Alexander, the venerable master, also pressed the envelope down to examine it.
"Mia, why do you claim that this letter proves that Lucas murdered Matthew?" Ella asked directly. "And you all vaguely mentioned that Lucas is an outsider. How can you be so sure?"
Mia immediately replied, "It's simple. My late husband once told me that if he were to die, I should give this letter to the elders."
"Oh? Then why did he know he would die? How did he know he would die at Lucas's hands?" Ella pressed on. "I didn't say he knew he would die at Lucas's hands, and…"
"Oh, so you're not even sure under what circumstances Matthew told you these things. Then how can you be certain that it was Lucas who killed him?"
This method of interjection is quite common in modern discourse. Ella's words caused Mia's expression to shift, and the others also sensed that something was amiss.
Ella said, "Regardless, whether we open this letter or not has no bearing on whether Lucas killed Matthew. So it's better not to look at it. Besides, this letter doesn't seem genuine."
"Who said it has no bearing? How is this letter not genuine? It was passed down by previous leaders of the sect," Mia retorted.
"Oh, passed down by previous leaders? That would make it at least several decades old, right?" Ella deliberately reminded her. "Amelia, does that letter look new or old?"
Amelia glanced at the letter in Mia's hand and immediately said, "It's new."
Ella remarked, "A decades-old item that's still so new. Mia, you've preserved it quite well!"
Everyone turned their gaze to the envelope and indeed noticed that it looked very new. The suspicion toward Mia grew heavier.
Alexander, the venerable master, also felt that he had acted too hastily this time. He said, "Amitabha, Mia, it seems this matter is now an internal affair of your Beggar Sect. This old monk will no longer involve himself. I bid you farewell." He then nodded to Lucas and left.
Watching Alexander depart, Michael glanced at Ella and left with his sons. Joseph and Evelyn also left one after another, followed by Liam.
Seeing her supporters leave, Mia began to worry for herself.
"Lucas, although I'm not a member of your sect, I must speak fairly. The Beggar Sect has never allowed women to handle important matters. Why is such a crucial letter in Mia's hands? I heard that Matthew died suddenly. This matter seems suspicious. If he was truly killed by someone from our Swallow Abode, then I need to see the body. Only then can we determine if it was Noah who killed him," Ella proposed.
"No, Matthew has already been laid to rest. How can we reopen the coffin for you to see?" Jackson said. "Besides, I'm sure the elders who were bound also knew the contents of the letter. That's why they rose up against Lucas, this traitor."
Lucas was naturally furious when Jackson called him a traitor, but Ella said, "Jackson, I heard that before you joined the Beggar Sect, you were nearly beaten to death for betraying your master. And how do you know that the elders knew the contents of the letter? Did you tell them? Have you seen the letter before?"
Ella's words made the four elders feel as if they had been deceived. They said, "Ah! After all these years, I've fallen for a villain's scheme. Leader, I have nothing to say. Kill me!" Such words made it clear what they meant.
Lucas said, "We'll deal with the four elders later. Right now, we need to handle Jackson, this malicious schemer."
With a single step, Lucas was by Jackson's side. He raised his hand and struck toward Jackson's head.
Suddenly, a black-cloaked figure appeared beside Jackson and sent a palm strike toward Lucas. The force of the internal energy made the bones creak.
Lucas quickly channeled his inner strength and attacked. Their palms collided, and Lucas was forced back. Ella could only protect those around her. There was no other choice—he couldn't see!