Chapter 3397 — A Decisive Decision

What truly made the difference was still Wei Zhao. The founding of his Cultivator Association Alliance had brought these secular families to heel, submitting to Wei Zhao and obeying his commands—and only then did the Mysterious Investigation Bureau's words begin to carry weight.

Now, it seemed, the Mysterious Investigation Bureau was about to turn its attention to the hidden families. Should he agree, or refuse? By any reasonable reckoning, the Hidden Tang family's plea to the Mysterious Investigation Bureau amounted to extending an olive branch—but the Tang family leaned toward a partnership, where matters could be discussed, not a regime of control!

Yet Wei Zhao had already spoken his terms. To refuse, he dared not; to agree, he feared losing face for the hidden families.

"Next, I intend to expand the membership of the Cultivator Association Alliance. My Cultivator Association and the Mysterious Investigation Bureau are two signboards over one set of people. I have already appointed Qiu Lingshan as vice-chair, and she will handle these matters for me day to day." Without waiting for Tang Taizhong's reply, Wei Zhao went on: "Any hidden family that joins the Cultivator Association Alliance will enjoy my protection, but in ordinary times they will also submit to President Song's administration. Those who do not join, of course—if problems arise later, we certainly will not intervene. Our resources are limited, after all; we can only extend help to the members within our Cultivator Association Alliance. So, Elder Tang, what is your decision?"

"Ah, young hero Lin's Cultivator Association—yes, I know of it. I've been wanting to join for some time now... I hear the Hidden Han family, the Hidden Zhuang family, and the Hidden Pi family are all members already?" Tang Taizhong asked, probing.

"Mm, they are certainly among the first batch." Wei Zhao nodded. "The rest depends on you, Elder Tang. If you agree now, you will also be among the first—a founding member, and the treatment is naturally different."

"Good, I'll join!" Tang Taizhong hesitated no longer and struck the decision outright. "Our Hidden Tang family is willing to join young hero Lin's Cultivator Association Alliance and submit to President Song's unified administration!"

"Mm, since that is settled, there is nothing more to discuss. I'm going to rest. Tomorrow I still have robbers to face in battle." Wei Zhao nodded in satisfaction; matters had gone fairly smoothly. Of course, had it not been for the robbers, the Hidden Tang family likely would not have agreed so readily—the circumstances, after all, left them no choice.

"Very well, young hero Lin, please..." Tang Taizhong rose hurriedly to see him out, and Tang Yuyi and the others rose to their feet as well.

Wei Zhao nodded and made ready to retire for the night—only, when it came to choosing rooms, Shen Yushu and Qiu Lingshan both insisted on sharing a room with Wei Zhao. That being so, Yu Xiaoke had to join the fun as well.

Wei Zhao was not truly going to sleep, however; he meant to hold Wang Xinyan and cultivate, and it made no difference to him whether there were more people in the room or fewer. So he agreed.

And so a rather absurd scene unfolded that night: Wei Zhao lay on the bed, Wang Xinyan in his arms.

As for Qiu Lingshan, she was overjoyed that day. The Mysterious Investigation Bureau was about to flourish in her hands. Before, the Bureau had struggled even to control the secular families; now it could control the hidden families—only Qiu Lingshan could appreciate the magnitude of that difference.

The Mysterious Investigation Bureau had grown powerful at last, and Qiu Lingshan, as its vice-director, felt immensely honored.

So in her heart, Qiu Lingshan adored Wei Zhao utterly. Seeing him lying there with Wang Xinyan in his arms, she could not wait to lie down on his other side! Not that Qiu Lingshan was eager for anything—it was simply that only action could now express the gratitude and affection in her heart.

But when Shen Yushu saw Qiu Lingshan climb onto the bed, she was hardly about to yield: "Hey, Fox Song, I'm Arrowbrand's little wife, and I'm the one who cracked today's case. I'm sleeping next to Arrowbrand!"

"This..." Qiu Lingshan had no mind to give way to Shen Yushu. She had already climbed up and seized the advantage—how could she yield it to another? And her manner toward others was normally quite forceful. But when she thought of how today's case was indeed Shen Yushu's crowning achievement, she hesitated a moment, then shifted aside: "Then you sleep there."

"Oh, oh, oh." Shen Yushu was not one to stand on ceremony, and she lay down happily at Wei Zhao's side.

When it came to Yu Xiaoke, though, she contended for nothing at all. She thought it through: whatever happened, the man-thief would always belong to her alone, and the others could do as they pleased.

Yu Xiaoke quietly lay down beside Qiu Lingshan. Their figures were both petite, after all, so the huge bed—six feet of it—could accommodate them all.

In truth, lying on one bed, none of them dared to try anything in secret. Bold as Shen Yushu was, even she did not dare stir now—Wei Zhao was cultivating, and a deviation in his practice was no laughing matter. Shen Yushu still remembered the last time with perfect clarity; had Tang Zhi not been sacrificed, Wei Zhao might not even have regained consciousness.

These past days, the ceaseless fighting and rushing about had worn down even a figure of Wei Zhao's god-of-war caliber. Yet with Wang Xinyan's assistance, the more his strength was spent by day, the more easily it was replenished here at night. In recent days Wei Zhao had clearly sensed that the third layer of his Xuanyuan Dragon-Taming Art was nearing great perfection—a discovery that delighted him beyond measure.

Reaching great perfection in the third layer of the Xuanyuan Dragon-Taming Art was only the beginning, however. He still needed to forge a heaven-tier divine weapon of his own; only with such a weapon could he open the fourth stone gate.

Who could say what benefits lay behind the fourth stone gate? Wei Zhao was full of anticipation...

Shen Yushu, Qiu Lingshan, and Yu Xiaoke had worn themselves out through the day as well, and soon fell fast asleep. Wei Zhao had no choice but to place the energy stones on the other side beneath Wang Xinyan's bed; but because the quantity of stones was so vast, there was no danger of Wang Xinyan running into trouble.

……………………

After Wei Zhao left, only the Hidden Tang family remained in the meeting room.

"Speak up, all of you. What is your attitude toward this decision of mine?" Tang Taizhong looked around at the Tang family members present and asked.

"Father, I think your decision was exceedingly wise." Tang Lingtou was the first to shift his stance. "Our Hidden Tang family has no patron to speak of, and none of those ancient-level connections can be used. As for our relationship with Tang Zhi—it is enough that she does not blame us; there is no point hoping she will help. Did you not see how ugly Mr. Lin's expression turned when the matter was raised?" (To be continued.)