After the female ghost was dragged away, Chen Yang was escorted out as well.
Wen Ning began discussing the results with the King of Hell, Judge Lu, and Meng Po.
Judge Lu set his brush beside the inkstone and looked through the three Scoring Books from that day. Only after thinking for quite a while did he speak.
"All three candidates have completed their assessments. The old teacher is too intent on reforming others. He is suited to teaching, not wielding the authority to reward and punish.
The soldier has an upright character, but lacks experience. He still needs tempering.
As for Chen Yang..."
He raised his head and looked at Wen Ning. Clearly, Chen Yang's performance that evening had pleased him as well.
"He rewards and punishes fairly, without bias. He grants every measure of justice owed and overlooks not the slightest fault that must be pursued. That is exactly the kind of person the position of City God requires."
The King of Hell leaned back in his chair. He had barely spoken all evening, but now, unusually, he offered a few more words.
"There is something distinctive about how Chen Yang judges a case: he is not swayed by emotion. When the female ghost threw her tantrum, he neither softened nor grew angry. From beginning to end, he focused on one thing alone—settling the accounts clearly. Such people are rare in the mortal world, and rarer still in the Underworld.
A City God need not be a saint, nor rule with an iron fist. What we need is someone who can weigh good and evil without tipping the scales by even a fraction.
Chen Yang is such a person."
Meng Po largely agreed with the King of Hell's opinion.
Judge Lu closed the record book before him.
"Since