# 586
**Chapter 587: Who Objects?**
“It seems you’ve made your choice,” Third Uncle said, sensing the shift in Zhou Ping’s aura, a smile on his face.
Zhou Ping had sat in that chair for a long time before finally speaking.
“I… probably won’t be staying.”
Third Uncle didn’t seem surprised by the answer. In fact, he looked delighted, grinning so wide his mouth nearly split.
“Third Uncle, what are you smiling about?” Zhou Ping asked, puzzled.
“If you’d said you wanted to stay, I’d actually have been a little disappointed,” Third Uncle said with a chuckle. “Staying would mean your life is limited to this little countryside restaurant and a middle-aged man like me… Your world would be too small. That’s not a good thing.
“But choosing to leave means you’ve found a place better suited for you than this tiny restaurant. A place where you can truly shine.
“Zhou Ping, you’ve grown.”
Looking into Third Uncle’s eyes, Zhou Ping froze.
He pressed his lips together, stood up from the chair, and bowed deeply to the man who had raised him.
“Thank you, Third Uncle.”
“No need to thank me. I just did what any elder should do.”
Third Uncle also stood, waved his hand casually, and began clearing the empty bowls and chopsticks in front of Zhou Ping. He turned and walked toward the kitchen. “From now on, I’ll wash the dishes myself. You… should go where you belong.
“When you’re tired of wandering, come back. I’ll cook for you.”
With that, Third Uncle’s figure disappeared behind the kitchen curtain.
Zhou Ping watched his retreating back for a long time. Then, slowly, he turned and took one last look at the small, aging restaurant.
He pushed open the door and walked out.
---
**Shangjing City.**
**Night Watch Headquarters.**
“What?! Ye Fan has passed away?!”
At the long conference table, a Night Watch executive received the news and stood up in shock!
The other executives were equally stunned. They froze for a long moment before erupting into frantic discussion.
“How did Ye Fan suddenly pass? This…”
“I don’t know. There were no signs… Was he injured during the battle against the Outer Gods in the South Sea?”
“Why didn’t he say anything?”
“It’s too sudden. A Human Apex, just like that…”
“Indeed. He didn’t give us any time to prepare.”
“Now that Commander Ye is gone, who will take over as Night Watch Commander-in-Chief?”
“The Marquis who founded the Bureau of Evil Suppression once set a rule: only a Human Apex can become Commander-in-Chief… But Night Watch currently has no second apex-level powerhouse…”
“We’ll have to select an acting commander from among the senior leadership.”
Shao Pingge sat to the side, listening to the other executives’ discussion, feeling dazed.
Ye Fan… had passed away?
He still hadn’t recovered from the shock of the news.
He was Ye Fan’s junior. From an ordinary Night Watch member to a high-ranking executive—Head of General Personnel and National Night Watch Squad Commander—he had been mentored by Ye Fan.
Ye Fan had shown him great kindness.
And now… he was dead?
Shao Pingge couldn’t focus on the discussion around him. He sat like a statue, unmoving.
He wasn’t the only young executive like this. They all had one thing in common: they had been personally promoted by Ye Fan. Meanwhile, those arguing over the acting commander position were mostly older executives left over from the previous era.
Just as the room erupted into chaos, Zuo Qing pushed open the door.
He was wearing the Night Watch cloak. He walked straight to the front of the conference table, his calm gaze sweeping across the noisy room. He slammed a file onto the table.
**Bang—!**
The room fell silent.
“Zuo Qing, what are you doing?” one executive asked with a frown.
Zuo Qing glanced at him and said calmly, “From today onward, I will temporarily assume the role of Night Watch Commander-in-Chief. Until a second Night Watch apex-level powerhouse emerges, I will take full responsibility for all Night Watch affairs.”
The older executives frowned immediately.
“Zuo Qing, you’ve only been promoted to executive for a few years. Isn’t it too early for you to take on the role of acting commander?”
“Before Commander Ye passed away, he left behind a document designating the acting commander. If you doubt this decision, you may review it yourself.” Zuo Qing took out the document and handed it to the executives.
Several of them took it and read it carefully, their frowns deepening.
Meanwhile, Shao Pingge and the other two young executives didn’t even glance at it. As Ye Fan’s close associates, they knew Ye Fan had been grooming Zuo Qing as his successor. This decision came as no surprise.
After confirming the document’s authenticity, the older executives sighed helplessly and sat back down.
Since Ye Fan had designated Zuo Qing in writing, they had no grounds to object. After all, they were all Night Watch—rules had to be followed.
But one executive refused to let it go.
A man in his fifties, holding the document, gave it a cursory glance and sneered.
“This document is forged.”
Everyone’s expression changed.
Zuo Qing’s eyes turned sharp.
“He Xingwen, do you know what you’re saying?” another executive asked with a frown.
“What? Isn’t it possible?” He Xingwen tossed the document onto the table, staring straight at Zuo Qing. “Zuo Qing was so close to Ye Fan. Getting Ye Fan’s personal seal wouldn’t be hard. Who here can prove this document was written by Ye Fan himself?”
His words made the young executives, including Shao Pingge, frown.
The other executives’ eyes flickered, clearly wavering.
Zuo Qing stared at him and said coldly, “How would you like me to prove it?”
“That’s your problem. But if you can’t provide solid evidence, then this document is invalid.” He Xingwen said calmly, “Without it, the acting commander must be chosen by a vote among the senior executives.”
Among the seven executives present, only Shao Pingge, Zuo Qing, and one other young executive had been personally promoted by Ye Fan. If the other three were swayed by He Xingwen and forced a vote, the situation would turn against them.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly turned tense.
Just then, the conference room door burst open.
Everyone froze and turned to look at the black-cloaked figure who had entered, shock in their eyes.
Wasn’t he…?
The black-cloaked figure walked calmly to the conference table, reached into the void, and drew out the **Dragon-Elephant Sword**, slamming it into the center of the room!
**Clank—!**
Sword energy surged.
The black-cloaked figure stood there, eyes sweeping across the room, and said calmly:
“I nominate Zuo Qing as acting Night Watch Commander-in-Chief. You… who objects?”