Night deepened.
Sea God Lake shimmered faintly silver beneath the moonlight.
Its surface was as still as a vast mirror, reflecting distant lights and stars.
Li Changqing stood alone on the shore, hands clasped behind his back, quietly watching the water.
The debate in the Sea God Pavilion that day had left him largely unmoved.
Whether the Elders accepted him was not what mattered most.
As long as Mu En recognized him as his successor, and the Sea God Pavilion ultimately allowed him to take that position, the other problems could be resolved.
As for those who opposed him...
It would simply take a little more time to make them understand who really needed to compromise.
Just then, slow footsteps sounded behind him.
Li Changqing did not turn around.
A moment later, an elderly figure appeared behind him.
Leaning on his cane, Mu En walked slowly to his side and looked out over the tranquil Sea God Lake.
"Want to know what the Elders thought after you left today?"
Li Changqing shook his head and said without concern,
"It doesn't matter."
Mu En raised an eyebrow and asked,
"Not even whether they support you?"
"That matters."
Li Changqing spoke calmly.
"But not right now."
"What matters is whether you agree."
He turned toward the old man beside him.
"As long as you agree to make me the next Sea God Pavilion Master, I can handle the rest."
Mu En fell silent for a moment.
He had long known Li Changqing's character. If Li Changqing had dared say those things before all the Elders, he was prepared to face whatever resistance came his way.
Even so, Mu En had not expected him to place his hopes in an ice-attribute powerhouse.
"Is it that ice-attribute powerhouse?"
Mu En's voice was soft, yet