Author's Note: Do Not Unlock Yet. Chapter Is Still Under Construction
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Tarkos met his eyes with defiance. "You think I fear you?"
Ruanzhi stepped forward, letting his spiritual pressure swell. The room seemed to shrink. Tarkos' limbs trembled involuntarily.
"Where were you four nights ago when Elder Tian vanished? What task were you performing when Zhao Feng died? Where did you obtain your token?"
Tarkos remained silent at first, but his lips eventually parted. "My token was... recovered."
Ruanzhi's eyes narrowed. "So you admit it. You're the one behind all this."
Tarkos clenched his jaw.
Ruanzhi straightened and turned toward the exit. "You will be publicly executed at dawn. We'll make an example of you."
The doors opened before him—but standing in the threshold was Elder Huang.
"Hold on," Huang said calmly.
Ruanzhi stopped. "This is a secure area. What are you doing here?"
"I came to verify something," Huang said, eyes briefly flicking to Tarkos.
