Wang Yayan sat in her designated chair, observing the people seated around the meeting table.
None of the others seemed nervous; all their backs were straight, and their positions immaculate.
However, that didn't mean she couldn't see exactly how unnerved Huang Yinuo was.
The older woman had her greying hair tied into a tight bun, and her wrinkles only highlighted her worry, although Wang was certain someone of lower cultivation wouldn't be able to see it.
That was to be expected, as she always promoted getting rid of nearby threats. Wang Yayan was certain it had something to do with her diminishing lifespan and lower chance of a breakthrough with every passing year.
This meant that convincing her would be harder, but it didn't matter if Huang Yinuo disagreed, as the younger cultivator was certain the others would agree with her.
Wang Yayan cast a glance at the empty throne.
At least the Sect Leader wasn't here, although that was to be expected, given that he only came out of his seclusion once a year at most.
If they dragged him out merely a few days later, she was certain heads would be flying, one of them belonging to her.
Not to mention he would be the hardest to convince to make an ally, being as isolationist as he was. Thankfully, it has been proven that if he came to an alliance already in place, he wouldn't interfere, like what happened with the neighboring Rising Sun Sect; otherwise, she wouldn't dare risk it.
Liu Muyang finally entered the room, always late if there was no Nascent Soul to strike fear into him, and made his way to his seat.
"Let's commence the meeting," Gao Zimo finally began the conference. "Elder Wang, you had something to discuss with us on the matter of the Beast Tamer, yes?"
"Indeed, it has been proven true that Elder Zhao died at the Beast Tamer's hand," Wang Yayan announced.
No one was surprised by that; it has long been accepted as true even before the evidence in the form of confession came out.
Somehow that made something in her chest twist. Zhao Mingwei wasn't the best and, in the preceding years, even went into seclusion more often than not, forgetting to do his tasks as the Hall Elder till he was demoted, but he had been with them for a century already; shouldn't there be some grief present?
"Is the Beast Tamer hostile to us then?" Huang Yinuo asked.
"No, although there is a high chance they're a Nascent Soul cultivator," she replied.
Silence descended as everybody in the room comprehended the information and what it implied. They all knew what it meant to be a Nascent Soul.
Nascent Souls were unpredictable at best, dooming every living being around them at worst. Not that it made anybody not want to become one of them, but it certainly made a few wannabe cultivators pause when they found out.
"Are you certain?" Gao Zimo asked, eyes steeled in preparation for the answer.
"The Beast Tamer made an underground cave with multiple floors where danger is hiding around every corner and then wanted challengers to test themselves against it. The disciples who came back retrieved junk as well as some sort of mortal currency that isn't native to this area. They also reported having to fight monsters that I had already killed, not to mention that the second floor seemed to have an additional monster that wasn't there before. Coupled with the indestructible architecture, this one is fairly certain," Wang Yayan replied seriously.
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Only a Nascent Soul or higher would be crazy enough to do something like this without any incentive, not to mention they were the only ones who would have the power to do so.
"They also brought back some very interesting plants! Although no more of these mushrooms, which is a shame, as they don't fare well in the cave where we planted them. It might have something to do with the different energy inside them," Liu Muyang added.
"This one is certain the disciples would have brought back some if they were told of the danger involving picking them and could prepare in advance," Wang Yayan snapped back, surprising herself. Usually, she was calmer when dealing with those of equal status.
"You didn't tell— Of course you didn't! I forgot to tell you, and it doesn't affect cultivators of a high enough stage! I only found out when one of my Qi Gathering disciples died, and then we did an autopsy to find out what killed him; and guess what? The spores melted his lungs! I have never seen anything like this before! Sure, there are some other acidic plants, but not ones so insidious as to have—"
"Elder Liu, please write a report on these mushrooms later on so that no other disciples get hurt," Xie Dongmei interrupted him.
"Of course! Of course! But can I do it after I figure out the properties of the plants gathered now? They seem to have perception-altering abilities, just like that of an illusion, but it doesn't feel like any illusion I've seen before! I wasn't affected by it, but I couldn't break it either without using brute force! This is truly fascinating—"
"Include this in the report then too," Xie Dongmei instructed.
Liu Muyang only nodded in response.
Good, considering there was a high chance he'd start rambling about the reports next.
"Before we begin discussing the matter further with the Beast Tamer, Elder Wang, as the one who manned the examination of Disciple Yuan, when will you resume it?" Xie Dongmei redirected the flow of conversation, making use of the distraction caused by Liu Muyang.
Wang Yayan became a bit annoyed at that; they were dealing with matters that could concern the sect, and Xie Dongmei was worried about her disciple?
"After the matter with the Beast Tamer is dealt with," she replied amicably.
"What do you propose we do about the Beast Tamer then?" Xie Dongmei stopped being difficult and returned to conversing about what really mattered.
"This one would prefer if we cooperated with the Nascent Soul cultivator. The cursed forest provides a great defensive position against the south, not to mention we would be safe from a Nascent Soul if we only sent a few disciples every once in a while," she replied in an even voice.
Wang Yayan mildly disliked the plan, not because she considered it bad; if it was, she wouldn't be proposing it, but because it involved an unpredictable Nascent Soul cultivator.
Sure, most cultivators were very set in their ways, especially the stronger ones, as you had to be stubborn if you got to that level.
However, that didn't mean that the Beast Tamer couldn't suddenly decide to no longer play nice with them. But getting rid of the Beast Tamer would require the Sect Leader’s help, and if he got injured during the fight, or worse, died? The sect couldn't afford that.
"And also the disciples could gather the plants there!" Liu Muyang chimed in again.
"...Could the beasts there have similar strange properties to the plants?" Song Yize, who had previously kept quiet, spoke up.
"The chances are incredibly high! And the more familiar with the place the disciples are, the higher the chance of them capturing one!" The plant enthusiast nodded furiously, throwing his dignity as an Elder away with a single movement.
"But this would also decrease the amount of young blood residing in our sect! Shouldn't we inform the Sect Leader and let him deal with the enemy?" Huang Yinuo asked, not bothering to consider the future since she herself had none, Wang Yayan thought spitefully in her head.
"Not every disciple who went in died; besides, this could also be considered good training. I'm certain many would fall for this if we announce it as if it were a reward," Xie Dongmei chimed in, siding with Wang Yayan.
"Then let's discuss this matter further; we wouldn't want to propose an alliance without all the points ironed out," Gao Zimo said.
With that, every Elder began to chime in about their own opinions on how this matter should go, whether they thought it was risky and the rewards not worth it, and what can be compromised.
Wang Yayan went into the flow of arguments like the expert she was.
