In another room, Xu Changqing and Zhang Daoxuan sat facing each other.
Not a single word of the conversation next door escaped their ears.
Zhang Daoxuan spoke first. "This captain of the martial guard is a man who understands."
Xu Changqing nodded faintly. "At last, there's one normal person. That wasn't easy."
"Even the jade gatherers are deceiving the gods now."
Zhang Daoxuan mused, "The waters of this lake are far muddier than we imagined."
Xu Changqing smiled. "Muddy waters are perfect for fishing!"
Zhang Daoxuan said softly, "Then... shall we make this man the next clan chief?"
"We can."
Xu Changqing replied, "At the very least, he isn't thinking about bleeding the tribespeople dry and carving flesh from their bones. He's thinking about how to revive the situation."
Once they had discussed things more or less thoroughly, the captain of the martial guard rose to take his leave.
A moment later, footsteps approached from this direction.
The male shaman pushed open the door. "I have handled everything the two of you instructed."
"Handled everything?"
Xu Changqing stood and dusted off the hem of his clothes. "It's still far from enough."
The male shaman froze. "What... what do you mean?"
"We're going to the Wave Tribe."
Xu Changqing said, "Since we're joining forces, saying these things in the Jade Tribe alone won't be enough."
"Exactly."
Zhang Daoxuan picked up the thread. "We need to see that witch and find out what she thinks."
The male shaman frowned. "They have never gotten along with us..."
"That is precisely why we must go."
Xu Changqing interrupted him. "If they are willing to talk, that would be best.
If they aren't willing to talk..."
He paused, his gaze darkening slightly. "Then a batch of people will have to die first!"
At those words,