Chapter 691 — The Hidden Families

"Zhong Yongliang?" Wei Zhao was briefly taken aback. How had Zhong Yongliang gotten mixed up in this? The kid didn't even have kidneys anymore—and he was still running around poisoning people?

"Yes, but Zhong Yongliang was a victim too, so we ultimately decided not to punish him. Personally I was against it, of course, but the final decision wasn't mine to make." Qiu Lingshan spoke coolly, clearly harboring no fondness for Zhong Faibai and his son. "Still, I hear someone higher up is protecting Zhong Yongliang. Apparently he's been running around with Zhao Qibing lately?"

"I see." Wei Zhao had finally worked out who was behind this. Barring any surprises, it had to be Zhao Qibing—and behind Zhao Qibing, apart from Uncle Zhu, there lurked someone of considerably greater stature.

"Is there anything else? I did you a favor—aren't you going to treat your brain… little fool girl to a meal?" Qiu Lingshan had grown so used to calling herself a brain-dead girl in front of Wei Zhao that she nearly let it slip again! What was wrong with her mouth? Did she actually want to be the brain-dead girl?

"You've got it backwards, haven't you?" Wei Zhao had realized that Qiu Lingshan and the eldest miss were truly two different creatures. Both had been seen naked, both had witnessed deeply embarrassing things—yet Qiu Lingshan had instantly grown far more familiar with him, while the eldest miss had only grown colder.

"Then I'll treat you instead," Qiu Lingshan said. "Come to my place next Saturday?"

"No time." Wei Zhao's reply was flat, a direct refusal.

Wei Zhao figured that although Miss Song was beautiful and alluring, and something happening with her might seem rather wonderful—the consequences, ah, the consequences! He had enough troubles as it was. Get any closer, and the moment she had some problem she'd come running to him. Was he supposed to have no other business in life?

"Oh. Well, next time, then." Qiu Lingshan sounded a little deflated. Wei Zhao really did seem to have no interest in her; her seduction had failed. Wei Zhao's guess had been right: Qiu Lingshan had indeed been treating him as a sucker. He'd seen everything there was to see anyway—she'd already suffered a huge loss, and that couldn't be changed. Better to get more help out of Wei Zhao. Qiu Lingshan wanted him to clear out all the backlogged cases at the police bureau—the theft rings, the motorcycle gangs, and so on and so forth…

Granted, these organizations had been around for ages and were hard to wipe out entirely, but Qiu Lingshan still harbored some fantasies! Her momentum was excellent right now; if she kept developing at this rate, becoming bureau chief wasn't a dream at all. How long had she been in the post? And she'd already cracked so many major cases in succession!

Qiu Lingshan was feeling far more at ease than before. She figured that since Wei Zhao had already seen her, she counted as his girl—so if he helped her solve cases, what was there to feel guilty about?

Wei Zhao hung up the phone, a bit of a headache coming on. Rescuing Qiu Lingshan had turned into a whole mess of trouble. Miss Song had now learned to pester him relentlessly—she'd gotten much cleverer than before.

Back at the villa, Wei Zhao dialed the old man's number.

There was no one else in the villa, so Wei Zhao didn't need to be discreet. "Old man, someone here is using the Seven-Grass Death Powder."

"Oh?" Old Man Wei was startled. After a long pause, he asked, "You're certain?"

"Yes, certain. I tasted it," Wei Zhao said.

"Could it be that those people have come out again?" Old Man Wei sounded uncertain himself.

"What people?" Wei Zhao asked.

"People of the hidden families," Old Man Wei said.

"Hidden families? I've heard of the four great families and the five lesser families, but I've never heard of any hidden families. What are they?" Wei Zhao was taken aback.

"Heh, the four great families and the five lesser families are nothing but some families that took shape in the secular world later on—they can't even begin to compare with the hidden families!" Old Man Wei said. "But as for the hidden families, I don't actually know that much. Your master understands more than I do, because he was one of the parties involved back then! By the agreement of over a decade ago, certain ancient martial arts families were required to withdraw from the world—otherwise their appearance would disrupt much of the present order…"

"Oh? My master?" Wei Zhao was startled. He hadn't expected his master to have ties to the hidden families!

"Among these hidden families there is a medical family, the You family of Yunnan. They're well versed in medicine, but what they excel at most is using medicine to harm people—and they're deeply studied in the arts of gu sorcery!" Old Man Wei said. "However, under the original agreement, the You family's disciples are not permitted to walk in the secular world. They may only serve the great families and the hidden families!"

"You're saying this You family knows the formula for the Seven-Grass Death Powder?" Wei Zhao frowned.

"Possibly, but it's not certain," Old Man Wei said. "Keep an eye on this matter for now, but don't meddle with it. Given your current strength, you don't yet reach that level! They won't dare openly violate the original pact either—otherwise your master would have no choice but to intervene."

"Fine, I understand." Since Old Man Wei had said as much, Wei Zhao naturally would not press him further. His current strength was enough to walk freely through the mundane world, but against those hidden behemoths, he could not so much as make them budge.

"Is there anything else? Oh, that's right — the medicine you had Ergoudan bring, I've already given it to him. But the boy's busy with the spring plowing, so it'll be a few days yet before he can come over," said Old Man Wei.

"No rush on that..." Wei Zhao said. "Oh, right — do you know about the Ten-Thousand-Year Spring Wooden Box?"

Wei Zhao had suddenly remembered the Ten-Thousand-Year Spring Wooden Box he had obtained at the auction, though he had no idea what it was for. Ever since returning from the auction he had been busy with all sorts of odds and ends, and the matter of that box had been tossed to the back of his mind. Only now did it occur to him.

"The Ten-Thousand-Year Spring Wooden Box? I've heard of it — there's an old text in the family that mentions it." Old Man Wei thought for a moment, then said, "Why do you ask?"

"I think I might have one on me..." Wei Zhao said.

"What?!" Old Man Wei was startled. "You have one? How did you get it? You actually have something that only appears in ancient texts?"

"I happened to get it at an auction..." Wei Zhao had not expected such a strong reaction from Old Man Wei. Could this Ten-Thousand-Year Spring Wooden Box really be so extraordinary? So he asked, "Old man, is this thing good?"

"If it's mentioned in ancient texts, how could it be anything but good?" Old Man Wei shot back.

"Oh — then what exactly is this Ten-Thousand-Year Spring Wooden Box used for?" Wei Zhao's curiosity was stirred as well, and he pressed the question eagerly.

"What it's used for, I honestly don't know," said Old Man Wei, abruptly changing tack.

"Huh?!" Wei Zhao was stunned. He had not expected Old Man Wei to answer like that. In astonishment he blurted, "You don't know?"

"I don't know," Old Man Wei said flatly.