Sage Qingwei added, “Truthfully, Deputy Hall Master Zhang would be a more suitable choice for this kind of matter. After all, she once served in Beichen Hall and has handled several major cases with great success. However, since this case involves the Zhengyi Sect, and given that she is both a Zhang family descendant and from the Cihang lineage, she ought to recuse herself. Tian Yuan, you’re from the Quanzhen Sect, so be sure to act impartially and leave no room for criticism. As per protocol, don’t inform Deputy Hall Master Zhang for now.”1

Qi Xuansu responded solemnly, “Understood.”0

To make arrests and conduct investigations, the first prerequisite was manpower. Qi Xuansu could not do it all alone.0

Qi Xuansu requested several personnel from Sage Qingwei, mainly Han Yongfeng from the Liaodong Daoist Mansion, Li Mingshan from the Ciji Hall, Lu Yuting from the Huasheng Hall, Tang Yongshui from the Tianji Hall, and Qian Daren from the Tiangang Hall.0

Technically, none of these individuals hailed from Beichen Hall or Fengxian Hall, making them less than ideal. However, since two of them were affiliated with the Taiping Sect—deemed...0