Han Shuang's cheeks, which had been flushed with embarrassment, drained of color the moment she heard Jiang Chen's words. Her expression turned grave, her phoenix eyes narrowing into thin slits, watching Jiang Chen with a mix of wariness and vigilance, as if she were trying to see right through him.
Jiang Chen, however, maintained his composed demeanor, utterly unmoved by Han Shuang's piercing gaze.
It was clear that while Han Shuang's gaze was sharp, it was far from enough to make Jiang Chen falter.
After a moment, Han Shuang let out a long, soft sigh.
"Junior Elder Zhen, do you truly wish to have an open and honest conversation with our sect? Then tell me — what exactly are your intentions in joining our sect, you and your uncle? Don't bother with those excuses you gave before. We both know they weren't the truth."
The conversation seemed to be going in circles, circling back to the same situation as last time.
For a moment, Jiang Chen let out a quiet sigh. "Sect Master Han, a few nights ago, you left the sect and went to the forbidden grounds of the Crimson Water Celestial Pool. That place is clearly beyond the territory of our Calamity Star Sect. How do you explain that, Sect Master Han?"
Jiang Chen was seizing the initiative.
At these words, a layer of frost settled over Han Shuang's fair face. "You followed me?"
Han Shuang was genuinely shocked. She had indeed acted alone that night, and she had believed her movements to be completely undetectable. Her ability to evade surveillance was second to none. When she had set out, she was absolutely certain that no one was following her or keeping tabs on her.
Never had she imagined that such a covert operation would be seen through by this Junior Elder Zhen. In that instant, clouds of suspicion gathered over Han Shuang's heart, and even a dark thought — one she had never entertained before — began to take root within her.
However, she quickly extinguished that dark impulse. Han Shuang was no stranger to silencing people, but when it came to this Junior Elder Zhen, she couldn't bring herself to do it. Moreover, she had no confidence in her ability to succeed. An opponent who could tail her without being detected — if they truly came to blows, the outcome was anyone's guess.
Jiang Chen could sense the shift in Han Shuang's attitude. The moment murderous intent flickered in her heart, he had nearly assumed they were about to turn on each other.
But in the next instant, Han Shuang's dark impulse vanished.
"Sect Master Han, did you consider silencing me?" Jiang Chen smiled leisurely.
Han Shuang stared at Jiang Chen in astonishment, a genuine chill creeping through her. Was this Junior Elder Zhen some kind of intestinal worm that could read her thoughts? Or did he possess a mind-reading divine ability?
"Heh heh, I know Sect Master Han isn't that cruel a person." Jiang Chen chuckled again. "Please trust me — I harbor no ill intentions."
"No ill intentions? If you have no ill intentions, why did you follow me?" Han Shuang was somewhat displeased.
Suddenly, she felt a sense of powerlessness. Facing such a young yet monstrous elder, Han Shuang felt her control slipping away little by little.
Within the Calamity Star Sect, dealing with Elder Xu and Elder Ge had been a breeze — she could toy with them at will.
But before this Junior Elder Zhen, she felt an overwhelming sense of strain. From beginning to end, she had never been able to see through this uncle-and-nephew pair.
And she, in turn, seemed to be slowly being seen through by them.
Could it be that this uncle and nephew harbored the same ambitions as she did? The thought left Han Shuang's heart torn between hope and worry.