Chapter 104 Succession - Part 2 The sounds of discussion inside hadn't stopped...
The discussions inside hadn't stopped, but for some reason, Wu Chen refused to agree to succeed him. The elders tried everything to persuade him to no avail, and in desperation, they had no choice but to discuss how to deal with the Zou family.
If the Yu family's initial business was the backbone of the Divine Palace, then the Zou family has always been its face.
Now we're definitely going to lose face.
Jin Hua had many experts around him, and they could quickly guess the truth based on the power of Zou Gaoyang's techniques, though they lacked concrete evidence for the time being. However, for Jin Hua and his group, since Zou Gaoyang and Zou Buming both shared the surname Zou, one a divine official and the other a divine attendant, the difference was negligible. Regardless, the Zou family couldn't escape responsibility. The Zou family had lured and murdered so many cultivators; the Divine Palace had to give the cultivation world an explanation.
However, for the Divine Palace, the difference between the High Priest and a Divine Servant making this matter is enormous. If it was the Divine Servant, everyone could claim that Zou Buming had personal issues, leading some experts in private actions. But if it was said that High Priest Zou Gaoyang was responsible, then the entire Divine Palace would be too ashamed to show their faces. Yet, if the blame were placed on Zou Buming, firstly, it would be unfair to him; secondly, it would make the complete purge of the Zou family's influence less legitimate.
All the elders understood that Zou Gaoyang's grand scheme inevitably involved the Zou family. Their cold-blooded treatment of their own disciples made it impossible for anyone to still consider them fellow disciples. Each of the elders present had several valued disciples and juniors who participated in this winter hunt. Filled with chilling anger and deep-seated fear, none of them were willing or dared to easily let the Zou family off the hook.
However, over the years, the Zou family has formed numerous intermarriages within the Divine Palace and with other cultivation sects. If an attack were to be launched against the Zou family, how would these people react? Not to mention those further afield, many of the elders present have very close kinship ties with the Zou family. Wouldn't innocent people be implicated? And how much would purging the Zou family's power deplete the Divine Palace's strength?
Being hesitant to act for fear of inadvertently creates a pressing problem.
Wu Chen skipped over the issue of succession and directly presented this difficult problem to the elders.
Listening to the various opinions among the elders inside, Lu Qing, sitting outside, rolled her eyes and thought to herself: No wonder Wu Chen didn't agree. If he had agreed to succeed, this matter would have been his responsibility, and he would have had to make the decision. No matter what he decided, there would have been people who would criticize him. But since he didn't succeed, this matter is now everyone's responsibility, and no one can shirk their responsibility.
She took a deep breath. If she were Zou Gaoyang, how could she be without a backup plan? The Zou family's attack would likely have come much sooner than other forces. But it's strange, though. How could Wu Chen be so unprepared for something she herself had anticipated? Shouldn't he have attacked the Zou family upon returning to the Divine Palace?
Lu Qing had a sudden flash of inspiration and slapped her thigh. Her sullen and bored divine servant was definitely using himself as bait again. Lu Qing couldn't help but scratch the air with her fingers, imagining that the air was the few soft spots on Wu Chen's waist.
Then he waved to the waiter standing not far away, "Bring some food inside, we might have to stay up all night."
The waiter cleverly asked, "What would you like to eat?"
Lu Qing smiled and said, "If it's delicious, bring out what you're good at."
Seeing that she was very easy to talk to, the waiter felt relieved and said, "Please wait a moment."
Before long, the waiters brought over the food boxes. Lu Qing beckoned them over, told them to open all the food boxes, smell them one by one, and then had them close the lids again before sending them inside.
Inside the main hall, a heated discussion was taking place. Wu Chen sat calmly, listening attentively, and was somewhat surprised when the servants brought in food boxes.
The waiter said, "The lady asked us to bring these in, and we just checked them all."
Wu Chen's lips curled upwards, his eyes slightly lowered, a faint, subtle smile flashing and disappearing without even being noticed by the waiter. "Where is Madam?"
"Madam is eating outside," the waiter replied. He had just invited Lu Qing to dine in the side hall, but Lu Qing preferred to sit on the steps in the wind rather than move, saying that the view was better.
Wu Chen sighed, "Send a cloak to the lady."
The waiter was a little puzzled, but dared not ask any further questions and complied.
When Lu Qing saw the waiter bringing over the cloak, he still muttered, "Playing tricks."
Waiter: Huh?!
"Shall I light a brazier for you?"
After struggling for a moment between comfort and style, Lu Qing decisively said, "Okay, bring some more sweet potatoes and chestnuts."
The waiter wanted to laugh, "We don't have those right now, but the kitchen does have some pine cones, a specialty of Nukun Peak. They're sweet and juicy when roasted, and they're delicious."
Lu Qing was overjoyed and took out a small item from his sleeve. "Here, it's nothing, a gift for you."
The waiter took the bottle and saw it contained a elixir. Qi Ying and the others might not need it, but for these menial disciples, it was invaluable. The waiter was touched; this new lady, though young, acted with extraordinary skill. He quickly went to prepare some food for Lu Qing.
Before long, a group of people gathered in front of the hall, chatting with Lu Qing and roasting dried fruit.
Therefore, when those uninvited guests arrived, seeing the lively scene in front of the palace steps, Su Sha almost lost his composure and said, "Please invite the Witch God's attendant out."
Lu Qing glanced at him and said, "Who are you? What are you doing at Nukun Peak in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?"
"Please summon the attendant of the sorcerer, for the High Priest has given an order." The newcomer exuded an imposing aura.
The servants standing around all stood up, but a few disciples remained seated with Lu Qing, some adding fuel to the fire, others grabbing dried fruit, ignoring the arrival of the newcomer.
Lu Qing waved her hand and said to the waiters, "You may leave."
The waiter quickly withdrew.
Lu Qing took the pine nuts handed to him by his disciple and popped several into his mouth. "You came uninvited, without even stating your identities, and immediately demanded to see Wu Chen. What kind of rules are these? Even an ordinary person knows that when visiting someone, you need to choose an appropriate time, send an invitation, and wait for the host's permission before coming. But you all just come and go as you please. Do you really think this is a place without rules?"
The newcomer roared, "Insolence! Do you know who I am?!"
Lu Qing extended a finger and beckoned dismissively, "Come closer. You're dressed all in black and standing so far away. How can anyone see you clearly?"
The visitor laughed in exasperation and actually took a few steps forward.
Lu Qing stared at him in the light of the brazier for a moment, "Hmm, I can see him clearly now. But I still don't recognize him!"
The disciples, whose skills were still shallow, lowered their heads and chuckled in silence upon hearing this.
Lu Qing snorted coldly, "And you lot, I haven't settled the score with you for letting people up the mountain during the day. Stay here quietly, face the wall and reflect on your actions, and don't say a word."
The disciples immediately stood up respectfully and went to stand aside.
The newcomer's face was grim. "Who are you?"
Lu Qing used his eyebrow ruler to rummage through the charcoal in the brazier, searching for pine cones. "Who I am is none of your business. You're not the master of Nukun Peak. I'll say it again, quickly introduce yourself, lest you get beaten up later and then falsely accuse me of bullying you."
The newcomer had never been treated with such disrespect before. Enraged, he sneered, "I am the divine messenger. Quickly summon Wu Chen to receive the divine messenger's decree."
Lu Qing raised her head, a half-smile on her face, "Divine Decree? Are you sure?"
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Author's Note: Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 18:21:25 on September 18, 2020 and 13:09:08 on September 19, 2020!
Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: baiyun1duo (40 bottles); and someone else who passed by with 1 bottle.
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
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