"Hmm?!"
Everyone was stunned, their faces filled with surprise. They had considered many rewards Zhang Wei might ask for, even outrageous ones like three thousand palace beauties or becoming the ruler of a small country, but they never expected Zhang Wei to state such a request.
"Who is this Qiu Xiaolin?"
"Is Zhang Wei joking? Why isn't he seeking any benefits for himself?"
Many people were murmuring.
Even the Old Master of the Huang family was taken aback. He had been prepared to use his influence and ask other elders from the five major families in the Northeast for favors, but Zhang Wei didn't intend to upgrade the鎮國級 (Zhenguo-level) magical artifacts.
"Zhang Wei, are you sure you want us to help improve the strength of the person you mentioned, Qiu Xiaolin?"
The Old Master of the Huang family looked at Zhang Wei twice and asked.
Zhang Wei nodded slightly, feeling the gazes of the Old Master of the Huang family and everyone else, understanding their thoughts:
"I believe with my abilities, I can obtain anything I want on my own. However, if I want to improve someone's strength, I need a large amount of resources. Doing it alone would still be slow. But the Huang family, as one of the five major families in the Northeast, is wealthy and has deep accumulations, possessing many treasures."
"With the Huang family's strength, it will definitely be faster to improve someone's strength than for me to painstakingly acquire resources. Therefore, I wish to ask the Huang family to help improve Qiu Xiaolin's strength."
After speaking,
Zhang Wei took a sip of the premium West Lake Longjing tea, put down the teacup, and said:
"Old Master, may I ask if the Huang family can grant me this reward?"
The Old Master of the Huang family stroked his white beard and smiled:
"If Zhang Wei, you desire this reward, my Huang family will naturally help you achieve it. Although my Huang family has been somewhat in decline in recent years, our foundations are still solid. Improving someone's strength is not difficult. Even if it cannot be done immediately, since I have promised, I will do my best to help you obtain it."
"Then I thank you, Old Master."
Zhang Wei bowed to the Old Master of the Huang family as a gesture of gratitude.
In response,
The Old Master of the Huang family quickly waved his hand and said:
"Zhang Wei, you are too kind. You found the Myriad Tai Sui for me, and this reward is nothing. In fact, I feel this reward is not enough to repay you for finding the Myriad Tai Sui for me."
The Patriarch of the Huang family also chimed in, nodding solemnly in agreement:
"What Ancestor said is correct. Zhang Wei, you saved the Old Master, which is a life-saving grace for my entire Huang family. Even if you asked for my life, or to become the Patriarch of the Huang family, I would gladly do it for decades without complaint."
"Compared to finding the Myriad Tai Sui to save the Ancestor, improving someone's strength is nothing to my Huang family. My Huang family is actually benefiting."
It was at this moment.
The Old Master of the Huang family nodded and said:
"What my Huang descendant said is right. Although I feel my life is insignificant, I still wish to continue protecting the Huang family. Your help has fulfilled my hope. How about this, I will still help you obtain the items from my old friends as I mentioned earlier, as my personal gratitude."
"As for improving the young lady named Qiu Xiaolin, she is a young lady, correct? That will be entrusted to my Huang family."
Saying this,
The Old Master of the Huang family looked at the Patriarch of the Huang family, who understood and cupped his hands:
"Yes, Ancestor."
Upon hearing this, everyone else looked at Zhang Wei with envy. Although Zhang Wei had risked his life on this trip to the Yunnan Worm Valley, even almost being swallowed by a snake, it was definitely worth it. Not only did he gain the favor of the Huang family, but he also received treasures from the elders of the five major families in the Northeast.
...
Time flew by.
Night fell.
In the Huang family's guest room where Zhang Wei was staying.
"Huh? Huahua sent me a message?"
Seeing that it was late, Zhang Wei had dinner until 11:30 PM, but he didn't choose to sleep. He planned to share the good news with Qiu Xiaolin first. He picked up his phone to check and realized Huahua had sent him a text message.
He tapped to open it.
It was from Huahua, informing him that with the assistance of his Ghost Back Tattoo, her strength had increased significantly, and she had already risen to a high position in the Senluo Division.
"Today is truly a day of continuous good news."
Zhang Wei smiled upon seeing the message.
Now that Huahua was a high-ranking official in the Senluo Division, coupled with Tailor and the others, he had unknowingly occupied half of the Senluo Division.
"However, it's still not enough. Of the three most powerful individuals in the Senluo Division, I have infiltrated one, my godmother. If I don't deal with the other two, the risk is still very high. Unfortunately, Senluo is impossible to infiltrate. As for the one codenamed Yin Yang..."
Zhang Wei recalled his previous conversation with Fatty, who had mentioned that Gardener and Yin Yang were figures in the Senluo Division who could stand on par with Senluo. They had peculiar personalities, and subduing them would be as difficult as dealing with Gardener. If Gardener wasn't his godmother, he might not have been able to subdue Gardener.
Thinking of this,
Zhang Wei murmured:
"Yin Yang is also impossible to deal with. Forget it, I won't bother with Yin Yang. I can only focus on dealing with others first. Old Master Willow, with my Ghost Back Tattoo, has also reached the Zhenguo level. When my godmother also advances to the Zhenguo level, coupled with myself, a Zhenguo level, we will have the confidence to deal with Senluo and Yin Yang."
As he unknowingly infiltrated the Senluo Division, although the Suolong Well plan was progressing smoothly, Zhang Wei felt that his own progress was equally rapid. He had infiltrated sufficiently, both at the high-level and by injecting new blood at the grassroots.
To put it bluntly,
If the Senluo Division were a joint-stock company, Zhang Wei would already hold over 50% of the shares, even more than Senluo. The only difference was that Senluo's shares held dominant administrative power. However, with further progress and the growth of Gardener's shares, he would have the opportunity to unite Gardener and other shareholders to overthrow them.
"A spiritual version of a chaebol family's inheritance struggle."
Zhang Wei chuckled and murmured.
Then,
Zhang Wei didn't idle. He sent a message to Huahua, congratulating her on her promotion to a high position in the Senluo Division.
[Huahua]: This is all thanks to Master. Without the Ghost Back Tattoo, I wouldn't have been able to improve so quickly, meow~
[Zhang Wei]: Huahua, there's no need to be modest. I only provided the strength boost, but you earned the trust of the higher-ups through your own efforts.
[Huahua]: Meow~ Thank you for the praise, Master. Then, Master, I'll continue gathering intelligence. The bugs called me to go with them to collect information about the Suolong Well. I'll report any intelligence to Master.
[Zhang Wei]: Alright.
After finishing the chat with Huahua,
Zhang Wei didn't put down his phone. He opened WeChat and sent a message to Qiu Xiaolin:
[Zhang Wei]: Little Mochi, are you there?
[Qiu Xiaolin]: Huh, Little Wei, how come you have time to message me? Didn't you just return from the Yunnan Worm Valley? Aren't you at the Huang family's appreciation banquet now? What's up, did you drink too much and miss me? Hehe.
[Zhang Wei]: Haha, as a dignified Zhenguo level expert, how could I possibly get drunk on mere baijiu? What, can't I miss you without being drunk?
[Qiu Xiaolin]: Of course, you can! Hehe, so I guessed right, Little Wei, you miss me, don't you? Here's a kiss for you~
[Zhang Wei]: Kiss~ Little Mochi, I'm not just looking for you because I miss you. I have a huge piece of good news to tell you. How about it, want to hear it?
...