Under One Person: The End of Technique, Company Building

"He arrived early this morning. He's a top disciple of the Old Celestial Master. He doesn't have a grand entrance, but he's got quite the airs. He specifically asked to see Xia He, saying..." Xu San carefully considered his words, "...it's a private matter."

"Personal matter." Zhuge Qi repeated the two words, the corners of his mouth widening slightly before quickly returning to their original shape. "You didn't contact Zhang Chulan, but went straight to Xia He?"

"Yes." Xu San replied somewhat unintentionally.

The person came from the Celestial Master's Mansion, so it's no surprise that they're here to see Zhang Chulan. After all, the Celestial Master has already set up such a grand scheme, and now it's time to deliver the invitation to the main character.

What's with the fact that they immediately approached Xia He, a member of the Quanxing sect?

The person was captured by Zhuge Qi after all, but is temporarily detained in the North China region awaiting further action. We have been too busy to deal with Quanxing yet.

Now that Zhang Lingyu has come to him, he naturally cannot make a decision on his own without consulting Zhuge Qi.

The old master's beloved disciple wanted to meet with the four madmen of Quanxing to discuss private matters. If this got out, it would carry a lot of weight.

Zhuge Qi was aware of the other party's concerns. Xu Si had already told him on the way that he was not here at the moment, but was entertaining Zhang Lingyu on the other side.

Very few people actually know that Xia He is Zhang Lingyu's lover.

In addition, there was the prestige of the Old Celestial Master.

Even if someone says it, no one will believe it, and they will even be beaten up as punishment for defaming the Celestial Master's beloved disciple, but that is the truth.

"Alright, take me there, I'll handle it."

Zhuge Qi took the lead, his leather shoes clicking on the cement floor in a steady, unhurried rhythm. He had been waiting for Zhang Lingyu for quite some time.

……

The third-floor corridor is brighter than the first-floor corridor.

The window opens at the end of the corridor, and large swaths of afternoon sunlight stream in, casting a long, slanted golden staircase across the floor tiles.

The door to the reception room was closed, and a faded metal sign on the door frame read "Hall No. 2," with a line of smaller print below that read "No entry without an appointment."

Xu San walked half a step behind Zhuge Qi, stopped at the door, turned slightly to the side, and then handed the thick stack of printed documents in his hand to the other party with both hands.

Zhuge Qi glanced at him.

Aren't you going in?

"It wouldn't be appropriate for me to go in," Xu San chuckled awkwardly. "I'd be just standing there in the way."

"Then you wait outside." Zhuge Qi didn't say anything more, took the stack of documents, and pushed open the door.

The reception room was small and decorated in a conventional manner.

A rectangular conference table, six black leather chairs, and a potted green ivy in the corner that was growing too lushly, with its vines almost reaching the ground.

The window was only slightly ajar, and the autumn wind squeezed in through the crack, making a soft, mournful sound.

Zhang Lingyu sat in a chair by the window, with a cup of tea that had gone cold in front of her.

He was wearing the white Taoist robes typical of the Celestial Master's Mansion, his hair was neatly combed, his face was fair, and his features were so refined that he looked like a figure from a painting.

He stood very straight, his hands resting on his knees, his knuckles clearly visible.

From his back to his profile, he exudes an air of dignified elegance and otherworldly grace.

Seeing the door open, he stood up, his movements unhurried, and bowed slightly towards the doorway.

"Section Chief Zhuge."

"Master Lingyu." Zhuge Qi returned the greeting with a small gesture, more like a nod, and then walked to the other side of the conference table, pulled out a chair and sat down.

The chair legs creaked as they rubbed against the floor, a sound that was particularly clear in the quiet room.

Zhang Lingyu sat down again, glanced at Zhuge Qi, and his eyes held a thin layer of politeness and well-hidden anxiety.

Logically speaking, a disciple of the Celestial Master's Mansion should not show such emotions, but he certainly did not hide his anxiety completely.

"Section Chief Zhuge, I apologize for the intrusion and for disturbing you."

"I won't disturb you." Zhuge Qi placed his hands on the table, relaxed. "Master Lingyu has come all the way from Longhu Mountain to Tianjin. I understand his sincerity. It would be unreasonable not to accept it."

His tone was polite, and he struck the perfect balance.

There was neither condescending official jargon nor excessive enthusiasm.

Zhang Lingyu paused for a moment, as if organizing her thoughts, before finally getting straight to the point and stating her request.

"I heard that Xia He, one of the four madmen of Quanxing, has been arrested and is being held here. I asked Director Xu Si before, and he said he couldn't make the decision on this matter, so I can only wait to see Section Chief Zhuge for a reply."

"I don't know, would it be convenient for me to meet with you?"

"Xia He?" Zhang Lingyu's fingers curled slightly.

He looked up at Zhuge Qi, his gaze revealing something deeper, like an undercurrent beneath a calm surface.

"Yes."

Zhuge Qi didn't reply, but simply moved the teacup on the table closer to himself, glanced at it, and saw that the tea was crystal clear and untouched.

"What is the relationship between Master Lingyu and Xia He?" he asked casually, as if he were gossiping.

Zhang Lingyu's expression changed for a moment. He lowered his eyes, remained silent for two or three seconds, and then spoke, his voice lower than before: "...an old acquaintance."

"oh."

The "oh" was drawn out very briefly, without any follow-up questions or statements.

But Zhang Lingyu knew that this "oh" was more difficult to deal with than pressing for answers.

You can handle follow-up questions, but this "oh" is just to wait until you finish speaking.

Zhang Lingyu pursed her lips.

"Section Chief Zhuge, I know Xia He is a member of Quanxing and a prisoner of the company. According to the rules, I shouldn't make this request." He raised his head, his gaze serious to the point of being obstinate. "But I still want to... see her once, just once, and say a few words. I can guarantee in the name of the Celestial Master's Mansion that I won't do anything out of line."

Zhuge Qi leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on Zhang Lingyu, as if he were examining something that looked interesting but he hadn't yet decided whether to buy it.

"Master Lingyu," he began, speaking at a measured pace, "you are a highly accomplished disciple of the Celestial Master, and the Celestial Master's Mansion of Longhu Mountain receives the utmost respect from Na Du Tong. Logically speaking, I should not refuse your request."

Zhang Lingyu's eyes lit up for a moment.

"However," Zhuge Qi emphasized these two words, as if stamping a document, "how much do you know about Xia He's current situation?"

Zhang Lingyu shook her head.

"She came to Tianjin with Shen Chong and Lü Liang with the intention of stealing Zhang Huaiyi's body. She encountered us at the scene and fought with us. She is currently under Qi sealing and is being held in a temporary detention cell."

Zhuge Qi spoke point by point, his tone as calm as if he were reading the minutes of a work meeting: "One of the Four Madmen of Quanxing, actively participated in criminal activities, with clear subjective malice and actual behavior."

According to company policy, suspects of this level are not allowed external visits until the initial interrogation is completed.

Zhang Lingyu frowned slightly.

"I understand the rules—"

"You understand, but you still came." Zhuge Qi smiled, a genuine smile. "That shows this matter is more important to you than the rules, right?"

Zhang Lingyu did not deny it.

But suddenly, I felt uneasy.