Congratulations

White Crane tilted his head slightly, waiting for him to go on.

"The more people remember that I'm the Grand City Lord of Canghai City, the more they'll forget who I used to be." Zhou Qiubai's gaze drifted toward the Defense Clan's main gate, as if he were recalling the past.

"Those achievements had nothing to do with Canghai City, and nothing to do with whether I was a city lord. That was the real me."

The smile lines at the corners of White Crane's eyes deepened. He listened quietly and did not interrupt.

"Canghai City gave me a title, but it also put a hat on my head. Wear a hat long enough, and people only see the hat, not the person beneath it." Zhou Qiubai withdrew his gaze, a self-mocking smile on his face. "I certainly don't hope that one day, when people mention Zhou Qiubai, all they remember is that he was the Grand City Lord of Canghai City."

White Crane lightly stroked the few sparse white whiskers on his chin and slowly nodded.

"You..." His voice rose a little as he said this, returning to the tone of an elder lecturing a junior. "But you needn't worry too much. Right and wrong, merits and faults, will be judged by later generations. The things you've done on the continent—others aren't blind to them. The White Clothes Sword before you became city lord, Zhou Qiubai after you became city lord—what ought to be remembered won't be missing."

He moved his hand from his beard and patted Zhou Qiubai on the shoulder.

"Come on. Don't stand at the door. The Four Clans gathering is a secret affair, and by rights, outsiders can't be allowed to take part. But your relationship with Guyun has been seen by everyone here over