Winning People Over with Virtue

Li Dongze hurried back to his desk and rubbed his hands together vigorously. In high spirits, he turned on his computer and began composing a message.

"Centurion Fu, I have something to report. I just received word that the Night Wanderer I recruited has successfully completed his trial mission and returned to the real world. Yes, he cleared the Sheling Tunnel."

He clicked Send.

Under the White Tiger Corps' rules, unless the matter was extremely urgent, subordinates weren't allowed to call their superiors directly. They usually reported by email or message.

Yuanshi's clearing of Sheling Tunnel was a major matter, but not an urgent one.

A dozen or so seconds after he sent the message, the phone on the edge of Li Dongze's desk rang. The caller ID read Centurion Fu.

A direct call? Li Dongze immediately grabbed his phone and answered.

"Li Dongze, you'd better be sure of what you're saying."

The voice that came through the speaker belonged to a young man. It was cold, and every word was clearly enunciated.

"Centurion, it really was unexpected." Faced with the centurion's warning, Li Dongze remained completely at ease. "I just got off the phone with him."

"Does he have a walkthrough?" Fu Qingyang asked at once.

"I'll need a little more time."

Centurion Fu fell silent for a few seconds. Then his cold tone softened as he said,

"I wasn't expecting anything, so this is a pleasant surprise. Anyone who can clear Sheling Tunnel must have exceptional abilities.

"Li Dongze, you've recruited a talented individual for the White Tiger Corps. I'll report this to the Elder Council and make sure you get a major commendation."

Oh, God, this was wonderful. Li Dongze's smile widened, then he remembered something and lowered his voice.

"Should we keep this confidential?"

His recruitment of a Night Wanderer was already no secret among the team leaders in Kangyang District. Even if he deliberately avoided mentioning it, sooner or later people would notice.

He wouldn't be able to keep it under wraps for long.

Especially since the Five Elements Alliance had signed an agreement with the Taiyi Sect giving them first pick of any Night Wanderers who appeared anywhere in the country.

Because of this agreement, the Five Elements Alliance had almost no Night Wanderers of its own—just a scant handful.

Fu Qingyang scoffed.

"Why hide it? The Taiyi Sect has made it clear they don't want this Night Wanderer. They can't take it back now."

"What you need to guard against is people inside the Five Elements Alliance. I don't want a repeat of what happened with the Hundred Flowers Society. We'll win him over through virtue."

Li Dongze agreed. He immediately asked, eager to learn, "Please advise me, Centurion Fu."

"Make him a full-time employee and give him a raise."

Huh? A raise?

Was that what it meant to win people over through virtue?

"I don't like using money to buy people's loyalty. If people come together for profit, they'll part over profit. I prefer to win people over through virtue, but virtue takes time to show itself. Money gets results right away."

Centurion Fu's tone remained calm. "Get him to write a walkthrough as soon as possible. I want to know the key information about the Mountain God Temple. And while you're at it, repay the Taiyi Sect for the favor."

Any S-rank Spirit Realm was bound to contain valuable information and intelligence, far beyond what an ordinary Spirit Realm could offer.

"Understood!"

Li Dongze ended the call.

What kind of winning people over through virtue was that? Still, this really was typical of the Fu Family. Li Dongze shook his head.

The family of Young Master Fu had gone abroad in the turbulent years to escape the fighting. After a century of building its fortune, it had grown into a colossal financial empire.

Later, the Fu Family accepted the olive branch extended by the country, returned with its enormous wealth, and took part in the nation's economic development.

The Fu Family was not only a vast financial power, but also a Spirit Realm Walker family with a legacy passed down through generations. Every year, a number of Scouts emerged from the family.

It was a force within the White Tiger Corps that could not be ignored.

Though still young, Centurion Fu was already skilled in every kind of money-powered magic. People jokingly called him Money Prince, one of the four young masters in the official organizations.

Just then, Li Dongze saw someone tag him in the "Kangyang District Spirit Realm Walker Management Group."

Green Vine: "@Li Dongze, Squad Leader Li, how's that new Night Wanderer you recruited?"

Green Vine was the Hundred Flowers Society's team leader. If another Wood Demon had asked, Li Dongze would have suspected they had an ulterior motive.

But this female team leader was gentle and kind, not some shameless, unscrupulous seductress.

White Dragon: "Wow, that's a cruel question. You know no one could clear Sheling Tunnel, and you still have to rub it in Squad Leader Li's face?"

Before Li Dongze could say anything, White Dragon—who had a grudge against Green Vine—jumped in to pick a fight.

Big Muscle Tyrant: "He must've died in Sheling Tunnel. Someone in the district I oversee went missing there yesterday, too. That poor fool still hasn't been found. He's almost certainly dead in the Spirit Realm."

The blunt Fire Master was just as annoying as ever.

Those three team leaders were the most active. The others said nothing, as if they'd already lost interest in the matter.

My friends, you're about to be jealous of me! Li Dongze casually sent a red packet worth a thousand yuan.

He grabbed one first and got five yuan.

Green Vine: "Thanks, boss."

White Dragon: "Boss is generous."

Big Muscle Tyrant: "Boss, may your waist be strong and your kidneys healthy."

They instinctively grabbed the red packets and thanked him, going through the usual motions. Then they suddenly realized something was off.

White Dragon: "No way?"

Big Muscle Tyrant: "Li Dongze, what are you getting at? Explain yourself."

Green Vine: "Squad Leader Li?"

Li Dongze: "Thanks for your concern, everyone. The Night Wanderer I just recruited cleared Sheling Tunnel."

The group fell silent, as if everyone had been muted.

Yuan Ting: "Li Dongze, don't joke around."

The Taiyi Sect's Night Wanderer, who rarely spoke up in the Five Elements Alliance management group, was the first to respond.

Unlike the other team leaders, this was a major matter concerning his own profession. He couldn't ignore Li Dongze's message, even if it was more likely to be a joke.

The other team leaders still said nothing, silently waiting for Li Dongze to reply.

Just then, Centurion Fu posted a message in the group:

"As of today, the first clear of Sheling Tunnel belongs to the Five Elements Alliance. I'll add the Spirit Realm walkthrough to the information database shortly. As an S-rank trial Spirit Realm, it can produce Night Wanderers of higher quality than other Spirit Realms. I believe this will greatly help the organization's plans to train Night Wanderers."

Reading the long message, the team leaders were stunned.

Centurion Fu was an executive-level figure. His words carried far more weight than Li Dongze's. If he said it, then it had to be true.

Sheling Tunnel had really been cleared? What kind of freak had Li Dongze recruited?

At that moment, the team leaders realized the value of this newcomer. He wasn't merely a member of a rare profession. He himself might be the most valuable investment of all.

Big Muscle Tyrant: "Now I want to get the gang together again."

You're trying to poach him, aren't you? Li Dongze's mouth twitched.

Water Strider: "I'm not going out on the boat this month. Let's pick a time to get together—how about today?"

Tang Guoqiang sent a red packet.

White Dragon: "I'm fine with a get-together, but I don't think the Hundred Flowers Society should be invited."

Green Vine: "Heh."

Boxing King: "I'm curious how that newcomer cleared Sheling Tunnel. Anyone who can pull that off must be extraordinary. Li Dongze was lucky to recruit such a talent."

Seeing the group "get restless," Centurion Fu sent another message: "I'll use the Sheling Tunnel walkthrough to negotiate with the Taiyi Sect for Night Wanderer positions. I'll do my best to get every team a Night Wanderer within five years."

Green Vine: "Thank you, Centurion Fu."

Big Muscle Tyrant: "Holy crap, we get something like that too?"

The group's mood immediately turned lively.

That was a brilliant move by the centurion. Now that they had that promise to look forward to, Li Dongze let out a breath.

The team leaders enthusiastically began discussing long-term plans for training and assigning Night Wanderers. They also tried, both openly and discreetly, to find out who the hero behind the first clear was.

Was the person a man or a woman? How old?

But Li Dongze refused to tell them.

While the team leaders chatted happily, Yuan Ting of the Taiyi Sect felt very differently.

He stared blankly at Centurion Fu's message, reading it over and over until he finally managed to absorb the news.

Sheling Tunnel, which even the Taiyi Sect had been powerless to deal with, had actually been cleared?

How had that rookie done it?

As a Night Wanderer, he was more eager than the other team leaders to learn the truth about his own profession's Spirit Realm. The uncertainty gnawed at him.

But this wasn't the time to dwell on how it had happened. He had to report the matter to the organization.

Surely a Night Wanderer this exceptional belonged in the Taiyi Sect.

Elder Sun was so foolish. How could he make promises so carelessly and cost the Taiyi Sect such a talented individual? Yuan Ting felt a little resentment toward the elder.

Zhang Yuanqing took a taxi to the police station. He knew the way, so he went around the back of the building and entered the sleek, glass-fronted office building.

On the second floor, he immediately spotted the mixed-race beauty lounging on a sofa with a cup of tea. Her legs were crossed, long as a supermodel's, and she wore a blouse, a skirt, black stockings, and high heels.

She had a slim waist and a full bust, with flawless makeup and a stylish hairstyle. If there was a standard image of a career goddess, Zhang Yuanqing thought, she was it.

Fortunately, his aunt had trained his aesthetic sensibilities to an exceptionally high level. He greeted her without batting an eye.

"Guan Ya."

Guan Ya set down her teacup and stood to greet him, smiling.

"Well, well. I thought our college student was a little puppy, but it turns out he's a little wolf. Congratulations on becoming a Night Wanderer. Big Sister will reward you with a hug."

She opened her arms, her generous curves on full display.

Zhang Yuanqing had already gotten a good sense of her personality, so he didn't fall for it. He sneered, "Wicked woman, how dare you humiliate me!"

He wouldn't say something like that to just any woman, but Guan Ya was an Old Driver. Stepping on the gas was the right way to get along with her.

Guan Ya paused, then giggled.

"Come on. The squad leader wants to see you."

After walking a few steps, she suddenly turned around and smiled faintly.

"You got quite a lot out of the Spirit Realm, didn't you? No, don't tell me. Keeping your abilities and methods hidden is an essential skill for every Spirit Realm Walker."

I wasn't going to tell you anyway. Zhang Yuanqing paused, then realized what she meant: I should keep some secrets to myself instead of laying all my cards on the table.

Following Guan Ya, Zhang Yuanqing entered the luxurious office again. Li Dongze was sprawled comfortably in a lounge chair, a cigar between his fingers.

"Do you know what I'm most worried about right now?"

Li Dongze got up and walked toward the sofa in the reception area, sizing Zhang Yuanqing up as he went.

"What?" Zhang Yuanqing asked obligingly.

"I'm most worried someone will snatch you on the way here." Li Dongze opened the liquor cabinet and took out three glasses. "What would you like to drink?"

"Coke!"

Zhang Yuanqing answered.

"Guan Ya, have someone buy some," Li Dongze ordered at once.

Not bad. My status had clearly gone up. Zhang Yuanqing sat down with Li Dongze. The latter took a sip of his drink and got straight to the point.

"Young people are impressive. You did very well.

"I'll need you to write up a detailed account of how you cleared it later. But first, I want to ask: did you find anything unusual in the Mountain God Temple?"

P.S. I'll fix any typos after posting.