Chapter 1669

The Merman Sacred City stands inside the blue dragon whale grotto-heaven, and in an inn there the two nannies of the white-scaled merman Su Yi look grim. They say that Zhao Lu’s follower, famous in the seas, enters the next test and leaves them no chance of winning. Only Su Yi and Zhao Lu remain in the Sea God Ceremony, and the final test follows the next round. They urge her to use the strong expert her tribe found, but she says her four follower spots are all used. The nannies propose abandoning one follower, since the rules allow expelling those who are corrupted or have committed crimes. Su Yi refuses. She says a scandal would tarnish that person for life and that all her followers have helped her greatly. ^{ch. 1669}

Nanny Rong proposes targeting Xia Lin, a mermaid with no background who somehow obtained the gather oil Gu. She promises to negotiate with Xia Lin and pay a small price, and the other nanny adds that Xia Lin would likely be very happy to trade reputation for huge benefits. Su Yi hesitates and sends them away to consider. Days later, rumors spread through the city that Xia Lin betrayed her benefactor Su Yi to win the favor of the rich and noble. On the inn stairs, Nanny Rong blocks Xia Lin, who says she was framed and wants to see Su Yi. ^{ch. 1669}

Nanny Rong calls her a shameless scum and orders her to scram, and Xia Lin refuses to leave without seeing Su Yi. Su Yi comes down the stairs, and a group of mermen charge into the inn. Their leader, the Sacred City’s investigator, announces that someone reported Xia Lin for corruption, for betraying Su Yi and for trying to manipulate the saintess competition, and arrests her. Su Yi says she does not believe Xia Lin betrayed her but tells her to trust the Sacred City’s justice and go with them. Having refused at first, Xia Lin lowers her head and goes. ^{ch. 1669}

In the interrogation room, the investigator shows her information path Gu worms as evidence, and she says the videos and voices are fake. He tells her he knows she was framed, says the framing was Lady Su Yi’s request, and asks whether she knows who Su Yi’s father is and what state the ceremony is in. His explanation leaves her in deep shock; she refuses to believe Su Yi plotted it and says she would have stepped down had Su Yi asked herself. He replies that stepping down is possible only by force and the vacated position could be filled again. He offers two choices: deny the evidence, which nobody will believe, or admit the crime, lose reputation and be repaid with abundant resources. Xia Lin lowers her head, sure that she cannot resist whichever way she answers, and after a long silence he warns that more silence will count as her acceptance. She suddenly raises her head and rejects the offer. ^{ch. 1669}