Bringing apples as a token of concern for my safety is fitting, but are they truly wishing me well, or is this another way of saying "farewell"?
The Chairman mused inwardly.
Then.
He thought about it and decided to get up. Now that Zhang Wei had refined a national-level artifact, if the international forums and keyboard warriors found out he hadn't met Zhang Wei, they would surely make a fuss.
There was no choice.
The Chairman had to meet Zhang Wei personally.
Soon.
In the reception hall.
"Mr. Zhang Wei, look at what you brought. You're too kind. Congratulations on refining a national-level artifact yesterday. I could feel it from home, haha."
"Haha, it was just luck. My success was also because the Chairman kept his word and gave me the artifact. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had the chance to show off. I came today specifically to thank the Chairman, so I just brought a little something."
Zhang Wei smiled and handed the fruit basket to the Chairman.
The Chairman: "..."
One could see.
The Chairman's expression was like the popular internet meme, "Smiling on the outside, but a mess on the inside." As he took the fruit basket from Zhang Wei, he felt its weight as if it were Mount Tai. Someone gave him a basket of fruit, and in return, he had to give away a national-level artifact. His heart ached at the thought.
Just as the Chairman was contemplating how to cherish and consume this "precious" fruit, Zhang Wei's voice reached him.
"Chairman, I've come today not only to thank you but also to ask for your help."
"Uh... what kind of help."
"I'd like to ask the Chairman to help me find powerful ghosts in the Land of Thieves, preferably strong ones, half-step national-level. If that's not possible, then top-tier ghost kings. Since I've refined a national-level artifact, I want to test its power."
The Chairman: "..."
Not only the Chairman but also his assistants fell silent. "Xi Ba, you used the artifact I gave you to refine a national-level artifact, and now you want me to help you find ghosts to test its power? Where is the humility that the Great Xia people are known for?"
However.
Zhang Chao, standing beside Zhang Wei, seemed oblivious to the Chairman's silence and said with a smile:
"A national-level artifact must have immense power. Damn, in all my life, I've never seen a national-level artifact. Chairman, you must have seen them before, right? Can you tell me how powerful a national-level artifact is? Oh, right!"
Zhang Chao lightly tapped his other palm with one hand and suggested:
"Chairman, could you come with us? Help Zhang Wei see the power of the national-level artifact he refined. You've seen national-level artifacts, so you can provide a reference for us to compare and see if Zhang Wei's national-level artifact has any gaps compared to other national-level artifacts, and if it's considered qualified."
"You're not asking me to see if it's qualified, you want to make me angry and slap me in the face on the spot," the Chairman thought to himself.
However.
Outwardly, he couldn't fault Zhang Chao, as Zhang Chao was a junior and a successor of the Maoshan sect. He could only clear his throat and say:
"I have indeed seen national-level artifacts. I believe the artifact Mr. Zhang Wei refined is indeed a national-level artifact; the aura is correct, and its power should not be far off."
The Chairman refused the suggestion, not wanting to be embarrassed.
In response.
Zhang Chao, with the eager and honest demeanor of a young junior, continued:
"Chairman, don't praise Zhang Wei so much, or he'll get arrogant. Actually, I think Zhang Wei's refined artifact might not be a national-level artifact. It just has a similar aura, so I'm curious and followed along to see.
"And I heard my father say that the Chairman of the Banfa Association in the Land of Thieves is very knowledgeable. Chairman, why don't you come along? Help us authenticate it."
Zhang Wei also chimed in:
"Yes, Chairman, please help us authenticate it. With your vast knowledge, you'll surely be able to discern the quality of the artifact I made and give us an evaluation, so I can brag to my friends."
With their words.
Zhang Wei and Zhang Chao both looked at Wunian.
Wunian felt a mix of amusement and exasperation, knowing exactly what Zhang Wei and Zhang Chao meant. They wanted him to help them, to say a few words. He couldn't help but sigh, clasp his hands together, and say:
"Amitabha, benefactor Chairman, I, this humble monk, am also very curious about the artifact Zhang Wei refined. Please help authenticate it, Chairman, as you are one of the most authoritative ghost exorcists in the Land of Thieves."
Faced with the flattery and praise from Zhang Wei and the other two, who had essentially put him on the spot, the Chairman's mouth twitched. He knew that if he refused now, it would be seen as him being unappreciative.
There was no choice.
Finally, under the relentless flattery of Zhang Wei and the other two, the Chairman "smilingly" agreed to Zhang Wei's proposal to help them find ghosts and witness the power of Zhang Wei's artifact.
"Then it's settled, Chairman. We'll wait for you to find the ghosts. I have class this afternoon, so I'll be going back now."
Having received his answer, Zhang Wei didn't linger. Without further ado, he chose to slip away.
Seeing this.
Let alone the Chairman, even the assistants and others could tell that Zhang Wei and the other two were here to stir up trouble, clearly intending to retaliate for the Chairman giving Zhang Wei a damaged half-step national-level artifact. They had come to settle the score.
"Xi Ba, is Zhang Wei from Great Xia? What happened to Great Xia people being humble and polite? Why is he so cunning?"
"This Zhang Wei is so disgusting. He's deliberately retaliating against the Chairman."
"Heaven protect us, I hope Zhang Wei's refined artifact is just for show and not actually useful."
"Do you think that's possible? The aura of that national-level artifact can't be fake. It can't be that bad."
"Alas, we can only think positively. At least Zhang Wei is retaliating with an artifact, not something else."
"Not necessarily. What if... the many 'Chairmen' that have appeared recently are also Zhang Wei's doing?"
"Impossible. Zhang Wei has been under our surveillance, and we've never seen him interact with ghosts. If he hasn't interacted, how could he be causing trouble? Do you think he's God? He's good at cultivation and artifact refining, but does he have other skills too? He's not omnipotent."
The Chairman listened to the conversation of his assistants. The thought of multiple 'Chairmen' causing trouble abroad made his eyelids twitch uncontrollably.
Subsequently.
The Chairman waved his hand, interrupting their conversation, and said:
"Alright, stop talking. Zhang Wei's visit is clearly a retaliation against me, wanting to embarrass me. But he's still too young; his methods of retaliation are childish, not as sinister as that damned guy who created multiple 'me'."
Before he finished speaking.
He looked at his assistant and said:
"Go find me some powerful ghosts. Since Zhang Wei wants to retaliate against me, I can't just wait to die. Find me extremely powerful ones, so powerful that even Zhang Wei with a national-level artifact would find them troublesome. Then, when Zhang Wei can't win, he'll have to ask for my help. I'll then step in and deal with them, making it seem like I'm putting aside past grievances and salvaging some dignity."
...