Chapter 2599 — The Hundred-Drunken Centipede

He was still turning it over in his mind when the phone rang. One glance told him it was Zhao Qibing, so Zhuang Niaodao picked it up at once. "Young Master Bing, what's the occasion?"

Zhuang Niaodao and Zhao Qibing were not especially close—mere acquaintances, without much depth of feeling between them. Still, it occurred to him that Zhao Qibing was the next head of the Hidden Zhao family, and sooner or later he would have to deal with the man, so he kept his tone courteous.

"Young Master Zhuang, here's the thing—I wanted to ask you about something. Your Hidden Zhuang family and Wei Zhao..." Zhao Qibing inquired cautiously.

"Oh?" Zhuang Niaodao's expression shifted at once. Remembering his grandfather's instructions, he answered flatly and without hesitation: "Young Master Bing, you're not thinking of making trouble for Wei Zhao, are you? Well, I can't get involved—not only can I not get involved, I'd have to side with Wei Zhao and lead the charge against you. The Hidden Zhuang family answers to Wei Zhao now; we're his juniors. So I hope you'll think it over carefully before you act!"

"Uh... no, no, I was just asking casually..." Zhao Qibing had not expected this to be true, and he was stunned. Yet he also knew, with a bitter pang, that with Wei Zhao's forceful intervention and the Hidden Zhuang family standing guard in person, the Songshan City territory was beyond their reach forever!

"Then there's no problem." Zhuang Niaodao breathed a sigh of relief and hung up.

As for Zhao Qibing, he dialed Li Cihua's number once more.

"Young Master Bing, how did it go? Any news?" Li Cihua asked cautiously.

"There's news. The Hidden Zhuang family really has thrown in with Wei Zhao!" Zhao Qibing said, unable to keep the indignation from his voice. "Come back. Pull out of Songshan City. I'm not there anymore, and Songshan City isn't a place our reach can cover. If Wei Zhao wants it, let him have it—for now I don't want to offend him."

"Understood. Then what are we to do once we're back in Donghai City?" Li Cihua asked.

"When you get back to Donghai City, go to Donghai Engineering University. In the university district near the campus, find a place and open another bar. But your main task is to see whether you can help me win Wei Zhao over." Zhao Qibing paused in thought, then went on: "If you run into Wei Zhao, help him however you can. That's all."

"Oh? Win Wei Zhao over?" Li Cihua was momentarily taken aback. "Young Master Bing, is the Hidden Zhao family changing tack too—currying favor with Wei Zhao so we can be his juniors?"

"Of course not!" Zhao Qibing shook his head. "I need his help with something. Once I... never mind, we won't speak of it now. Just remember what I've told you."

"All right." Li Cihua nodded and agreed.

And so Li Cihua, Su Jiaonang, Zhang Yuzhou and the others left in great haste. That very day they handed the Geli Fuyun Bar over to Zou Tiandi, along with all those dry shares in the various companies. Li Cihua's people were no longer in Songshan City; holding on to those shares would have done them no good. The businesses were all local builders and entertainment proprietors who had given Li Cihua dry shares in the hope that he would smooth over their troubles when they arose. From now on, those would be Zou Tiandi's affairs.

The bar, too, was formally renamed "Tiandi Bar." Wei Zhao could hardly put his own name on it, so it was best to let Zou Tiandi fly his own banner. To the outside world they announced that Zou Tiandi's patron was likewise the Hidden Zhuang family, and that he had not the slightest connection to Wei Zhao. Only those at the level of the hidden families knew that Wei Zhao was the power behind the Hidden Zhuang family.

……………………

The Tomorrow-Upon-Tomorrow Sect.

Chunyang Tianzun had Zhang Naipao summon Zhong Yongliang. He had no wish to meddle in Zhong Yongliang's sorry affairs any longer, but for the sake of his beloved disciple he had no choice—he would take them up one more time. For if Chunyang Tianzun did not help, Zhang Naipao would certainly be unable to cultivate with a quiet mind. To set his beloved disciple at ease, Chunyang Tianzun racked his brains until at last he hit upon a fine plan.

"Your disciple Zhong Yongliang pays his respects to Chunyang Tianzun. May the Tianzun enjoy immortal bliss and eternal life, and may his blessings reach the heavens and endure ten thousand autumns!" Zhong Yongliang said reverently.

Chunyang Tianzun frowned. "What sort of nonsense is that? Why does it sound so familiar? It seems to be some Dragon God Cult Master—wasn't he done to death by Wei Xiaobao?"

"Uh..." Zhong Yongliang had meant to flatter, only to step on a sore toe. He had not expected Chunyang Tianzun to read novels too, and for a moment he broke out in a sweat. "He was nowhere near as mighty as you, Master; being done to death was only natural. But you are a different matter altogether!"

"Oh, enough, spare me these absurd odds and ends. I've thought up a fine way for you to take your revenge!" Chunyang Tianzun waved a hand.

"What? Master, truly? You are too good to your disciple!" Zhong Yongliang was overjoyed; he had not expected another chance at revenge.

"Of course it's true. When have I ever lied?" Chunyang Tianzun said mildly. "I will give you another treasure. This treasure is a spirit beast. Its rank is not high, but it has certain peculiar powers!"

"A spirit beast?" Zhong Yongliang's eyes lit up. He had come into contact with a good deal of the cultivation world's affairs of late and knew well what a spirit beast was. To get a spirit beast with which to deal with Wei Zhao—that would be wonderful indeed!

"Just so. This spirit beast is called the Hundred-Drunken Centipede. It can be used to bite a man, and whoever is bitten will fall unconscious within an hour, with no remedy to be found!" Chunyang Tianzun said. "So all you need do is challenge Wei Zhao again, let the centipede bite him unawares, and he will collapse. Then you may beat him however you please!"

"Oh? As good as that?" Zhong Yongliang was delighted beyond measure to hear of such a fine spirit beast. "Then I'll make a wager with him—stake that mid-grade golden cicada undershirt. He's bound to lose!"

"Exactly, that is my meaning too—have you gamble for that golden cicada undershirt," Chunyang Tianzun said. "But remember this: do not use the Hundred-Drunken Centipede recklessly. It may be used only three times a month. Beyond three, you must wait until the next month!"

"Ah? There's a limit like that?" Zhong Yongliang had meant to go back and keep issuing challenges and putting on airs, but at these words he hastily abandoned the notion. It seemed he could not use it freely, only at the crucial moment.

"Yes. The method of using the centipede is simple; I will teach it to you now," Chunyang Tianzun said. "The first method is by means of a lure solution. I will give you a bottle of it; you spray the solution onto your opponent, release the Hundred-Drunken Centipede, and it will attack him of its own accord. The second method is that when the Hundred-Drunken Centipede is struck, it counterattacks automatically. This is the simplest of all: hold the centipede in your hand, and wherever Wei Zhao strikes, you block with it, and the centipede will go and bite him of itself!"

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