The Jiang Prefecture Magic Association's main building.
Ying Yue and Jiang Yu arrived at the grand hall together. It was a place with a panoramic view, and its furnishings looked quite grand.
The guards before the association president's office were all senior mages.
"Ying Yue?"
One of the guards, a white-haired middle-aged man, recognized her and greeted her in surprise.
"Brother Black Feather, I'm here to see the president. I've brought someone with me."
Ying Yue pointed to Jiang Yu as she explained.
Black Feather glanced at Jiang Yu, then stepped aside to let them through.
They entered the panoramic reception room.
Seven imposing senior mages sat around the long table at the heart of the room. The seats along the walls were occupied by quite a few senior judges and adjudicators.
There were still several empty seats around the table. It seemed Jiang Yu had every right to sit in one of them...
An old man in a dense black robe spoke up impatiently.
"Everyone's dead! And you're still defending that so-called guardian? He's nothing but a venomous snake from the Black Vatican!"
Jiang Yu looked like a wanted criminal to these people.
Ying Yue's eyes blazed with anger. She struggled to hold back her feelings as she explained to Jiang Yu,
"He's Zhu Meng's friend. His enmity with the Totem Black Snake is very deep..."
Before Ying Yue could finish—
Zhu Meng slapped the table and stood up. His voice suddenly boomed, nearly drowning out everything else.
"We must eliminate it at all costs!"
Tang Zhong, who wore a dark blue mage's robe, could hold back no longer. He sprang to his feet and pointed at Zhu Meng.
"The Totem Black Snake has guarded Hangzhou for a thousand years! Zhu Meng, you've barely been in Hangzhou a few