Chapter 2066 — Seizing the Opportunity

"He's been here all this while, and I've never once seen him take part in any racing," Wei Zhao said.

"That much is true. According to the hidden Han family's intelligence, after Zhao Qibing returned to the country, he has been bent on winning the hidden Zhao family's recognition, so naturally he would not go racing again—would that not put him right back in the same mold as the wastrel he used to be? He kept trying to achieve something that would earn him the hidden Zhao family's approval, yet everything he touched turned to failure. Oddly enough, that very failure won him their recognition; they took him back and restored him to the family register!" Han Xiaopo said. "As for the reason behind it, the hidden Han family does not know, nor could we uncover it through investigation!"

The hidden Han family and the hidden Zhao family were both hidden cultivation clans of Donghai City, so each naturally paid closer attention to the other's movements than other families did; yet certain secrets among them they could not dig out either.

"I really never would have guessed Zhao Qibing had that kind of skill," Wei Zhao said. Truth be told, he was deeply shocked. "You would never tell it to look at him—back in Songshan City, this fellow barely ever drove at all, did he?"

"Ugh, I heard he offended someone and had his legs broken several times over—how would he have had the chance to drive? His legs are finally sound again now..." Han Xiaopo said. "So when I saw Elder Lin's driving on the highway, I thought—surely only Elder Lin could beat him, could get the better of that Zhao Qibing!"

"..." Wei Zhao was speechless for a moment, then said, "I was the one who broke his legs... Still, the way you tell it, the fellow sounds rather formidable. How about this—when the race comes, I find some excuse to break his legs again? Then he won't be able to drive at all."

"Hisss..." Han Xiaopo drew a sharp breath. This Elder Lin was truly ruthless—break Zhao Qibing's legs again? Yet Han Xiaopo hastened to explain, "Elder Lin, that is absolutely out of the question. At the Hidden World Summit, the one thing most strictly forbidden is competitors brawling in private. If anyone stirs up trouble, the one who started it is the first to have his qualification revoked—so that simply will not work..."

"I see." Wei Zhao nodded. Still, before the race, Wei Zhao truly had no opportunity to get near Zhao Qibing. The fellow was holed up in the hidden Zhao family and would not come out; surely Wei Zhao could not storm into the hidden Zhao family, could he?

"Exactly. So it would be best for Elder Lin to bring out his true strength," Han Xiaopo said. "Though in my view, Elder Lin is certain to beat him!"

"Hm, then I shall do my utmost." Wei Zhao nodded and said, "The Hidden World Summit falls in the middle of this month, so there are only a few days left. When it comes to the race—may one bring one's own car, or must one use a car provided by the organizers?"

"That is precisely what I was about to explain!" Han Xiaopo said. "You must use a car provided by the organizers; bringing your own is not permitted! These hidden clans—which of them lacks connections? Modifying a car is child's play for them; turning a car into an airplane would not even be out of the question. So for the sake of fairness, every competitor must race in an organizer-provided car, and each car is in factory-fresh condition—whatever a new car is like, that is exactly what it is."

"Hm... and what cars are being provided this time?" Wei Zhao asked.

The rule sounded fair, but in practice it was not. If the vehicle chosen happened to be one Zhao Qibing excelled in, then even an unmodified new car would give him an edge over everyone else! Just as Han Xiaopo had said, this Hidden World Summit was aimed squarely at the hidden Han family—so this race might well have been fixed in advance for the hidden Zhao family to win. In that case, the choice of car was certain to favor Zhao Qibing.

"The cars..." Here Han Xiaopo hesitated. "Originally, the model of car is not revealed until two days before the race. But our Han family has its own spies and informants, and we learned that the hidden Zhao family has purchased a batch of cars this time—only..."

"Only what?" Wei Zhao asked.

"Only these cars..." Han Xiaopo paused, then said, "The cars are the most ordinary Jettas... I cannot say what the Zhao family means by it—whether it is a deliberate smokescreen, or something else... Though I have heard the hidden Zhao family has long wanted to break into the taxi business. Perhaps once these race cars have served their purpose, they will be put straight into taxi service, saving them a good deal of money. After all, the hidden Zhao family is not especially wealthy—far behind our hidden Han family!"

Wei Zhao nodded and said, "If that Zhao Qibing truly is a master of racing, then the more ordinary the car, the more a skilled driver can open up a gap. It is quite possible the Jetta is indeed the model for this race. Though—your hidden Han family is quite wealthy, then?"

"Naturally. In the ancient ruins we discovered, there were not only many fine treasures for cultivation, but also no small amount of gold and silver—enough to cover several generations of the hidden Han family's expenses. Even if we find no way to make money within those generations, it does not matter!" Han Xiaopo said. "Because Grandfather has also said that the present period is one in which the hidden Han family must consolidate its standing among the hidden clans, not one of expansion. Only by holding firm to the name of a hidden clan and raising our strength can we then turn to research and development! And our generation need not concern itself with the matter of making money."

"Your approach is not wrong. Only now, at this late date, is the hidden Zhao family beginning to use Zhao Qibing as a trial run to make money in the secular world—and the hidden Han family's foundations are still too shallow by comparison," Wei Zhao said approvingly. "Still, several generations is rather a long time. Seize the opportunity, and your generation may well bring glory to the hidden Han family!"

Wei Zhao's gaze was no longer confined to those few families of the secular world. He had, by and large, already dealt with the secular families; now his eyes were fixed on the hidden clans! Both the hidden Zhao family and the hidden Yu family had one of Wei Zhao's juniors among them. If he could draw the hidden Han family into his camp as well, then Wei Zhao would have an even stronger voice at the level of the hidden clans!

Only by integrating these forces could Wei Zhao be qualified to speak with the ancient sects and ancient clans on equal terms. Otherwise, even if Wei Zhao became a Heaven-rank master, he could never make the ancient sects and ancient clans wary of him!

For Wei Zhao was but one man, with no power standing behind him, and he could not forever guarantee the safety of his family and friends.

Han Xiaopo had risen above several other juniors of the Han family, so naturally he was no fool. Hearing Wei Zhao's words, his eyes lit up at once, and he fell into deep thought! He knew Wei Zhao was extending an olive branch—whether to take it or not was a matter of a single thought.

For the fastest updates, read without pop-ups at.