The sweep passed without finding anything, but it left the compound tighter than before, guards posted at corners that never used to need watching, disciples talking in lower voices even over ordinary meals. Wei Liang kept his head down for two full days, exactly as Xu instructed, doing nothing but pen work and sleep, letting the investigation's energy burn itself out chasing shadows that led nowhere.
On the third day, Elder Gong called him in for a wilderness assignment — herb gathering in the Northern Reaches, three days out, standard rotation for labor disciples who hadn't earned worse punishment recently. Wei Liang almost laughed at the timing. Xu didn't find it funny at all.
"This is exactly what we needed," Xu said the moment they were alone on the trail out past the sect wall, the
