From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 139 The Situation Turns Around, Zhan Hongyou

Wen Chen's hand gave me immense courage; his trust was like a guiding light, illuminating my path forward. I grasped his hand in return, turned to look at the crowd, my gaze firm and composed.

"I know that once the seeds of doubt are sown, they are hard to uproot." My voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable power. "But I, Xiao Yaoxing, am upright and fear no doubt. I can swear on my life that I have never done anything to betray the Immortal Sect!"

"That sounds nice!" Junior Sister Chu jumped out again, her tone sharp and sarcastic. "Who knows if you're just putting on an act? Maybe you and the demons have already conspired together!"

I gave her a cold look, ignoring her provocation. I knew that the most important thing now was not to argue with her, but to stabilize morale and unite against the external enemy.

"Gentlemen," I turned to the crowd and raised my voice, "now is not the time for infighting! The mountain-protecting formation has been broken, and the demon army is about to besiege the city. If we continue to argue, we will only give the enemy an opportunity to take advantage!"

My words struck like a thunderclap, exploding in everyone's ears. Some disciples began to calm down, realizing the seriousness of the situation.

However, Elder Xuanfeng spoke up in a sinister tone at this moment: "Xiao Yao, you make it sound so easy. Who knows if you deliberately let the demons in?"

His words spread like venomous snakes, stirring the previously somewhat calm crowd once more. I saw doubt and hesitation return to the eyes of some of my disciples who had initially supported me.

"Elder Xuanfeng, your conspiracy has been exposed. What else do you have to say?" Senior Brother Lin stepped forward and refuted him righteously.

"Hmph, if you want to find fault, you can always find a reason!" Elder Xuanfeng sneered, a hint of malice flashing in his eyes. "I advise you not to be deceived by Xiao Yao's sweet words. She is the real mastermind!"

His words stirred up the crowd once again, and many neutral disciples began to waver. I felt a deep sense of powerlessness, as if no matter what I did, I could not completely dispel their doubts.

Elder Mingyue remained silent, her gaze shifting back and forth between Elder Xuanfeng and me, as if weighing something. I felt a vague unease. Although Elder Mingyue had rejected Elder Xuanfeng's attempt to win me over, she hadn't explicitly expressed her support for me either, and I felt I lacked a strong backing.

Just then, Deacon Wu suddenly stepped forward and said, "Everyone, now is not the time to argue about these things. We should first think of a way to resist the demons and protect the immortal sect!"

His words, though calm, carried an undeniable force. The crowd gradually quieted down and began to consider how to deal with the crisis before them.

I took a deep breath, suppressing my anxiety and unease. I knew I couldn't give up; I had to keep striving to gain the trust and support of more people.

Suddenly, Elder Mingyue spoke slowly: "Xiao Yao..." She paused, looking at me with deep eyes, "Come here for a moment, I have something to say to you."

I took a deep breath, trying to suppress my unease, and walked towards Elder Mingyue. She gestured for me to follow her to a quiet corner, and I noticed a faint worry between her brows.

“Xiao Yao,” Elder Mingyue’s voice was low and slow, “I know you have been wronged, but now the Immortal Sect is in imminent danger, and I hope you can put the greater good first.”

Her words sank my heart. As expected, she didn't fully trust me. I suppressed the bitterness in my heart and forced a smile: "Elder, I understand. I have always put the interests of the Immortal Sect first and have never done anything to harm the Immortal Sect."

Elder Mingyue sighed: "I know, but... people are in a state of panic, and rumors are rampant. Even if I believe you, it will be difficult to convince the public. You need to produce more compelling evidence to completely clear your name."

Her tone was gentle, yet carried an undeniable firmness. I knew she was putting pressure on me, but also indirectly protecting me. This protection only made me feel more powerless and desperate. I felt like prey trapped in a spider's web, unable to escape the shackles of fate no matter how hard I struggled.

“Elder, I understand what you mean.” I tried to keep my tone calm, but my voice trembled slightly. “I will do everything in my power to prove my innocence.”

Elder Mingyue patted my shoulder, her eyes filled with a mixture of helplessness and encouragement: "I believe in you, Xiao Yao. But remember, time waits for no one. We must stabilize the situation as soon as possible and fight against the demons together."

I nodded and watched Elder Mingyue leave. My heart sank to the bottom. Elder Mingyue's words made me realize even more clearly that the predicament I was facing was far more difficult than I had imagined.

Back before everyone, I forced myself to stay alert and began arranging the defenses. However, Deacon Wu was constantly working against me. He deliberately misinterpreted my orders, delayed the allocation of supplies, and even spread rumors among the disciples that I was colluding with the demons and intentionally weakening the immortal sect's defenses.

His actions filled me with immense anger and helplessness. I understood that he was retaliating against me for exposing his embezzlement of the sect's resources. But now, with a formidable enemy at hand, he so blatantly disregards the sect's safety, which is truly disheartening. I tried many times to communicate with him, hoping he would prioritize the greater good, but he remained sarcastic and uncooperative.

"Xiao Yao, you should save your energy," Deacon Wu said sarcastically. "Your reputation is ruined now, who will listen to you? Instead of wasting time here, you should think about how to beg the demons for mercy."

His words pierced my heart like sharp knives. I suppressed my anger and gave him a cold look: "Deacon Wu, I hope you remember that we are now fighting together against the demons, not fighting amongst ourselves. Your actions will only embolden the enemy!"

Deacon Wu gave a disdainful sneer and turned to leave. Watching his departing figure, I felt a profound sense of powerlessness. I knew I had to find a solution as soon as possible, otherwise, the Immortal Sect would be in grave danger.

After a long day of dealing with various tasks, I dragged my tired body back to my place. In the stillness of the night, I sat alone by the window, gazing at the bright moonlight outside, my heart filled with confusion and unease.

Suddenly, there was a soft knock on the door. I got up and opened it, and saw Senior Brother Lin standing outside, a look of worry on his face.

"Xiao Yao..." Senior Brother Lin called my name softly.

Senior Brother Lin looked at me with concern, hesitating to speak. I forced a smile: "Senior Brother, it's so late, is there something you need?"

He entered the room and gently closed the door, leaving only the two of us inside. He walked to me, and in a secluded corner, gently took my hand. His hand was warm and strong. "Xiao Yao, don't be afraid, I'll always be by your side." A warm current instantly flowed through my body, dispelling the fatigue and chill of the past few days. I looked up at Senior Brother Lin's resolute eyes, and a strange feeling welled up inside me. This feeling was different from the usual camaraderie among fellow disciples; it was more like… dependence?

"Senior brother..." My voice choked up. The grievances and pressure of the past few days seemed to find an outlet at this moment, and tears welled up uncontrollably.

Senior Brother Lin gently pulled me into his arms. His embrace was warm and comforting, making me feel incredibly safe and secure. "Cry, it'll make you feel better," his gentle voice whispered in my ear, like a soothing lullaby, gradually calming me down.

With Brother Lin's comforting words, I gradually regained my composure. I knew I couldn't continue to be so depressed; I had to pull myself together, for myself and for the Immortal Sect.

Over the next few days, I began preparing a speech. I was to speak in the council hall, explaining in detail my defense plan and my assessment of the future situation to all the elders and disciples. I wanted them to believe that I had not betrayed the Immortal Sect, and that everything I had done was for the sect's benefit.

I carefully studied the demon race's attack strategy, analyzed the immortal sect's strengths and weaknesses, and combined this with past experience to formulate a completely new defense plan. I meticulously recorded every detail of the plan, its benefits to the immortal sect, and the considerations for the interests of all parties involved, striving to ensure absolute success.

Finally, the day arrived for the council meeting. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves, and strode confidently into the council chamber. The chamber was already full of people, all their eyes fixed on me—some with suspicion, some with curiosity, and some with anticipation.

I stood in the center of the hall, looked around at everyone, and slowly began to speak: "Elders, senior brothers and sisters, junior brothers and sisters, I know that rumors have been circulating within the immortal sect recently, and many people have begun to doubt my loyalty. Today, I would like to take this opportunity to clarify things for everyone..."

My voice was clear and strong, every word carrying my sincerity and determination. I explained my carefully prepared plan word by word, from strategic deployment to tactical arrangements, from personnel deployment to resource allocation, explaining every detail clearly and thoroughly.

Everyone nodded in agreement, even Deacon Wu, who had always been hostile towards me, couldn't help but show a thoughtful expression. I noticed that Elder Mingyue had a gratified smile on her face, while Senior Brother Lin's eyes were full of encouragement and support.

However, just as I was about to finish my speech, Elder Xuanfeng suddenly interrupted me… He stared intently at me, his eyes filled with scrutiny and doubt. “Xiao Yao,” his voice was deep and authoritative, “your plan does sound good, but how can you guarantee that this isn’t just another trick? How can you convince us that you’re truly not colluding with the demons?”

My heart sank... Elder Xuanfeng's question exploded like a thunderclap in the council hall. My heart pounded, and my palms sweated. I took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. "Elder Xuanfeng, I understand your concerns. But my plan is not unfounded; it is based on months of research on the Demon Race." I handed over the jade slip in my hand. "It records the Demon Race's recent movements and the various intelligence I have gathered. You can examine it carefully."

Elder Xuanfeng took the jade slip and probed it with his divine sense. I noticed his brows furrow at first, then gradually relaxed. I knew my careful preparations had not been in vain; facts speak louder than words.

"Even if your information is true," Elder Xuanfeng put down the jade slip, his tone still carrying a hint of doubt, "how do you explain your previous actions? Why did you appear near the Demon Clan's territory?"

“The reason I was there,” I met his gaze without flinching, “was to gather this intelligence. I went deep behind enemy lines, risking my life, all to better protect the Immortal Sect.” I paused, my tone becoming even more resolute, “I swear on my life that my loyalty to the Immortal Sect is as clear as day!”

My words resonated powerfully, echoing throughout the council hall. I saw the doubt in the eyes of some elders and disciples gradually fade, replaced by a hint of admiration.

Elder Xuanfeng seemed to want to say something more, but was interrupted by Elder Mingyue. "Senior Brother Xuanfeng," Elder Mingyue's voice was gentle yet firm, "Junior Nephew Xiao Yao's explanation is reasonable, and we should believe her."

“Junior Sister Mingyue, you…” Elder Xuanfeng seemed somewhat unwilling, but in the end he didn’t say anything more.

I secretly breathed a sigh of relief; I knew I had temporarily won this round. I continued to explain my plan, clarifying every detail to ensure everyone understood and supported it.

After my speech, applause rang out in the council hall. I saw that Senior Brother Lin and Elder Mingyue both cast approving glances at me, and even Deacon Wu, who had remained neutral, nodded slightly.

However, I did not let my guard down. I knew that although my speech was successful, some key figures had not yet expressed their opinions. For example, there was Junior Sister Chu, who had always been hostile towards me, and some elders who had close ties with Elder Xuanfeng. Whether I could persuade them remained to be seen.

I glanced around at everyone, my gaze finally settling on Junior Sister Chu. She was whispering to her fellow disciples beside her, a hint of disdain on her face. My heart sank slightly, a sense of foreboding washing over me.

Just then, a commotion arose outside the council hall. A disciple rushed in, pale-faced and panting, saying, "Something terrible has happened! The martial arts arena... the martial arts arena..." He seemed too panicked to speak coherently.

"What happened at the training ground?" My heart tightened, and a bad premonition arose spontaneously.

The disciple took a deep breath and finally uttered a complete sentence: "In the martial arts arena... Elder Xuanfeng's trusted disciple... and Senior Brother Lin's people... got into a fight..."