Chapter Seventeen: Ancient Times Were Never as Comfortable as the Modern Age

Outside the floor-to-ceiling window, the garden bloomed with a riot of flowers, the dazzling sunlight casting a lazy glow—an ideal moment for leisure. Bai Yujing, brimming with enthusiasm, gathered Nangong Lin and Lucia and set up a game of Dou Di Zhu in the imperial study.

This game, sweeping through the empire, along with the deck of cards itself, was his creation. Even the earliest blueprints for electricity, automobiles, computers, and the internet had been drawn by him before being realized by the research teams under his command.

Having experienced the conveniences of modern civilization, he longed for this kind of comfort far more than the life of an ancient emperor.

“A pair of twos,” Bai Yujing declared, tossing down two cards and sweeping his gaze over his two opponents.

Nangong Lin remained indifferent, shaking her head slightly to pass. Lucia, however, was entirely different.

Her brows furrowed as she unconsciously rubbed a few cards in her hand, her eyes flitting back and forth between the cards and Bai Yujing’s face. The internal struggle was almost written all over her expression.

To Bai Yujing, her demeanor revealed the answer: she was surely holding a bomb that could beat the pair of twos.

This commander of the imperial guards was transparent in every way except when it came to “slacking off.” Her expressions betrayed her feelings—when holding good cards, a slight smile; when dealt poor ones, her face immediately fell. And when holding cards that could beat Bai Yujing, like now, that conflicted expression could no longer be hidden.

Her ascendancy to the position of imperial guard commander owed much to Bai Yujing’s personnel philosophy: professionals should do what they do best. Educators must understand education; artists must have culture. As for legion commanders and imperial guard leaders—positions demanding frontline combat—competence in battle alone sufficed.

Complex administrative paperwork? That could be delegated to deputies.

Among the empire’s thirteen legion commanders, versatile talents like Fifth Legion Commander Lan Hao, who excelled both in combat and administration, were rare.

“No, thanks,” Lucia finally decided after much hesitation, opting to keep her bomb cards.

Bai Yujing seized the moment to play a straight sequence.

Nangong Lin’s hand appeared weak again; she calmly shook her head to pass.

Lucia’s eyes lit up, as if sensing an opportunity at last, and she swiftly laid down four threes: “Four threes! Bomb!”

“Pass,” Bai Yujing responded, spreading his hands.

Lucia was about to follow up with a pair when—

“Saint,” Nangong Lin’s avatar, seated behind the crescent-shaped desk handling administrative affairs, suddenly looked up. “The National Police Headquarters Director has sent an urgent report. A suspected magic user with superpowers was spotted in the Eleventh Administrative District. The Director requests instructions: should we arrest immediately or conduct covert surveillance?”

Upon hearing this, Bai Yujing instantly abandoned the card game, rising swiftly to the computer. His fingers danced across the keyboard as he issued orders: “Begin with covert surveillance. Find out who he is in contact with. If at any point it appears he intends to drain others’ vitality, arrest him without hesitation!”

He then summoned the suspect’s dossier provided by the Director.

Fukuhara Tomoki, sixty-two years old, high-level extraordinary, external-type superhuman.

Born in Choshu Suo City, Eleventh District, 23-4.

Currently residing at 36-2 Setagawa, New Capital.

Freelancer.

An avid consumer of bizarre short videos, frequently visits certain websites, with a preference for “mother and son” themed literature.

His life record was unremarkable, nothing noteworthy.

Recent movements showed his activity confined mostly within New Capital’s urban area.

“Could an otherworldly demon choose someone like this as a minion?” Bai Yujing pondered.

“I’m also unclear about the criteria for selecting a demon host,” Nangong Lin replied cautiously. “But the amplification bestowed by a demon seed is tremendous. Besides super-strong regeneration, perception is greatly enhanced. Ordinary surveillance methods might not evade his detection.”

“Rest assured,” Bai Yujing said confidently. “I recall the search team dispatched to the Eleventh District includes a heterodox superhuman whose specialty is stealth surveillance. There’s no chance of exposure.”

His “laziness” rested on the foundation of absolute control over the broader situation—not neglect.

He had all the core members and their abilities of the administrative district search teams memorized.

Nangong Lin nodded slightly and fell silent.

Once Bai Yujing received confirmation, he handed the administrative duties back to his avatar.

As long as no major funding approvals or core decisions were involved, daily affairs could be entrusted to the Nangong Lin avatar he had “trained” to handle them skillfully.

After all, most reports submitted by the cabinet and legion commanders were well-processed proposals that required no further problem-solving on his part.

…

As noon approached, Bai Yujing’s thoughts drifted from the card game to lunch.

Eating was no longer a matter of survival nutrition for him, but as one of life’s great pleasures, fine cuisine could never be neglected.

The empire’s vast territory offered a rotating feast of delicacies, never repeating from one year to the next.

At this moment, he already imagined the rich, enticing aroma and texture of braised bear paw.

“We…” he was about to suggest a pause in the game when—

“Saint, there is a proposal requiring your personal review and decision,” Nangong Lin’s avatar spoke again.

“What proposal?”

“The governor of the Second Administrative District requests legislation to guarantee the people’s freedom to choose their gender within the district, aiming to protect vulnerable individuals suffering from gender dysphoria,” the avatar reported clearly.

Bai Yujing’s brows knitted deeply. “I recall that just the day before yesterday, the Second District’s Texas area suffered a once-in-a-century flood?”

“Yes, one hundred thirty-two people are missing.”

“The disaster is far from resolved, and yet they have the leisure to submit this kind of proposal?” His voice turned cold. “It seems Donovan no longer wishes to serve!”

After some thought, he decided to seize this opportunity to thoroughly cleanse the Second District of those overly active factions who, under the banner of ‘freedom,’ stirred trouble.

Bai Yujing never opposed freedom or democracy, but he opposed those who shouted such ideals while conducting nothing but business behind the scenes.

Especially in recent years, the Second District had reported bizarre parades, hinting at a drift toward “gender diversity.”

In his great Han Empire, nonsense like “armed helicopter” as a gender would never be tolerated.

Suddenly rising, Bai Yujing strode to the desk, picked up the dedicated landline, and pressed a button for direct connection.

Gao Jinzhong’s voice came through immediately, respectful: “Saint, what are your orders?”

“Summon the Prime Minister to see me at once!”

“As you command!”

Gao Jinzhong’s reply was brisk and resolute.

Bai Yujing never scolded subordinate officials beyond their level.

After all, one must earn the privilege of being reprimanded face to face by the Saint himself.