Chapter 553: Setting Aside the Facts, Was Yan Shaozhe Truly Blameless?
"Understood, Elder Mu." Gong Changlong bowed respectfully before leaving.
He knew Mu En's health had been deteriorating for a long time.
Even though the Sea God Pavilion had summoned its elders, Mu En could not personally oversee their return.
Being entrusted with this mission meant that Mu En had faith in him, so Gong Changlong vowed to carry it out flawlessly.
Without delay, he assigned personnel to oversee the Beast Arena, then swiftly departed from Shrek Academy and headed for Star Luo Empire to locate the other Sea God Pavilion elders.
Several days later.
Gong Changlong returned to Shrek Academy with the summoned elders.
As the group soared through the skies, one figure lingered at the rear, flying slower and slower.
It was Elder Xuan.
His face was ashen, his eyes bloodshot, and tear stains marred his aged features.
In the past few days, he had gathered overwhelming evidence proving that his plan had completely failed
Zhongli Wu had indeed attacked White Tiger City.
As a result, the families of countless students those who trusted Shrek Academy despite lacking powerful backgrounds had been slaughtered by Zhongli Wu and his forces.
The crushing guilt left him utterly tormented.
Why had things turned out this way?
There had been a golden opportunity to kill Zhongli Wu.
A golden opportunity to protect the families of Shrek students.
These two victories should have brought him joy.
Yet, because Zhongli Wu had attacked White Tiger City, everything had turned into a nightmare.
The happiness he had expected had been swallowed by agony.
His flying speed slowed further…
Until finally, he stopped completely, staring blankly at the Sea God Pavilion in the distance.
Qian Duoduo noticed this immediately.
He turned, his voice sharp with resentment:
**"Elder Xuan! Elder Mu has summoned a Sea God Pavilion meeting.
"Are you planning to run away?"**
Due to Elder Xuan's repeated failures, Qian Duoduo had long harbored a growing grudge.
Now that Elder Xuan had committed the worst blunder yet, his attitude toward him was no longer one of respect.
His words were cutting and merciless.
At his outburst, the other elders also turned their attention to Elder Xuan.
Elder Xuan looked around at them.
With a bitter expression, he sighed:
"How could I, the greatest sinner of all, possibly flee from this?"
"I made a mistake, and I must be punished."
"Go on ahead to the Sea God Pavilion. I need a moment to myself. I'll come on my own shortly."
The other elders exchanged glances before ultimately heading into the pavilion without him.
Gong Changlong, not being an elder, reported back to Mu En and then left the Sea God Pavilion.
Elder Xuan remained outside, his eyes growing red and swollen as tears streamed down his face.
He pulled out a jug of wine, drinking slowly and in silence.
He wasn't drinking for pleasure
He was drowning his sorrows.
Suddenly, a voice filled with barely suppressed rage echoed in his mind:
"Elder Xuan! Stop drinking and come inside for the meeting immediately!"
"Elder Mu!"
Elder Xuan quickly put away his wine jug, wiped his tear streaked face with his sleeve, and flew straight into the Sea God Pavilion.
As he entered, he felt the weight of every gaze in the room
All eyes were on him.
He lowered his head, unwilling to meet Mu En's gaze, and silently awaited his inevitable judgment.
Mu En glared at Elder Xuan, filled with bitter disappointment.
Then, he spoke:
**"I will be leading this Sea God Pavilion meeting.
"In the White Tiger City disaster, Shrek Academy suffered a devastating loss."**
The gathered elders lowered their heads in sorrow.
Cai Meier and Xian Lin'er had tears welling in their eyes, and even Zhang Lexuan, a newer member, was no different.
Mu En's voice grew harsher:
**"Elder Xuan, lift your head and look at me!
"So many people died in White Tiger City.
"You bear an undeniable responsibility!"**
Elder Xuan slowly raised his tear filled eyes, his voice trembling:
**"Elder Mu, you are absolutely right.
"The White Tiger City tragedy is my fault.
"I am a sinner."**
**"Therefore… Elder Mu, I request to resign from the Sea God Pavilion.
"I am no longer fit to be an elder.
"I only ask to live as an idle man within Shrek Academy."**
With that, he stood up as if to leave.
The other elders were visibly shocked.
Zhang Lexuan also froze in disbelief.
"Why would Elder Xuan choose to resign?!"
"Am I going to have to kneel in front of the Sea God Pavilion again to beg him to stay?"
Just thinking about it made her knees ache.
Still, if things came to that, she would do it.
After all, Elder Xuan was a Rank 98 Super Douluo
A crucial pillar of Shrek Academy.
Mu En snorted coldly.
**"Why does Elder Xuan always choose to resign after making a mistake?
"Does he think resigning will erase his failures?
"Or is he trying to use this as a tactic to force me to make him stay?"**
"Hmph. No matter what, I could never let him resign.
"Shrek Academy is already in crisis
"A powerhouse like him can't just become 'idle'."**
Mu En's voice was sharp:
**"Sit down!
"If you made a mistake, then you must take responsibility for it
"Not escape through resignation!"**
Elder Xuan sat back down, his expression still heavy with sorrow.
Mu En then asked:
**"Tell me, Elder Xuan
"Why did you move the students' families to White Tiger City?
"In our last meeting, you specifically said they would be sent to Star Luo City!"**
The elders stared at Elder Xuan, awaiting his explanation.
If the families had actually been in Star Luo City, they wouldn't have been massacred.
After a long silence, Elder Xuan finally spoke:
**"Because, logically, Zhongli Wu should have attacked Star Luo City.
"For their safety, I couldn't keep the families there.
"Even though I was confident in killing Zhongli Wu, I couldn't guarantee that others wouldn't get caught in the battle."**
Mu En frowned.
"Why were you so sure Zhongli Wu would attack Star Luo City?"
Elder Xuan sighed heavily before answering:
**"Because I believed Yan Shaozhe was a spy.
"I was certain he would pass our Sea God Pavilion meeting plans to Zhongli Wu.
"That meant Zhongli Wu wouldn't attack White Tiger City he would attack Star Luo City.
"All I had to do was wait for him there.
"That's why I didn't send reinforcements to White Tiger City.
"I was sure it wouldn't be attacked."**
"But… I miscalculated.
"Zhongli Wu still chose to attack White Tiger City.
"After thinking it over, I believe it's possible that Yan Shaozhe had a falling out with Zhongli Wu and didn't pass him the information.
"I admit I was wrong about White Tiger City…
"But setting aside the facts, can we really say Yan Shaozhe is blameless?"**
Mu En's expression darkened.
The room fell into a tense silence.
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