A month later, Qingyun Sect faced an even more intense demonic attack. This time, the attackers seemed to have inside knowledge of the sect's layout, directly targeting the core areas.
Xiao Yi, Mo Wanxian, and Ling Yu were all involved in the defense. During the fierce battle, Xiao Yi noticed something strange - these demonic cultivators seemed to know the sect's defensive weaknesses very well.
"Something's not right," Xiao Yi said to Ling Yu during a brief lull in the fighting. "They know our defenses too well."
"I noticed that too," Ling Yu replied, his expression grave. "It's as if someone told them exactly where to strike."
After the attack was repelled, the sect leaders gathered to assess the situation. The damage was more severe this time, and several important areas had been targeted with precision.
"This attack was too organized," Elder Yan Wuji said grimly. "They knew exactly where to hit us."
"There must be a traitor among us," another elder suggested. "Someone with access to our defensive plans."
Sect Master Qingyun's face was dark with anger. "If there truly is a traitor, we must find them at all costs."
Later that evening, Ling Yu approached Xiao Yi with a troubled expression.
"Xiao Yi, I need to tell you something," Ling Yu said quietly. "I suspect there's a high-ranking traitor within our sect."
"What makes you think that?" Xiao Yi asked.
"The way they attacked today - it wasn't random. They knew exactly where our patrols would be, when the guard changes occurred, even which buildings housed our most important resources."
Xiao Yi nodded thoughtfully. "You're right. But who could it be? And how do we prove it?"
"I don't know yet," Ling Yu replied. "But we need to be careful. If there really is a traitor, they might try to eliminate anyone who gets too close to the truth."
The next morning brought shocking news. During the cleanup of the battlefield, several core disciple tokens were found on the bodies of the dead demonic attackers. These tokens were supposed to be impossible to forge and were only given to the most trusted disciples.
"How is this possible?" Mo Wanxian asked when she heard the news. "Those tokens are supposed to be secure."
"Either someone stole them, or..." Xiao Yi's voice trailed off as the implications became clear.
"Or someone gave them willingly," Ling Yu finished grimly.
The discovery of the tokens sent shockwaves through the sect. Suspicion fell on every core disciple, and the atmosphere became tense and paranoid. Friends began to eye each other with distrust, and conversations became guarded.
"I can't believe this is happening," Mo Wanxian said as the three friends met on the Moon Gazing Platform that evening. "How can we trust anyone now?"
"We can trust each other," Xiao Yi said firmly. "No matter what happens, we know we're innocent."
"But others don't know that," Ling Yu pointed out. "We're all under suspicion now."
As if to prove his point, several disciples passed by and gave them suspicious looks. The carefree days of their youth seemed like a distant memory.
"What do we do now?" Mo Wanxian asked.
"We find the real traitor," Xiao Yi said with determination. "Before they can do any more damage."
But even as he spoke these words, Xiao Yi couldn't shake the feeling that they were already too late. The conspiracy was deeper than any of them realized, and the real traitor was closer than they thought.
That night, as Xiao Yi lay in his bed, he couldn't help but wonder: in a world where even the most trusted could betray, who could truly be trusted?
The answer to that question would soon prove more devastating than he could ever imagine.