However, no matter how desperately they searched for answers, the culprit had already vanished, leaving only Hui Min among the bodies sprawled across the ground.
Blood pooled beneath the fallen, their faces twisted in the agony of their final moments.
Hui Min's chest rose and fell shallowly, the sole survivor amid the carnage.
Xue Mo rushed to Hui Min's side, dropping to his knees and pressing trembling fingers against Hui Min's wrist to check for a pulse.
Relief flooded through him when he felt a faint heartbeat—Hui Min was still alive, but barely.
The backup disciples moved quickly, hands shaking as they cleared the area, lifting bodies and wiping blood from their robes.
Carefully, they lifted Elder Hui Min, supporting his limp form and carrying him back toward the sect, their breaths ragged and faces pale with shock.
Unbeknownst to the others, Yue Chan pressed herself flat against the thick branch of a towering tree, holding her breath so not even the whisper of her aura would give her away.
Shadows cloaked her as she peered through the leaves, eyes narrowed and unblinking, watching the frantic disciples below as they scrambled in confusion and fear.
Yue Chan's keen hearing picked up Xue Mo's urgent commands as his voice echoed across the clearing.
He ordered the disciples to clear away every casualty and erase any sign of their presence, his tone tense and resolute.
The disciples moved with hushed determination, glancing over their shoulders as they worked to ensure not a single trace remained.
Their movements were swift but careful, hands slick with sweat as they gathered bodies and wiped away blood.
All the while, Xue Mo reminded them to keep the investigation discreet, for any slip might alert the hidden culprit.
While combing through the tangled foliage nearby, one disciple spotted something unusual—a delicate scrap of cloth snagged on a branch above the clusters of plants.
He reached up, fingers brushing the soft fabric, and realized it was a luxury material typically chosen by women to prevent skin irritation.
The discovery sent a ripple of unease through the group.
Meanwhile, Yue Chan, when interrogating Hui Min earlier, had deliberately removed her black mask, revealing her face in a calculated move meant to shock and disarm him.
Her eyes never left Hui Min's frightened gaze, the mask dangling from her fingers as she spoke in a low, commanding tone.
This discovery piqued Xue Mo's curiosity, compelling him to uncover the owner of the mysterious cloth.
As he surveyed the scene, he noted that every lifeless body belonged to a male disciple.
The presence of the delicate fabric suggested a woman's involvement, but without concrete evidence, suspicion alone could not be trusted.
Xue Mo's mind raced as he weighed the possibilities, vowing to seek out the truth behind the ominous clue.
One of the disciples hurried over, breathless and eyes wide with anxiety.
"Master, Elder Hui Min has already been sent ahead. The area is cleared, but it's not safe to remain here any longer."
"Other than this piece of fabric, did you find anything unusual in the area?" Xue Mo asked, his voice steady but his gaze sharp as he scrutinized the nervous disciple.
"Nothing else, Master." The disciple shook his head, still glancing nervously at the shadows around them.
"This matter must remain confidential," Xue Mo instructed, lowering his voice and glancing at the remaining disciples with a stern look.
"Master, do we have any leads on the culprit? We can't let this go unpunished. This is unbearable," another disciple said, fists clenched and voice trembling with frustration.
Xue Mo lowered his gaze to the fabric in his hand, fingers tightening around it as determination hardened his features.
"Rest assured, Hui Min is safe for now. I will use a memory search spell to uncover whoever is responsible for this massacre."
"Then, once we uncover the truth, what do you intend to do, Master?" the disciple asked, voice barely above a whisper as he anxiously wrung his hands.
A cold sneer curled Xue Mo's lips as he deliberately ran his thumb across the fabric in his hand.
"A life was taken; whoever the culprit is, they will pay with their own," he declared, his tone sharp and chilling.
Both disciples' brows knitted as they exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of Xue Mo's words settling heavily on their shoulders.
"Return to the sect, and remain vigilant," Xue Mo ordered, his voice ringing with authority.
Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and strode away.
The disciples quickly gathered themselves and moved out, their footsteps muffled as they slipped quietly from the scene, a tense silence hanging in the air.
Once all had departed, Yue Chan stepped from the shadows into the pale wash of moonlight. She tilted her head back, silver light glinting off her features, and gazed up at the moon.
A sly smirk played on her lips as she stood in silence, then, without a sound, her figure faded into the darkness and vanished from the scene.
After the chaos and bloodshed, silence finally settled over the scene.
The moonlight stretched across the empty ground, casting long shadows where only minutes before, voices and hurried footsteps had filled the night.
Meanwhile, within Yue Chan's secret sanctuary, Li Haoran paced restlessly, casting anxious glances at the entrance with every passing hour.
He hadn't seen Yue Chan since dawn, and the long day apart had only sharpened his worry.
The confines of the sect offered him no comfort, so he chose to wait here, convinced that no matter how late it grew, she would eventually return—even if only as a shadow slipping through the darkness.
Li Haoran sat at the stone table, his chin resting on folded arms as he stared into the wavering torchlight.
Suddenly, his body tensed—a faint hush broke the stillness nearby.
Curiosity overtook his caution, and he sprang to his feet, hurrying to the edge of the cliff.
Peering down, he saw a shadow stretch and flicker across the ground in the soft glow of the lanterns below.
His eyes narrowed, trying to make out the figure as it emerged from the darkness.
At last, Yue Chan stepped fully into the dim light, pausing mid-stride. She lifted her gaze, locking eyes with Li Haoran above, recognition and relief flickering across her face.
At the sight of her return, relief flooded Li Haoran's face.
A bright smile broke across his features as he hurried down the stone stairs, nearly tripping in his eagerness to welcome her home.
But his joy quickly faded when he reached the ground and caught sight of Yue Chan's blood-streaked face and stained hands.
Alarmed, he rushed to her side, his hands shaking as he gently examined her for wounds, searching her expression for reassurance.
"Master, what happened? Why is there so much blood?" he asked frantically, voice tight with fear.
Yue Chan only offered him a gentle, reassuring smile, remaining silent as she met his worried gaze.
"Are you afraid?" Yue Chan's voice was calm, yet something haunted lingered beneath her words.
Li Haoran tilted his head, curiosity and concern etched across his features as he studied her bloodied form.
"Whatever it is, I'm not afraid," he replied softly. "But I am worried. Why did you leave without me? Seeing you like this… it's not the first time, but it never gets any easier."
Yue Chan's eyes dropped to her bloodstained hands.
"I killed," she admitted quietly, her voice almost lost to the shadows between them.
After her confession, Li Haoran was left speechless, the words hanging heavy in the air as a tense stillness settled around them.
"Fetch some water for me. I need a bath," Yue Chan commanded, her tone brisk and unreadable as she turned away, not bothering to look back.
Li Haoran remained silent, knowing it was too soon to question her further.
Pushing her now might only spark her anger. He resolved to wait, knowing there would be another time to seek answers.
He sighed deeply, steadying himself with a long breath.
"Master's privilege first. Li Haoran will fetch some water," he murmured, raising his index finger in a mock salute before heading off to complete his task.
An hour later, Li Haoran finished his task and quietly slipped out, keeping his distance behind the massive stone wall that faced the threshold of the bathing chamber.
Satisfied that everything was prepared, he made sure not to intrude on Yue Chan's privacy, lingering just out of sight as the gentle light from the torches spilled into the corridor.
Once everything had settled, Yue Chan slipped out of her clothes and eased herself into the steamy water of a round wooden tub.
The water was milky, perfumed with fleeting white petals drifting on its surface.
Torchlight flickered along the stone walls, the flames dancing slowly and casting a warm, golden glow that filled the entire room with gentle light.
Everything seemed peaceful, but the calm of her bath was interrupted when her hand brushed across her back, just below her left shoulder.
A sharp sting made her flinch.
Only then did Yue Chan realize she'd been cut during the chaos in the village, the wound hidden until now beneath the soothing water and drifting petals.
How could I not have noticed this? Am I really so insensitive to my own pain?
Her brows knitted in worry as she lost herself in thought, her fingers gently tracing the edge of the wound.
The touch sent a sudden jolt of pain through her, making her gasp softly.
"Haoran!" Yue Chan's voice echoed slightly, edged with urgency.
Li Haoran jolted at the sound of her voice, nerves prickling as he snapped to attention.
"Master, did you call me?" he replied, his ears straining for any further sound, heart thudding in his chest.
"Come here. I need you," Yue Chan called, her voice softer but insistent.
Li Haoran's eyes widened, and he froze, her words sending a thrill of surprise and uncertainty through him.
Did Master really say that? he wondered, disbelief flickering in his mind.
"Haoran..." Her voice beckoned again, softer, almost coaxing.
"Master?" His voice trembled slightly, caught between worry and hope.
"Come..."
The single word hung in the air, drawing him in despite his hesitation.
Cautiously, Li Haoran peered over the stone wall, watching her in silence.
Yue Chan caught his gaze as his head cautiously appeared above the edge, her eyes meeting his with a hint of impatience.
"This is the last time I'll call you. Come here," Yue Chan said firmly, her tone brooking no argument.
Unable to refuse, Li Haoran obeyed, stepping out from behind the wall and approaching slowly, like a child fearful of reprimand.
His gaze was drawn to Yue Chan in the tub—her bare shoulder emerged from the milky water, cheeks tinged with pink, and her eyes unusually warm.
He blinked several times, clutching his robe tightly, and swallowed hard in the hush of the moment.
The tension between them finally broke, and Li Haoran quickly averted his eyes, lowering his guard as he tried to regain his composure.
"Ma—Master, what do you want from me?" Li Haoran stammered, his voice barely steady as his gaze flickered nervously between her eyes and the surface of the water.
A sly smile played at the corner of Yue Chan's lips as she caught his obvious discomfort.
"Why are you so nervous? Is this really the first time in your life you've seen something so...unexpected?" she teased, playfully and knowing.