The Suffering Scholar tilted his head to look at Gu Ling. He remembered that Gu Ling hadn’t been this assertive lately.
Perhaps the Gu Ling of the past was forceful within the Bone Elder Association, even to the point of being overly aggressive, rebuking anyone she found displeasing.
Geniuses are often —arrogant and rampant to their very core, exuding an air of untouchable insolence.
But reality taught Gu Ling a lesson: her incense offerings stagnated, unable to progress no matter the effort.
From that day on, Gu Ling suddenly became docile. Naturally, her status within the Bone Elder Association plummeted.
Calling Gu Ling to attend the meeting tonight was, to put it bluntly, to use her as a mascot. After all, she still held the "Divine Communication" Divine Office title.
Who would have thought she’d dare to speak, and worse, to openly refute the Suffering Scholar?
"Are you saying I’m biased toward Zhou Xuan?" The Suffering Scholar repeated the question, pressing.
Gu Ling tilted her head slightly and said,
"I handed the ’Divine Communication’ Bone Token to Zhou Xuan. When facing the Monument Sovereign, he displayed the token as well. Under such circumstances, the Monument Sovereign still dared to make a move. The Monument Sovereign does not regard me, the ’Divine Communication,’ at all."
"Lord Divine Communication, the Monument Sovereign has defied you not just for a day or two. In terms of incense offerings, his amount isn’t far from yours. In terms of arcane knowledge, he’s nearly your equal. On what grounds should he be suppressed by you?"
The dead are sometimes more useful than the living.
The Guanzhu spoke mockingly, borrowing the Monument Sovereign’s name. His sarcasm was sharp and well-placed, while also insulating him from Gu Ling’s retaliation—after all, it was the Monument Sovereign’s words, not his.
"It sounds like you, Guanzhu, also do not regard me."
Gu Ling ignited an ethereal blue flame, holding it to her chest. Through the flame, everyone could see the incense in her Secret Realm—the incense burner was burning intensely,
and as Gu Ling willed it, the flame atop the incense burner grew almost blindingly bright. This was the brilliance of incense offerings burning fiercely.
The Guanzhu squinted, scrutinizing carefully to ensure he wasn’t mistaken.
The Suffering Scholar was so furious that his teeth nearly shattered, but in the end, he forced a smile and congratulated Gu Ling.
"Congratulations on the rekindling of the ’Divine Communication’ incense. I’ve always said, the ’Divine Communication’ is uniquely gifted; its incense offerings wouldn’t just halt indefinitely."
Among the four Divine Offices, the Suffering Scholar was ranked lowest. Gu Ling, being younger and lacking authority, was ranked third.
When Gu Ling’s incense offerings had ceased, the Suffering Scholar saw a chance to shed his "lowest rank" title and climb upward. He’d only managed to climb halfway before being kicked back down.
"Guanzhu, are you convinced now?"
The Guanzhu, eager to save face, didn’t respond directly. Yet now that Gu Ling had regained her strongest leverage as the "Divine Communication," she would remain above him.
He had no choice but to cup his fists and lower his head in silence.
Qing Feng then stood, addressing Gu Ling, "Lord Divine Communication, tonight concerns the reputation of the City God. Please investigate the Tangkou thoroughly, from top to bottom, to determine whether we’re indeed colluding with kidnappers."
The Guanzhu and the Suffering Scholar clenched their fists tightly in barely concealed anger. They wanted to strike down Qing Feng on the spot, to prevent this principled Second Master of the City God from continually putting them in the hot seat.
As for the kidnappers infiltrating the City God and the Bone Elders, Qing Feng wasn’t oblivious; he simply refused to align with them.
Now, using the meeting as leverage, he delighted in taking digs at the Master, venting his pent-up frustration.
Qing Feng understood the situation clearly, and Gu Ling, who spent her days amidst the bustling "Metropolitan," likely understood it even better.
Now that Gu Ling had regained her voice in the meeting, she began asserting herself. First, she gestured for Qing Feng to sit down, then spoke methodically,
"The Monument Sovereign saw the Bone Token yet still made his move—that constitutes rebellion and defiance against the Bone Elder Association. He deserved to die.
Lu Yusheng, colluding with kidnappers, massacred the innocent in East Market Street. A man like that is the scum of the City God and deserves death even more.
Their deaths will not be pursued by the Bone Elders. Qing Feng, Guanzhu, if you insist on avenging them out of camaraderie and seek revenge on Lord Jian or Lord Hua, that will be a private matter and outside the Bone Elders’ jurisdiction.
However, you are forbidden from avenging them under the banners of the Bone Elders, the City God, or the God Traveling Department. If you deceptively cooperate with the Tangkou to exact communal revenge, you will be sent to the Bone Elders’ prison and face brutal punishment.
Guanzhu, Qing Feng, do you agree?"
"I agree!" Qing Feng responded loudly.
After all, he had no intention of seeking vengeance. The Monument Sovereign and Lu Yusheng had never aligned with his interests.
Their deaths—what did they have to do with Qing Feng?
the Guanzhu replied weakly.
Gu Ling’s decision was cunning—she forbade Tangkou-based vengeance while allowing personal vendettas.
A personal vendetta? What vendetta?
How could the Guanzhu face Lord Jian or Lord Hua without help from Tangkou?
Not to mention the God Traveling Department in Ping Shui Prefecture was an impenetrable fortress, with Lord Jiu, the Mountain Guardian, and Ping Xiang all backing it...
The Guanzhu didn’t want to end up on the receiving end of a thousand arrows.
"Since there are no objections, we shall proceed as Lord Divine Communication has said."
The Suffering Scholar, demoted from leader to "voice of agreement," seemed visibly deflated.
"That said, the fall of the You Shen in Mingjiang Prefecture is still a disgrace. That disgrace must be addressed..."
The Witch Shang Wenjun’s expression changed. Did this mean they still intended to trouble Zhou Lingyi?
"Since Lord Hua is under the Old Hall, let the Old Hall shoulder the guilt for the killing and spread the word among the martial underworld. This will recover the situation."
The Old Hall belonged to the Tangkou of Mingjiang Prefecture. For the Tangkou of Mingjiang Prefecture to kill their own You Shen was an internal struggle—far better than an outsider cutting down their own.
"No need for the Old Hall to take the blame. The Monument Sovereign—I killed him," Shang Wenjun interjected. "The Monument Sovereign defied the Divine Bone Token. As Night Control, I acted to clean house. If the Guanzhu desires revenge, you are welcome to come find me. I’ll be waiting."