Chapter 661

Chapter 661: Investigating the Traitor

Hearing this, Fang Lie immediately frowned and asked, "Weren’t the ambushes supposed to be secret? You all should have learned about them much later. How did the information leak?"

"We actually heard rumors earlier but only confirmed them later," Mi Qing explained. "Someone spread whispers claiming our Mo Sect acted ruthlessly by ambushing cultivators who purchased treasures. We ignored it at first, and others didn’t believe it either. But when families and sects started coming to investigate missing members, we realized the severity. By then explanations were useless – we had to fully open the teleportation arrays to resolve the crisis."

"Hm?" Fang Lie suddenly narrowed his eyes. "Did all the ambushed victims carry valuable items?"

"Yes," Mi Qing answered softly. "Nearly everyone had purchased premium goods from us."

"Then there’s no question – we have a traitor!" Mo Lanyun declared angrily. "Someone’s leaking information. Have you investigated?"

"We suspected the same," Mi Qing said helplessly. "But the treasures came from different sources – our auction houses, various Mo Sect shops, even other factions’ stores. No single traitor could access all that information!"

Fang Lie pressed, "Doesn’t anyone in the sect administration track all treasure transactions?"

After hesitation, Mi Qing carefully replied, "If anyone fits that description, it would be the supervisory elder sent by the sect. He monitors all transactions to ensure proper taxation and prevent fraud."

"How detailed are his reports?" Fang Lie demanded. "Would he know who bought what and when they departed?"

"Normally no," Mi Qing shook her head. "Shops protect client privacy – he only sees sale prices and items, not buyer identities. That’s why we didn’t suspect him."

As Fang Lie fell into thoughtful silence, Mo Lanyun interjected, "But he would know every treasure’s specifications – shape, grade, materials, functions, and creator?"

"Of course," Mi Qing nodded. "Those details determine valuation. He ensures we don’t undersell valuable items."

"That’s sufficient!" Mo Lanyun turned to Fang Lie. "Calculating experts could work with that information!"

"Calculating experts? Like Bai Mu?" Fang Lie looked surprised. "Aren’t they rare assets guarded by major sects? We only have one or two low-level ones in Mo Sect. Why would they target me?"

Mo Lanyun sighed. "Bai Mu Chan Master was a Grand Divination Master you killed – hence Great Thunder Sound Temple’s grudge. But tracking specific treasures only requires low-level experts with basic calculating treasures."

"Brother," Mao Mao added, "though you’ve been in seclusion, your enemies haven’t forgotten. Ghost Realm Sect, Ten-Thousand Gu Sect, East Kunlun, and Great Thunder Sound Temple would spare no expense to obtain even high-level calculating experts against you."

"Speculation needs proof," Fang Lie turned to Mi Qing. "Who is this elder?"

"The Mo family’s Wind Tribulation Immortal – Mo Lanfan," Mi Qing answered promptly.

"My distant cousin," Mo Lanyun identified. "An elderly man with stagnant cultivation and dwindling lifespan, posted here for peaceful retirement."

"Bring him for questioning," Fang Lie decided, deferring to Mo Lanyun regarding family matters.

The group soon arrived at an opulent palace reserved for the island lord. Fang Lie claimed the central throne-like seat, flanked by Mao Mao and Mo Lanyun. While Little Peach Red prepared tea, Mi Qing departed to fetch the suspect.

A refined green-robed cultivator in his fifties entered shortly. Despite his seniority, he maintained respectful decorum before the rising leaders.

"Elder Mo Lanfan, I presume?" Fang Lie greeted with clasped hands.

"Family needn’t stand on ceremony," Mo Lanfan chuckled, nodding at Mo Lanyun. "Right, cousin?"

Blushing, Mo Lanyun urged, "Enough jokes, cousin. Please sit."

As tea was served, the three leaders exchanged troubled glances. Mo Lanfan’s vigorous appearance contradicted Mo Lanyun’s description of a decrepit elder.

"Cousin," Mo Lanyun began pointedly, "you look remarkably healthy – perhaps five hundred more years in you?"

"Just a lucky find," Mo Lanfan smiled nervously. "Bought a cheap Life-Extension Pill from some ignorant wanderer."

"Don’t insult my intelligence!" Mo Lanyun snapped. "You couldn’t afford such a treasure even selling everything!"

"It was an unappraised relic from some ruins," Mo Lanfan insisted. "Many witnessed the transaction twenty years back!"

Fang Lie cut in coldly, "Ninth-Rank pills are longan-sized masterpieces radiating vitality. No cultivator would mistake their value. Why didn’t this ‘ignorant’ seller consult auction house appraisers?"

Mo Lanfan flushed angrily. "Are you interrogating a Mo elder? How dare you, an unwed outsider, treat family this way? Lanyun, will you let your fiancé shame me? After all the sweets I gave you…"

Mo Lanyun’s cheeks burned crimson. "My life’s greatest regret was accepting your candy. Take a warehouse of sweets now – let’s forget that debt!"