The Recording Stone's images cut off abruptly there.
Chu Feng slapped his thigh and pointed at Ma Muzhi, laughing. "Brilliant! Lord Ma, not joining a theater troupe in the Mortal Realm and taking to the stage is a criminal waste of your talent!"
"Just what you'd expect from Lord Ma!"
Xiao Yan grinned too, shaking his head as he gave a thumbs-up. "You really know how to fish in muddy waters. Those three inspecting Immortal Officials probably had their lines memorized before they even arrived. Masterful. Absolutely masterful."
Han Li and Pang Long joined in the teasing from the side.
The Immortal Officials showered Ma Muzhi with flattery, each chiming in.
After all, in the great dye vat that was the Heavenly Court, an incorruptible chief official was nothing to fear; the real problem was subordinates who didn't know how to muddy the waters. Old Ma's performance today had been truly exquisite.
Faced with praise from all sides, however, Ma Muzhi didn't climb the pole they offered him as he usually did. Instead, he raised both hands and pressed them downward, quieting the voices around him.
The main hall gradually fell silent.
Ma Muzhi turned to Chen Wei, his expression solemn. "My lord, that was merely a stopgap measure. It'll fool the lower-ranking Immortal Officials handling the case, but it won't stand up once it's brought out into the open."
"However, this incident did give your subordinate an idea."
"If it succeeds, it can resolve our current predicament!"
"Oh? You have a plan too?" Chen Wei's gaze flickered. He knew Ma Muzhi all too well. This old rascal usually kept his mountains and waters hidden, but his belly was full of dirty tricks.
When a critical moment truly arrived, his suggestions were often more venomous than anyone else's.
Chen Wei