That evening, in the meeting room of the Island Lord's Mansion, aside from the elders responsible for standing watch, the other elders of the Four Great Families had all come along with their respective patriarchs.
When these patriarchs and elders saw me, they all greeted me politely. But I could tell that whether they were patriarchs or elders, their attitude toward me was one of respect mixed with distance.
Of course, I knew they were respectful and courteous because they feared the strength of the manor, and because Island Lord Liu Lan fully supported me.
The person presiding over the meeting was not Liu Lan, but Yu Gui.
Only then did I learn that besides the island lord, the highest decision-maker on the island, there were also rotating deputy island lords from the Four Great Families.
Little Barren Island did not actually have a permanent deputy island lord. Only when the elders of the Four Great Families took their turns on duty could the one on duty exercise the authority of a deputy island lord.
Each of the Four Great Families sent one elder to the Island Lord's Mansion to serve as a councilor. These four took turns on duty, with the rotating councilor assisting the island lord in handling all island affairs. With the island lord's authorization, they could exercise some of the island lord's functions.
Yu Gui represented the Yu Family, while Fan Jia represented the Fan Family. Liu Tong represented the Liu Family, an old man nearing seventy who nevertheless looked exceptionally energetic. He was probably a martial artist as well. As for the Zhong Family, their representative was unexpectedly Old Master Zhong.
No wonder Old Master Zhong had seemed somewhat awkward when he saw Liu Lan. He was a councilor of the Island Lord's Mansion and