Chapter 19

Long Langbai is a figure whom no one in the Demon Palace dares to mention directly these days.

He is the biological grandson of the former Palace Master, Granny Longxin, and the sole blood descendant of the founding Palace Master. By all logic, he should have been the successor to the Demon Palace after her passing. Yet, Granny Longxin handed the Demon Palace over to an outsider with her own hands. Even Long Langbai, the young master, has been reduced to an errand boy working under this "outsider," scurrying about all day long without anyone quite knowing what he is busy with.

The title of "Special Assistant" sounds impressive, but after observing for over half a month, it is clear he is merely running errands and relaying messages for Qin Jun, possessing no real decision-making power. To the point that the people of the Demon Palace are beginning to forget there even is a young master named Long Langbai.

And now—

"Feasibility Analysis Report on the Demon Palace Water Resource Potential Excavation Project"?

Building dams, digging canals... what exactly are Qin Jun and Long Langbai plotting together?

The others exchanged glances, instinctively feeling that this could not be a good thing.

Duan Wujiu’s expression was unreadable, though he occasionally lifted his eyes to look at Long Langbai. Granny Longxin had been a benefactor to many in the Demon Palace, so the people there had always held a favorable view of Long Langbai. During the time he had managed the palace, they had given him some face. But ever since Palace Master Qin Jun ascended, Long Langbai’s existence had become awkward. He always trailed behind Qin Jun, showing none of the bearing of a young master; he looked like a dog following its owner, wagging its tail foolishly before even catching a scent of a bone.

Watching the slight flush on Long Langbai’s face in response to Qin Jun’s encouraging look, Duan Wujiu looked away, unable to bear the sight.

The Demon Palace was likely finished; he should start looking for a way out... Of the remaining seventeen organizations, which would be the best to join?

For the next quarter of an hour, Long Langbai laid out the details of the other seventeen outsider organizations in the Demon Realm with absolute clarity. He covered personnel transfers, recent mining progress for each, the yields of new pits, the disposal of slag, trade relations with the "outside world," who was leading whom, and which sects maintained the closest ties with them...

He even extrapolated the water needs of each sect based on this information and assessed the feasibility of the project.

The other Hall Masters listened in stunned silence.

None of this was secret information; it could be known without much effort. But this was the first time they had heard it presented so clearly and structurally. Layer upon layer, it was as if he had stripped away everything, down to the color of the undergarments their rivals were wearing that day.

Long Langbai fully demonstrated the professional standards of a "Special Assistant." His brilliant, highly professional, yet seemingly bewildering analytical report left those who had previously thought they were doing a good job feeling ashamed and red-faced.

"...That concludes all the intelligence I have gathered." Long Langbai smiled, revealing a hint of a canine tooth.

Qin Jun offered three claps of applause and poured a cup of tea for Long Langbai. "Now that is a qualified business situation report."

Pei Yan and Xie Wangfei kept their heads down, stunned by the immense progress Long Langbai had made in just one month.

Long Langbai scratched his head. "It’s all thanks to Sister’s guidance. Following her instructions for market research made it effortless."

Fieldwork for intelligence was far more comfortable than staying in the Lanqing Hall writing daily reports all day. Lately, the other outsider organizations had been restless, stirring at the borders of the Demon Palace, trying to sniff out news. Every time he went out, he would easily eavesdrop on a few conversations, gather the intel, and then organize it according to Qin Jun’s framework. A perfect intelligence summary was born.

Qin Jun tapped her fingertips against the desktop, one after another, making everyone’s hearts tremble.

The situation across the Demon Realm was much as she had anticipated. Almost everyone relied on the single industry of mining demon crystals for their livelihood; the only difference was the distributors each organization used outside the Demon Realm.

Take the Demon Palace, for example: because of its high output and stable quality control, it was the supplier for seven medium-sized sects. The Slaughter Saint Sect, which had injured Pei Yan, was trying to snatch business away from the Demon Palace, which is why they had raided the old Grade-B mine—known for its stable quality and excellent variety—and even stolen the tools used for extracting demon crystals.

"What are your thoughts?" Qin Jun asked.

Thoughts? What thoughts? Hadn't she had Long Langbai investigate in such detail specifically to shut them up and proceed with implementation? Why ask them now?

Duan Wujiu said, "Since the Palace Master has already made a decision, why waste time on us?"

"Hall Master Yanyue," Qin Jun said, "please recite Article 17 of Chapter 1 of the newly revised Demon Palace Management Regulations."

Yanyue was the primary person in charge of revising the regulations. Hearing Qin Jun call her, her brain hadn't even processed the request before the words spilled out: "Article 17, Chapter 1 of the Demon Palace Management Regulations: Major matters and resolutions of the Demon Palace must be submitted for consideration. They must be voted upon by a Board of Directors consisting of the seven Hall Masters, and require a two-thirds majority to pass."

Qin Jun smiled, lightning flickering faintly in the air. "Hall Masters, please raise your hands to vote."

What a polite way to phrase an incredibly impolite attitude.

The Hall Masters didn't know whether to exchange glances, so they tremblingly raised their hands.

Applause rang out, and the lightning vanished. Qin Jun stood up. "Congratulations, Resolution No. 1 of the current year has passed unanimously. The implementation of this project will undoubtedly lead the Demon Palace into a brand-new phase."

The others followed suit with applause, falling into a state of self-doubt amidst the enthusiastic clapping.

System: "Why did the host insist on a vote?"

"This is an embodiment of promoting the spirit of democracy and implementing democratic centralism," Qin Jun said.

The system was unconvinced, and Qin Jun couldn't be bothered to explain. As long as the form was followed and the result matched expectations, as for the process—

Did it really matter?

Amidst the applause, Qin Jun smiled. "The construction of the dam is not just the Demon Palace's business; it concerns the entire Demon Realm. We will be negotiating with other outsider organizations later. You may all prepare accordingly."

The seven Hall Masters, previously lost in confusion, were suddenly struck by a vision of grand prosperity. Excited by her simple words, their blood began to boil, and as they looked at each other, their eyes filled with obvious wariness.

...

Since the resolution to build the dam passed the board, Qin Jun had become elusive, busy as a dragon among the clouds. The other Hall Masters wanted to make their presence felt, but they couldn't even find the person they needed to impress.

No one knew what Qin Jun was busy with these days. But no matter what she was doing, it didn't stop the Hall Masters from stepping on each other's toes.

It was break time. The Hall Masters who didn't have classes were gathered in a uniform line, squatting on the corridor outside the classroom, eyes darting everywhere, mouths spouting nonsense, while their ears were pricked up to listen for any movement from the Palace Master’s office.

"Resolution No. 1" was a massive project that would inevitably require vast funds and resources. Furthermore, it involved negotiations and cooperation with other organizations—a perfect opportunity to boost end-of-year performance and assessment ratings that could not be missed.

The Palace Master couldn't possibly go to meetings with other organizations alone, right? She would surely need to bring two people along for appearances. That was the opportunity.

Pei Yan was determined to win a spot; Yanyue was indifferent, but simply didn't want Pei Yan to get his way. Xie Wangfei didn't care about being a figurehead; he only cared about whether his artifact-refining scheme would be adopted for the dam. As for the rest, some were driven by simple competitiveness, some were there to watch the show, and others were just tagging along to avoid being left out.

*Dong—*

The bell rang. Class time had arrived. Amidst the schadenfreude of the others, Xie Wangfei stood up, emotionlessly clutched his teaching plan, and walked into the classroom.

*I hope none of you get to go,* he thought resentfully.

Zhu Changliu withdrew his gaze. *A bunch of boring people,* he thought.

Zhu Changliu sat in the seat closest to the back door of the classroom.

Since the demon spikes had been upgraded, he could no longer skip class by faking his check-in. If Zhu Changliu wanted to survive the employee training assembly and stay in the Demon Palace, he had no choice but to show up at the classroom on time.

Entering through the main gate of the Lanqing Hall, one would pass a corridor that led to both Qin Jun’s office and the classroom for employee training.

From there, he could see the activity in the corridor and catch glimpses of the office's movements through the reflection in the window.

There was no sound at all.

Except for those few idle Hall Masters squatting in the corridor playing cards.

Zhu Changliu slumped on his desk, shifted his position, and after a moment, turned back again, his eyes uncontrollably drifting toward the Palace Master’s office.

Where exactly had Qin Jun gone?

It had been seven days. He had been trying to figure out Qin Jun’s patterns for seven days. He tried to understand what was going on in her head and what she wanted to do, but now he couldn't even find the person.

As the master of a palace, was it reasonable to be missing all the time?

Xie Wangfei’s voice explaining artifact refining drifted into one ear and out the other. It was a decent lecture, but he doubted anyone could understand it. Zhu Changliu slumped on his desk, yawning in boredom.

He was probably going to waste his time waiting again today. Zhu Changliu closed his eyes, preparing to take another nap.

*Creeak—*

The main gate of Lanqing Hall was pushed open, followed by hurried footsteps. He opened his eyes and saw Qin Jun striding in from outside.

In an instant, the card players, the lecturer... everyone dropped what they were doing and dashed toward the Palace Master’s office.

"Self-study for now. If you have questions, we'll discuss them next class." Xie Wangfei finished his sentence, flashed away, and headed straight for Qin Jun.

The door to the Palace Master’s office opened and closed as one person after another went inside.

Zhu Changliu sat up, staring at the closed door for a moment, then slumped back into his original position.

Less than a quarter of an hour later, those who had rushed in came out looking dejected, sighing as they headed off to who knows where. Zhu Changliu, slumped on his desk, lazily opened his eyes and stared at the open door, lost in thought.

"Want to go take a look?"

Zhu Changliu stood up; a familiar-looking person had taken the empty seat next to him.

"Pharmacist Xie Zhan, pleasure to meet you." The "Peacock" smiled and reached out a hand.

He didn't know when it started, but shaking hands had become the trend in the Demon Palace.

Zhu Changliu shook it perfunctorily. "Zhu Changliu. What do you want?"

He remembered now. This was the Demon Palace’s pharmacist, currently Qin Jun’s personal physician. What did a doctor want with him? Was he sick too?

Xie Zhan asked, "Fellow Daoist Zhu, where are you from?"

Zhu Changliu raised an eyebrow. "Jinling, Rongdu. Is that all you wanted to ask?"

Xie Zhan nodded. "Coincidentally—"

"You're from Jinling too?"

Xie Zhan: "Actually, I'm not from Jinling."

Zhu Changliu: "...What is it you actually want?"

Zhu Changliu scanned behind Xie Zhan; the door to the Palace Master’s office was still open, but Qin Jun was nowhere to be seen.

"Oh, almost forgot the point." Xie Zhan lowered his head, rummaged through his belongings for a moment, and finally pulled a bamboo tube from the medicine chest he carried with him.

He handed the tube to Zhu Changliu. "Remember to bring this when you go; don't forget. Tell her to show some restraint—no more than two pieces at a time."

Zhu Changliu was just about to ask what this was when Xie Zhan stood up, packed his medicine kit, and prepared to leave.

Xie Zhan: "Remember to take it. Oh, she's out. Go quickly."

With that, he vanished.

Zhu Changliu looked up. Qin Jun was walking out of the room, giving instructions to Long Langbai behind her.

Zhu Changliu lowered his head, looked at the bamboo tube in his hand, and, as if possessed, followed her out. He arrived at the square outside Lanqing Hall a step ahead.

He walked toward Lanqing Hall, looking nonchalant and indifferent.

By a stroke of "luck," he passed right by Qin Jun’s side.

Qin Jun was busy with handovers. She had been so busy these past few days she felt like she was flying inches off the ground. If her body hadn't been so far from a full recovery, preventing her from flying like other cultivators, she would have long ago abandoned such primitive and backward modes of transportation.

*Huh? Who just walked past?*

Qin Jun stopped in her tracks. Long Langbai, behind her, nearly bumped into her.

Qin Jun frowned, taking a closer look.

Long Langbai: "Sister? Are we not leaving?"

*Zhu Changliu? Why is he out here instead of in the hall for class?*

Qin Jun turned back. "Zhu Changliu? Are you leaving?"

*Leaving? Leaving for where?*

Qin Jun smiled. She happened to be short on manual labor; for someone to be sleepy and have a pillow delivered was a wonderful thing in this world.

Zhu Changliu: "Go do what?"

Qin Jun’s smile grew wider. "For the thousand-year foundation of the Demon Palace."

?

...What did the "thousand-year" prospects of the Demon Palace have to do with him, even by half a copper coin?