Li Xiang felt the pressure keenly. He was being asked to decide whether a Grandmaster lived or died.
He was almost overwhelmed by the honor.
"Li Xiang."
Guo Bingfu spoke up. "Brother Guan asked you to decide. What are you standing around for?"
"Whether Duanmu Kui lives or dies is a small matter to Juntong."
"What we want is to destroy the demonic and heretical forces hidden inside Duanmu Manor."
"As long as we can cut out this tumor, purge the threat to Dragon City, and clear the way for unification, anyone who stands in our path is Beiyang's enemy—and a ghost beneath Juntong's blade."
Guo Bingfu's words were blunt and laid bare.
He did not preach about vanquishing demons and defending the righteous path. Instead, speaking from Juntong's position and the interests of the Beiyang Warlords, he reduced a complicated affair tangled in martial-world loyalties to a straightforward military purge.
He was putting Li Xiang's mind at ease.
Juntong cared about results, not personal ties.
That made sense.
If the sky fell, Guo Bingfu, the bureau chief, would hold it up, backed by all of Juntong and the Beiyang Warlords.
Li Xiang hesitated no longer and walked up to the painted clay statue of Lord Guan.
The statue towered over him, its phoenix eyes half-closed. Thick dust coated the wooden replica of the Green Dragon Crescent Blade in its hand, yet it still radiated an imposing righteousness without a hint of anger.
Li Xiang stood before the altar. He did not kneel, but cupped his hands and bowed slightly to the statue.
Then he reached for the bamboo lot holder, caked with dust, on the altar.
"Lord Guan, bear witness."
Li Xiang's voice rang through the silent temple.
"Duanmu Kui has colluded with demonic and heretical forces, bringing chaos