The next morning, Chen Ming summoned Liu Chong to the Council Hall.
Liu Chong came reluctantly, a perfunctory smile still lingering on his face as he entered. Even his cupped-hand salute was somewhat careless. "You wanted to see me, Island Master Chen?"
"Please sit, Elder Liu." Chen Ming's tone was even as he gestured toward the chair opposite him.
Liu Chong sat down and glanced around the Council Hall, finding no one there besides Chen Ming. Elder Meng was absent, as were the steward disciples who usually accompanied Chen Ming. In the vast Council Hall, only the two of them sat facing each other across a wooden desk.
This stirred a faint trace of wariness in him, but his expression remained unchanged.
Chen Ming did not speak immediately. Instead, he leisurely poured himself a cup of tea, lifted it, gently blew on the steam, and took a sip. Only after setting the cup down did he say, "Elder Liu, I invited you here to ask about the inspection and maintenance of the island's formations. During my patrol a few days ago, I noticed that several formation anchors on the eastern side were deteriorating. Have you noticed them?"
Liu Chong had expected Chen Ming to raise some pressing matter. Hearing that it was merely formation maintenance, he immediately relaxed and replied offhandedly, "Those anchors are indeed getting old. I've already assigned disciples to deal with them. The repairs should be finished in a few days."
"Oh?" Chen Ming smiled faintly. "But when I passed through the eastern side yesterday, those anchors were still unattended. Are the disciples you assigned perhaps a little too busy?"
Liu Chong's expression briefly stiffened before he explained, "The island has been busy lately, and we're short-handed. Those disciples of mine were all reassigned to help with