Under One Person: The End of Technique, Company Building

"Section Chief, we've arrived." Xiao Wang slowed down and parked the car in a parking lot. "Director Dou is waiting for you at the reception area on the mountain."

Zhuge Qi got out of the car, stood at the edge of the parking lot, and looked up.

Longhu Mountain was quieter than he had imagined. The main peak where the Celestial Master's Mansion was located was not very high, but the mountain range was winding and continuous, exuding an indescribable sense of calm and composure.

The mountain is covered with dense forests, and the wind rustles through the trees, carrying a faint scent of pine in the air.

Ma Hong jumped out of the car, stretched, and cracked his neck.

Liu Yanyan followed Zhuge Qi out of the car, looked up at the plaque on the mountain gate, her eyes filled with a sense of novelty from her first arrival.

Feng Baobao was the last to get off the bus. She had already finished her instant noodles. Now, with her hands in her pockets, she looked calm and showed no emotion.

"Let's go," Zhuge Qi said, then took the lead and walked towards the mountain gate.

Longhu Mountain has been developed over the centuries, and the front of the mountain has long been transformed into a scenic area, bustling with visitors and easily accessible.

The true world of the extraordinary beings is located in the area behind the mountains.

The stone steps in front of the mountain gate are wide, and the bluestone slabs have been worn smooth and shiny by the years. When you step on them, you can feel a slight warmth, which is the heat accumulated by the stones after being exposed to the sun all afternoon.

Zhuge Qi walked at the front, his pace neither fast nor slow, his back ramrod straight, the collar of his shirt fluttering slightly in the mountain breeze.

Following behind, Ma Hong lowered his voice and said to Liu Yanyan, "Since the section chief left, his aura has become much more imposing."

He had also noticed that the section chief's aura had changed since he returned from his visit home; he seemed much more imposing than before.

Liu Yanyan didn't say anything, but she had to admit that Zhuge Qi's composure, as if he were on his own turf wherever he went, was indeed something that made people want to take a second look.

On the other side of the mountain gate, a middle-aged man wearing a standard short-sleeved shirt was already standing at the end of the steps, waiting.

The man appeared to be in his early fifties, of medium build. His hair on the top of his head was visibly thinning, revealing a shiny scalp. His hairline on the sides had receded quite high, and the remaining tuft of hair was blown about by the wind, resembling a crooked woolen hat.

His expression was that of a typical grassroots cadre: warm but not excessive, polite but measured.

"Section Chief Zhuge! We've been waiting for you!" Dou Le stepped down two steps to greet him and extended his hand.

Zhuge Qi grasped his hand with just the right amount of pressure, a perfectly timed smile on his face: "Director Dou, it's been a long time since I've heard of you. I'll be troubling you with this task."

"No trouble at all, Mr. Zhao has already spoken to me." Dou Le released his hand and gestured for them to proceed. "The reception area is ready. Please settle your people in and take a break. I'll discuss the security plan with you later."

"No problem, I'll do as you say."

Dou Le led everyone up the mountain path, saying as they walked, "The conditions on the mountain are not as good as in the city. The accommodations are all arranged by the Celestial Master's Mansion. There are a few empty guest rooms, which I have had cleaned up. They have air conditioning, hot water, and internet access, so don't worry."

"It's already very good," Zhuge Qi said. "We're here to assist with the work, so we're not picky about conditions."

Upon hearing this, Dou Le's smile became noticeably more genuine.

He was a veteran at the grassroots level and had seen too many imperial envoys from headquarters. Some of them wanted to bring their own five-star hotel bedding up the mountain, while others even wanted to change their own bed sheets.

Zhuge Qi's attitude eased his mind considerably.

The guesthouse is located on a platform halfway up the mountain. It consists of several two-story buildings with blue bricks and gray tiles, each with a courtyard in the front and back.

Several osmanthus trees were planted in the courtyard, their branches and leaves lush, casting a large, cool shade on the ground.

Zhuge Qi was assigned to the first floor of the small building on the far east side. The room was not big but clean, and the window faced the bamboo forest on the back mountain. When the wind blew, the bamboo leaves rustled, creating a particularly serene atmosphere.

Ma Hong lived next door to him, while Liu Yanyan and Feng Baobao were assigned to two rooms upstairs.

After putting down his bag, Zhuge Qi did not rush to rest, but stood by the window and looked at the bamboo forest for a while.

The light on the mountain is much softer than that at the foot of the mountain. The afternoon sunlight filters through the bamboo leaves, turning into dappled light spots that sway gently on the windowsill.

He heard footsteps outside, turned around and went to the door, where he saw Dou Le standing in the yard talking to a tall man wearing a black short-sleeved shirt.

The man had his back to Zhuge Qi. He was very tall, with broad shoulders and a thick back, but he gave off a strange impression when he stood there.

Like a knife in its sheath, it appears calm on the surface, but you know that once it's drawn, it will draw blood.

After Dou Le finished speaking to him, he turned to leave. When he looked up, he saw Zhuge Qi standing at the door and quickly greeted him, "Section Chief Zhuge, perfect timing! Come here for a moment, I'd like to introduce you to someone."

Zhuge Qi walked over, and as the distance closed, the profile of the man in black gradually became clear. He had strong features, an expressionless face, lips pressed into a line, and wore gold-rimmed glasses, giving him a refined and cultured appearance.

However, even though he stood there with his aura tightly contained, Zhuge Qi could feel the restless energy emanating from him from three steps away. It was like a pot of boiling water with a lid on, constantly rising and about to overflow.

"This is Xiao Zizai, a temporary worker from our East China region," Dou Le said with a smile, his tone implying that "we're all on the same side, so there's no need to be polite." "He's also a key member of the security team for this Luotian Grand Ceremony. Just let him know if you need any assistance."

Xiao Zizai turned slightly to the side, his gaze falling on Zhuge Qi.

Those eyes were empty, like two very deep, dry wells, and they greeted me very politely.

Zhuge Qi looked into his eyes for three seconds.

Then Zhuge Qi smiled and extended his hand: "Mr. Xiao, it's an honor to meet you."

Xiao Zizai shook his hand lightly, with a hint of tentative restraint: "Section Chief Zhuge, you're too kind. Just call me Lao Xiao."

Zhuge Qi released his grip, his gaze lingering on Dou Le's face for a moment before turning to Dou Le: "Director Dou, when should we have the meeting? You can set a time, I'm available anytime."

"Then... 4:30 PM? It won't keep you from resting. It's a good time to go over the basic security framework." Dou Le took out his phone and glanced at the time. "On the second floor of Guanyun Hall, I'll have someone make tea for you."

"Okay, I'm here on time."

As Zhuge Qi turned to walk back, he felt Xiao Zizai's gaze linger on his back for a moment before moving away.

He didn't turn around or slow down; just as he stepped through the door, a thought flashed through his mind.

Do they even have to think twice about coming from headquarters?

He keenly noticed the look in the other person's eyes that seemed to be confirming his prey. Could it be that if he met the other person's standards, they might actually want to make a move?

However, it was clear that he was not the prey that the other party found satisfactory.