While Wei Zhong waited for news from the Li family, the orioles and swallows at his side immediately gathered around him:
"Master, Master, hurry and have a taste! Sister Flower's cooking is wonderful. The aroma of this grilled Spirit Fish is driving us sisters mad.
"But Sister Flower stopped us and insisted that Master take the first bite."
After spending a day together, these maidservants had all come to understand that Senior Wei Zhong did not put on any Foundation Establishment airs. He treated those around him with great gentleness and even made little jokes with them from time to time.
Thus, every one of them had grown rather bold.
With one shove, they pushed Sister Flower into Wei Zhong's arms. Holding that warm, soft, fragrant jade, Wei Zhong did not refuse. He generously wrapped an arm around her waist.
By now, the Li family had likely made their decision under Li Haowen's persuasion. In that case, accepting this batch of maidservants would no longer cause any issues.
Looking at the woman in his arms, she was sixteen or seventeen, fair-skinned and beautiful. The other maidservants called her sister not because she was older, but because her cultivation was the highest.
Among them, she was the only one at the third level of Qi Refining and held the most authority. Her name also contained the character for flower, so the rest called her "Sister Flower."
Wei Zhong guessed that she was not very old. To retain such a youthful appearance, she must have begun cultivating long ago. Yet her cultivation was trapped at this stage, likely due to limited aptitude and resources.
Wei Zhong kneaded the soft jade of her belly and opened his mouth. She immediately understood and fed the grilled Spirit Fish into his mouth.
Wei Zhong sampled it and discovered that this grilled Spirit Fish truly had a few tricks to it.
Smiling, he said:
"Not bad. You deserve a reward!"
As he spoke, he took out a High-Grade Qi Nourishing Pill and tucked it into the front of her robes.
That generous act immediately drew shrieks from the surrounding maidservants:
"Ah, Master, Master, we want some too..."
Sister Flower, whom Wei Zhong held in his arms, looked at him with eyes brimming with tenderness.
After taking out some spirit stones to placate the others, Wei Zhong finally asked the woman in his arms for her real name.
Her name was Xie Linghua. She was not a member of the Li family, but came from a small cultivation Lineage. When her family fell into decline, she had been taken in by an elderly woman surnamed Li through a twist of fate.
Now that old woman had passed away, Xie Linghua had lost her support and was sent to Black Lake Island to curry favor with Wei Zhong, this Foundation Establishment cultivator.
"Ling'er, it seems you also know a thing or two about spirit cuisine?"
Wei Zhong did not even know how many generations older he was than her, so naturally he would not call her "Sister Flower." Instead, he gave her the name Ling'er.
"When my Lineage was still around, I learned a little craft from my father, though I only grasped the surface. To receive Senior's praise and such a reward truly shames me. Ling'er is untalented, but I do have some experience managing a Lineage. I am willing to remain at Senior's side for the rest of my life and serve you."
Wei Zhong nodded. There were not many clever women who understood propriety and knew how to seize an opportunity to climb upward. Wei Zhong was not stingy about giving her a chance. But if her ability proved insufficient, he could simply replace her.
Toying with the dark strands at her forehead, Wei Zhong said gently:
"Very well. From now on, this Black Lake Island of mine will be under your management."
At those words, disbelief flashed across Xie Linghua's face. She immediately came to her senses and was about to kneel and offer thanks.
Wei Zhong smiled and helped her up.
"Rather than kneeling in thanks, why not feed your master another couple bites of Spirit Fish?"
Only then did she excitedly wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes. A radiant smile bloomed on her face, and with even deeper tenderness, she fed Wei Zhong more Spirit Fish.
Watching Xie Linghua gain such a high position before this Foundation Establishment senior with only a few words, the people around them immediately regretted it beyond measure. They hated that they had not been the one to throw themselves into his arms just now.
Yet seeing how pleased the senior was, they did not dare voice any complaints.
Gentle or not, he was still a Foundation Establishment expert, far above Qi Refining maidservants like them. These maidservants knew where they stood. Some were already wondering how to leave a good impression on Sister Flower later, and whether they had ever slighted her before...
Just as Wei Zhong was enjoying himself, Li Haowen returned.
Upon seeing Wei Zhong, he immediately bowed.
"I have disturbed Senior's elegant enjoyment."
Wei Zhong set Xie Linghua down, and she immediately led the others to withdraw to one side.
As expected of a clever woman.
"Speak. Has your family agreed to my conditions?"
Li Haowen respectfully replied:
"Whatever Senior wishes, my Li family shall naturally comply. Moreover, Senior Chu's killing of Candle Daoren was a tremendous favor to both the Li family and myself."
"Oh?"
"Senior may not know this, but when that villain arrived that day, he sought to seize my Li family's territory. My father, as Clan Head, would rather die than submit, and was brutally killed by him.
"After losing our pillar of support, my branch was reduced to a collateral branch. By that reckoning, Senior is precisely the benefactor of me, Li Haowen."
With that, Li Haowen bowed his head and kowtowed.
Wei Zhong had not expected there to be such a connection. Seeing that Li Haowen still wished to knock his head against the ground several more times, he lifted him with a stream of spiritual energy.
"Enough. All of this is karma and fate. There is no need for such a grand gesture."
Only then did Li Haowen rise and hand the Spirit Contract to Wei Zhong.
It bore Wei Zhong's mark, along with the Li family's clan seal.
Wei Zhong nodded and put it into his Storage Bag.
Seeing Li Haowen still standing where he was, Wei Zhong asked:
"What else is there?"
Li Haowen spoke frankly. "My Li family wishes to invite Senior to become a Guest Elder of our Li family. We ask Senior to raise an umbrella over the Li family in its present hour."
Wei Zhong sighed. This move from the Li family had not been unexpected.
At first, when the Li family's old ancestor passed away, it was Candle Daoren, who had arrived out of the blue, who prevented the Li family from being carved up. Now that Candle Daoren was dead, the Li family would naturally come seeking his protection.
"That is acceptable, but let us make this clear. Use my name, Chu Zhong, with caution. Do not tarnish this old man's reputation. If any Foundation Establishment cultivator with hidden schemes acts against your Li family, I will also intervene as appropriate."
Li Haowen was overjoyed and immediately bowed down again.
"Many thanks, Senior. The Clan Head once said that if Senior requires anything, you need only give the word."
Wei Zhong smiled and pointed at the flock of orioles and swallows.
"Then let these maidservants remain here for now. This Black Lake Island is so large, and it is terribly lonely for this old man to live here alone."
He made no effort to avoid the maidservants when he said this. The next moment, they erupted into cheers that rose and fell one after another.
"Also, find some spirit farmers to come and properly tend to Black Lake Island for me."
"Yes, Senior."
Wei Zhong waved a hand, and Li Haowen tactfully took his leave.
Wei Zhong lazily stretched. The matter of the spirit land had finally been settled.
He was no longer a spirit farmer living under another's roof, but a Foundation Establishment cultivator who possessed a spirit island of his own.
Just as Wei Zhong was sighing with emotion, a child's voice suddenly entered his ears:
"You do know how to enjoy yourself."
Wei Zhong was startled. Turning his head, he saw a Red-Clothed Child standing beside him.
Who is this? He actually approached my side without a sound or trace.
The child stretched out his right hand and seized Wei Zhong's arm with lightning speed, before one could cover one's ears.
Wei Zhong had no time to resist at all, and panic filled his heart even more deeply. Just as he struggled with all his strength to break free, he heard the child speak:
"A hundred-odd years old and only at the early Foundation Establishment stage. What a crooked melon and split date."
Wei Zhong was astonished. This person did not seem to harbor any hostility.
Before you continue