West Wolf Village's Seduction

The carriages were loaded with all kinds of goods, and half of them were still empty.

They hadn't come to trade. They had come to buy.

"We're buying all kinds of materials in bulk—hides, lumber, jade, shells, pearls..."

"The more, the better. We'll offer good prices."

The old man was the caravan's leader. He left the buying to his steward and went to see Gao Linzhi.

He invited Gao Linzhi to a private room in the tavern, then used something he claimed was a "Silence Talisman."

"Brother Canxue, East Wolf Village is stuck in its ways. Just join West Wolf Village, and we'll give you gold, beautiful women, and a place among the elders." The caravan leader got straight to the point.

Gao Linzhi's eyes shifted.

Sure enough, only switching sides got you good benefits.

But everyone knew he was a man who valued his word.

"I've already signed a contract with East Wolf Village, and they've invested a lot in me. How could I possibly betray them?" Gao Linzhi shook his head.

"Heh. Their so-called investment amounts to sending someone to show you around, handing you a few lousy talismans, and letting you learn a couple of lousy skills for free. They call that investing in you?"

"If I'm not mistaken, they haven't let you access their precious spells or the methods for fighting the supernatural, have they?" The old man shook his head.

Gao Linzhi nodded and explained, "That's because I haven't done anything for the village yet."

"Hahaha! Done something for them? What a load of crap!"

"That's just what they tell the lower classes. If the lower classes want anything, they have to pass one test after another."

"But the so-called upper class are born with great contributions to their name. They get to enjoy all kinds of benefits for free from birth—flying on planes, riding in luxury cars, living in villas, and enjoying beautiful women, fine food, and fine things..."

"What have they contributed? They were just born lucky." The old man sneered, then patiently explained to Gao Linzhi,

"And you Descenders, when you enter our world, are basically being born a second time."

"You have incredible talent. That means you were born into the upper class, so you should enjoy those benefits for free from birth, just like the upper class in your world. You shouldn't have to make any more contributions."

There was no denying that the old man was skilled at winning people over.

The way he put it, Gao Linzhi found himself thinking there was some sense to it.

But it still went against his principles.

He wasn't a saint, nor was he blindly loyal. But he believed in repaying kindness and keeping his conscience clear. At the very least, he wouldn't be an ungrateful wretch, and he wouldn't kill the innocent.

"No matter how you look at it, East Wolf Village sheltered me when I first arrived. That's a kindness I owe them. Even if I switch sides, I should repay it first." Gao Linzhi shook his head.

The old man sighed. "You talk about owing them kindness, but they're not showing you any loyalty now."

As he spoke, the old man glanced around, then produced a blue jade talisman.

"This is a Water Shadow Talisman. It can show you things that happened in the past."

The old man reached out and touched it, and the talisman activated at once.

A holographic image appeared, like a rectangular screen standing on a street.

It showed a tall stone building, gray all over, standing in the center of the village.

Then the image shifted, and the viewpoint moved inside.

A long stone table stood in the room, with five men seated around it. They were all old men—the village's five elders.

The one sitting at the head of the table had a long beard. He must have been the Great Elder, whom Gao Linzhi had never met.

He'd seen the other four before. The chubby Fourth Elder sat to the Great Elder's right.

The Second Elder handled Medicine Making, the Third Elder handled Talisman Crafting, the Fourth Elder managed the troops, and the Fifth Elder handled Artifact Crafting.

Gao Linzhi watched closely.

Before long, voices came from the image.

"How are things with the Descenders?" the Great Elder asked.

"Not good. Of the four villages—East, West, South, and North Wolf Village—only East Wolf Village remains independent. The other three have all fallen under the Descenders' control." The Fourth Elder sighed.

"Hmm. Have those old fools lost their minds? They just let the villages fall into their hands?" the Great Elder asked.

"Maybe it's because the monsters will attack the city soon. At most, two months from now. They want those Corporate Players to take the brunt of it, then clean up afterward," the Second Elder said, lifting his head.

He sat to the Great Elder's left.

"Good. That sounds more like it. Those old men are all shrewd as foxes." The Great Elder nodded. "Has anyone in the village stood out lately?"

"There's a Descender who just signed a Guard Contract. Her name is Lin Qing, and she has an exceptionally powerful talent. I can't discuss the details here. I'll report to you in private afterward," the Fourth Elder said.

"Hey, what about that guard named Canxue? I heard from Little Dong that he's growing incredibly fast and has amazing comprehension. He's learned a lot of Basic Skills and can clear a lair all by himself." The Second Elder reminded them.

"Heh. His comprehension is exceptional, but he's still just like everyone else: he has only one life. He's destined to be cannon fodder, not someone the village can rely on in the future. Lin Qing just hasn't had a chance to grow yet, but she'll be someone the village can depend on for a long time." The Fourth Elder shook his head.

At this point, Gao Linzhi wasn't surprised.

It was simply a matter of who had what information.

Calling him cannon fodder was harsh, but people never had kind things to say when they discussed others behind their backs. He'd known that since middle school.

"Exceptional comprehension? As it happens, while I was in seclusion, I found a supernatural being that can transfer a person's talent. Since you say Lin Qing is worth investing in for the long term, transfer this man's talent to her. He signed a Guard Contract, so he's already sold his life to the village." The Great Elder spoke indifferently.

"Uh..." The Fourth Elder hesitated for a moment, but eventually nodded. "All right. I'll arrange it."

Well, well.

Gao Linzhi thought to himself that, sure enough, you couldn't judge people by appearances.

The Fourth Elder had been sincere with him before. That much definitely hadn't been an act.

But under the Great Elder's orders, and when greater interests were at stake, that sincerity could change in an instant.

That was human nature.

Before Yue Fei was wrongfully executed, he and Wanyan Gou had shared genuinely warm moments, too.

Just then, the image abruptly cut off.

The West Wolf Village caravan leader smiled at him. "Well? Do you still feel you'd be betraying them?"

"Heh. I expected something like this," Gao Linzhi said without anger, his expression understanding. "You can only rely on yourself. I understood that when I was six."

"Well said! You can only rely on yourself. Rely on others, and all you'll get is betrayal." The old man nodded.

But inwardly, he was puzzled. This man didn't seem the least bit angry about being betrayed.

He clearly had a deep, guarded nature. He was not to be underestimated.

The old man continued, "So, will you consider switching over to us now? As for the Guard Contract, West Wolf Village will buy it out."