“Thank you again, Senior Disciple Lu Ri. Are you headed back to your post?” she asked him as her team watched the Elders and the audience congregate in groups before slowly moving towards the exits. Lu Ri put on his hat and gave her a nod. “I will resume my northern vigil,” he said, loud enough that the Elders could hear him… and draw their own conclusions about what he meant, though it was the truth. “Good day, Grand Marshal.” With that, he turned and left. The Elders watched him go silently. He strode from the Earthly Arena, his coat billowing around him as he set off for his next duty, a true cultivator. Things had gone as well as Xiulan could have expected as they closed down the official meeting; now, came the real work. Tigu, Delun, Loud Boy, Rags, Yin, and the Torrent Rider set about gathering the Younger Generation, carefully sliding them back into the roles that they had joined, with the Blazing Swords, the White Tigers, the Masons, and Rags’ burgeoning information network. Bai Huizhong staggered off with Bao Wen to the town beyond, his face still pale. Xiulan herself went to her office, after Xianghua clapped her on the shoulder, giving her a little smile. She didn’t have to wait long for the first knock at the door, with her assistant Sarnai of the Ravine escorting in Elder Chen of the Framed Sun Sect, the first of many. Truth be told, this was where most of the actual work got done, with Elders approaching in ones and twos to ask her questions they hadn't felt comfortable discussing earlier. There were quiet questions (...)