Chapter 20: Winning Hearts Through Virtue
Li Dongze rushed back to his desk, rubbing his hands together vigorously. His emotions were running high. He opened his computer and began typing out a message.
"Centurion Fu, your subordinate has something to report. I've just received word that the Nocturnal Specter I recruited has successfully completed his trial mission and returned to the real world. Yes, he has successfully cleared Sheling Tunnel."
He clicked send.
In the White Tiger Legion, subordinates did not call their superiors directly unless it was an emergency of utmost urgency. Reports were typically made via email or messages.
Yuanshi clearing Sheling Tunnel was a big deal, but not an urgent one.
A few seconds after sending the message, Li Dongze's phone, which he'd left on the desk, rang. It was Centurion Fu.
A direct phone call? Li Dongze wondered in surprise. He immediately grabbed his phone and answered.
A young man's ice cold voice came through the speaker, each word clearly enunciated.
—Li Dongze, you need to take responsibility for your words.
In the face of the centurion's warning, Li Dongze remained completely relaxed as he answered, "Centurion, this is indeed a surprising development. I just finished speaking with him on the phone."
Fu Qingyang got straight to business.
—Is there a walkthrough?
"We'll need to wait a little longer for that."
Centurion Fu fell silent for a few seconds, and his icy tone had thawed a little when he next spoke.
—I wasn't holding any expectations, so this is quite the pleasant surprise. Anyone who can clear Sheling Tunnel must possess exceptional abilities. Li Dongze, you've recruited someone with significant talent for the White Tiger Legion. I'll report this to the Council of Elders and mark this as a major achievement for you.
Oh God, this is absolutely wonderful, Li Dongze thought to himself. His smile grew wider, then suddenly remembering something, he lowered his voice. "Do we need to keep this secret?"
His recruitment of a Nocturnal Specter was no longer a secret among the captain-level figures in Kangyang District. Even if they deliberately avoided mentioning it afterward, the news would spread over time. It couldn't be hidden for long.
This was especially since the Five Elements Alliance and the Taiyi Sect had signed an agreement that gave the Taiyi Sect first priority in recruitment of any Nocturnal Specters that appeared nationwide.
This agreement meant the Five Elements Alliance had virtually no Nocturnal Specters of their own, barring a scattered few.
Fu Qingyang's reply dripped with barely-disguised contempt.
—Why hide it? The Taiyi Sect has already made their position clear—they don't want this Nocturnal Specter. They can't take it back now. What you need is to be on guard against others within the Five Elements Alliance. I don't want a repeat of what happened with the Hundred Flowers Society. We need to win him over through virtue.
This aligned perfectly with Li Dongze's thinking.
"Please enlighten me, Centurion Fu," he entreated, humbly asking for advice.
—Give him permanent status and raise his salary.
Li Dongze was taken aback. Huh? Raise his salary? Is this really winning people over through virtue?
Centurion Fu's tone remained calm as he continued, "I don't like using money to buy people's hearts, because those who gather for profit will inevitably scatter for profit. I prefer winning people over through virtue, but virtue takes time to demonstrate, while money has immediate results.
"Have him write a detailed walkthrough as soon as possible. I want to know the core information about the mountain temple. And we can return the favor to the Taiyi Sect while we're at it."
S-rank Spirit Realms inevitably contained valuable information and intelligence that no ordinary Spirit Realms could match.
"Understood!" Li Dongze acknowledged before ending the call.
He shook his head and thought, Winning people over through virtue? What a load of crap. Though this is indeed the Fu family's style.
This young master Fu's family had fled overseas during turbulent times to escape the chaos of war. After a century of business development, they had grown into massive capital predators.
It was only later that the Fu family accepted the olive branch extended by the government, returning to China with vast wealth to participate in the economic development of the nation.
The Fu family was not only a massive pillar in terms of capital, but was also a hereditary Spirit Realm Walker family that produced a certain number of Scouts each year.
They were an undeniably powerful family within the White Tiger Legion.
Despite his young age, Centurion Fu had mastered various money-making powers and was jokingly known as the Rich Young Master among the Four Young Masters of the official organization.
Just then, Li Dongze noticed someone had mentioned him in the "Kangyang District Spirit Realm Walker Management Group."
Green Vine: @Li Dongze, Squad Leader Li, how's that new Nocturnal Specter you recruited doing?
Green Vine was the captain of the Hundred Flowers Society. If any other Wood Demon had asked this question, Li Dongze would have suspected them to have ulterior motives.
But this female captain had a gentle and kind personality. She wasn't one of those unscrupulous, seductive types.
Before Li Dongze could respond, White Dragon, who had beef with Green Vine, jumped in first to start drama.
White Dragon: Wow, that's really hitting where it hurts. You know full well that no one could possibly clear Sheling Tunnel, and you still want to provoke Squad Leader Li? ⸥
Big Muscle: "They definitely died in Sheling Tunnel. Yesterday someone from my jurisdiction also went missing in Sheling Tunnel. That poor bastard still hasn't been found. He's basically a dead man in the Spirit Realm.
That blunt Fire Sage was still as annoying as ever.
These three captains were rather active, but the others remained silent, seemingly having lost interest in the matter.
Li Dongze smiled inwardly. My friends, you're all going to be jealous of me in just one second!
He casually sent out a large red envelope worth 1000 yuan.
He grabbed the first one himself, getting five yuan.
Green Vine: Thanks, boss.
White Dragon: Boss is so generous.
Big Muscle: Boss has a strong back and good kidneys.
The group instinctively grabbed their own red envelopes and thanked him in a routine fashion, then a sudden realization hit them.
White Dragon: No way...
Big Muscle: Li Dongze, what do you mean by this? Speak clearly.
Green Vine: Squad Leader Li?
Li Dongze: Thanks everyone for your concern. My newly recruited Nocturnal Specter successfully cleared Sheling Tunnel.
The group suddenly went silent, as if everyone had muted themselves.
Yuan Ting: Li Dongze, don't joke around.
The Taiyi Sect Nocturnal Specter, who rarely announced his presence in the Five Elements Alliance management group, was the first to speak up.
Unlike the other captains, this matter concerned his own class, so he couldn't ignore Li Dongze's message, even though it was more than likely a joke.
The other captains remained quiet, silently waiting for Li Dongze's reply.
At that moment, Centurion Fu posted a message in the group.
Centurion Fu: As of today, the first clear of Sheling Tunnel has been achieved by our Five Elements Alliance. I'll sync the Spirit Realm walkthrough to the information database shortly. As an S-rank trial Spirit Realm, it can produce higher-quality Nocturnal Specters than other Spirit Realms, which should greatly benefit the organization's Nocturnal Specter cultivation program.
The other captains were stunned by his message.
Centurion Fu was a steward-level figure. His words carried different weight than Li Dongze's. Since he said it, it had to be true.
They were all wondering the same thing. So Sheling Tunnel was really cleared? What kind of monster did Li Dongze recruit?
At that moment, the captains suddenly realized the new recruit's value. He wasn't just someone with a rare class anymore. He might prove to be the most worthy investment.
Big Muscle: I'm feeling like having a team building event again.
Li Dongze's mouth twitched. You want to poach my talent, don't you?
Drifter: Not running ships this month. Let's schedule a gathering. How about today?
Tang Guoqiang sent a red envelope.
White Dragon: A gathering is fine, but I don't think the Hundred Flowers Society should participate. ⸥
Green Vine: Haha.
Champion Fist: I'm very curious as to how that new recruit cleared Sheling Tunnel. Anyone who could do such a thing could hardly be ordinary. Li Dongze has such good luck for being able to recruit such talent.
Seeing the restless hearts in the group, Centurion Fu posted another message.
Centurion Fu: I'll use the Sheling Tunnel walkthrough as leverage to negotiate with the Taiyi Sect for Nocturnal Specter quotas, and will do my best to angle for each of your teams to be assigned a Nocturnal Specter within five years.
Immediately, the group came alive again.
Green Vine: Thank you, Centurion Fu.
Big Muscle: Holy shit, could such a wonderful thing really happen?
What a brilliant move by the centurion, Li Dongze admitted inwardly. With this carrot dangled in front of them...
He let out the breath he had been holding.
The captains moved on enthusiastically to discussing long term plans for cultivating and distributing Nocturnal Specters, while subtly probing Li Dongze for information about who this first clear hero was. They wanted to know if the individual was a male or female, and how old the person was.
But Li Dongze simply wouldn't tell them.
While the other captains discussed the future animatedly, Yuan Ting from the Taiyi Sect felt completely different.
He stared blankly at Centurion Fu's message, reading it several times before finally processing this major event.
So, Sheling Tunnel, which even the Taiyi Sect couldn't handle, was actually cleared? How did that rookie do it?
Since it concerned a Spirit Realm instance belonging to his class, the Nocturnal Specter, he was more desperate than the other captains to know the truth. It ate away at him, feeling like a hundred claws scratching at his heart.
But this wasn't the time to obsess over the truth. He needed to report this to his organization.
After all, shouldn't such an excellent Nocturnal Specter join the Taiyi Sect?
Resentment welled up in Yuan Ting's breast when he thought about the elder who had made the decision.
Elder Sun was a fool! How could he make such rash promises, causing the Taiyi Sect to lose out on such a talent for nothing?!
***
Zhang Yuanqing took a taxi to the police station, skillfully circling to the back of the building and entering the exclusive-looking glass structure.
Climbing to the second floor, he immediately spotted the mature mixed-heritage beauty sitting on the sofa drinking tea. Her long supermodel legs, clad in black stockings, were crossed, and she was wearing a blouse, business skirt, and high heels.
Her waist was slender while her chest was full. Her makeup was exquisite, and she sported a fashionable hairstyle. If there were a standard image for workplace goddesses, Zhang Yuanqing thought it would be her.
Fortunately, his threshold when it came to aesthetics had been raised to extremely high levels by his aunt, so he managed to greet her without so much as a twitch.
"Sis Guan Ya."
Guan Ya set down her teacup and stood to greet him, smiling warmly. "Tsk tsk, I thought our college student was a cute little puppy, but turns out he's a wolf cub. Congratulations on becoming a Nocturnal Specter. Big sis will reward you with a hug."
She opened her arms wide, freeing her magnificent bosom.
Zhang Yuanqing, having already figured out her personality, did not take the bait. He sneered. "Temptress," he said in accusation, "how dare you try to smother me!"
With any other girl, he wouldn’t have said such things. But Guan Ya was a veteran at flirting. Stepping on the gas was the correct way to interact with her.
Guan Ya was stunned for a moment, then burst into giggles. "Come on, Squad Leader wants to see you."
After walking a few steps, she suddenly turned back and flashed him a bright smile. "You gained quite a bit in the Spirit Realm, didn't you? No, don't tell me. Hiding your abilities and methods is an essential quality for every Spirit Realm Walker."
I wasn't planning to tell you anyway, Zhang Yuanqing thought at first, but then was startled when he realized the true meaning behind her words. She was telling him to keep appropriate secrets and not reveal all his cards.
He followed Guan Ya into the luxurious office again, where Li Dongze was lounging comfortably in his soft chair with a cigar in hand.
"Do you know what I was most worried about just now?" Li Dongze asked as he stood up and walked toward the common sofa, sizing up Zhang Yuanqing in the meantime.
"What?" Zhang Yuanqing asked on cue.
"I was most worried about you getting kidnapped on your way here." Li Dongze opened the liquor cabinet and took out three glasses. "What would you like to drink?"
Zhang Yuanqing answered, "Coke!"
"Guan Ya, have someone go buy some," Li Dongze immediately ordered.
Not bad, thought Zhang Yuanqing, my status has clearly improved.
He followed Li Dongze's lead and took a seat. The Squad Leader took a sip of alcohol and got straight to the point.
"Truly, youth is to be feared. You did extremely well. I'll need to trouble you to write a detailed walkthrough later, but before that, there's something I want to ask. Did you discover any unusual information in the mountain temple?"
