Players: All NPCs in the Sect Are Moles

[Inquiry Golden Autumn Spirit Gathering]

As soon as they entered, two attendants in matching uniforms approached. Their faces, however, were still identical to Mr. Qian’s.

They handed each of them a custom-made folding fan, painted with an elegant landscape.

Su Ling’er accepted the folding fan, her heart on high alert.

’Hmph, as expected of a demonic sect’s celebration! Everything about it is bizarre!’

’I wonder what sort of bloody dealings an elegant pavilion like this is meant to cover up, only to be put on display today.’

’And to think that Mr. Qian, a senior of the righteous path, not only has to serve the entire sect but has even been reduced to the status of an attendant!’

’They have absolutely no respect for their elders!’

Still, she maintained a calm expression, clutched the fan in her hand, and stepped inside the pavilion.

Inside the pavilion, several disciples were already seated in small groups.

Before each of them was a low table laden with exquisite fruit platters, clear tea, and various sheets of paper. The whole scene resembled an elegant gathering of scholars and artists.

’What’s going on? You’re a bunch of demonic cultivators, always screaming about killing. Why are you acting like mortal scholars? Is this really your kind of thing?’

’Could it be... are they cultivating some kind of Confucian Dao?’

On a high platform, a "chief examiner" who also looked just like Mr. Qian sat bolt upright. He waited for everyone to be seated.

Only then did he clear his throat and begin to explain the origin of this "Spirit Gathering":

"Long ago, at the founding of our sect, an ancestor of our Xi Sect received the baptism of the Great Dao. At the break of dawn, he witnessed the first rays of light and saw through the veil of life and a death.

The season was golden autumn, and this ancestor, moved by inspiration, invited his fellow cultivators to establish this gathering. It has been passed down to this day and has become a grand event for our sect."

Mr. Qian on the stage took a deep breath and recited the opening poem:

"After a hundred battles, the dust has settled;

In a single thought, the dawn light rises."

"At the Golden Autumn Gathering, we inquire of the Dao,

May I bear witness to it alongside you?"

"This gathering aims to see into your Dao Hearts and temper your wills. It also represents the sect’s hopes for your cultivation..."

However, how many of the Guixi Sect disciples present would actually bother to listen seriously to the NPC on stage reading from a script?

Before their eyes, a screen of light that only players could see had already appeared, clearly listing the event’s actual rules.

[Event: Inquiry Golden Autumn Spirit Gathering] 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Rules: Ten questions in total, testing your Dao Heart. Each correct answer earns 5 "Dao Heart Points."

Redemption: Every 10 "Dao Heart Points" can be exchanged for 40 Sect Contribution Points at the end of the event.

Penalty: No reward for incorrect answers.

Special Reward: The first person to answer, regardless of whether they are right or wrong, can earn an additional 5 "Dao Heart Points" as long as they perform the corresponding action.

If the same person is the first to answer five consecutive times, they will receive a large Spirit Stone reward. If ten times, they will receive a mysterious gift.

The rewards are all doubled for anyone who is the first to answer ten times and gets all questions correct.

Performance Requirements:

Those who are first to answer correctly must express extreme joy in front of everyone and use their folding fan to show off their flair for answering the question correctly (imitating a dashing young master or a refined young lady).

Those who are first to answer incorrectly must perform the act of covering their face and weeping to show their sorrow at getting the question wrong.

Key Rule: "This is a test of the Dao Heart; you must answer from your own heart. Any attempts to leak the questions, such as whispering or using Telepathy, will be regarded as an ’insincere Dao Heart.’ The offender will be disqualified on the spot and have all their Dao Heart Points deducted!"

Maximum questions per person (10).]

Lin Qingfeng instructed Su Ling’er, "Don’t be afraid, Junior Sister. Just put that smart brain of yours to work. It’s best if you get them right, but it’s fine if you don’t."

After saying this, he turned away and quickly issued a command in the event’s exclusive chat channel.

[Lin Qingfeng: Listen up, everyone! We’re going to let our junior sister turn in her answer first! We have to make sure she gets the bonus for being the first to answer, got it?!]

[Player "Guanhu": Don’t worry, President. We won’t go for it!]

[Player "Shiwen Qiufeng": Understood! We’ll answer after she does!]

...

Soon, the question-and-answer session officially began.

Mr. Qian on the stage slowly unrolled a bamboo scroll and read out the first question:

"While traveling, you, a powerful cultivator, are invited to join a temporary party formed by members of a righteous sect. Your goal is to explore a treacherous land in search of a fortuitous opportunity.

The leader of this righteous party asks you to describe your strengths. How do you respond?"

"One: Boldly display one of your unique skills to awe them, establishing the status of both yourself and your sect within the party."

"Two: Be honest. Frankly disclose your strengths and weaknesses to facilitate better teamwork."

"Three: Respond modestly, saying your skills are passable and that you will do your utmost for the party."

"Four: Feign weakness, claiming, ’I will certainly do my best, but I’m not very good at fighting. If it comes to blows, I’ll have to ask you to look out for me, brother.’"

Su Ling’er looked at the question and fell into deep thought.

’In her view, cooperation between righteous sects should be built on sincerity. Only then could they achieve mutual trust and coordinate seamlessly.’

’Option one is too ostentatious; it would easily attract resentment.’

’Option three is too reserved and vague. I’d risk being underestimated, which would hinder task allocation.’

’And option four hides too much. If the party misjudges my strength at a critical moment, it could lead to disaster and jeopardize everyone’s survival.’

’Then, there’s only one possible answer!’

Seeing that her fellow disciples were still hesitating, she, without a moment’s delay, wrote a large "2" on the paper on her table.

’This is how righteous cultivators should act. Not boasting, not feigning weakness. This is how you build a foundation of trust in a party.’

The attendant, Mr. Qian, collected the answer sheet from Su Ling’er, who had been the first to respond.

Su Ling’er glanced at the others. Seeing that none of her fellow disciples had submitted their answers before she did, she felt a little smug.

’It seems the minds of these foolish demons are no match for a clever righteous cultivator like me.’

’How could they hesitate for so long over such a simple question?’

Only after she had submitted her answer did the disciples around her begin to hand their own papers to the attendants coming to collect them.

A moment later, Mr. Qian on the stage began to announce the answer and everyone’s choices.

The only one who chose "Two" was Su Ling’er.

As for those who chose "Four," claiming to be unskilled in combat—that was every other disciple!

Su Ling’er was stunned.

Huh?

Why?

Why would they choose four?

’Aren’t they afraid the entire party will be wiped out?’

She didn’t understand. Confused, she could only look toward her senior brother.

Lin Qingfeng took the opportunity to lean in and lecture her earnestly:

"Junior Sister, you must understand that the human heart is treacherous. When you are out in the world, the very last thing you can trust is another person.

If you tell the truth, aren’t you just revealing all your cards to everyone?

If the other party has malicious intentions, aren’t you putting yourself in danger?

By feigning weakness, you can keep your true strength hidden. If they really intend to drop the act and try to harm you, that’s when you can give them a big, nasty surprise!"

Su Ling’er heard her senior brother’s lecture, but in her heart, she did not agree.

’This is clearly sophistry!’

’How could the leader of a righteous party act so deceitfully?’

’A leader should be open and aboveboard!’

’You’re just judging a noble person by your own vile standards!’

’This is the kind of thinking only the most insidious and cunning people would have...’

’Wait...’

’Feigning weakness... revealing the dagger at the end...’

’Could it be?!’

She understood!

She understood again!

A sudden realization struck her. ’This wasn’t about self-preservation at all!’

’You’re clearly training your disciples to infiltrate righteous parties, wait until everyone lets their guard down, and then strike ruthlessly to wipe them all out in one fell swoop!’

’And then you’ll take all the opportunities for yourselves!’

’This is exactly what the demonic villains do in the storybooks! Why else would every single disciple choose that option?!’

’So what is the purpose of these demons holding an event like this? Could they be...’