Chapter 3397 — A Decisive Decision
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
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.