A Good-for-Nothing

232. Shielding He Zheng (II)

Translator: Dragon Rider

Zhang Jingqiu smiled relaxedly, “We know that there’s some kind of connection between Zhu Ning and the Demonic Seed, but what about He Zheng? He Zheng is also in a rather sensitive position. That combined with his miraculously fast improvement makes it very difficult for me not to suspect him.”

Zong Xian gave a cough. “Zhang Jingqiu has got a point. What do you think, Li Zong?”

Zhao Fei was an outsider, but he was fully aware of what was going on in this room. What Zhang Jingqiu said was true, both the first half and the latter half of it, but dragging He Zheng into this matter was the real reason why Zong Xian and Zhang Jingqiu had organized this meeting with such fuss.

They beat around the bush for so long because they were afraid that Li Zong would refuse. If Zong Xian, Zhen Daoyuan, Zhao Yidi and Elder Chen reached a consensus on this issue, there wouldn’t be much that Li Zong could do, no matter whether he agreed or disagreed.

Li Zong was no fool. Naturally, he understood this situation.

Li Zong never tried to avoid talking about his relations with He Zheng in the presence of outsiders, and he certainly wouldn’t shy away from talking about his take on anything concerning He Zheng.

Li Zong said, “I don’t quite understand what you mean, Director General.”

Zong Xian casually laid his hands on the armrests and said, “Since the Zhu family and the He family are involved in this matter, and He Zheng is Zhu Ning’s only child, maybe he knows something about it.”

“It’s a great mystery what talent could do.”

“He Zheng was barely four when Mrs. Zhu passed away.”

Li Zong said softly, “In what way do you plan to investigate He Zheng? I want to hear it first.”

His tone of voice was a little brusque. In the ordinary course of events, Li Zong wouldn’t talk to a top-ranking official like this.

Zong Xian, who was clearly rather unhappy about Li Zong’s attitude, replied, “It won’t be an investigation. We just want He Zheng isolated first. We’ll decide what to do next after we figure out a solution. If the Zhu family does have something to do with the Demonic Seed, He Zheng might be a threat.”

“Isolate him?” Li Zong’s voice was soft, but his eyes unflinchingly met Zong Xian’s in mid-air.

“Have all those related to the Demonic Seed isolated.” Zong Xian stood up, supporting himself with his fists on the desk. “What to do with them shall be decided after further clues are found.”

Li Zong rose from his chair without saying anything, intending to leave.

“Li Zong!” Zhen Daoyuan, who had been keeping silent all along, sprang to his feet and reprimanded, “What do you think you’re doing?”

Li Zong didn’t even twist his head around, his voice neither mild nor aggressive, his countenance unchanged. “About the Demonic Seed, we haven’t found any concrete proof to draw a conclusion yet, and neither do we know what kind of role Zhu Ning played in this matter exactly.

He Zheng is among the most powerful ones of this batch of STTP trainees. You’re all fully aware of what he was endowed with. When it comes to exorcism, there’s an insurmountable yawning gap between the talented and the untalented. It’s unreasonable to measure He Zheng’s progress with the yardstick suitable only for measuring the progress of others.

In addition, there’s something that I didn’t find the time to tell you, Director General, Mr. Zhen.” Li Zong’s voice was soft but brooked no argument. “About this year’s World Exorcism Championship, He Zheng is who I must include on the team.”

“Li Zong, don’t let your emotions get the best of you.” Zong Xian’s voice was tinged with graveness. As the Director General of SMB, he was always emanating a commanding air that most common people found unendurable. “This is a serious matter concerning the whole department. How could you make such an arbitrary decision?”

“Even if He Zheng does have something to do with the Demonic Seed and things go south, I’m capable of overpowering him,” remarked Li Zong in a low voice. “As for bringing him to the championship, it’s a decision free of personal feelings. He Zheng is uncommonly gifted. He mastered Elementary Lightning Spell and the Quintuple Lightning Enchantment in a very short time. It’s only a matter of time before he gets the hang of the Palmer Thunderbolt Spell.

The Neon Kingdom is sending a very strong team to participate in this year’s championship. Lightning spells are the most powerful of all spells requiring Fu. Of all the powers of this batch of trainees, He Zheng’s lightning spells are the only bane of that contracted psychic entity of Nakayi Hakute’s.

Who else among this year’s STTP trainees has such powers as He Zheng’s?”

“Don’t forget that the recruitment of new staff members has already started. There might be someone whose proficiency in lightning spells surpasses He Zheng’s,” said Zong Xian with a stern face.

“There won’t be,” said Li Zong lightly. “Even Zu Zhichong’s Quintuple Lightning Enchantment cannot hold a candle to that of He Zheng now.”

A look of astonishment flitted across the eyes of all the four top-ranking officials.

Frosty-faced, Zhao Yidi lowered her voice. “You’re overdramatizing it, aren’t you?”

Li Zong shook his head, shifting his gaze to Zhao Yidi. “Zu Zhichong learns all kinds of spells of the Qingwei Sect, so he naturally is no match for He Zheng who specializes in lightning spells. On top of that, He Zheng has my Phoenix Plume in him.”

This was not a secret. On that day, during that special training session, when He Zheng’s life was in danger, the Phoenix Plume was exposed.

But what Li Zong confided next was something they didn’t know.

Li Zong said, “He Zheng ingested my blood the day he accidentally intruded into the Phantom Market.

The combination of these two things probably has played a part in He Zheng’s progress in cultivation.”

All people present, except for Zhang Jingqiu and Xiang Hailou, knew about Li Zong’s identity.

Though unaware of it, as they saw that both Zhen Daoyuan’s and Zong Xian’s face took on an astounded expression, and that the smile on Elder Chen’s face was replaced by a thoughtful look, his eyes closed, they gathered that Li Zong was definitely more than what he seemed.

There was a few moments’ silence in the conference room.

Elder Chen, who had been keeping silent all along, heaved a sigh and with that his old voice was heard in the conference room. “Li Zong, that was an impulsive decision. How could you give these things to someone else like that?”

Li Zong made no reply. In fact, he was secretly glad that he’d made that decision, for he would’ve have been able to provide He Zheng with the protection he needed on this day had he not done that.