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(Northern Region- Outskirts Of The Gobrean Jungle)

(City Lord\'s Estate- Private Meeting Room)

Xu Lu walked through a long winding corridor with her three companions following closely behind.

There was a tense atmosphere among the cultivators.

The saintess had met them at the meeting point with Shen Guo nowhere to be found.

When Lin Kun asked about their missing companion, the saintess simply said that it would be dangerous to talk about the matter outside.

She would explain in a safer location where curious ears could not listen in to their conversation.

So, she led them back to the city lord\'s mansion.

The servants in their path bowed their heads and did not even dare to make eye contact with the immortals in fear of risking their wrath.

Xu Lu ignored their trembling bodies and made her way towards a room at the end of the corridor.

She placed her hand on the golden doorknob and slowly turned it. The door opened to reveal a cozy room with a long wooden table placed in the center.

Chairs had been neatly arranged around the table and there were enough chairs for everyone to sit down.

Xu Lu took the lead and sat down at the head of the table as if it were natural. Fu Qiu and Cao Ji exchanged confused glances and reluctantly followed her example.

Lin Kun lingered by the door for a moment before closing it and also taking a seat.

Xu Lu allowed a brief moment of silence as she gathered her thoughts.

She could tell the truth but that would not be the smart choice. There would be questions over why she didn\'t capture Shen Guo alive.

Plus, it would put a stain on her reputation since she personally executed a fellow member of her sect.

Xu Lu wanted to leave the Holy Sword Sect and becoming a notorious figure would make that goal much harder to accomplish.

The best lies always contained a hint of truth.

The saintess slowly inhaled and then let out a long breath. She placed her arms on the table and leaned forward.

"Shen Guo is dead," Xu Lu calmly spoke in a nonchalant way as if she was simply discussing the weather.

"What?" Cao Ji exclaimed in disbelief.

Similar expressions of shock appeared on the faces of Lin Kun and Fu Qiu as if they could not believe what Xu Lu was saying.

Shen Guo was a true disciple.

Only the most powerful and talented cultivators in the Holy Sword Sect were allowed to become true disciples.

Xu Lu opened her mouth and continued to weave a web of lies,

"During our exploration we encountered a lone cultivator. Obviously, we were both suspicious when the mysterious man asked for help."

"Shen Guo took a step forward to warn the man to go away. The cultivator smiled at us and then before we could react, he flung a glass vial on the ground."

"The vial burst into thousands of glass pieces. A large purplish mist escaped from the cracked vial and spread across the forest.

"This mist... had monster attracting properties."

"I was narrowly able to escape the onslaught of hundreds of beasts but Shen Guo... I watched him get ripped apart by a monkey-like monster."

Xu Lu\'s voice trailed off and she appeared to be lost in her memories. Her casual tone cracked ever so slightly and one could see that her hands were trembling.

She was a scared little girl.

One who had just gone on her first mission and witnessed the death of a fellow sect member.

That was the impression the minds of Lin Kun and Cao Ji.

And it was exactly that impression that Xu Lu was aiming for.

"Why didn\'t you save him?!" Fu Qiu roared angrily as he slammed his white fan on the table with a violent thump.

Underneath his rage there was an undercurrent of sadness in his expression. Xu Lu merely hung her head and did not reply to his accusation.

"Fu Qiu! Get a hold of yourself!" Lin Kun rushed to the saintess\' defence.

"I\'m sure that Xu Lu tried her best to save him. Would you have been able to fight off multiple monsters and beasts while protecting someone else?"

"She is a qi tide cultivator like the rest of us!"

"No... he is right..." Xu Lu softly whispered with clear melancholy in her voice.

"As the leader of this mission... I have failed. It was my duty to accomplish the mission objective as well as protect the members of my team."

"I have failed. When the mission is over I intend to immediately return to the Holy Sword Sect and enter the Punishment Hall."

This was an opportunity in disguise.

Entering the punishment hall would send a message to the other disciples that the saintess cared about them.

Many cultivators were cold-hearted monsters so if she could cultivate an image of kindness then that would be quite beneficial.

People would underestimate someone who was kind.

Xu Lu was grateful for the mask covering her face since no one could see that her lips were slowly curving upwards.

"What should we do now?" Cao Ji asked with a worried expression on her face.

"Someone just tried to kill you today. What if they aim for us next?"

"The mission is clearly going to be a dangerous one. The Gobrean Jungle is fraught with high level beasts and now we have cultivators to worry about as well," Xu Lu calmly responded.

"I will not lie to you all. More than likely these assassins are aiming to take my life. Staying with me will make you a target as well."

Xu Lu\'s words echoed through the room and she could see how the mood was slowly being lowered.

If she wanted to then she would use her authority as the saintess to force her companions to stay but... Xu Lu did not care if the mission succeeded or not.

Technically she had already achieved the goal of the mission by finding the ruins in the \'Dead Man Zone\' but she intended to keep that fact as a secret.

"I will put this to a vote. If you wish for us to return to the sect then simply raise your hand. If not then keep your arm lowered," Xu Lu spoke in a heavy tone.

"Let conscience be your guide."

There was a brief moment of silence.

Xu Lu leaned back in her chair and waited for her companions to make their decisions. She did not rush them since she could tell that they felt conflicted.

Cao Ji was the first person to make her choice. She slowly raised up her left hand and refused to look at Xu Lu in her eyes.

Fu Qiu was the second. He gritted his teeth and raised up his right hand. There was a trace of hatred in his gaze as he glanced at the quiet saintess.

Finally, Lin Kun shook his head and kept his arms on the table.

The results of the voting was a two to one victory to the side who wished to return to the Holy Sword Sect.

"I see..." Xu Lu spoke thoughtfully.

"In that case we will leave tomorrow and return to the sect. I hope that you all can get some sleep tonight."