Xu Lingkong did not answer Hu Xiaotian's question. He turned and walked away, leaving Hu Xiaotian with the bleak, lonely sight of his retreating back.
Hu Xiaotian called after him, "Senior!"
Xu Lingkong did not look back.
"Grandfather! Take care!"
Xu Lingkong's steps faltered. He nodded and said quietly, "A word of advice: stay away from Hong Beimo."
Yang Lingqi's surgery had been very successful, but he would be unable to use his hands for another few days. Hu Xiaotian told him to remain at Fengyi Manor for the time being to recuperate. Yang Lingqi was clearly uneasy. Hu Xiaotian would probably face pressure from every quarter on this return to the Kang Capital. Although Yang Lingqi could not move his hands, his mind still worked perfectly well. He could help Hu Xiaotian assess the situation and offer advice.
Hu Xiaotian understood his concerns and reassured him with a smile. "I'm not going back to take office or seek revenge. I just want to have a look at home. I left in such a hurry that I left a lot of things behind."
Yang Lingqi said, "Prefect, could you tell me frankly whether you intend to take charge of the Divine Strategy Office when you return?"
Hu Xiaotian said, "The Divine Strategy Office is just a name. Right now, only Big Brother Zhou is there running things. Princess Yongyang may be full of ambition and eager to recruit talented people, but with Great Kang in its present state, what capable person would still come? Who would want to support a dynasty on the verge of collapse?" The Divine Strategy Office had been established for some time, but its development had fallen short of expectations. It had originally been divided into five divisions-Wind, Rain, Thunder, Lightning, and Stars-but its core members