Around them, the murmurs continued to grow, fear spreading in low voices, some disciples already stepping back, as if distance alone could keep them safe from whatever had swallowed the others whole.
Ren Kai finally moved.
He turned.
"Stay here," he said.
The four behind him looked at him at once.
Hao Jin frowned. "What are you planning?"
"I'm going to see the Sect Master."
The moment those words settled, the others fell silent, watching as he walked away without hesitation, his steps steady, his back straight, cutting through the crowd as if none of this chaos could touch him.
The path toward the inner sect opened almost on its own.
Outer disciples stepped aside first, then even inner disciples moved without thinking, their eyes following him, some with respect, others with something closer to relief.
