Wu Chengcheng saw Ye Ling's gloomy expression and thought she had angered him, feeling a pang of panic.
Although the members of Hongchen Pavilion did not know each other before executing missions, and they reported back separately after the missions, only interacting during operations, Zhang Qi was the team leader for this mission.
Even if it was reasonable for the team members to suspect their leader's identity, if Zhang Qi was displeased, he could simply eliminate them all and then find some excuse to placate those above!
As long as the mission was completed, those above would not care about the process or who died.
Wu Chengcheng had heard of Zhang Qi's name before. She knew that Zhang Qi had recently broken through from seventh rank to eighth rank and was a top figure in Hongchen Pavilion, belonging to a completely different world from her, a mere fourth-rank nobody.
For Zhang Qi to crush her would be as easy as crushing an ant!
Daring not to conceal anything from Ye Ling any longer, Wu Chengcheng quickly said, "Number 1 has infiltrated Zhengyi Sect. He is skilled in disguise, and I don't know who he has impersonated."
As she spoke, Wu Chengcheng feared Ye Ling's blame and added, "Before contacting you, Number 1 contacted me and another team member. He said that to ensure the smooth completion of this mission, everything must be foolproof. I dared not argue, so I..."
"Stop explaining," Ye Ling interrupted Wu Chengcheng impatiently. "Since you don't know where Number 1 is, the other team member must know, right?"
"I... I know..."
Wu Chengcheng's face had turned pale with fright. Trembling, she said, "It's Zhuge Yehan."
"It's him?"
Upon hearing Wu Chengcheng's words, Ye Ling looked at Zhuge Yehan, who was standing in the distance, his gaze slightly narrowing.
If Zhuge Yehan was also a member of this team, then he must already know about what happened at the airport.
Coupled with the incident at Tianluo Ghost City and the possibility of an inside mole in the Dragon Department...
Hongchen Pavilion might already know what Ye Ling had done in Tianluo Ghost City.
This would give Hongchen Pavilion ample reason to suspect that Zhang Qi had been controlled by Ye Ling.
However, because Ye Ling had eliminated Tianluo Ghost City too quickly, Hongchen Pavilion did not have enough time to investigate, and they were not certain if Zhang Qi had betrayed them.
After all, Zhang Qi was still an eighth-rank anomaly, a top combatant of Hongchen Pavilion. If they were to remove Zhang Qi based on mere suspicion, it would be a huge loss for Hongchen Pavilion.
Therefore, it was plausible that Hongchen Pavilion had temporarily sent Number 1 to test Zhang Qi's intentions to avoid pushing things too far.
Understanding the intricacies of the situation, Ye Ling knew that it would be difficult for him to find Number 1 until Hongchen Pavilion confirmed whether Zhang Qi had been controlled.
'Things are getting a bit troublesome...'
Ye Ling frowned slightly. There was still a member of Hongchen Pavilion hidden in the shadows, with unknown strength and unknown motives. Ye Ling could not actually assassinate the Celestial Master of Zhengyi Sect to prove that "Zhang Qi" had not betrayed Hongchen Pavilion.
But if he were to kill Wu Chengcheng and Zhuge Yehan just like that, it would be impossible to make Number 1 show himself again.
Thinking of this, Ye Ling took out Zhang Qi's phone, logged into Hongchen Pavilion, and sent a message to Number 1: "You suspect me?"
Number 1: "Apologies, team leader. These are orders from above. I'm sure you understand. You are still the leader of this action group. Wu Chengcheng and Zhuge Yehan are at your disposal. I have other tasks."
Ye Ling: "What right do you have to give me orders?"
Number 1: "This is all for Hongchen Pavilion. I will diligently carry out my mission. Once team leader completes the mission, the higher-ups will naturally lift their suspicions on you. I will then reveal myself, and you can do as you please, kill or torture me."
Ye Ling: "Then don't let me catch you. I will surely kill you, and the higher-ups will not trouble me for an ant like you."
After sending this threatening message, Ye Ling logged out of Hongchen Pavilion and transmitted a message to Zhuge Yehan and Wu Chengcheng: "You two, find an opportunity to slip away from the others' sight and wait for me in the back mountain."
Actually, Ye Ling did not want to use such a low-level method as verbal threats to intimidate Number 1, but he had to do so while impersonating Zhang Qi.
Although Zhang Qi's appearance was sunny and handsome, and he treated people gently.
However, based on Zhang Qi's inner personality, he often resorted to any means necessary and employed extreme threats against those who threatened him.
He was a somewhat schizophrenic, inwardly extremely twisted and cold-blooded individual.
After giving instructions to Zhuge Yehan and Wu Chengcheng, Ye Ling did not even glance at the trembling Wu Chengcheng. He walked directly into Zhengyi Sect and transmitted a message to Zhang Xiaoxia: "Xiaoxia, wait for me in your room, and call your master. Do not alert anyone else."
Zhang Xiaoxia had been worried about Ye Ling's safety. Upon suddenly hearing Ye Ling's transmission, she was first overjoyed, then quickly calmed herself, as if nothing had happened, and quietly went to find Zhang Daoyuan.
As for Wu Chengcheng and Zhuge Yehan, after receiving Ye Ling's orders, they dared not disobey and each found an excuse to head towards the back mountain.
...
Zhang Xiaoxia's dormitory.
It was daytime, and all the disciples of Zhengyi Sect were busy preparing for the smooth convening of the Celestial Master's Ordination Ceremony, so there were very few people in the dormitory area.
After Zhang Xiaoxia informed Zhang Daoyuan about Ye Ling, Zhang Daoyuan found an excuse, handed over his current tasks to a colleague, and then came to the female dormitory area with Zhang Xiaoxia.
At this time, Ye Ling had reverted to his original appearance and was sitting at Zhang Xiaoxia's desk, waiting quietly.
Upon seeing Ye Ling, Zhang Daoyuan quickly bowed and said, "Senior Brother Ye..."
Zhang Xiaoxia also bowed along with Zhang Daoyuan, feeling anxious and extremely curious about what had happened after Ye Ling's departure.
"No need for superfluous formalities. I've asked you here to discuss some matters and strategize."
Seeing the two arrive, Ye Ling got straight to the point: "The Dragon Department should have informed you about Hongchen Pavilion's assassination of your sect leader, right?"
Zhang Daoyuan confidently replied, "They did inform us... Zhengyi Sect has implemented strict security measures, and comrades from the Dragon Department are hidden in the outer perimeter. If Hongchen Pavilion dares to come, they will surely not return!"
Ye Ling ruthlessly struck back, "Enough. The person Hongchen Pavilion sent to assassinate is an eighth-rank anomaly. Even if they uncover all of Zhengyi Sect's secrets, they might not be able to stop them."
"Eighth rank?"
Upon hearing Ye Ling's words, Zhang Daoyuan's face instantly turned green.
What could be done?
Their sect leader was only at the peak of the sixth rank, and the two hidden senior elders in the back mountain were barely at the seventh rank.
If Hongchen Pavilion sent an eighth-rank, Zhengyi Sect truly could not resist them!
"However, you don't need to worry too much."
The space next to Ye Ling distorted slightly, and then he reached in and pulled out the unconscious Zhang Qi. "This is the eighth-rank who was supposed to carry out the assassination. I've already dealt with him."
Zhang Daoyuan and Zhang Xiaoxia were both startled!
"Oh, right... The Tianluo Ghost King that Zhengyi Sect has been searching for for many years is hidden in Bailingshan. I've already dealt with it. The Dragon Department is currently handling the aftermath there. If you have time, you should also send a few people over to clean up."
"After all, you have been searching for the Tianluo Ghost King for so long, and it deserves a proper conclusion."
Zhang Daoyuan: "..."
Zhang Xiaoxia: "..."
Seeing Ye Ling casually say these things, Zhang Daoyuan and his disciple were completely stunned, their minds blank.
Just now...
Was it auditory hallucination?