(MC POV)
I made my way to Master Xiao's courtyard which I remembered visiting the last time I was here.
Just as I reached there, Master Xiao was also just stepping out of his room.
"Hello Master Xiao. Had a good sleep?" I greeted him casually.
"Oh? You are?"
I smiled, "Who I am isn't important now, just know that the Outer Core advancement test is already over."
His eyes widened when he realised what it meant before cursing, "Damn it… So I was taken despite my protection inscriptions huh… How long ago was the test?"
"Two days ago, actually."
"Damn… So I was under for a week huh… Hold on, how did you know that I was affected?"
"Because I found the person that was affecting the Sect and I dealt with him."
He narrowed his eyes at me, "How do I know you are not him then?"
"You don't. I guess you'll have to trust my words for it," I shrugged, using Elder Gui's words on him.
I could tell that answer actually alleviated his worries a little.
"Let's just say I believe you. What did you come to me for?" He asked, looking at me questioningly.
"I need you to gather everyone somewhere, there's something I need to say to them."
Master Xiao gave me a thoughtful face, "That can be easily arranged. We have meetings with most of the Masters and Elders in the mornings so we can head there now."
I shook my head, "No, I don't just mean the top people. I meant 'everyone' everyone."
"Everyone?"
"Everyone. Including the Student Practitioners, it concerns the whole Sect."
He frowned at me, "Do you know what you're asking for, young man? You can't just ask for something like that."
"Not even if it concerns the fate of the entire Sect?"
"What are you going to say that deals with such a thing? Are you… Wait… Actually… Who is the little one beside you? Why do I feel like I've seen her somewhere befo… Oh by the heavens… Master Lin?!"
Cai Hong clutched at my sleeve and giggled, she definitely knew that he had guessed my identity because of her.
She looked cute so I went ahead to give her head a few pats before turning back to Master Xiao.
"Yes, it's me. I'm back and I dealt with your problem. So now I want to reveal to everyone that it was me this entire time before I go back home."
Master Xiao was still gaping at me, his mouth opening and closing like a fish.
"How… How… Since when? And… And how? The barrier…"
I shrugged, "Not that long actually. I only infiltrated here from like… Three days ago. You didn't really think that barrier had any use on me did you?"
"N… No… I… I don't know… Err…"
I waved my hand, "Don't think too much about it. By the way, this disciple I'm impersonating? It's Discipline Elder Gui's grandson. I found him dead with a broken neck when I came here so I used his likeness to blend in."
He looked me up and down as though he still couldn't believe it was me, "I… I see. I will talk to Elder Gui later. Does he know?"
"Yes, I handed him the real body before I came to find you. Did you know about what Feng boy did?"
"Feng boy? Oh! Erm… Elder Feng, yes? Master Lin, you have to believe me that no one else here was in on it! Elder Feng made the deal with the Dark Sect by himself and got everyone involved with their schemes! We had no choice!"
I waved my hand, "Relax, I know. Elder Gui already told me everything and if you guys were really in cahoots with the Dark Sect we wouldn't even be having this conversation. I would have just dropped a meteor here and that would be that."
I'm joking of course. Even if they really were working with the Dark Sect willingly, I'd have just returned with the info and let the others sort them out. I don't just arbitrarily wipe out a whole Sect just like that.
If they really needed the meteor, I would just called it down on them after announcing my presence, not before.
It's not fun when your enemies don't know what's going to happen after all.
Obviously, Master Xiao did not think I was joking and he bowed his head deeply, "I thank Master Lin for your consideration!"
I waved at him, "Well, go and gather everyone then. Make sure you tell no one about this though, I want to be the one to say it."
"Understood Master Lin! I'll get everyone to gather in the Grand Courtyard!"
He pointed his finger into the air and shot out a small fireball into the sky. The fireball then exploded into a brilliant flash of blue light before dispersing harmlessly.
Right after that, bells began ringing all around and the entire Sect bristled with activity.
"Papa! Papa! 'Rwing' 'Rwing'!" Cai Hong giggled, amused by the bells.
Awww… Isn't she just the cutest little thing?
Ahem.
"What was that?" I asked Master Xiao.
"That was our highest emergency alarm that would mobilise the entire Sect. The flame colours would be different according to what the emergency was and the blue flame was to get everyone to gather at the Grand Courtyard. It's usually meant in preparation of an attack or something similar," He explained.
Well, how convenient.
I noticed he was still looking at me up and down.
"What?"
"I… I'm still reeling from the fact that… You're Master Lin…"
I smiled wryly, "Would this help?"
Tapping my chest, Xun Guan melted away and revealed my real face to Master Xiao.
"Master Lin… It's really you," He gasped.
I raised an eyebrow at him, "Were you not even sure that it was me before you sent out that emergency signal?"
"And risk offending the real Master Lin? I'd rather not."
Why does he make it sound like I'm a tyrant? I'm not that bad am I?
'Ufufufu~ Of course not Master~ Master is the most perfect being in existence after all~'
It's not very reassuring when I hear it from you, Iris.
"Anyway, how long before everyone is gathered?" I asked, trying to change the topic.
"In a minute or two. If Master Lin allows me to, I will go and prepare the stage for your entrance."
Prepare the stage? What the hell is this guy even talking about? And why is he even talking like this with me? Even if they're a branch… Ah, right, it's precisely because they're a branch Sect.
Sorry, I kind of forgot how inter-Sect politics work already.
You know what, whatever, do what you want. I just want to go home now.
I waved for him to go ahead and he took off into the sky without another word, looking to be in quite a hurry.
Oh well, I'll just wait a minute or so before heading there myself.
"Papa, huggies?" Cai Hong asked while sucking on a finger.
Oh you cute little thing, you. Come here, Papa will give all the huggies you want~
