A Good-for-Nothing

128. He Zheng, a Green-eyed Monster (2)

Translator: Dragon Rider

Lin Di failed to keep his pretence of composure and gave an amiable smile. “I have a wider view up there. I’m waiting for someone.”

Originally Lin Di had been with Zhang Jingqiu looking for the Demonic Seed in the south-west, but they hadn’t made any progress whatsoever so far, and people on this side were badly short-handed, so eventually Zhang Jingqiu had dispatched Lin Di, the vice group leader, back to SMB, hoping that Lin Di could recruit some new members to his action group to help with the task.

“Very creative.” Li Zong inclined his head.

Lin Di was in the wrong, so of course he didn’t dare say anything.

Li Zong glanced at the watch around his wrist and remarked, “Lin Zhuo will probably come out soon.”

“Okay, thank you, Supt. Li.” Lin Di nodded.

Li Zong gave a bob of his head, turned around and started walking away.

Lin Di narrowed his eyes and, finally, failed to keep from asking, “Supt. Li, it’s said that He Zheng has been improving very quickly.”

Li Zong paused but didn’t turn his head back.

Lin Di said, “Like Elder Chen said, there are precedents for people like He Zheng. This kind of uniquely gifted cultivators get twice the result with half the effort in their cultivation. He just started cultivating not long ago, but he’s already capable of drawing a lightning Fu. I believe He Zheng will definitely be powerful enough to join the first action group. All he needs is a little more time.”

“What is it that you’re trying to say?” Li Zong finally twisted his head around.

Lin Di gave a relaxed shrug. “Nothing. I’m just curious why you didn’t tell He Zheng that good performance will earn him admission into an action group. He has a very good chance of getting it, doesn’t he?”

Li Zong squinted his eyes. Seeing Li Zong’s facial expression, Lin Di, who was smiling, vigilantly backed off two steps and waved his hands, as if surrendering himself. “Haha, I’m just curious… just curious.”

Li Zong withdrew his gaze.

“He Zheng is different from Chen Qianlin and Jin Qianlai. The reason why he wants to join SMB is not as simple as the one why the latter two do, so he’s not suitable to join an action group, not for now.”

This was inside information known to them only.

It had been on the spur of the moment that He Zheng had decided to join SMB, and he didn’t really have a thorough knowledge of SMB. Maybe he was merely doing it to outdo He Yu.

If this was not something He Zheng was truly enthusiastic about, Li Zong would rather he was merely going through the motions.

“Nobody knows if he’s suitable, not for sure.” Lin Di, however, believed that as an outsider, he was seeing this matter more clearly. “Supt. Li, actually He Zheng is pretty serious – about both cultivation and other things.”

Li Zong made no reply.

Lin Di said with a relaxed smile, “Never mind. I was being a busybody. I’ll go and wait for my younger brother to come out. Sorry to waste your time.”

After saying this, Lin Di left.

Li Zong stood beside the fountain for quite a while, quietly pondering over Lin Di’s words. ‘Is it true what they say ‘The outsider sees the game best?”

In the residential compound of He family.

He Yu had to make preparations for the exam of STTP that would be held in September, so her parents had specially told her to stay at home reviewing related subjects.

Having stayed on the Tigers and Dragons Mountain for years, He Yu found life at home terribly boring. On the very day she’d returned home, she’d gone out to play with her friends several times. After all these days, she had completely forgotten about the exam.

On this day, He Yu, who had just returned from a shopping trip, sat down on a sofa and had a maidservant massage her shanks when her cellphone rang.

He Yu casually quit the microblog app and flicked a glance at the number displayed on the screen. The name on the number was “Luo Yan”. He Yu knitted her eyebrows. Luo Yan was one of her elder sect-brothers. He was a quite powerful exorcist, but since his surname was not Zhang, he was not among those the sect leader favored. He Yu was not well disposed towards him, but Luo Yan had a sneaking affection for her and was quite solicitous of her in all matters, big and small. On top of that, Luo Yan was fairly influential compared with other members of this generation of disciples of the Tigers and Dragons Mountain, so He Yu had been keeping up a pretence of friendliness towards him.

He Yu answered the call in an affectedly soft voice, “Sect-brother?”

“Where are you, sect-sister?”

He Yu rolled her eyes upwards, but her voice was still sweet. “I’m at home preparing for the exam.”

“Oh.” Luo Yan briefly paused and then said, “Here’s the thing. Today I went to attend the interview of STTP and found that one of the applicants looked a little like the person in your family that you hate.”

The corners of He Yu’s eyes involuntarily twitched and she abruptly withdrew her feet, which took the maidservant aback. He Yu, disregarding the ashen-faced maidservant, sat bolt upright on the sofa, her countenance and voice going flinty at the same time. “Are you referring to He Zheng?”

“I’m not sure, but he closely resembled the person I previously saw in your home. What I find confusing is that… He Zheng is incapable of cultivating, isn’t he? Why does he want to attend STTP?”

He Yu’s eyes gradually went cold. ‘Well, well, Li Zong said that he wouldn’t help anybody get into SMB through the back door, but what is he doing now?!’

Of course He Yu didn’t believe that that good-for-nothing was now capable of cultivating. She gave a sneer. “Make some inquiries and find out the details.”

She was pretty good at maintaining her pretence. In the realization that her tone just now had been a little bossy, He Yu made an effort to soften her voice. “Sorry to put you to the trouble, sect-brother.”

“Not at all. Didn’t you say that this half-brother of yours was very annoying and hateful? I’ll keep watch on him for you. If it’s really him, humph… Given how mean he’s been to you, I’ll make sure he doesn’t pass this year’s exam of STTP!”

“Okay, thank you, sect-brother.” He Yu expressed her gratitude and then hung up the phone as her eyes went sullen.

Her countenance was extremely sepulchral and the maidservant standing on the side was scared by her.

‘If it was really that good-for-nothing, I swear I’ll kill him!’