THE REAL PROTEGE-Chapter 496: THE ENEMY IS AMONG US

Emissaries draped in ceremonial robes of their respective sects, clan patriarchs bearing ancestral weapons at their hips, and disciples whose cultivation auras flickered like barely-contained flames — all converged beneath this sacred roof. Silk banners the size of waterfalls descended from the towering rafters. Each was meticulously embroidered with the heraldic emblems of the Hidden Valley’s most powerful clans.

Upon the elevated dais at the hall’s northern end, Otako — or rather, the ever-loyal Butler Oda concealed beneath the legendary Samurai mask of wrought silver and obsidian — presided over the assembly with an authority that seemed to emanate from the very stones beneath his feet. His posture was immaculate, his hands resting upon the pommel of a ceremonial blade that had never tasted blood yet commanded more respect than a thousand battle-worn swords.

The mask itself was a masterwork of deception. Its angular features suggested both wisdom and merciless judgment. The empty eye-slits reflected candlelight, making it impossible to discern the soul behind them. None among the gathered could suspect that the true Otako — Ling Li herself — could not manifest openly this night. Her absence was concealed by this most trusted servant’s flawless performance.

Celestial wine — aged for three centuries in spirit-sealed jade vessels — flowed like liquid moonlight into cups of carved crystal. Servants glided between tables, bearing trays of gold and lacquered wood. They presented dishes that defied mortal comprehension: phoenix marrow soup that shimmered with restorative qi, dragon-scale fish whose flesh dissolved on the tongue like morning mist. These spirit fruits glowed with inner light and granted temporary clarity of mind. Polite laughter rippled through the hall like wind through bamboo. Yet beneath its melodious surface lurked the razor-sharp undertones of ancestral rivalry and political maneuvering.

Elders clasped forearms in a traditional greeting. Their smiles were warm, but their words were barbed with double meanings and thinly veiled threats. In shadowed alcoves and behind decorative screens, emissaries leaned close to whisper schemes and forge temporary alliances. Meanwhile, the younger generation circled like predators. Disciples would soon face each other in the Family Competition’s brutal trials. Their eyes were calculating strengths, cataloging weaknesses, measuring meridian depth, and qi density with senses honed by years of cultivation.

The Li Clan’s entrance into the hall had drawn a complex symphony of reactions. Admiration and envy intertwined like lovers and enemies locked in eternal dance. Their procession was magnificent. Disciples clad in jade-green silk robes embroidered with silver thread, each radiating cultivation auras that spoke of resources and training beyond the reach of lesser clans. Their reputation for magnanimous generosity was clear. The distribution of spirit stones to struggling sects, the opening of alchemical libraries to worthy scholars, the sponsorship of orphaned cultivators — all were acknowledged with raised cups and resounding cheers that echoed from the jade ceiling.

Yet beneath this veneer of celebration, jealous murmurs proliferated like poison in still water. How had the Li Clan amassed such wealth? What secrets did they guard behind their fortress walls? Why did Otako favor them so conspicuously? These questions festered in the hearts of rival patriarchs, unspoken but palpable as killing intent.

The Secret Council

When the feast finally concluded — after the last toast had been drunk, the final political pleasantries exchanged, and the guests dispersed like shadows fleeing dawn — Ling Li slipped away from the lingering crowd, her steps light and purposeful. Accustomed to moving unseen, she passed through hidden corridors known only to the Li bloodline, her fingers occasionally brushing the cool stone, reaffirming her route carved into the mountain centuries ago. She entered the innermost sanctum of the Li Clan fortress — a chamber protected by seven layers of concealment arrays and blood-bound wards that would incinerate any unauthorized intruder — and there, she summoned her most secret council, those she relied on to shape the fate of the clan.

Gathered in a circle around a low table of ancient ironwood — its surface marked with the scars of countless strategy sessions and illuminated by a single spirit-oil lantern whose flame burned without flickering, steady as truth itself — were:

Mushu, his aura steady, his eyes sharp with vigilance.

Shi Min, silent and unreadable, his presence commanding.

Four Eyes, his shield shimmering faintly, loyalty etched into his every breath.

Butler Oda, who had not yet removed the weighty Otako mask — its silver surface now seeming to merge with his own features after hours of perfect impersonation — his voice emerging from behind that facade, calm as a mountain spring yet firm as imperial decree, carrying the dual authority of servant and sovereign.

Otako’s presence surprised both Shi Min and Four Eyes.

The Seven Shahs, each seated with disciplined posture, their expressions grim.

The air was heavy, the silence charged. Ling Li looked each council member in the eye, her posture straight as she addressed them. She placed both hands on the table, anchoring her authority before she spoke, her voice low but resolute.

Ling Li didn’t involve anyone from the Li Mansion, afraid it would alert the enemy.

"The enemy moves in shadows already cast. Corruption sigils — ancient and malevolent — were discovered embedded within our disciples’ practice arrays, designed to fracture their meridians during cultivation and cripple them before the trials even begin. This level of access, this intimate knowledge of our defenses..." Ling Li paused, letting the implication settle like poison. "This means traitors walk among our own elders, those we have broken bread with, those who have sworn oaths upon their cultivation. If their conspiracy succeeds, the Family Competition will not be a crucible testing our clan’s strength — it will be the stage upon which the Li bloodline is extinguished, our legacy erased, our name becoming nothing more than a cautionary tale whispered in the dark."

The Plan to Expose the Traitors

Mushu leaned forward, his fists clenched.

"Madam, give me leave. I will root them out myself. No traitor will escape."

Ling Li shook her head firmly, her eyes downcast.

"No. If we strike now, the enemies will scatter like shadows. We must expose them publicly during the Family Competition. Only then will the Hidden Valley see their betrayal," she countered.

Four Eyes raised his hand, his shield glowing faintly.

"My shield can anchor the protective arrays. If they tamper again, I will feel it. We can trace the interference back to its source," Four Eyes offered, his shield faintly glowing. Ling Li held Four Eyes’ hand, showing her appreciation for her husband’s support.