Everyone had their likes and dislikes, and Qi Xuansu was no exception. There was no reason why he treated Little Yin well. He simply liked her temperament. If one day he were no longer in this world, he would choose to leave all his possessions and connections to Little Yin.

If Qi Xuansu deeply disliked someone, even if that person were his own biological daughter, he could choose not to leave his inheritance to her.

It was true that Qi Xuansu longed for familial affection, but he was never the type to weep and beg his children to visit their father.

Among so many former classmates, Qi Xuansu maintained a closer contact with Mo Qingdi because they got along well and their temperaments matched. Their friendship was free of personal interests, and Qi Xuansu had never spoken on Mo Qingdi’s behalf.

But those beneath them were not fools. As long as they knew that Mo Qingdi had a good relationship with Sage Qi, they would voluntarily help him overcome difficulties without needing any instruction. No one would deliberately make things hard for him, much less sabotage him. Whenever opportunities arose, they would think of Mo Qingdi and give him a hand rather than hold him back.

But what if the situation were reversed? If Qi Xuansu disliked Mo Qingdi, then even if he never expressed it openly, there would still be people eager to curry favor with him who would take the initiative to target Mo Qingdi. Even those with no interest in pleasing Qi Xuansu would distance themselves from Mo Qingdi, lest they incur Sage Qi’s displeasure and suffer collateral damage.

When one’s power grew and one’s status rose, one was akin to a mountain, which simply stood there in plain sight. It might block cold winds or warm currents, making the surrounding environment better or worse. Its very existence was its significance, and it naturally had a tremendous influence.

In any case, Qi Xuansu had only just reached his thirties and was not emotionless, so having likes and dislikes was unavoidable.

Shen Yubing seemed to harbor some opinions about Qi Xuansu. In return, Qi Xuansu did not like him.

Although Qi Xuansu would never engage in personal retaliation, he had no interest in saying more. There was no reason to continue talking to someone like this. After all, he was the superior, not the subordinate, so there was even less reason for him to talk more.

If Shen Yubing performed well, Qi Xuansu would neither suppress his merits nor speak on his behalf.

If Shen Yubing performed poorly, Qi Xuansu would not show leniency. Everything would be handled according to the rules. Those who deserved punishment would be punished, and those who deserved death would be executed.

Things would simply be handled as they ought to be. Not sabotaging someone was already an act of considerable magnanimity. Had it been some of the old Daoists, they would likely have started making life difficult for Shen Yubing.

If one wanted to show an attitude toward one’s superior, one needed to have something to back it up. One’s backing could come from a powerful family or from exceptional ability, but one would need at least one of the two. Without one, it would probably be wiser to go along with the crowd.

Now, it remains to be seen whether Shen Yubing possessed that kind of capability.

After Shen Yubing left, Lu Yujue entered the room. “Chief Deputy.”

Qi Xuansu asked, “What is it?”

Lu Yujue hesitated for a moment before saying, “Chief Deputy, please don’t take him too seriously.”

It seemed Lu Yujue was well aware of Shen Yubing’s temperament. After all, the Li, Lu, and Shen families were the three great families of the Taiping Sect and had long been connected through various alliances and marriages. They might even be distant relatives.

Naturally, Qi Xuansu could not engage with that line of conversation, lest he leave himself open to criticism later. “What do you mean by taking him seriously? I barely know him. We just met for the first time today. It was nothing more than a routine meeting. How could I possibly have formed any opinion of him?”

Lu Yujue explained, “I know Xiao Shen fairly well. He’s been eccentric since childhood and has never gotten along well with others. I’m worried he may have offended you, Chief Deputy.”

Qi Xuansu replied, “He hasn’t offended me. Even if he had, it wouldn’t matter, because the Daoist Order operates according to the rule of law. As long as Branch Manager Shen successfully rebuilds the damaged Northern Continent intelligence network, my personal attitude and opinions are irrelevant. If he fails the trust placed in him by headquarters, then the Daoist code of law and the rules of the Beichen Hall will punish him. In that case, my personal attitude and opinions remain equally irrelevant.”

Lu Yujue gave a wry smile. He understood Qi Xuansu’s position.

Whether the Daoist Order truly practiced rule of law or rule by men was a matter of perspective.

Likewise, whether the Daoist Order was truly equal or unequal depended on whom you asked.

On the surface, however, such things could not be stated so plainly. One should aim high in order to achieve something moderate. Aspirations must always be set somewhat above reality.

If one wished to attain even superficial equality, then the goal had to be genuine equality. If one settled merely for superficial equality as the goal, then it would never be achieved.

Part of the reason for Qi Xuansu’s attitude was that he would not remain Chief Deputy of the Beichen Hall for long. The position would eventually belong to Li Changge. If Shen Yubing became a problem, then that problem would ultimately belong to Li Changge. Perhaps Shen Yubing would become much more compliant in front of Li Changge.

If Qi Xuansu were going to remain in this position for many years, he would certainly take action. He would either straighten out Shen Yubing’s temperament and make him obey instead of acting out of pride, or he would simply transfer him elsewhere. After all, the relationship between Qi Xuansu and Shen Yubing was not like that between Wang Jiaohe and Qi Xuansu. It was more akin to the relationship between Sage Qingwei and Qi Xuansu. Shen Yubing was in no position to serve as a counterbalance to Qi Xuansu.

The only time Qi Xuansu had ever openly offended Sage Qingwei was when he had been pushed into doing so by the Heavenly Preceptor and the Earthly Preceptor.

Qi Xuansu waved his hand. “Enough about Branch Manager Shen’s personal issues. You’re a veteran of the Beichen Hall. Although you both hold the position of Branch Manager, as the senior, you should keep a closer eye on him and prevent young people from becoming overly eager for merit and acting rashly. One mistake by Old Qian cost us the lives of our fellow Daoists. These are not mere numbers on a page. I do not want to see any more deaths during the reconstruction of the Northern Continent intelligence network.”

“Yes, Sage,” Lu Yujue replied solemnly.

At that moment, someone came to report that Chief Deputy Tantai had arrived.

Qi Xuansu said, “Please show her in at once.”

Qi Xuansu had arrived the previous day, and Tantai Ying arrived one day later.

Seeing this, Lu Yujue took the opportunity to excuse himself.

Tantai Ying entered Qi Xuansu’s office, and Qi Xuansu rose to greet her. “Daoist Tantai, thank you for your hard work.”

“Not at all,” Tantai Ying replied. “As per your instructions, the Western Daoist Order has mobilized 3,000 Spirit Guards, who are being deployed in stages to the metropolitan region surrounding New Paititi.”

Since most of the divine power on the Southern Continent was devoted to the ancient gods, the Western Tiangang Hall had almost no Spirit Guards. Although the Western Daoist Order had been unable to establish a massive Spirit Guard force like that of the Daoist Order, it had still had a smaller contingent under the direct command of Danxiu Mountain.

These 3,000 Spirit Guards came from Danxiu Mountain’s command. For that reason, it was not Lin Bufan of the Western Tiangang Hall who was leading them, but Tantai Ying.

There was another reason as well. Qi Xuansu still harbored some reservations about Lin Bufan, whereas Tantai Ying was more trustworthy. Although Qi Xuansu disliked systems based on aristocratic lineage, pedigree, or bloodlines, he could not deny that these great families often shared the fate of the nation itself. In many cases, their loyalty was still reliable.

Qi Xuansu said, “Once the Spirit Guards are in position, the moment there is any sign of unrest within the city, they are to enter New Paititi immediately with the cooperation of Huangfu Zhu and the Southern Palace Guards, ensuring the safety of the city’s inhabitants.”

The Southern Palace Guards were responsible for the city’s defenses. As long as Huangfu Zhu agreed, the Spirit Guards could enter New Paititi. Meanwhile, the Northern Palace Guards were responsible for palace security, which was an entirely different matter.

Tantai Ying nodded. “Understood.”

Qi Xuansu said, “The Holy Xuan once remarked that some people become so accustomed to standing above others that they feel not the slightest compassion for the common people beneath their feet. They comment on the affairs of the world, roam freely across the land, speak grandly of lofty ideals, and treat heaven and earth as a chessboard with all living things as pieces. They compete against one another, seeking to defy fate itself and outwit the heavens.

“They place their moves upon the board and dictate the course of nations. They speak lightly of great matters and remain unmoved. They speak of sorrow and regret. They say the greater good must come first and that there is no alternative. They claim they have their own difficulties, that those who achieve great things cannot be constrained by minor details. They preach hardship for the people, promising that the benefits will last for generations, saying it is all for the sake of every living being.

“The Holy Xuan deeply detested this theory of playing chess with the world. That is why he sought to drag these lofty ‘players’ down from the clouds. The series of upheavals triggered by the Shadow Tide bears clear signs of such ‘players’ operating behind the scenes. It can be confirmed that certain ancient gods are secretly fanning the flames, treating the Southern Continent as a chessboard and all living beings as pieces in some grand game. This runs contrary to the principles of the Daoist Order.

“We have inherited the Holy Xuan’s legacy and must uphold this philosophy. If any ancient god takes action that threatens the safety of the city’s inhabitants or undermines overall stability, then we must employ the necessary measures. Regardless of that ancient god’s status or whether it maintains friendly relations with the Western Daoist Order, we must strike decisively, thwart its schemes, and make them pay the price. On this matter, Chief Deputy Tantai, I hope you possess sufficient resolve and mental preparation. If you can’t do it, I won’t force you. I can handle it personally.”

After listening to Qi Xuansu’s words, Tantai Ying remained silent for a moment before replying firmly, “Please rest assured, Chief Deputy Qi. I have the necessary resolve and determination. I will place the welfare of the city’s inhabitants above all else and harbor no personal motives. To ensure that nothing goes wrong, I will request authorization to deploy the Grade-A Series Two Dragon Eye Bomb should the need arise.”

Qi Xuansu nodded. “Good. I have only two requirements: speed and secrecy.”

“Understood. I will make the necessary arrangements immediately,” Tantai Ying replied.

“Thank you for your efforts, Chief Deputy Tantai,” Qi Xuansu said. “Also, maintain close communication with Danxiu Mountain. If any emergency arises, report immediately to Great Sage Tantai, Great Sage Gong, and Great Sage Huangfu.”

Both Huangfu Zhao and Huangfu Ji held the title of Sage Huangfu. To distinguish between them, people would sometimes privately refer to Huangfu Zhao as Great Sage Huangfu, which was not considered taboo due to his status.

“Understood,” Tantai Ying replied.

After Tantai Ying departed, Qi Xuansu contacted Hun Ahau. “General Hun? This is Qi Xuansu.”

“Greetings, Sage Qi.”

“How are things on your end?”

“As per your instructions, I have already sealed off the Hun Manor and coordinated with the Western Daoist Order. Security in Cusco and New Xijing has been substantially strengthened. If necessary, we can impose full martial law to ensure stability and prevent any unrest.”

“Very good. You must remain vigilant against any disturbances caused by the humanoid insects. At the same time, continue dispatching personnel to investigate leads regarding the Blue Cloud Sect. It may very well serve as the humanoid insects’ main stronghold.”

“Understood, Sage Qi. I will make the arrangements immediately.”

“That will be all for now. Stay in contact at all times.”