The Two Ends of the Scales

Within the Affairs Hall of the Profound Residence's main hall, Xiang Chun and Xu Ying were speaking with a young scholar in his thirties. The atmosphere in the hall was rather grave.

The young scholar said solemnly, "You two Mystic Masters must know that the Divine Commandery Army lost quite a great deal in this Scholars' Deliberation. Using retraining as an excuse, they have simply withdrawn all their personnel. This is meant to embarrass the gentlemen of the Metropolitan Hall. But since the Divine Commandery Army has yielded these positions, the Profound Residence must find a way to hold them. You cannot let them have an excuse to take them back."

Xu Ying said, "Officer Guo, lately our Profound Residence has deployed nearly every hand we can spare. But the gap left behind by the Divine Commandery Army is truly too large. We cannot cover everything for the moment."

Officer Guo looked at him, then turned to Xiang Chun and said in a low voice, "The two Mystic Masters are doing this to safeguard the interests of the Protectorate Office's people. That is undoubtedly right. But it cannot be accounted for to the Metropolitan Hall. Forgive Guo for speaking too much, but what the Profound Residence needs to do now is not cover every corner. It must seize the key point and achieve one conspicuous merit. That would be more useful than doing a hundred things."

At those words, Xu Ying gave several cold laughs. "Does our Profound Residence act for merit? The lives of the Protectorate Office's people are under threat now. Should we not protect them, but instead concern ourselves with the opinions of certain people in the Metropolitan Hall? What a joke!"

Officer Guo said sternly, "I know this puts the Profound Residence in a difficult position. But circumstances dictate it. This is no longer sixty years ago. The Profound Residence must have something it can show, so that everyone in the Metropolitan Hall may believe that you Mystic Masters can do better than the Divine Commandery Army, and better preserve the Protectorate Office's stability. If the Metropolitan Hall no longer trusts you, then in the next Scholars' Deliberation, whom they will favor need not be said. You two already know."

Xu Ying was unconvinced and still wanted to say something, but Xiang Chun stretched out a hand, held him back, and shook his head at him.

Officer Guo raised his head to look at them both and said earnestly, "You two Mystic Masters, Guo knows that, given my status, I am not qualified to point fingers at the Profound Residence. But although the Divine Commandery Army has always been overbearing and tyrannical, it did block many Strange Gods and Strange Monsters. Those merits cannot be denied. That is why everyone in the Protectorate Office has tolerated them in so many ways."

Xiang Chun slowly said, "But they demand too much, and the places where they extend their hands are growing ever more numerous."

Officer Guo glanced at him and nodded. Clearly, Xiang Chun understood what he meant. Knowing there was no need to say more, he rose to his feet. "Gentlemen, this is a rare opportunity. I hope the Profound Residence can seize it. Only then will those who have long supported the Profound Residence gain greater confidence." He cupped his hands. "I have disturbed you both today. Guo shall take his leave first."

Xiang Chun said, "Junior Brother Xu, see Officer Guo out for me."

"There is no need. Please remain here, both of you."

Officer Guo politely declined their escort and walked out of the main hall. His attendant had been waiting beneath the jade stone steps. The moment he saw him, he hurried forward. "Officer, did things go smoothly?"

Officer Guo looked at the magnificent halls before him. "Let us wait and see."

The attendant asked no further questions, only saying, "Officer, I heard that Gentleman Zhang is currently within the Profound Residence. Should we go meet him?"

Officer Guo considered it. "No need. The Profound Residence has many matters to handle now. There is no need to add to their troubles. There will be opportunities later."

Within the Affairs Hall, Xu Ying paced back and forth in a fury. Seeing Xiang Chun seated there in thought, he said, "Senior Brother, what are you thinking? Do you mean to do as Guo Shang said?"

Xiang Chun said, "Junior Brother, calm yourself. I think Guo Yanjun's words do hold some reason. Under the present circumstances, this is not a bad choice."

Xu Ying stared at him in disbelief. "Senior Brother, if the Profound Residence is swayed by the Protectorate Office, can it still be called the Profound Residence?" He said indignantly, "If that is so, then whatever orders the Protectorate Office gives in the future, must we obey them all?"

Xiang Chun waved a hand at him. "Do not be so anxious. It is not as grave as you imagine. I know perfectly well what the Metropolitan Hall is thinking. We merely misjudged the situation slightly before. We did not expect the Divine Commandery Army to withdraw so thoroughly this time..."

After all, over the past sixty years, the Profound Residence's authority had continually been encroached upon by the Divine Commandery Army. Before this Scholars' Deliberation, they had only been able to maintain stability around Auspicious Light City. Now that the Divine Commandery Army had contracted its forces, they were needed everywhere in the local regions, and they were suddenly somewhat unable to cope.

After a pause, he continued, "But this is not entirely a bad thing. If the Profound Residence alone cannot fill the gap, then we can step back a little and let other parties come in to fill the hole together. Once a new order takes shape..." He smiled. "It will not be so easy for the Divine Commandery Army to return."

Xu Ying grew especially agitated. "I will never yield..." He suddenly stopped and looked at Xiang Chun. "Senior Brother, you mean..."

Xiang Chun shot him a sidelong glance. "Now you are willing to listen to me?"

Xu Ying drew a breath and sat down. "Senior Brother, speak. I am listening."

Stroking his beard, Xiang Chun said, "I have thought it over. The Judicial Office can handle many local matters. They are sufficient to deal with ordinary Strange Monsters and followers of the Other God Cult. As for the islands at sea, the Security Patrol Association can also manage them. We need only provide support when necessary. That way, we can gather together the personnel we had scattered about. It would reduce casualties and make them easier to control. Best of all, if we can destroy one or two native Strange Gods causing trouble, not only can we swiftly steady the people's hearts, but the threats faced by the people of Celestial Xia will also be greatly reduced."

Xu Ying looked at him. "Senior Brother, have you had this plan all along?"

Xiang Chun said, "I discussed it before with Junior Brother Fan, Junior Brother Wang, and the others, but we had not settled on it."

"Fine," Xu Ying said, a thought stirring in his expression. "Right, we can use this opportunity to push Bai Qingqing and Zhang Yu to the forefront as well."

Xiang Chun said, "We can give them an opportunity. But they do not yet possess much ability in battle. If there is a relatively safe target, find someone reliable to lead them and let them adapt a little first. Only then can they better serve the Profound Residence in the future."

Xu Ying stood up. "I will arrange this matter, Senior Brother. You need not concern yourself with it."

Xiang Chun reminded him solemnly, "Be careful, especially with Zhang Yu. He may be able to help us find that thing. He cannot be harmed yet."

Xu Ying said, "Rest assured, Senior Brother. Before Junior Nephew Ji succeeds, I care even more than you do about these two."

Zhang Yu had just emerged from the side hall. On his way back, he saw a group of Mystic Cultivators in Daoist robes hurrying out of the Profound Residence. He could not help recalling what Fan Lan had said earlier. At some point soon, the Profound Residence would very likely order him out to deal with various incidents and enemies.

Although the Profound Residence had said that disciples would not be forced to do anything against their will, he understood perfectly well that if he refused, he could naturally forget about receiving further teachings from the Profound Residence afterward.

It seemed this matter could not be avoided. Thinking of the Divine Commandery Army watching like tigers eyeing their prey outside, he knew that although the Profound Residence was unlikely to send him to his death and would surely have someone protect him, relying on others for protection was never as good as holding power in his own hands.

It seemed that in the coming period, I would have to put more effort into my ability in battle. If I could find the Heartlight Seal, that would be best.

He looked at a wooden box on the platform. Fan Lan had once again handed them the three seals within it in the hall.

After thinking for a moment, he reached out and opened the wooden box. He summoned the Profound Dao Chapter in his mind, then pressed the jade slip against his brow and allowed that stream of intent to pass into him.

This time, the three newly appearing seals had derived from the three seals of "eye, nose, ear." Together with the previous four seals, they formed another ring outside the Six Orthodox Seals.

Unfortunately, these three seals also had to be read according to a certain method, and his Divine Essence was insufficient once more.

At this moment, he could not help pondering what relationship these seals had with the Heartlight Seal.

The Profound Residence offered no explanation, but upon careful thought, that was perfectly normal. The New Method had abandoned the Old Method's approach of comprehending and studying the principles. All truths lay within the Seal of the Great Dao and every seal within the Seal of the Great Dao.

Thus, the Profound Residence had no need to tell anyone the precise reasons behind them. So long as one mastered the seals, one would naturally understand.

Yet in this way, when a cultivator wished to actively seek a certain seal or principle, they would be left at a loss.

After considering it, he knew the New Method was ultimately not the Old Method. He had only been exposed to the Profound Dao Chapter for a short time, and many deeply hidden secrets within it might still be beyond his reach. Presumably, only through deeper reading and contemplation would he be able to see them.

For now, finding more Divine Essence was the direction in which he needed to strive.