Li Zhuyu was a perceptive person. After a brief silence, she grasped a key point.

Qi Xuansu had already submitted a draft, yet he continued refining it in his office. This showed that he knew the draft would likely not pass as it was. The pressure was too great. So he had deliberately left room for compromise.

Within the Daoist Order, compromise was rarely one-sided, as that would simply be surrender.

It was usually mutual.

Li Zhuyu said, “You can mention them, but you don’t have to emphasize them during the discussions. In deliberations, there must be priorities. You’ve split achievements and problems fifty-fifty, so on the surface, both seem equally important. But in reality, neither stands out. That conflicts with the directive from above and the overall direction of the session.”

Qi Xuansu pretended to ponder before saying, “If emphasis is required, then let’s adjust it to 60% problems and 40% achievements. What do you think?”

Li Zhuyu did not respond.

Qi Xuansu continued, “We must consider the Western Daoist Order’s feelings. Even if it’s an internal discussion, it can’t be kept from them.”

Li Zhuyu finally spoke. “Well, since you say so, then for the sake of the Western Daoist Order, this will have to do. My opinion doesn’t carry decisive weight, and I can’t guarantee anything. The final decision still rests with the Hall Master and the Imperial Preceptor.”

Qi Xuansu said, “Once the Hall Master returns, I’d like to discuss this matter with him in detail.”

Li Zhuyu agreed without hesitation. “Alright.”

Although Shen Yuqing was Sage Qingwei’s official secretary, Li Zhuyu, as his adopted daughter, could also make such decisions.

After Li Zhuyu left, Qi Xuansu returned to his study, picked up his brush, and wrote swiftly to finalize the draft.

Later, Shen Yuqing informed Chen Jianchou that the Hall Master had summoned Chief Deputy Qi.

Qi Xuansu took his revised draft and headed to the Hall Master’s office.

Across the entire Beichen Hall, Sage Qingwei was the number one figure, and Qi Xuansu was the second-in-command. However, this was different from Qi Xuansu’s earlier relationship with Wang Jiaohe in the Poluo Daoist Mansion. Back then, Qi Xuansu was effectively acting as an envoy of the Golden Tower Council and later even shared part of the authority of a Great Sage. Only then was he able to contend with Wang Jiaohe.

In Beichen Hall, things were different. Sage Qingwei was not only the Hall Master but also the Second Omniscient Sage of the Golden Tower Council. As a result, the gap in status between the two widened to the point where a Chief Deputy could not contend with the Hall Master in the slightest.

When Qi Xuansu arrived outside Sage Qingwei’s office, Shen Yuqing was already waiting there. “The Sage is expecting you, Chief Deputy Qi.”

Qi Xuansu nodded slightly and pushed open the door, entering the reception room.

There were only two people inside—Sage Qingwei and Li Zhuyu.

Sage Qingwei sat in the main seat and gestured to a spot beside him. “Sit.”

Li Zhuyu was arranging the tea set and poured a full cup of tea for Qi Xuansu.

After sitting down, Qi Xuansu handed over his report. “Please have a look, Sage.”

Sage Qingwei said nothing. He calmly accepted the report and began to read it slowly.

Qi Xuansu held the teacup but did not drink the tea, letting the steam curl upward.

Soon, Sage Qingwei finished reading. Instead of commenting immediately, he asked, “Tian Yuan, how do you view the situation on the New Continent?”

Qi Xuansu thought for a moment and replied, “In the short term, barring major changes, neither the Western Daoist Order nor the Steam Evangelical Sect can decisively overcome the other. The situation will likely remain a north versus south standoff. Military confrontation will fade into the past. Instead, development and transformation will become the main direction. The Western Daoist Order must transition from a wartime system to a normal model. This will greatly test the leadership’s resolve and capability.”

Sage Qingwei nodded slightly, acknowledging Qi Xuansu’s analysis, then asked, “Development is indeed a major issue. If you were the leader of the Western Daoist Order, how would you pursue development?”

Qi Xuansu could not discern Sage Qingwei’s intent, so he continued, “The Daoist Order has already begun industrial transformation, shifting many low-tech industries outward, initially to Nanyang. I spent three years there and understand the situation well. Now Nanyang is also nearing saturation. Even developed areas like Lion City and Thanglong Prefecture are beginning their own transitions. From a broader perspective, these industries are indeed low-level, but for the impoverished New Continent, accepting such industrial transfer is a major opportunity to drive overall transformation.”

He paused, took a sip of tea, then continued, “If I were leading the Western Daoist Order, I would seize this opportunity. These industries are like basic white bread. Though butter with jam is delicious, it’s limited in supply. But plain white bread is still better than having nothing. It’ll lay the foundation for eventually having something better.”

Sage Qingwei summarized, “Equality, mutual assistance, and harmonious development.”

Qi Xuansu was taken aback for a moment, then said, “Yes. But the premise of all this is that the Daoist Order must be willing to cooperate with the Western Daoist Order. If the Daoist Order chooses to isolate them, then the outcome becomes uncertain. Sometimes, even a leader is not entirely in control. It’s not because they don’t want development. It depends on the other people’s stance as well.”

Sage Qingwei asked, “Then why should the Daoist Order help the Western Daoist Order?”

Qi Xuansu replied, “We share the same origin and depend on each other for survival. To put it plainly, brothers help one another. If the elder brother prospers, shouldn’t he lend a hand to his younger brother?”

Sage Qingwei chuckled. “If we are brothers of the same origin, why eat from separate pots? Why not become one family and share a single pot?”

Qi Xuansu understood immediately. “Of course, that would be ideal. But there are many issues that won’t be easy to resolve. The Daoist Order and the Western Daoist Order are one family, but Tawantin and the Central Plains are not. In Nanyang, at least half the population descends from Central Plains migrants, and their ties as tributary states go back generations. There’s a foundation there, so sharing one pot is feasible. But we have no common ground with Tawantin. Forcing everyone to eat from the same pot might end up with half-cooked rice, which will lead to an upset stomach.”

Sage Qingwei said, “Where there’s human effort, there’s possibility. If you never try, it will never succeed.”

Qi Xuansu said, “I’m just concerned the step might be too large—”

Sage Qingwei cut him off. “It’s not mistakes you should fear, but inaction. If you never step forward, how can there be development? Development is like crossing the river by feeling the stones.”

Qi Xuansu glanced at the draft resting on the table, fell silent for a moment, then said, “Perhaps I should go back and think it over again?”

Sage Qingwei nodded. “There’s no harm in thinking more.”

Qi Xuansu picked up the draft and stood to take his leave.

Shen Yuqing personally escorted him out.

But Qi Xuansu remained silent the entire way, barely interacting with this chief secretary. It was his way of silently expressing dissatisfaction.

Back in his office, Qi Xuansu crumpled the draft into a ball and threw it onto the floor.

Following behind him, Chen Jianchou picked up the draft and said softly, “Chief Deputy...”

Qi Xuansu took a deep breath to steady himself. “It seems I’ll have to disappoint Huangfu Ji’s earnest expectations.”

Chen Jianchou said, “Sage Huangfu will understand your difficulties.” 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Qi Xuansu kept silent. Instead, he pulled out a strip of fine paper from the cabinet, spread it across the desk, and smoothed it out with paperweights.

Chen Jianchou hurriedly added water and began grinding the ink.

Qi Xuansu lifted his brush and fell into deep thought.

More than one person had taught him to restrain his emotions. If he wished to ease his mind, he could practice calligraphy.

Over the past two years, Qi Xuansu had practiced a little in his spare time. A man skilled with a blade and sword would not be clumsy with a brush either. Though he dared not compare himself to masters, his work was presentable.

He was no longer the Qi Xuansu at the Wanxiang Daoist Palace who once made a fool of himself before Yao Pei.

Soon, Chen Jianchou finished grinding the ink. Qi Xuansu dipped his brush fully and hesitated to begin until a drop of ink fell and blotted the paper.

Seeing this, Chen Jianchou moved to replace the sheet.

Qi Xuansu raised a hand to stop him. “No need.”

Then, using that same ink blot, he wrote, “Deep problems require long preparation.”

The phrase was written in one continuous flow. Qi Xuansu casually tossed the brush into the washer and examined the piece.

Standing beside him, Chen Jianchou also looked at the calligraphy and said, “There’s anger in your strokes, Chief Deputy. The brush edge cuts like a blade.”

Being a secretary was no easy task. One had to flatter and accurately read the superior’s mind.

At this moment, Chen Jianchou figured that things between the Chief Deputy and Hall Master had not gone smoothly.

Qi Xuansu tested him. “Why do you think there’s anger in it?”

Chen Jianchou replied, “One who seeks to rule the world must be well-prepared. Without proper preparation, unification can never be obtained. Without committing to benevolent governance, one will live in anxiety and disgrace, never achieving unity until death.”

Qi Xuansu nodded. “Good. If sixty-forty won’t work, then seventy-thirty. Seal it with my stamp.”

Chen Jianchou took out Qi Xuansu’s personal seal, pressed it firmly into the vermilion ink, blew on it lightly, then stamped it neatly in the upper-right corner of the scroll.

Qi Xuansu instructed, “Send this to Huangfu Ji. He’ll understand. No need to be discreet about it.”