Hearing it all, Daoist Chu exhaled slowly.
"So it's a loyalty test… and a risk."
Elder Jin nodded.
"Exactly. The Court Leader believes that outsiders—those not fully enmeshed in Immortal Court politics—are less likely to be compromised. That's why he's bringing in those he can trust personally, regardless of their official rank."
Daoist Chu had the Emergency Soul Talisman of the Western Immortal Court Head, so it made sense why he was called in. If he had that, it meant he was already trusted well enough.
Monk Hushu chuckled bitterly.
"Trust is a dangerous thing in times like these."
"Yet it's all we have," Elder Jin said gravely. "You two—and by extension, Daoist Lin Mu—are now part of this. You wouldn't be hearing any of this otherwise."
Lin Mu glanced at the others, his mind whirring. He wasn't sure how he'd gotten caught up in this, but backing out wasn't an option anymore. Not with stakes this high.
"What's our next step?" he asked.
Elder Jin turned to him.
