In an instant, some clenched fists suddenly relaxed, while others stiffened, leaning back in their chairs, faces ashen.

Without further hesitation, the man at the head of the long table announced the result of the resolution, "According to the decision of the Council of Elders, starting at 24:00 today, all personnel within the asylum who have been corrupted will be indiscriminately purged."

"The order of purging will be based on the degree of corruption, from highest to lowest."

"Regardless of which family they came from or what status they held before being corrupted, from the moment this resolution is issued, they... are our enemies."

"After the purge, the asylum will be permanently closed, and the identities and histories of all those purged will be erased."

"They will not appear in family trees or any records."

"But we will forever commemorate their contributions to us."

The man slowly stood up, raised his left hand, pressed it against his left chest, his attitude solemn and sacred, "I watch in the dark night, hoping that more people will sing the praises of dawn."

After a moment, more and more people stood up, raised their left hands, and, like the man, pressed them against their left chests.

Some were trembling, and even more were sobbing softly.

They fully understood that after this resolution was issued, countless lives would wither away, and these people had once been the pride of their respective families, worthy elites.

"I watch in the dark night, hoping that more people will sing the praises of dawn."

"Bang!"

Just as everyone was mourning the heroes who were about to pass away, the pitch-black door was kicked open, and a figure staggered backward, retreating from the doorway all the way into the conference room.

Finally, he stumbled and fell to the ground.

A moment later, a middle-aged man in a lead-gray suit walked in through the door, a scar on his lips. Although he didn't look fierce, he seemed quite difficult to deal with.

"Gong Zhe!" Upon seeing this face, one of the elders present immediately recognized him, his expression abruptly changing.

Compared to this name, those present were more familiar with his former nickname in the Night Watchers.

Bone Carver.

A guy who killed people as easily as chopping straw.

"What are you doing here?" Another elder seemed very displeased with Gong Zhe's overbearing manner. This was the highest council of the Night Watchers' Execution Department, not a place for madmen to run wild.

The middle-aged man called Gong Zhe was not annoyed. He simply extended his left hand, hidden under his cuff, turned it over, palm up, and then slowly opened it.

Everyone's eyes froze.

In his palm, a ring lay quietly.

"I'm here to attend the council," Gong Zhe slowly straightened up. His voice was not loud, but everyone present could hear him clearly, "representing the Xia family."

"Twenty years ago, Xia Yuan gave up his seat on the Council of Elders and withdrew from the Night Watchers. He is no longer qualified to participate in the Night Watchers' Execution Department council." An elder slammed the table and shouted loudly.

"I'm not representing Mr. Xia Yuan, but his heir," Gong Zhe said, "Miss Xia."

"Xia Yuan isn't even qualified. What qualifications does an immature little girl have?" Someone laughed in exasperation, thinking that this Gong Zhe must be crazy.

"There were thirteen families who founded the Night Watchers, and the Xia family was one of them. Why aren't they qualified?" Gong Zhe retorted, "And the oath that was made back then was that once you enter, you can never leave, it is passed down from generation to generation, unless the family completely disappears, have you all forgotten these things?"

Immediately, some people looked at each other. What Gong Zhe said was true, but... if he were allowed to participate in the vote, then variables might arise.

And this was something they absolutely could not allow.

After several obscure glances crossed, someone nodded secretly.

Hands began to reach for the weapons at their waists.

Gong Zhe withdrew the hand holding the ring, then his right arm drooped down, and with a slight shake, a huge folding knife slid out of his cuff and was firmly grasped in his hand.

A strange aura began to spread in the conference room. Almost at the same time, strange changes began to appear on several of the participating elders.

Veins popped out on their foreheads, some arms were twisted into bizarre reverse joints, and one thin old man swelled up as if being inflated, his neck muscles bulging and strong like an ox.

Without exception, their eyes turned scarlet.

An ancient and solemn aura descended, and a grand bell could be faintly heard in their ears.

They were all owners of Doors.

The Door is poison, but at the same time, it is also a good medicine to resist threats, diseases, and even the passage of time.

It was by relying on the power within the Door that they were able to live to this day and have physical strength that was even stronger than that of young people.

That was a forbidden power sealed by a curse.

But at the same time.

It could fight against time.

But what no one expected was that Gong Zhe was not afraid at all. Instead, he took a big step forward, and the oncoming aura made many people present unable to breathe.

"Enough," the man at the head of the long table suddenly spoke.

"You're right." The man let out a long breath. Someone immediately wanted to interrupt him, but he ignored them, "It's his own business that Xia Yuan isn't qualified to vote, but the Xia family can."

"The topic of our discussion today is how to deal with those corrupted Night Watchers. Their corruption is irreversible. Perhaps killing them is the greatest mercy for them."

"Everyone here knows the consequences of being corrupted. We are all the same. From the moment we accepted the Door, God abandoned us."

"We will all be corrupted one day, so the decision we make about them today will be replayed on ourselves in the future."

"But this is also something that can't be helped. If you want to deal with devils, you must first become a devil. If you want to resist a curse, you can only swallow a more terrible curse."

"I've said what I wanted to say." The man looked at Gong Zhe and said calmly, "Now it's your turn to make a decision, Mr. Bone Carver."

"Gong Zhe!" Someone said loudly, "You must be clear that your decision may destroy all the efforts we have made before!"

"Those corrupted guys are no longer the partners we are familiar with. We have no way to deal with them and can only try our best to contain them."

"Once a large-scale riot occurs and they escape into our world, do you know what will happen?"

"You will be a sinner in history!"

"History books will compare you to the most brutal and stupid demon! It is your momentary mistake that led to the occurrence of this disaster!"

Gong Zhe faced the Night Watchers' emblem on the high wall behind the long table and revealed the Xia family's ring, "The Xia family opposes this proposal."

"Gong Zhe!!" Someone's eyes turned red.

The man at the head of the long table, who was also the host of this council, seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and slumped back into his high-backed chair.

"The resolution has not passed, Order No. 143 is revoked." The man finally announced, "The asylum... will maintain its current state."