Sect Master Zhang had decided to have everybody informed in the end. Regardless of what was behind this matter and what it would mean for Mei Chao Bing's decision, he felt that this was the right choice to make on his part. The four major righteous sects were in this together so they should also work together.
Informing the Jian Chu Sect was definitely necessary. After all, it could be that they were deliberately being targeted alongside the Teng Yong Sect. As for the other two sects, he had also told the Elders to inform them. Even though they hadn't found any clues that the sects were being targeted as well, there was still a high chance that they were without their knowledge.
It was better to tell them so they could take some precautions than to keep quiet and maybe cause them to be taken by surprise and come to harm that way. After all, it was better to be safe than sorry.
As for mentioning Mei Chao Bing's name … He felt about this just like the two Elders: It would be better if it wasn't brought up for the time being. Otherwise, the other sects might get suspicious that there was something fishy happening.
Now, Elder Xing and Elder Baili had to tell their disciples about what had happened and then send some of the disciples as emissaries.
The one to step forward was Elder Xing. Just in case that somebody would ask them questions about Mei Chao Bing's role in this, it would be better for him to answer this than for Elder Baili to do so considering the relationship between Mei Chao Bing and Yun Bei Fen. They didn't want anybody to say that they were biased.
He cleared his throat and looked at the disciples that had all quieted down. "The previous days have brought us some insights into the plans of the demonic practitioners even though we still don't have a clear picture of this. So far, there were two vital clues found in two of the assigned areas.
"While one of these clues is including the symbol of the Jian Chu Sect, the other clue is a hidden map of the territory of our own Teng Yong Sect. It is not quite clear what the demonic practitioners are trying to do with this but the conclusion that they are specifically targeting us is almost inevitable. There is also a very high likelihood that the other two major sects on our righteous side will be included in their plans as well even though we haven't yet managed to find clues as to how that might be the case.
"In the next days, we want you to focus on looking for clues in this direction. Make sure to not only search on the surface but also to dig deeper. The clues will very likely be hidden."
The disciples exchanged glances, unsure what to make of that. It wasn't anything new that the demonic practitioners were targeting the righteous sects but this time, one of the clues pointed at their own sect and it was even a map of the territory. That was much graver than the symbol of the Jian Chu Sect being used.
One of the disciples couldn't help but step forward. "Elder Xing, if the demonic practitioners have a map of our Teng Yong Sect, could it be that they intend to attack us?"
"That is a possibility, yes."
Among the disciples, Yun Bei Fen turned to look at Mei Chao Bing. "That sounds really serious."
"It is. It means we'll have to be even more careful from now on."
Yun Bei Fen nodded and turned back to the front. He really wondered what those demonic practitioners wanted to do. It all sounded so complicated.
While Yun Bei Fen was merely confused, some of the other disciples — especially those with lower cultivation levels — became scared. Going to the border region was no joke and they had known so before coming here but they had still been under the assumption that it was mostly for gaining experience and that if they were to really get in trouble, the Elders would help them out and maybe send them back. Seeing Elder Xing's attitude now, that might not be the case.
Yi Ju also looked uneasy. She glanced at Yun Bei Fen but he didn't seem to mind at all. Ah, it had to be nice to have your fiance at your side and get to be protected by him … She sighed but didn't say anything. In the end, they were all in one group. Even though Mei Chao Bing would certainly take care of Yun Bei Fen first, she didn't believe that he would abandon all of them. He wasn't that type of guy.
Yi Ju was not the only person pondering things. Liu Bao Ru who was standing with the other martial sister from their group not too far away also looked over, her thoughts quite similar. She hadn't been too happy with being in Mei Chao Bing's group at first considering everything she knew from Xi Ju Hai but after spending a few days together and seeing how he led their group, she was slowly changing her perspective.
That Mu Qing might have been a scum who changed sides and had probably known about his Master's betrayal long before it happened but Mei Chao Bing was different. He had been innocent in all this and been blindsided just as much as everybody else. If anything, she felt that he was a more upright person than many of the other disciples.
At that notion, she glanced over to where Yang Wu Huang and one of his junior martial brothers stood. She had never liked this guy but she wasn't the type to proclaim that loudly.
Anyway, if she had to take a gamble and rely on one of them, she would always choose Mei Chao Bing. At the very least, he wouldn't stab her in the back. If he wanted to deal with somebody, she trusted that he would at least attack them from the front.