The air in the Hall settled into a cold silence. No one spoke for a long time after Tian Shen's final words.
The weight of forty-seven deaths lingered like an uninvited spirit, unseen but undeniable. Even the spirit lanterns flickered with unease.
Elder Su withdrew her hand quietly, stepping back into the circle of elders.
Tian Shen did not sit. Feng Yin remained behind him, poised and still. Little Mei watched them all with narrowed eyes.
Sect Master Qiu cleared his throat, a signal of transition.
"It grieves us all, but the outcome is fixed. The perpetrators have been executed. The threat neutralized."
"Neutralized, huh." Tian Shen echoed softly.
Elder Lei frowned.
"Losses were suffered, yes. But we've ensured no further damage to the Sect's infrastructure. No lingering threats."
"Except one," Elder Jian added. "We do not yet know how they bypassed the formations so easily. That warrants further investigation."
Tian Shen's gaze sharpened.
