Chapter 522 — Upgrading to a Great House
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
"Mm! I knew you would never doubt your big brother's character! What a straight shooter! Little brother, you are a true friend of mine, Wu Chengtian!" Sure enough, Wu Chengtian was moved to near tears and walked straight into the trap, convinced that Kang Jinglong was a man of genuine loyalty — he would scrap and melt down every pot and pan he owned to see that money repaid! A brother like that, he must never let down!
"Heh heh, naturally — I've always taken you, Chengtian, as my big brother," Kang Jinglong said. "Big brother, you'll have to look after me!" "You bet! Absolutely!" Wu Chengtian agreed readily.
"By the way, Chengtian, my grandfather and I have been invited to the Yu family's auction today, to discuss our Kang family's promotion to a great house. It's practically a done deal, but we're still a bit uneasy about it," Kang Jinglong said. "Chengtian, would you come along and shore up our courage? With you, heir of the Iron Hand Wu family, there, we won't have a thing to fear!" "No problem!" The moment he heard this, Wu Chengtian agreed at once. It wasn't as if he had to do anything — just show up and lend his nerve? Of course he would accept. And he could still posture in front of his little brother — what was there not to like?
"Then it's settled, Big Brother Chengtian — I'll be waiting for you at the auction!" Kang Jinglong's form of address had shifted to "Big Brother Chengtian," and Wu Chengtian's heart bloomed with joy on the spot.
Listening to Kang Jinglong's phone call, Divine Doctor Kang was deeply gratified. This grandson of his truly had both courage and cunning — his words were watertight, not only winning Wu Chengtian's gratitude but also making it plain that this debt of fifteen million had to be repaid!
And what Kang Jinglong said next won him even more of Divine Doctor Kang's admiring wonder. The boy actually claimed that the Kang family's promotion to a great house was already a done deal — was that not bald-faced lying?
They had not even made contact with the Yu family's liaison yet; they were miles from becoming a great house — and still Kang Jinglong dared speak so! But Divine Doctor Kang understood his purpose. Had he said outright that he wanted to negotiate with the Yu family about the promotion, Wu Chengtian would most likely have had second thoughts — after all, his very appearance would signify that the Wu family stood behind the Kang family in this.
The Iron Hand Wu family held a singular position among the great houses, and Wu Gonggao's standing as a Profound-rank master was in itself enough to awe anyone! So if Wu Chengtian lent his support to the Kang family's bid for the rank, the matter would all but be in the bag.
For though the Yu family was powerful, there was no need for them to offend the Wu family over this. If the Kang family truly merited the rank, why not push the boat along with the current — and win the Wu family's gratitude besides?
The move was no small stroke of cunning. In truth, it was a ploy Kang Jinglong had racked his brains to stage deliberately before Divine Doctor Kang, and his aim was to put the old man's mind at ease. And indeed his purpose was achieved: Divine Doctor Kang looked at him with unmistakable gratification and nodded. "Zhaolong, I used to worry — you are making your career in scholarly circles, not in management; who would inherit our Kang family's estate? Now at last I am easy." "Heh heh, rest easy, Grandfather. I will make our Kang family flourish in my hands — my goal is nothing less than the Wu family's kind of martial arts great house! Only thus can our Kang family enjoy glory for generation upon generation!" Kang Jinglong clenched his fist. "Whoever stands in my way, whoever tries to hold me back, I will grind beneath my heel — Guan Xuewen, Lai Changshan, and that jumping clown Wei Zhao alike. I will make them all see that I, Kang Jinglong, am the true winner!"