"Spare the time? Grant me an audience? Interesting."
Xuanji True Lord's eyes snapped open, and the corner of his mouth curved upward. "What an imposing official! He left me hanging for months, and now he expects me to wait for him?
"He's already putting on such airs as a Deputy Gentleman of the Palace. If he became a Gentleman of the Palace, wouldn't he soar straight into the heavens?"
"Well..." Yuji True Person swallowed and forced himself to continue:
"The messenger said that the Deputy Gentleman of the Palace truly cannot be in two places at once these days. He must first settle his subordinates and deal with miscellaneous affairs.
"Afterward, he must also hurry to the Central Army Camp to report to Chan Master Xuanshan, Instructor Tie Ming, Army Supervisor, and Dharma Master Wuxin... so... so he can only meet with you later, Sect Master."
"Understood." Xuanji True Lord's voice was level, betraying not the slightest ripple of joy or anger.
"Yes!" As though granted a pardon, Yuji True Person hastily bowed and withdrew.
Deathly silence returned to the quiet room.
A jade-colored halo flowed soundlessly, making Xuanji look like a deity carved from cold jade.
His fingertip trembled almost imperceptibly. Half a wisp of a jade-colored "trace of rules," finer than a strand of hair yet seemingly capable of slicing through the void, coiled between his fingers.
He was gathering momentum, and weighing his options.
That brat Qing Chen was merely fierce on the outside and weak within. He had none of Vajra's strategic vision, only a heart full of sinister schemes-nothing more than a petty man who had risen through luck.
*Now that he had gained power, he was running wild. I would endure him for a while, lest he harbor poisonous resentment and ruin my grand