Subjectively, Definitely Not; Objectively, Perhaps It Exists

Liu Yaoqing hurriedly helped Su Yuan up, only to find that the immortal essence within him was circulating sluggishly, as though it had been sealed.

"Oh, my Lord Su, where did you go drinking with courtesans this time? Looks like you had quite an open-minded good time!"

He tried to break the seal, poking at Su Yuan for ages, but the seal would not budge. Sweat beaded across his brow as he bent close to Su Yuan's ear and said:

"President Su! Wake up, quickly! There's trouble!"

"That new Deputy Director Wang from the Infrastructure Office has gone mad or something—he's cracking down hard on attendance and discipline!"

"He gave a dead order: during the project push, all management personnel must eat and sleep at the construction site, spending every night in the project's prefab dorms! You came back from leave yesterday, but you never showed up at the project site. That makes two days you haven't returned!"

"Director Wang is holding an all-staff meeting in the main conference room right now! He's specifically looking to make an example out of someone! What are you going to do?"

Liu Yaoqing was frantic. Seeing that he could not wake Su Yuan and not daring to delay any longer, he gritted his teeth and summoned every ounce of strength he had, half dragging and half carrying the drunken, limp-as-mud Su Yuan toward the conference room.

After finally staggering to the rear entrance of the conference room, Liu Yaoqing was just about to quietly move Su Yuan into a corner at the back when a cold snort came from the podium.

"Hmph!"

The entire conference room instantly fell silent. Every project manager and technical lead from the Infrastructure Office turned their eyes toward them in unison.

Director Wang was not very old. His originally fair face had flushed red, and he slammed a hand down on the table.

"Bang!"

"Look! Everyone, take a good look! This is what the immortals of our Heavenly Court Infrastructure Office are like! This is the spirit and bearing of a project manager for one of our key projects!"

Director Wang raised his voice.

"Disorganized! Undisciplined! Lawless! You came drunk to a workplace safety meeting? What kind of conduct is that?"

He pointed at Su Yuan, his tone aggressive.

"Manager Su, it seems that taking that long leave to handle your affairs was quite exhausting for you, hmm? So exhausting that you needed to sleep drunk for two days to recover from the fatigue? The Southern Heavenly Gate project schedule is pressing down on us, yet as project manager, you have been absent from your post for so long! Where have you been putting your mind? Do you think the project will keep turning without you? Or do you think Heavenly Court's rules and regulations cannot touch you?"

Liu Yaoqing's face went pale with fright. He secretly leaned toward Su Yuan's ear and urgently whispered:

"President Su, wake up. At least say something."

"This Director Wang is the son born when Zhu Tianlin of the Plague Bureau's wife's younger sister descended to the mortal world to undergo her tribulation. His backing is incredibly strong."

"I heard he came down here to gild himself, pick fights, and establish his authority. He's not someone to provoke. Please, just lower your head a little."

Director Wang had clearly noticed Liu Yaoqing's little movements and sneered.

"What are you whispering about? What can't be said openly? Manager Su, you certainly put on airs. Do people have to invite you personally? Come!"

He pointed to an empty seat beside the podium.

"Sit up here! Let everyone have a good look and learn from you!"

Su Yuan was pressed into the seat on the podium by Director Wang. He shifted around, finding it unbearably uncomfortable, so he simply took off his boots, propped his feet on the table, tipped back his head, and went to sleep.

The entire conference room was as silent as the grave.

The only sound was the grinding of Director Wang's back teeth, making a "crack-crack" sound.

Everyone instantly lowered their heads, staring fixedly at the jade slips before them. No one even dared to breathe.

Director Wang's face instantly turned the color of pig's liver.

Yet after his rage peaked, an idea suddenly flashed through his mind.

Being muddleheaded is good! Muddleheaded is exactly what I need!

Director Wang sneered inwardly.

Perfect. I'll make you misspeak right in front of everyone!

Some things can't convict you when they come from my mouth, but if they come from your own mouth, that's another matter entirely.

"Some of our immortals," his gaze swept across the audience without looking directly at Su Yuan, "rely on their seniority and the tiny, insignificant merits they once earned, then grow smug and complacent, form cliques, and engage in this little hilltop factionalism! Do they still have any regard for organizational discipline? Huh?"

He asked in a half-mocking tone:

"Manager Su, I heard that our Infrastructure Office has some so-called 'Elder Alliance'? It seems to be led by you, Su Yuan? Is that true?"

Though Su Yuan was not fully conscious, an old bureaucrat's instinctive sense of danger made him catch the bait. He muttered vaguely:

"Director... listen to what you're saying. Our Heavenly Court hangs high beyond the Thirty-Third Heaven, above the clouds, where immortal energy drifts in the air. Where would mountains come from? No... no hilltops..."

Director Wang was choked by the retort. Fury surged up in him again, but he immediately forced it back down—

He could not argue over words with a drunk. What he needed was testimony!

He immediately seized on the opening and continued to coax out a confession, his tone becoming heavier.

"Fine, no hilltops. Then what about this 'Elder Alliance'? This faction didn't spring from thin air, did it? Is there one or not?!"

Su Yuan spoke slowly.

"The Elder Alliance? Subjectively, it definitely doesn't exist. Objectively... perhaps it does."

His words were vague and evasive. He neither clearly admitted it nor completely denied it. It seemed he had said something, yet it also seemed he had said nothing.

He had already reached the highest realm of speaking: speaking as though not speaking.

Director Wang completely lost it. "You!" He shot to his feet in rage.

"What do you mean by that?! What kind of attitude is that? Huh? You—"

He suddenly turned toward the entire room, his face iron-gray as he roared:

"Clearly, Manager Su Yuan is severely drunk! He is utterly incapable of recognizing the seriousness of his own mistakes! His attitude is exceptionally vile! Therefore, I announce that Su Yuan, manager of the Southern Heavenly Gate Project Department, is suspended from duty as of today pending self-examination! Execute this immediately! Reflect deeply on your problems of forming cliques, disregarding discipline, and neglecting your duties! Write a formal self-criticism, and have it publicly circulated at an all-staff meeting within the office!"

He paused, a vicious glint flashing through his eyes.

"Furthermore, I will formally transfer today's meeting records and relevant leads to the Thunder Bureau Inspection Group for investigation! Two strongmen, come and drag him away!"

The moment those words fell, everyone below the podium went pale!

Suspension and self-criticism were still matters that could be handled internally, but handing him over to the Thunder Bureau Inspection Group?

Who did not know the methods of those Thunder Bureau bastards?

Under the Great Memory Restoration Technique, what confession could they not obtain?

This was practically treating Su Yuan like someone from the Western Sect!

But this was the Southern Heavenly Gate Project Department. What strongman would dare go up and drag Su Yuan away?

Wherever Director Wang's gaze landed, the project managers below all watched their noses, their noses watched their hearts, and no one moved.

Who did not know that the Southern Heavenly Gate project manager had wild connections, broad contacts, and a black hand?

Seeing that no one dared move, Director Wang simply decided to act personally, planning to use a spell to drag Su Yuan away.

"Creak—"

The conference room doors suddenly swung wide open.

A middle-aged immortal in a dark ceremonial uniform, with an ordinary face, stepped inside calmly.

Director Wang was just about to open his mouth and rebuke him when an old project manager near the door caught sight of the newcomer first. He abruptly pushed back his chair, rose to his feet, and bowed deeply.

"Greetings, Director Cao!"

Like floodwater washing over a beach, amid the clatter of chairs, figures rose one after another along the path the man had taken, bowing in greeting.

"Director Cao!"

"Good day, Director!"