every meal was standard, and he could even go spend money in the neighboring county town from time to time.
In these times, he could be considered a local magnate.
There was just one small problem.
Wang Ping walked into the courtyard, invited Xie Shi to sit, and then went to the woodshed. There, a fat black rat suddenly scurried out of a hole in the corner of the wall.
The rat’s eyes were bright. With charcoal dust on its claws, it fluently wrote a message on the ground:
[Meet at the Grass Market outside the city tomorrow during Shen hour.]
"..."
Wang Ping glanced at it, then kicked the rat away and wiped the charcoal message from the ground. This was that small problem of his:
He was the mole the old Daoist had been talking about.