Chapter 1973 — Still Gloom-Faced

"So it's true — your Hidden Han family actually has such a thing?" Wei Zhao's eyes lit up at once. He had not expected that the hardest material of all to find would turn up in the hands of the Hidden Han family.

"If that's the stuff you mean, then we have a piece of it in our treasure vault. Only the smiths who forged weapons have long since vanished, and the forging techniques are lost with them, so the thing is of little use to us," Han Xiaopo said. "If it's that which Senior Lin wants, then I have the authority to make you a gift of it right now. Whether or not you agree to compete on behalf of the Hidden Han family, I'll treat this as a welcoming gift."

"Good. I agree." Wei Zhao nodded. "You're a good man, and I think I understand roughly what's on your mind. But shielding your Han family would be rather difficult for me. My strength is limited; if the other hidden clans joined forces against you, I'd be powerless to help."

"Senior Lin needn't worry about that. The hidden clans have their own rules. Even if they wanted to move against our Hidden Han family, they'd do it through a summit contest like this one, scheming to win away our treasures. To seize by force, openly and brazenly — that they still wouldn't dare," Han Xiaopo said. "So as long as Senior Lin steps forward on behalf of our Han family, at least in the short term these people won't set their sights on us again. That breathing space is exactly what we need..."

"Then there's no problem. And as for the other contests you mentioned — I may enter one or two of them myself. The prizes I win, would those belong to me as well?" Wei Zhao asked.

"Naturally!" Han Xiaopo was instantly overjoyed. If Wei Zhao could win a few more matches, it would be an even better chance to display the Hidden Han family's strength, and to show the other hidden clans just what Wei Zhao was capable of.

"Good. Then you may go. This is my number — once the date is settled, give me a call." As he spoke, Wei Zhao told Han Xiaopo his phone number.

"Understood, Senior Lin. Then tomorrow I'll deliver the Color Steel to you!" Han Xiaopo said, having noted down Wei Zhao's number.

"No hurry. But while you're at it, ask around for me about pure yellow jade and blue crystal," Wei Zhao said.

"I've made a note of it, Senior Lin," Han Xiaopo said.

The dishes arrived, and Han Xiaopo's business was finished. He had not touched a single bite; he rose and took his leave. He was a clever man — he went straight off to settle the bill, so as not to disturb Wei Zhao and Sun Jingyan at their meal. His goal had been achieved; whether he ate or not did not matter. So long as Wei Zhao dined happily, that was enough.

Having struck a bargain with Wei Zhao and established a rather good relationship besides, Han Xiaopo returned to the Hidden Han family to report...

Sun Jingyan was left alone in the private room, watching Wei Zhao with some astonishment. "These hidden clans — are they really so afraid of you now?"

"I burned three of them to death last time. They probably have a phobia by now." Wei Zhao shrugged, but inwardly he was turning over other matters. His strength was only at the early stage of the Earth Rank; he had to raise it another level as quickly as possible. The Frenzied Fire Fist was formidable, yes, but he had cultivated only the first three forms. At present the best he could do was fight above his level against a mid-stage Earth Rank expert and come away with a draw; against someone stronger, he would not hold. So Wei Zhao was eager to advance his strength by one more tier — ideally to master the fourth through sixth forms of the Frenzied Fire Fist. Having seen the power of that art, Wei Zhao was confident that once he had cultivated the fourth through sixth forms, he would be able to hold his own against a late-stage Earth Rank expert.

Of course, that was only confidence. Before he actually cultivated them, everything was conjecture; only practice would tell.

"So that's how it is." Sun Jingyan nodded. "By the way, last night I did some comparing, and I found that the map... it seems to be the Wulonghaote Mountains. But it was too late last night and I couldn't find a detailed chart. I haven't been up long, and in a bit I plan to search online again for a more detailed map..."

"Oh? You've already found it?" Wei Zhao was somewhat surprised. Sun Jingyan made it sound easy, but she had probably worked until the small hours before sleeping. Still, that she had located the map's position so quickly was truly unexpected.

"Perhaps because it may hold the secret of my parents, I was naturally anxious..." Sun Jingyan smiled a little embarrassedly.

"I understand. Tell me when you set out, and I'll go with you," Wei Zhao said.

"Thank you..." Sun Jingyan said gratefully.

"Though it may have to wait — at the very least, until this business with the Hidden Han family is over," Wei Zhao said after a moment's thought.

"That doesn't matter. We can go whenever. And besides, it isn't necessarily the Wulonghaote Mountains — I only thought the terrain looked somewhat similar," Sun Jingyan said. "I may need a while longer to be sure."

After lunch, Sun Jingyan went back to her room, while Wei Zhao made ready to return to school. Once outside the hotel, he was just about to hail a taxi when he saw a middle-aged man walking quickly toward him.

"Senior Lin, Young Master Po told me to wait here and drive you back to school," the middle-aged man explained before Wei Zhao could even ask.

"Then let's go." Wei Zhao nodded. He had not expected Han Xiaopo to be so attentive — even after leaving, he had sent someone to pick him up and take him back to school.

The middle-aged man was driving an Audi A8. He respectfully invited Wei Zhao into the car, said little else, drove him straight back to school, and then took his leave.

When Wei Zhao returned to the dormitory, he found Bai Weituo still sitting at his desk, his face a mask of gloom.

"Old Bai, what's wrong with you now?" Wei Zhao looked at Bai Weituo in puzzlement. Hadn't the matter been settled? Why was the fellow not off rehearsing with the class, but instead sighing and moaning in the dormitory?

"Brother Lin, you're back?" The moment Bai Weituo saw Wei Zhao, a flicker of joy appeared on his face. "Brother Lin, I told our classmates the news that I'd invited the big star Xu Shilan. Everyone was thrilled when they heard — but then You Panhu had to jump out and make trouble. He said, who is Xu Shilan, anyway? She's never even held a concert in Donghai, and to hear of her taking part in some little event like this is unheard of. So he claims I made the whole thing up just to boost class morale — and that my real aim was to compete with Zhang Duopan over a girl."

"And then?" Wei Zhao frowned, thinking that You Panhu simply would not settle down; all day long, all he did was sing the opposite tune to Wei Zhao and the others.