<h4>Chapter 1276: Chapter 1584: Nighttime Infiltration of the Celestial Secrets (3)</h4>


    Knock, knock, knock!


    At that moment, a knock came from outside the door, and a man outside asked, "Pavilion Master, are you all right?"


    Ling Chen cursed silently, realizing he was one step toote. If the people outside discovered something unusual inside the room, they would definitely barge in. By then, not only would his n fail, but he might also implicate Song Ge.


    Mmm... Mmm... Su Mei frantically waved her fists, pounding on Ling Chen’s body while struggling.


    "Miss Su, don’t move." Ling Chen had no choice but to shout.


    Hearing Ling Chen’s voice, Su Mei was slightly stunned, looking at Ling Chen in disbelief, "You are..."


    Ling Chen smiled bitterly, reaching out to remove the mask from his face, revealing a helpless expression.


    "Miss Su, it’s me, I..."


    Before Ling Chen could finish speaking, the knocking on the door became louder and more urgent, "Pavilion Master, please open the door and let us in."


    Su Mei quietly watched Ling Chen, as if not hearing the shouting from outside. After a while, she patted Ling Chen’s hand that was covering her mouth, indicating him to let go. Ling Chen sighed quietly; he had no other choice but toply. If Su Mei didn’t make a sound, those people outside would definitely break in.


    Had it been someone else, he might have resorted to threats. However, facing Su Mei, his former friend, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.


    At this moment, Su Mei sat up from the bed and nced at Ling Chen with a bit of exasperation. Then, she got up and walked to the living room, shouting to the people outside, "Stop knocking, can people rest or not?"


    "Pavilion Master, we just heard noises inside the room. May I ask..."


    "I’m fine, no need to worry about me," Su Mei replied impatiently. "It’s already veryte, don’t disturb my rest."


    "Yes."


    Listening to the conversation between Su Mei and the guards outside, Ling Chen couldn’t help but be surprised. He thought that Su Mei would have people capture him. Watching Su Mei return to the bedroom, Ling Chen opened his mouth, about to speak, when Su Mei said, "No need to make a big deal. I’m now just a prisoner under soft imprisonment, with no power, no need to trouble you." Pausing, Su Mei asked, "Speak out, why did you sneak into my room in the middle of the night?"


    "I came to find something."


    "Find what?"


    Ling Chen hesitated for a moment, then smiled bitterly, "Miss Su, it’s better if you don’t ask. I don’t know how to answer you." He couldn’t possibly tell Su Mei that he was looking for evidence against the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion. Su Mei was, after all, the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion and would never allow outsiders to infringe on the interests of the Pavilion.


    However, as smart as Su Mei was, she could easily guess Ling Chen’s thoughts, "No matter what you’re looking for, it must be something harmful to the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion. But you’ll likely be disappointed; I have nothing here."


    "Miss Su, you’re the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion. Howe you’re under soft imprisonment?"


    "It’s my grandfather’s decision."


    "Why did he do that? You’re the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion. What right does he have to imprison you?"


    Su Mei sighed softly, shaking her head as she said, "My grandfather and I have different philosophies, so he confined me here." After speaking, Su Mei looked at Ling Chen and said, "Can you chat with me? These days, I’ve been locked in a room alone, not able to go anywhere, and I don’t even have anyone to talk to."


    Ling Chen nodded, not refusing Su Mei’s request.


    Immediately, the two went to the living room. Su Mei brewed two cups of tea and sat beside Ling Chen, speaking softly, "Ling Chen, do you think the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion still has a reason to exist?"


    Hearing this, Ling Chen was slightly stunned, not expecting Su Mei to ask such a question.


    "Miss Su, you’re the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion. Such words shouldn’te from you, right?"


    "There are no outsiders here, just you and me. Ling Chen, I don’t have many friends, and you’re one of them. Besides talking to you, I have no one else to turn to."


    Ling Chen organized his thoughts and said, "Miss Su, since you want to have a heart-to-heart chat, I might as well be honest with you. The Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion today is not what it used to be. In the past, the Pavilion existed for the peace of the martial arts world. But now, it has be a power center focused on itself; everything it does is to consolidate its position. To achieve this, the Pavilion is willing to resort to any means. Do you think... such a Pavilion still has a reason to exist?"


    "The Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion..." Su Mei bit her lip lightly and said, "Grandfather is right, sometimes I’m too naive. I always thought that as the Pavilion Master, everything was under my control. However, only recently did I realize that as the Pavilion Master, I’m essentially powerless. The Pavilion isposed of three parts: the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, the Yangxin Pavilion, and... the Skyhawk Pavilion. As the Pavilion Master, I can only truly control the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion; the people of the Yangxin Pavilion don’t take me seriously, and as for the Skyhawk Pavilion, I recently learned of its existence. Throughout these years, my grandfather never mentioned it to me. Only by taking control of the Skyhawk Pavilion can one truly hold real power. However, after my father passed on the position of Pavilion Master to me, he didn’t tell me anything about the Skyhawk Pavilion. Not only that, my grandfather regained control of the Skyhawk Pavilion."


    "Miss Su, do you know what the Skyhawk Pavilion is specialized in?" Ling Chen asked.


    "I’ve read some records. The main task of the Skyhawk Pavilion is to identify potential threats, monitor targets, and, if necessary, take necessary measures to maintain the interests of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion."


    Ling Chen chuckled, "Miss Su, the records you saw are too understated. To put it bluntly, the Skyhawk Pavilion is a group of assassins, specifically helping the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion eliminate dissidents. For so many years, why has the Pavilion remained unscathed, with no one openly opposing it? The reason is simple: those people were all killed by the Skyhawk Pavilion."


    Su Mei’s face changed, shaking her head, "Impossible."


    "Nothing is impossible; all the dirty work is done by the Skyhawk Pavilion. Because of their existence, the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion can maintain a positive image before the world. You’re probably unaware of the recent events; the conflict between the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion and the Dragon Tiger Hall is on the verge of breaking out. Just a few days ago, dozens of martial artists allied with the Dragon Tiger Hall were poisoned. Do you think these are coincidences?"


    "These past few days, you’ve been locked in your room, not going out. You may not know that the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion has many new faces, likely people from the Skyhawk Pavilion."


    "It must be under Grandfather’s orders."


    Ling Chen nodded, "If I guessed correctly, Elder Su has already made the decision to ughter the entire martial arts world. Only by doing so can he ensure the interests of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion and not let its status be affected."