One person said: The essence of Wuhou Qimen lies not in Qimen, but in Wuhou.

Zhang Zhiwei chuckled softly on the other end of the phone.

The laughter was soft and brief, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet van.

His laughter carried a hint of self-deprecation, as well as a touch of gratitude towards his old friend.

Then he spoke, his tone carrying the clarity and self-deprecation unique to a centenarian, each word seeming to drift from the depths of time, carrying the weight of years.

"Old Lu, I'm counting on you."

Lu Jin was still smiling, but when she heard Zhang Zhiwei's last words, her smile suddenly froze.

It wasn't because he was angry, but because he heard something in Zhang Zhiwei's tone that he rarely heard before—a kind of weariness, a kind of compromise, a kind of pride that had to be put down after a century.

"I never expected this. After all these years, this is the first time you, the old Taoist priest, have actually lowered yourself to beg for help from a junior. I, Lu Jin, have been waiting for this for so many years. Today, even if I have to be shameless, I will get things done for you."

Zhang Zhiwei's tone also became serious, less angry and more like a promise between brothers: "Old Lu, stop joking with me. I'm getting old, my pride isn't worth much anymore. A junior like me—sigh, just consider it something I owe Big Ears."

Lu Jin held her phone and remained silent for a moment.

Then he said something that made Zhang Zhiwei fall silent for a moment: "You old Taoist priest, what you're saying... you don't owe anyone anything. Alright, that's enough. Fatty Zhao should be back soon. I'll go in and scout ahead. When we get to Longhu Mountain, prepare some wine for me. The strongest wine."

……

The door to the Party Committee's inspection office was closed.

This office was temporarily set up by the company headquarters. It was not large and simply furnished, but it was so clean and tidy that it looked as if it had been measured with a ruler. Directly opposite the door was a dark solid wood desk with only six telephones of different colors, an encrypted computer, and an open red-headed document on the desktop.

On the wall behind the table hangs a calligraphy scroll with the four characters "Seek Truth from Facts," the brushstrokes steady and powerful.

There was a potted green ivy on the windowsill, its leaves glossy and shiny, as if it had just been watered.

The curtains were half-drawn, and a beam of light from the setting sun slanted in through the gaps, landing on the filing cabinet next to the desk, making the two red characters "Confidential" on the cabinet door stand out prominently.

Zhuge Ming sat behind his desk.

He had already taken off his suit jacket and draped it over the back of the chair, and the cuffs of his white shirt were rolled up twice, revealing a section of his wrist.

His slender fingers were holding a red-headed document he had just received that day. His gaze swept over it line by line from top to bottom. His expression was calm, but the curve of his lips deepened slightly for a moment.

The document begins with the standard format for appointment and removal documents—a red-headed title, document number, main text, and signature and seal at the end.

Every item was neat and proper, with precise wording down to every punctuation mark.

He had already read the document over and over in his mind three times, and each time he read it, the corners of his mouth curved upwards a little.

Zhuge Ming was appointed as Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, and concurrently as a first-level inspector of Jiangxi Province.

He put down the documents, leaned back in his chair, interlaced his fingers on the table, and muttered under his breath, "I originally thought that the government only had the title of a first-level inspector, with no real power—just a nominal position, and I was even embarrassed to speak loudly. But now, the leaders have thought things through and given me real power, and it's even in the Department of Culture and Tourism."

His gaze fell on the words "Culture and Tourism Bureau" and he smiled.

The smile was faint, but it conveyed a lot of meaning.

What does the Department of Culture and Tourism manage? It manages culture, tourism, religious sites, and intangible cultural heritage.

In a sense, all the sects, organizations, and lineages in the entire world of supernatural beings, from the renowned and righteous sects that have existed for thousands of years to the small and insignificant families in the most remote corners, are all within the jurisdiction of the Department of Culture and Tourism.

It's easier to get things done when you have power.

If the name is not correct, the words will not be proper; if the words are not proper, things will not be accomplished. Now that the name is correct and the words are proper, it is time to get things done.

The leaders were farsighted.

……

There was a knock on the door.

The three strikes, neither too light nor too heavy, were executed with a steady rhythm, displaying a disciplined and well-trained quality.

Zhuge Ming didn't even look up, and said, "Please come in."

The door was pushed open, and Zhao Fangxu walked in with a smile.

His smile was still the same perfect, flawless smile, but a closer look revealed a subtle difference—when he smiled, the curve of the corners of his mouth was fixed, like a precisely calibrated protractor.

When he smiled at that moment, two fine lines appeared at the corners of his eyes, the most subtle difference between a genuine smile and a professional one.

After entering the room, he didn't walk forward immediately, but paused at the doorway for a moment, as if to make sure he hadn't disturbed his boss's work.

"Excuse me, Director Zhuge—there are some things I need to report."

Zhao Fangxu's tone was gentle and respectful, and his posture was neither humble nor arrogant.

Zhuge Ming raised his head and gently gestured towards the chair opposite him: "Oh, it's Chairman Zhao. Please have a seat."

Zhao Fangxu sat down in the chair opposite the desk, his back straight but not stiff, his hands naturally placed on his knees.

Zhuge Ming moved the official documents on the table aside, clearing space in front of him. He crossed his hands on the table and looked at Zhao Fangxu calmly: "Chairman Zhao, this is working time. As long as it's work-related, there's no question of disturbing you. What's the situation?"

Zhao Fangxu nodded, carefully organized his thoughts, and then began, "Director Zhuge, it's like this—I don't know if you're aware of this. In order to handle the relationship between the superhuman world and society, in accordance with the Party's leadership and relevant regulations, the company has established the Ten Elders Conference system. This conference consists of ten representatives with high prestige and influence in the superhuman world, collectively known as the 'Ten Elders.' This is an important part of the regular communication and consultation mechanism between the superhuman world and the company."

After listening, Zhuge Ming nodded slightly, his expression remaining largely unchanged: "I've worked away from home for many years, but I am, after all, an extraordinary person, and I know a little about my family's situation. I know these basic facts. Chairman Zhao, please don't be so formal—is it about the Ten Elders? Or is one of the Ten Elders coming to the company to report on their work?"

Zhao Fangxu's eyes lit up for a moment, but he quickly suppressed it.

He nodded, his tone devoid of deliberate flattery—he knew Zhuge Ming disliked being flattered. Although Zhuge Ming hadn't said anything about Xu Si's sycophantic behavior during the morning meeting, his eyes clearly conveyed, "I can see right through your little schemes."

Therefore, when Zhao Fangxu spoke at this moment, he tried to use concise and pragmatic language, without any unnecessary embellishment.

"Director Zhuge, please be aware. It is indeed Elder Lu Jin, one of the Ten Elders, who wants to report on recent work to you. Elder Lu just contacted me, saying that this report involves matters related to the Celestial Master's Mansion at Longhu Mountain in Jiangxi, and represents the wishes of another member of the Ten Elders—Elder Celestial Master Zhang Zhiwei of the Heavenly Daoist School. I think Elder Lu will explain the details to you in more detail later."