Shen Rang froze for a moment, then a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
"The Divine Book is missing?!"
Though he did not know exactly what the Divine Book was, he knew that Hanshan Commandery had only offered an opening for conquest because that book had spread through the city.
That thing was more effective than blades and swords. Without spilling a drop of blood, it rotted a city from the inside out.
Missing?
"If the Divine Book is missing," Shen Rang said, his tone darkening, "won't that disrupt the grand marshal's plans?"
He pressed half a step forward, his armor clattering.
"When the time comes, I hope you can give us an accounting, Master Cheng."
A flicker of anger passed through Cheng Yi's eyes.
An accounting.
Since when did the White Lotus Sect owe anyone an accounting?
The Black Hall answered only to the sect leader. The grand marshal, Shen Rang-in the end, they were all worldly outsiders.
But he could not say that aloud.
"The loss of the Divine Book is a serious matter." Cheng Yi leveled his voice, letting no emotion show.
"We must report this to the sect leader immediately. Our next offensive may have to be put on hold."
"On hold?"
Shen Rang's brows knitted, displeasure written all over his face.
Hanshan Commandery had fallen in a single day, allowing Tang Ji to steal all the limelight before the grand marshal.
Shen Rang had gone through a thousand hardships to secure the position of vanguard general for Wushui Commandery, all to get the better of Tang Ji.
Now that he had finally fought his way in and the rewards were ripe for the taking, they wanted him to stop?
Cheng Yi chuckled softly. "Haven't you already secured the credit for Wushui Commandery, General Shen? Why