The group returned to Chennan Pass, where several Night Watchmen immediately gathered around them.
"Vice Captain An, what exactly happened up ahead?" someone asked anxiously.
An Qingyu fell silent for a moment before truthfully recounting what had happened. After hearing it, everyone else froze where they stood.
"The Human Apexes have gone missing too?!"
"Commander Zuo is gone. What will happen to the Night Watchmen?"
"When will he return?"
"Commander Zuo must have already made preparations. The Night Watchmen should be fine."
"..."
As they spoke, a figure draped in a dark crimson cloak approached from afar.
"Hello, I'm Commander Zuo's secretary. My name is Min Junliang." The man looked to be in his thirties. He extended a hand toward An Qingyu, his palm covered in calluses. His voice was not loud, yet it carried with remarkable force.
"Hello..."
Though somewhat puzzled, An Qingyu still reached out and shook his hand.
"Vice Captain An, I heard everything you just said... I want to confirm something. The Human Apexes and Lin Qiye all disappeared along with the Great Xia Gods, correct?" Min Junliang asked solemnly.
"That's right."
Min Junliang let out a long sigh. "I understand... In that case, we can only activate the contingency plan."
"A contingency plan? What contingency plan?"
"Before Commander Zuo went to war, he left behind a list to prevent the Night Watchmen from falling into chaos should he die in the God War. If something happened to him, we were to immediately select an acting commander-in-chief for the Night Watchmen according to the order on that list." Min Junliang paused.
"Commander Zuo has not died, but given the severity of the current situation, we still need to choose someone to temporarily take over the Night Watchmen."
"A succession list..." An Qingyu nodded. "Then who has