"Big brother, you don't believe me either?" The Fifth Sister forced a smile as she spoke.
"It's precisely because everyone believes in you, Fifth Sister, that you've been given a chance to explain. As long as there's nothing damning inside the box, just open it yourself and put everyone's minds at ease!" the old man said coldly.
Hearing the old man's words, the Fifth Sister's expression shifted dramatically — flushing red and then draining white in rapid succession.
When she looked at the others, the pained, disappointed looks on the tall, thin man and the rest only made her heart sink further. She didn't know what else to say.
After a brief moment of deliberation, she steeled herself, suddenly shoving the small box into her clothes. In the same motion, she whipped out a blue spherical bead and held it high above her head, her voice sharp and threatening: "Don't force me! You all recognize this Heavenly Thunder Bead — all I ask is to leave here unharmed!"
This action sent a visible shock through the remaining members of the Five Friends of Meng Mountain. The young man, who had always harbored favorable feelings toward her, looked especially stricken.
"It seems there's no need to look inside the box anymore. Fifth Sister, you really have thrown in your lot with those people." The old man's face twisted with anger, and he clenched his fists, taking a sudden step forward.
"Don't come closer, Big Brother! Or I'll really activate it!" The Fifth Sister's eyes flickered with panic. She clutched the blue bead in front of her chest, poised to throw.
Seeing this, the old man's beard and hair bristled with fury, but he truly didn't dare step closer. After all, he knew full well just how devastating a Heavenly Thunder Bead could be.
"Fifth Sister, are you really prepared to use that Heavenly Thunder Bead against us? Remember — back when we saw your cultivation was too low, we all pooled our spirit stones to buy that artifact for your protection. Fourth Brother, in particular, put forward nearly all of his savings. And now you turn it against us? Isn't that going a bit too far?" the middle-aged woman said, her voice heavy with disappointment.
The young man beside her, hearing these words, felt a storm of emotions churn inside him. His lips trembled several times, but no words came out.
The Fifth Sister's face showed a flicker of shame at the middle-aged woman's words, but it vanished almost instantly. Her voice remained defiant: "What's the use of bringing that up now? I'm nothing like you — I will succeed in Foundation Establishment no matter what! The Black Fiend Sect told me that if I contribute enough merit, the Sect Master can force someone through Foundation Establishment without even using a Foundation Establishment Pill, and at absolutely no risk."
The tall, thin man frowned repeatedly at this and finally couldn't hold back.
"Fifth Sister, it's not too late to turn back! You can't actually believe you can reach Foundation Establishment without a pill? They're obviously taking advantage of your youth and duping you!" The second oldest of the Five Friends of Meng Mountain spoke with genuine sincerity, his words earnest and heartfelt.
"Hmph, I don't need Second Brother to lecture me. Whether it's true or false — I know perfectly well. Since things have come this far, there's no point hiding it anymore! The truth is, I joined the Black Fiend Sect two years ago, during that trip outside. So don't underestimate our Sect Master's extraordinary abilities — you outsiders could never even imagine them!"
The young woman gave a cold snort and dropped a bombshell that left everyone else reeling.
"You joined the Black Fiend Sect two years ago? Then those people being captured this time — that was your doing too, wasn't it?" Han Li, who had been silently standing to one side all this while, suddenly interjected.
These words sent yet another wave of shock through the old man and the rest. Their gazes snapped back to the young woman, expressions shifting with disbelief. None of them wanted to believe that the Fifth Sister had truly gone this far.
The Fifth Sister's expression wavered between light and shadow. After a moment of hesitation, she finally spoke: "That's right — I told the Black Fiend Sect about everyone's movements. But my intentions were good. I just wanted all of us to have a chance at Foundation Establishment. Otherwise, according to the Black Fiend Sect's usual practice, most captives are used in blood sacrifices. How could anyone's life be spared so easily?"
Having come this far, the young woman felt there was no point concealing anything further and simply laid it all bare.
"Heh heh — so by that logic, we should all be thanking our Fifth Sister!" The dark-faced old man laughed in fury.
"No matter what you think, I truly bear no ill will toward any of you! Stop forcing me." The young woman's delicate features twisted slightly as she spoke, and once again she raised the Heavenly Thunder Bead in her hand.
But just at that moment, Han Li gave the young woman a faint smile and said: "Heavenly Thunder Bead — it really is a fine thing."
The words had barely left his lips when his figure blurred and he vanished from where he stood.
"You — ?" The Fifth Sister was sharp enough to react immediately, her wrist starting to flick.
But a gentle breeze brushed past her face. The wrist holding the Heavenly Thunder Bead suddenly locked up. Han Li had materialized behind her like a specter, his hand clamped firmly around her slender wrist.
"This thing is far too dangerous — I think I'll be the one to keep it." Without the slightest courtesy, Han Li wrenched the Heavenly Thunder Bead from her grip and casually tossed it into his storage pouch.
Seeing her greatest trump card neutralized as if it were child's play, the Fifth Sister's face turned an ashen grey in an instant. She momentarily forgot to struggle, and for the first time, genuine fear appeared in her eyes.
"She's your sworn sister — I'll leave her to you. As long as she reveals everything she knows about the Black Fiend Sect, you can do whatever you like with her. Though I doubt any of you are foolish enough to let her go back and report." Han Li glanced meaningfully at the remaining members of the Five Friends of Meng Mountain, his expression calm and composed.