"Wait, I think Yitian was in the wrong, but I still trust him. My suggestion is not to expel Yitian from our lineage, but to let him remain in office under observation. After all, judging by his usual conduct, there must be some misunderstanding!" Zou Zhiwen stood up and cast a deep look at everyone present.
Shen Bingying and Zou Zhiwen had joined forces. She nodded and stood up. "Let merits and faults offset each other. Let him remain in office under observation. I support that."
Lu Chengshan and I were not familiar with each other, so he simply made no move. Several other council members stood with Li Jingyu and Ren Yu, supporting my dismissal. As for whether I would be expelled from the Daoist sect, there was still no decision.
I shook my head, performed a Daoist salute, and said, "Thank you to everyone who supports me, but I feel I can no longer earn the Daoist sect's trust, so I won't trouble you to retain me. Whether you wish to expel me, Yitian, or strip me of my title is up to all of you. Just send me a notice when the time comes. Whatever decision you make, I will have no complaints. I'll take my leave. Take care of yourselves, everyone."
"Yitian! Don't leave yet!"
Zou Zhiwen tried to stand and stop me, but I had been utterly disappointed in the Daoist sect. It was a lump of mud that could not be shaped. Even in its current state of grave illness, it still refused to prescribe a bitter remedy. Instead, it was fiercely fighting among itself. In the end, that would destroy the entire lineage. Why should I keep pressing my hot face against their cold buttocks and make a fool of myself?
"Old Zou,