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

He paused, picked up his teacup to moisten his throat, and then abruptly changed the subject, replacing the gentleness in his tone with something more rigid—not anger, not threat, but a cold, objective statement devoid of any personal emotion: "As for those techniques that have caused such a stir, they have no lineage. They seem to have appeared out of nowhere, without roots or schools, and with no cultural heritage whatsoever."

But it has been passed down through generations without any clear lineage or faction, and this established fact constitutes intangible cultural heritage. The state will not allow its cultural heritage to fall into the hands of vicious, murderous, arsonist, and treacherous individuals who bring disaster to the country and its people. Just like bronze artifacts—the state has zero tolerance for such behavior. Chairman Feng, what do you think?

A fine layer of sweat appeared on Feng Zhenghao's forehead.

The office air conditioning was at a comfortable temperature, but his blue-purple shirt suddenly seemed less breathable.

His Adam's apple bobbed up and down, and his fingers unconsciously clenched and unclenched on his knees.

His mind kept replaying every key word from Zhuge Ming's words—rootless and without faction.

There is absolutely no cultural heritage to speak of.

It caused quite a stir in the city.

The state has zero tolerance for such behavior.

This is practically a roll call.

The Eight Extraordinary Skills—those eight extraordinary skills that stirred up bloodshed in the world of supernatural beings. They didn't have the backing of a sect with a thousand-year-old tradition, nor did they have a continuous lineage of masters. They just suddenly appeared out of nowhere, without any roots or sects. Yet, they were passed down for several generations and became an established fact.

And in Feng Zhenghao's hands, he held one of them—the Spirit Binding and Commanding Generals.

Zhuge Ming was referring to someone who "suddenly appeared," someone who was "rootless and without faction," and someone for whom "the state has zero tolerance."

Every word was like a bell ringing above his head.

He picked up the teacup, using the act of drinking tea to calm himself down, and by the time he put the cup down, his fingers had regained their steady grip.

He spoke, his tone even more sincere than before, his voice steady but revealing a hint of urgency that came from being hit where it hurt.

"My two leaders, I have truly learned a great deal today. From tea culture to Taoist culture, and then to national intangible cultural heritage—I, Feng Zhenghao, would not dare to say that I am very cultured, but I am certainly not uncultured. I will definitely respond to the call of the nation, for a strong culture makes a strong nation, and I will absolutely not hold the country back."

He took a deep breath, as if making a decision he had been contemplating for a long time.

Then, looking directly into the eyes of Zhuge Ming and Zhao Fangxu, he spoke in a tone more solemn and sincere than any of his previous words: "To be honest, my Feng family also has a cultural heritage. However, in my generation, including my son, it has only been passed down for three generations. We have never dared to call it a cultural heritage; it is merely a single lineage."

After listening to Director Zhuge's words today, I deeply realized the importance of national intangible cultural heritage and gained a deeper understanding. I have decided to hand over this cultural heritage to the national cultural archives. My small family cannot compare to the greater good. I believe that with the protection of the nation, this culture will surely be better passed down.

Zhuge Ming put down his teacup and clapped his hands a few times.

Zhao Fangxu followed closely behind, and the applause was even more enthusiastic than before. His smile also carried a hint of relief, as if he had finally accomplished something.

Zhuge Ming turned to Zhao Fangxu, his tone sincere and solemn, as if giving a summary of a phase of work: "Chairman Zhao, we should learn from Chairman Feng. His words are profound. Especially that line—'Without the greater good, there is no individual family.' That sentence is worth pondering repeatedly."

Zhao Fangxu immediately responded, turning slightly to nod at Feng Zhenghao, his tone carrying the warmth and affirmation of an old leader speaking to a long-time acquaintance: "Chairman Feng, I, Zhao Fangxu, know your character well. My decision to introduce Director Zhuge to you today was the right one. Chairman Feng's awareness and sense of responsibility are something I should learn from."

Feng Zhenghao quickly waved his hand, a perfectly measured hint of humility and gratitude appearing on his face. His tone was also more natural and relaxed than before, but he still maintained his respect for the two leaders: "You two are too kind. It is your high level of awareness that I should learn from you. It is your guidance that has liberated my mind and broadened my horizons. I have benefited immensely from today's conversation with you two."

Zhuge Ming nodded slightly, a gentle smile on his lips, and began to speak.

His voice wasn't loud, but every word landed steadily and clearly in the quiet office, as if he were giving a final, formal confirmation to a draft agreement. His wording was precise, down to the nuance of every word: "It's truly rare to see such a high level of awareness from Chairman Feng. Protecting cultural heritage is the duty of every Chinese citizen. I can convey to Chairman Feng the spirit of the Party organization—that even the cultural heritage of one's own family must be passed down."

The reason the state is intervening to protect it is because they fear the lineage will be broken. What I mean is, didn't Chairman Feng just mention a single lineage passing down the knowledge? Continuing the lineage is the right thing to do. However, from now on, after being nationalized, it will have legal rights under the state's protection.

From this day forward, this single-lineage tradition, regardless of which generation it passes to, will be protected by the state. Of course, this is contingent upon thorough record-keeping and archiving. Furthermore, as the inheritor, one cannot lose the tradition; otherwise, one is a sinner who extinguishes the lineage. Naturally, with the support of the state, it will certainly be passed down. We have the state behind us—no petty person dares to covet it. The state will absolutely not allow it.”

He abruptly changed the subject, leaned back in his chair, picked up his teacup, and his tone suddenly became more relaxed, with a hint of teasing in his smile.

He looked at Feng Zhenghao, his eyes conveying a clear message—business was done, and it was time for a relaxed ending. He added in a half-joking tone, "However, passing on culture definitely requires considering the continuation of the family line. I should mention this—our country has now relaxed the four-child policy. Chairman Feng has actively responded to the national call in this regard. Having both a son and a daughter is something Chairman Zhao and I should learn from."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Fangxu's hand holding the teacup trembled, and he almost spilled the tea.

He mentally gave Zhuge Ming a thumbs up—the leader's words were so skillful; he not only got the official business done but also reassured Feng Zhenghao at the end, and incidentally cracked a harmless little joke.

He had spent half his life working within the system, and he had never seen anyone else who could grasp this balance so precisely.

Feng Zhenghao laughed and waved his hands repeatedly, then picked up his teacup with both hands, stood up, and bowed slightly to the two leaders. His voice was loud and solemn, carrying a sense of composure and respect after accomplishing something: "I have benefited immensely from Director Zhuge and Chairman Zhao's words today. It is truly worth more than ten years of study."

Zhuge Ming picked up his teacup, not looking at Feng Zhenghao, but turning to Zhao Fangxu.

His movements were very gentle. He held the teacup in his hand, the clear yellow tea swirling slightly in the cup, and the fragrance of jasmine gently wafted between the three of them.