Putting aside the benefits of vying for the position of sect leader, with her unborn child threatened tonight, Lin Zhitong, as a mother, felt a surge of fury within her.
If she hadn't known Sun Liuying was being controlled, she might have directly fallen out with the Tianhai Association and made Sun Liuying pay the price.
What concerned her now was why Lü Xin had chosen Sun Liuying, and not someone else.
Sun Tangzhi seemed to have thought of something, staring sternly at Sun Liuying:
"Liuying, have you contacted Lü Xin?"
Sun Liuying, drenched in cold sweat from the pain, felt guilty when asked this question and lowered her head: "No."
"Hmph!"
Sun Tangzhi knew Sun Liuying very well. Moreover, this girl was inexperienced; all her thoughts were written on her face.
Therefore, Sun Tangzhi had already made a judgment. He reached into Sun Liuying's pocket, took out her phone, and opened the call log, immediately getting the answer.
Sun Tangzhi took a deep breath, turned off the phone, and said to Sun Liuying:
"Given your severe injuries, I won't say more. However, I will report today's events to the sect leader exactly as they happened!"
Sun Liuying secretly tipping off Lü Xin and ultimately bringing trouble upon herself was her own doing!
Even Sun Tangzhi didn't pity her; instead, he was extremely angry at her lack of self-control.
Seeing that her secret was exposed, Sun Liuying was speechless and could only bury her head deep, her shoulders trembling as she endured the pain.
"Miss Lin, this was our Tianhai Association's mistake. I apologize to you on behalf of the Tianhai Association," Sun Tangzhi said apologetically. "However, since Liuying is injured, once her condition improves, the Tianhai Association will visit again to apologize!"
Lin Zhitong shook her head: "She has already received her due punishment. An apology is not necessary... We have contacted Old Jin, and he is on his way."
Although Old Jin's previous act of making laxatives had left an indelible psychological shadow on the two old sect leaders of the delegation, his subsequent display of medical skills had also proven his ability.
Seeing that Lin Zhitong was not only not angry with Sun Liuying but was also sending a descendant of an ancient physician to treat her, Sun Tangzhi's expression improved, and he thanked Lin Zhitong gratefully.
Such an incident was unforeseen by all the sect representatives.
A moment later, Old Jin and others arrived and took Sun Liuying away for treatment.
As Sun Liuying was carried away, the representatives' moods were complex.
Although Lü Xin had made various promises to them that tempted them, seeing Sun Liuying's fate today made them all unsure if they wouldn't become the next Sun Liuying.
In fact, they all knew deep down that Lü Xin was a woman who would stop at nothing to achieve her goals. The benefits she promised might indeed be realized, but only if they could ensure they wouldn't become pawns sacrificed by Lü Xin.
In contrast, Lin Zhitong, though currently possessing nothing but money, was at least sincere to her own people and would absolutely not sacrifice her companions.
Whether to defect to Lü Xin or support Lin Zhitong was something they had to discuss and consider seriously.
Lin Zhitong did not stay with the delegation but went with Yan Shouyi to check on Sun Liuying's injuries. She deliberately gave the delegation time and space to discuss their final decision.
Other companions also rushed over one after another upon hearing the news.
Upon hearing that Lin Zhitong's unborn baby had been threatened today, everyone was furious.
Especially her close friends Luo Ning and Zhao Yiyao, who wished they could go to Sanfang Qixiang right now and beat up Lü Xin.
But this was clearly unrealistic. Judging solely from the fact that Lü Xin had dispatched a ghost king when she made her move today, it showed that Lü Xin's strength was not to be underestimated.
Most importantly, Lü Xin still held many hostages, and Lin Zhitong, fighting alone, remained in a passive position.
Half an hour later, Old Jin finished treating Sun Liuying.
Her injuries were not life-threatening, and as long as she recovered well, there would be no significant impact on her future life. However, her originally fair and tender legs would inevitably bear unsightly scars.
Old Jin actually had a way to erase those scars, but he didn't do it. He decided to let Sun Liuying deal with it herself in the future, as a small "retaliation" for the foolish girl attacking Yan Shouyi and Lin Zhitong's child.
Sun Liuying had suffered greatly this time and would likely be much more obedient in the future.
When they heard that Sun Liuying was fine, the members of the delegation also breathed a sigh of relief.
Everyone sat in the assembly hall, silent for a long time.
Sun Tangzhi spoke first: "Miss Lin, we have made our decision."
Lin Zhitong looked at Sun Tangzhi, quietly waiting for him to speak.
"Lü Xin is cruel and ruthless, and our paths are different. Therefore, we choose to support you in succeeding as the sect leader of the Lü Shan Sect."
The members of the delegation cast kind glances at Lin Zhitong, with a few individuals showing apologies, likely due to lingering guilt from their earlier reservations about Lin Zhitong.
Lin Zhitong nodded slightly, a smile of reconciliation appearing on her face:
"Thank you all for your trust."
Sun Tangzhi said solemnly, "Sect Leader Lin, although you have gained our support, you must act quickly to secure the position of sect leader."
The delegates' address to Lin Zhitong had now shifted from "Miss Lin" to "Sect Leader Lin."
Lin Zhitong adopted a serious demeanor: "Do you have any information?"
"Lü Xin wants to make a swift move. Therefore, in five days, she will hold the sect leader succession ceremony at Wen Ru Fang, where elders from many renowned sects will come to support her," Sun Tangzhi replied.
Yan Shouyi's heart skipped a beat.
Lü Xin was indeed extraordinary. Despite disappearing for twenty years, she still possessed connections with many prominent sects.
He was very curious about what Lü Xin had been doing during those twenty years, why she was making such a strong comeback now, and why she was so obsessed with becoming the sect leader of the Lü Shan Sect.
Sun Tangzhi added, "Most of the other sects in Jianzhou Province have now chosen to obey Lü Xin. If we take no action by the time of her succession ceremony, things will likely be set in stone. You know, it's not easy to change what people have already accepted."
If Lü Xin held the ceremony and succeeded as sect leader, Lin Zhitong's claim to the position would seem less legitimate.
Only by competing before her succession would it be justifiable.
This was called having the moral high ground. Whether in ancient times or modern times, even in warfare, it was necessary to find a reason, otherwise, it was easy to be caught by the opponent and falsely accused of being the villain.
Lin Zhitong nodded slightly and said softly, "I understand."
After a pause, she broke into a smile: "Lü Xin likes to invite renowned sects to endorse her, so let's also invite some, and see who has wider connections and stronger friends!"