Under One Person: The End of Technique, Company Building

"Wuhou Qimen! So cool!" Liu Yanyan's eyes lit up.

Zhuge Qi looked down at his cousin who was enjoying the cheers and shook his head helplessly: "Xiao Qing is too honest when it comes to work."

"Section Chief, isn't this great? It's a complete rout, showing our strength!" Xiao Li said.

"It's good, but he showed off too much too early. In the later matches, if someone sets up a strategy against his Wuhou Qimen, he'll be put on the defensive," Zhuge Qi commented in a seasoned, old-fashioned tone. Then, he changed the subject, "But it's also good. Our Zhuge family came here to make a name for ourselves. His move has given our company and our head of the Extraordinary Persons Affairs Department some face. After we go down, send him a text message and ask him to come to my place for a short meeting this afternoon."

"Yes, Section Chief." Xiao Li immediately took out his phone and started taking notes.

As the last match of the morning came to an end, a long bell rang, and the crowd in the training ground began to recede like a tide.

Zhuge Qi straightened his shirt collar and said to the people around him, "Let's go. We should also go and meet all sorts of monsters and demons, and do our 'routine patrol' work while we're at it."

……

The midday sun scorched the bluestone steps of Longhu Mountain. The audience members on the stands dispersed in twos and threes, and the most talked-about topics were still the "shameless" Zhang Chulan and the stunning Zhuge Qing.

Zhuge Qi did not rush back to the inn to rest. Instead, he led Ma Hong and Xiao Li along the patrol path outside the training ground at a leisurely pace.

He walked steadily, his hands behind his back, his eyes occasionally scanning the blind spots in the surveillance cameras that were easily overlooked.

Dou Le, the head of the East China region, strode forward to greet him, his forehead covered in fine beads of sweat, and his sparse hair stuck to his scalp with sweat, making him look somewhat comical.

"Section Chief Zhuge, I've compiled a summary of the situation at the four venues this morning." Dou Le handed over a printed report, his tone revealing a hint of cautious self-satisfaction. "Everything is normal. No trace of Quanxing demons was found at any of the passageways, and those idle supernatural beings were all well-behaved, with no fights breaking out."

Zhuge Qi took the report, but instead of looking at it immediately, he rolled it into a paper tube and tapped it lightly twice in his palm.

"Director Dou, thank you for your hard work." Zhuge Qi's voice was gentle but carried an undeniable force. "However, those of us in security work are most afraid of the phrase 'everything is normal.' The calmer the surface, the stronger the undercurrents may be."

Dou Le paused for a moment, then immediately stood up straight: "You mean...?"

"The strategy of being tight on the outside but loose on the inside is fine, but there are a few details that need to be scrutinized." Zhuge Qi pointed to a row of side rooms in the Celestial Master's Mansion in the distance with a paper tube. "For example, have you investigated the backgrounds of the service staff inside the Celestial Master's Mansion who are responsible for serving tea and water, sweeping the floor and cooking?"

Those people are always hanging around under the noses of the big shots. If anyone with ulterior motives manages to infiltrate, we'll be hitting them where they hurt. This afternoon, send two people in plainclothes to the logistics department to investigate. No need to alert the Old Master; just get a general idea.

Upon hearing this, Dou Le broke out in a cold sweat. He had been so focused on keeping an eye on the outsiders that he had overlooked the hidden dangers within the Celestial Master's Mansion.

"Yes, yes, yes, Section Chief, you are truly visionary! I'll arrange it right away!" Dou Le nodded repeatedly, feeling even more awe for this young headquarters leader. This guy wasn't here to gain experience; he was clearly here to teach them, these old hands, a lesson.

"Go ahead and get busy, but be mindful of your approach. Don't overreact." Zhuge Qi smiled and waved his hand, handing the report back to Dou Le.

Just as the two finished handing over their work, a group of people walked towards them.

Leading the way was a middle-aged man wearing a sharp black suit and gold-rimmed glasses.

He had his hair slicked back, and his demeanor was refined and approachable, like a successful entrepreneur who had been navigating the business world for many years. He always had a warm smile on his lips.

He is Feng Zhenghao, one of the Ten Elders and the president of the World Society.

Behind him followed a man and a woman. The boy had a silver, spiky hairstyle and a cheerful expression; the girl had short white hair, a hot figure, and a cold, aloof demeanor. They were his children, Feng Xingtong and Feng Shayan.

"Oh, Section Chief Zhuge! I can see you from afar." As soon as Feng Zhenghao saw Zhuge Qi, he quickened his pace and stretched out his hands from a distance, his posture extremely humble, as if he had seen a distinguished leader he had not seen for many years.

"President Feng, it's a pleasure to meet you." Zhuge Qi stopped and extended his right hand to shake hands with Feng Zhenghao. The handshake was firm but brief, perfectly demonstrating the restraint and politeness of a superior towards a subordinate partner.

"In this sweltering heat, Section Chief is still inspecting the front lines. He's truly a role model for us in the world of supernatural beings." Feng Zhenghao smiled broadly, his flattery perfectly measured. "I was in the stands earlier and wanted to pay my respects, but seeing you were busy giving instructions, I didn't dare disturb you."

"President Feng, you're too kind. I'm just doing my job and lending a hand to the old master." Zhuge Qi dodged the question casually, his gaze naturally falling on Feng Xingtong behind Feng Zhenghao.

"I watched Xing Tong's match just now too. His use of the Spirit Binding Technique is becoming increasingly skillful." Zhuge Qi's tone carried a hint of elder's approval. "What's most commendable is that this child has a good temperament, knows when to advance and retreat, and is neither arrogant nor impatient. These are extremely rare qualities among today's impetuous young generation. President Feng has done a great job in guiding him."

Feng Xingtong, who was being praised, scratched his head and smiled somewhat shyly: "Thank you for the compliment, Section Chief Zhuge."

Upon hearing this, Feng Zhenghao's smile deepened, but a glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes. He knew, of course, that Zhuge Qi wasn't simply praising the child, but rather subtly hinting at something.

Zhuge Qi's forceful reprimand at the Tianxiahui headquarters in Tianjin is still vivid in my mind, and his warning, "You've taken the wrong path," still rings in my ears.

On the surface, these words were praising Feng Xingtong for his "appropriate conduct," but in reality, they were a warning to Feng Zhenghao. At this critical juncture of the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony, the Tianxia Society should also "appropriately conduct itself" and not harbor any other intentions.

"Section Chief, you flatter me. This young man still needs more experience." Feng Zhenghao bowed slightly, his tone becoming increasingly respectful. "Tianxiahui's success today is entirely due to the company's supportive policies. During this conference, all members of Tianxiahui will closely follow the company's lead and resolutely cooperate with headquarters' instructions. If there is anything in security that Tianxiahui can do to help, just say the word, and we will not hesitate to do it."

"Good, I'm relieved to hear that from Chairman Feng." Zhuge Qi nodded in satisfaction. "Alright, you guys should go and have your meal and rest. We still have a tough battle to fight this afternoon."

Watching Feng Zhenghao leave with his children, Ma Hong curled his lip and said, "This Feng Zhenghao, a dignified Tenth Elder, acts like a manager of a subordinate branch in front of you."

"That's what you call being pragmatic." Zhuge Qi continued walking forward with his hands behind his back. "As long as he knows when to bend over backwards, the company won't mind keeping him on the payroll."

As night fell, the hustle and bustle of Longhu Mountain finally subsided.

Zhuge Qi had just taken a hot bath, changed into a loose cotton and linen outfit, and was sitting at the octagonal table in the guesthouse, brewing a pot of fine Da Hong Pao tea.

"Knock knock knock".

A knock came at the door, followed by Xu Si's signature loud voice: "Section Chief Zhuge, are you taking a break? We've brought Chu Lan over to give you a report on today's ideological work."

"Enter."

The door was pushed open, and Xu San and Xu Si walked in, followed by Zhang Chulan, who had changed into casual clothes.

As soon as Zhang Chulan entered, he rubbed his hands together, a classic smug smile plastered on his face: "Oh, Boss Zhuge, your tea smells wonderful. Did I do anything to embarrass the company or you today?"

He thought that his shameless actions today would definitely earn him a scolding from the rigid and meticulous section chief.

After all, Xu San had been pointing his finger at him and berating him for a full half hour this afternoon, complaining that he had disgraced the North China branch.

However, Zhuge Qi simply pointed to the empty chair opposite them, gesturing for them to sit down, and then personally picked up the purple clay teapot and poured Zhang Chulan a cup of tea.

"Chu Lan, many people outside are criticizing you today, even your Third Brother Xu thinks you won unfairly." Zhuge Qi pushed the teacup in front of Zhang Chu Lan, his tone as amiable as if he were holding an end-of-year commendation meeting, "But here, I want to give you verbal praise. Your combination of moves today was very much in line with the style of our Extraordinary Person Affairs Department."

"Huh?" Zhang Chulan's hand holding the teacup trembled, almost spilling the tea. He turned to look at Xu San and Xu Si, who were equally bewildered, and swallowed hard. "Boss... Boss, you're not kidding me, are you?"

"Do I sound like I'm joking?" Zhuge Qi picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and said, "The workplace is like a battlefield. The process is important, but the result is the only measure of everything. Your ability to advance with minimal cost is commendable. However…"

Zhuge Qi abruptly changed the subject, setting down his teacup and deepening his gaze: "Tomorrow's elimination rounds are one-on-one duels. I've looked into your opponent; it's Shan Shitong, known as the 'Azure Talisman God.' This guy is a stubborn bastard, and his family's talismanic arts are quite sophisticated, especially their Qi-sealing talismans. Once you're hit, no matter how skilled you are, you won't be able to use them. Dealing with someone so inflexible, your verbal skills alone won't be enough."

Zhang Chulan chuckled, scratched the back of his head, and looked somewhat unfocused: "Well... Boss, don't worry, I have a plan. Actually, it's highly likely that Shan Shitong won't be able to participate in the competition tomorrow."

Zhuge Qi raised an eyebrow slightly: "Oh? What do you mean?"

Xu Si coughed dryly, scratched his cheek awkwardly, and said in a low voice, "Well, Bao Bao looked at the match schedule this afternoon and thought Shan Shitong was too troublesome, so... she has already taken her shovel and gone to the woods behind the mountain to 'work overtime'."

"Overtime?" Xiao Li was stunned for a moment, not quite understanding.

Xu Si covered his face, looking like he couldn't bear to look. "She went to dig a hole, preparing to bury Shan Shitong. As long as he can't come to the arena, Chu Lan will naturally win without a fight."

The air in the room fell silent for a few seconds.

Zhuge Qi sat in the main seat, neither angry nor surprised, but simply closed his eyes and let out a deep, long sigh.

"Xu Si, Xu Si, are these the soldiers your North China branch trained in the past?"

Zhuge Qi tapped the table with his knuckles, making a dull thud. "How many times have I emphasized this to you? There needs to be 'procedural justice' in everything you do. Even if you're willing to use any means to achieve a result, at least the means should appear acceptable on the surface, right? Directly burying a competitor alive? If that gets found out, what will our company be called? The mafia?"

"Besides, Feng Baobao is now working for me, so she has to go through me, right?"

Xu San pushed up his glasses and nodded seriously, "I also think that Bao Bao went too far this time. I've already told Chu Lan..."

"Let's go." Zhuge Qi suddenly stood up, picked up his coat draped over the back of the chair, and said, "Let's go check out the back mountain. If we stay any longer, our company's records will probably have another 'intentional homicide' case."

A secluded grove of trees on the back of Longhu Mountain.

The night was dark and the wind was high; the shadows of the trees swayed gently.

"Splash—splash—"

The sound of shovels digging into the ground sounded particularly eerie in the quiet night.

Wearing a dirty work uniform, Feng Baobao was humming an unknown Sichuan folk tune as she skillfully filled a two-meter-deep pit with soil, wielding an entrenching tool.

At the bottom of the pit, a young man dressed in a blue Taoist robe was bound like a silkworm cocoon with thick hemp rope, his mouth stuffed with a rag, and he could only make miserable "woo-woo" screams.

His eyes were filled with despair and fear as he watched the mud rise above his knees and soon reach his waist.

This person is none other than "Azure Talisman God" Shan Shitong.

He never imagined that he, a master of talismans, would be knocked unconscious by a slovenly woman from behind with a brick while simply taking a walk at night, and would wake up in this pit.

"Sister Bao'er! Sister Bao'er, please have mercy!"

Zhang Chulan ran out of the woods, panting, and was so frightened by the horrifying scene that he almost knelt on the ground.

Xu San, Xu Si, and Zhuge Qi followed suit and emerged from the shadows.

Feng Baobao stopped what she was doing, turned around, and looked at Zhang Chulan expressionlessly: "Zhang Chulan, what are you doing here? I'll be done soon. I knocked this kid down and buried him overnight. He definitely won't be able to go to the arena tomorrow morning. Don't worry, I left him a vent; he won't die."

Upon hearing this, Shan Shitong, who was in the pit, struggled even more violently, tears welling up in his eyes.

God knows why there was a vent! This woman must be a psycho!

"Nonsense!"

A low, displeased shout echoed through the woods.

Zhuge Qi pushed through the crowd and walked to the edge of the pit.

He looked down at the disheveled Shan Shitong in the pit, then at Feng Baobao holding a shovel beside him, and shook his head helplessly.

"Baby, pull him up." Zhuge Qi gave the order in an unyielding tone.

Feng Baobao gave an "oh," obediently put down the shovel, grabbed the rope tied to Shan Shitong with one hand, and easily pulled him out of the deep pit like a radish, then threw him on the ground.

Xu San quickly stepped forward and ripped the rag out of Shan Shitong's mouth.

"Pah! Pah! Pah!" Shan Shitong spat out the dirt in his mouth, his face flushed red, glaring angrily at the group of people in front of him. "Who are you people?! How dare you use such despicable means to plot against me! Is this what you call the style of a great sect?!"

Just as Zhang Chulan was about to step forward to explain the deception, Zhuge Qi raised his hand to stop him.

Zhuge Qi walked slowly to Shan Shitong with his hands behind his back, his dark eyes showing no emotion.

The golden attribute [Dragon and Tiger Aura] was quietly activated at this moment.

"Shan Shitong, the God of Azure Talismans." Zhuge Qi looked down at him, his tone flat and without any fluctuation. "What happened tonight was due to my subordinate's recklessness and lack of discipline. I apologize to you on her behalf."

Shan Shitong sneered, "Apologize? You think you can just let it go after tying me up? I'm definitely reporting you to the Celestial Master tomorrow!"

"Report me? Sure. That's your right." Zhuge Qi wasn't angered by the threat; instead, a faint, cold smile appeared on his lips.

Before he finished speaking, Shan Shitong felt as if the air in front of him had suddenly become thick.

An indescribable, terrifying pressure, like a tangible mountain, slammed into his heart.

This is not the oppression of Qi, but a superior gaze on a purely spiritual level.

In that instant, Shan Shitong even had a delusion: the person standing in front of him was not a young man in a suit, but an ancient ferocious beast that had just awakened, capable of tearing his soul to shreds at any moment if the other party wished.

His prized talismanic skills were rendered useless under the absolute pressure of this aura; he didn't even have the courage to mobilize a single trace of Qi.

His body trembled slightly uncontrollably, and cold sweat instantly poured down his forehead like rain.

Zhuge Qi withdrew his aura, and the night wind blew through the woods again, as if nothing had happened. He took out a business card from his pocket and gently placed it on Shan Shitong's chest.

"I am Zhuge Qi, head of the Extraordinary Persons Affairs Department of Na Du Tong Company. Tonight's events were a misunderstanding. I hope you can understand..."

Shan Shitong swallowed hard and said with an awkward smile, "I understand, I understand."