Within the Mystic Gate, the Three Pure Ones were as one. Laozi believed he could speak for the Three Pure Ones.
Jieyin was merely a Nominal Disciple whose heart leaned toward the West. In the end, he was still an outsider.
Bei Ming was close to Nüwa and had effectively become another major force within the Mystic Gate.
The Way of Non-Action did not mean doing nothing at all.
More precisely, it meant, "The Dao was ever non-active, yet nothing was left undone."
It meant acting in accordance with natural laws and following nature's course, rather than acting recklessly or arbitrarily.
Laozi had no intention of forcefully controlling his junior brother and Junior Sister.
But he had to ensure that, at crucial moments, his status as Senior Brother would allow him to make the final decision.
Just now, when the Immortal Court and the Demon Race had clashed fiercely, Queen Mother of the West had used only the Kunlun Mirror and had not produced the Pure Water Bowl.
Moreover, when the Demon Race had fought the Mystic Gate, Bei Ming had actually taken the initiative to stop Di Jun.
All of this gave Laozi a vague realization.
He had already guessed that Queen Mother of the West had likely sought help not only from the Three Pure Ones, but had also visited Bei Ming.
And among all the things Queen Mother of the West possessed, aside from the Kunlun Mirror, only the Pure Water Bowl could have persuaded Bei Ming to intervene.
Thus, Laozi guessed that the two sides had reached a deal.
By bringing up the Pure Water Bowl now, he was testing the extent to which Bei Ming acknowledged him as Senior Brother.
Of course, Laozi also knew that Hongjun would most likely not reclaim the Dragon Head