A Good-for-Nothing

82. To Cultivate for the Sake of Li Zong (2)

Translator: Dragon Rider

Zu family was very famous in the Coastal City, which meant that the eldest son of Zu family could be his super-rich backer.

Jin Qianlai’s eyes instantly lit up and with that, heedless of Supt. Li, he moved his chairs closer to Zu Zhichong. Zu Zhichong had no idea what was going on. The man whom he had looked down upon instantly started currying favor with him.

“Alas, Elder Brother Zu, given the amazing teamwork between us last night, I know it for certain that I’ll be your best partner if I can join the Supernaturalism Management Bureau (SMB)!

Do you think I’ll make a competent partner of yours, Elder Brother Zu?

Please don’t be so quiet, Elder Brother Zu. If there’s anything you need, all you have to do is ask. If any of my previous words or acts was offensive to you, I offer you my sincere apologies, Elder Brother Zu. I’m a country bumpkin who has little acquaintance with courtesy.”

Zu Zhichong was speechless with embarrassment.

And so was He Zheng.

And he found these words somewhat disgusting.

However, Jin Qianlai had shifted all his attention to Zu Zhichong, which was exactly what Li Zong wanted. He fished out a tissue and wiped He Zheng’s mouth. He Zheng took a bite of the egg and then was drawn away from the table by Li Zong.

“You two may take your time and have a good talk. He Zheng and I have to go now,” said Li Zong.

Vexed by Jin Qianlai, Zu Zhichong, whose face was full of annoyance, wanted to leave with them. However, he had just uttered “hey” when Jin Qianlai, quick of eye and deft of hand, put his arms around his waist and said, “Elder Brother! Let’s do some more chatting. You merely ate a couple of bites of the breakfast. There’s no need for formalities. I’ll keep you company while you are eating. Let’s not disturb Supt. Li and He Zheng.”

Many customers looked at them. Zu Zhichong couldn’t leave even if he wanted to.

Zu Zhichong’s face was covered in tears, a sad look in his eyes. Li Zong taking He Zheng left without a backward glance.

After walking out of the small eatery, He Zheng could still see Zu Zhichong’s angry face, which was a clear indication of his intention to kick Jin Qianlai’s ass. Face full of puzzlement, He Zheng had no idea what was going on. When they had been on their way out, Jin Qianlai had been holding Zu Zhichong tightly with his arms, refusing to let him go, which had reminded He Zheng of the scene of a local ruffian bullying a girl.

“What’s the problem with that Jin Qianlai guy? Why is he becoming weirder by the day?”

“Jin Qianlai is a Yōkai in human form.” As if something had just occurred to him, Li Zong’s lips curved. In an fairly amused tone, he added, “Guess what his primary form is.”

He Zheng failed to come up with an answer, but given the drastic change of Jin Qianlai’s attitude when he was informed of Zu Zhichong’s identity, He Zheng felt that this behavior bore a striking similarity to that of a dog.

“Is he some kind of big-sized canid?”

“He’s a Pixiu (a beast of a Chinese myth) in human form.”

He Zheng was thrown into embarrassment. ‘A Pixiu has a mouth but no anus. No wonder Jin Qianlai refused to hand over that pearl. His biological nature was indeed at work. That’s too painful decision for him to make.’

He Zheng suddenly came to understand Jin Qianlai’s behavior.

But he found it hard to believe. Pixiu were descendants of dragons. Though Jin Qianlai was not weak, He Zheng didn’t think he was very powerful.

As if he could tell what He Zheng was thinking about, Li Zong explained, “Jin Qianlai is not pure-bred. Technically, he is only one-quarter Pixiu, and he barely has any dragon Qi. It’s just that he’s more talented and more niggardly than common human beings.”

He Zheng inclined his head. ‘So this was the reason.’

He was thinking about something when he felt someone gently squeezed his hand. Li Zong’s expression was still as bland as always. After being pinched, He Zheng raised his head to look at Li Zong, a perplexed look on his face.

Somehow, the two of them had walked to the beach. A gentle see breeze blew by and He Zheng’s bangs were fluttering. He was quite young, and during the past couple of days, he had not neatly combed his hair back and just let it droop in a natural way, which made him seem even younger, like a student who had just left college and was fairly green.

Beneath this gaze of He Zheng, Li Zong felt his heart involuntarily give a lurch.

“Are you still in misery?”

He Zheng blinked. “What do you mean?”

It was not until a few moments later that he came to realize that Li Zong was referring to the incident the night before. He shook his head. “Pooh, of course not. I’m not some delicate girl.

Incidentally, back in the Counter-demon Committee, what was it that you were talking with her about in riddles? And there’s also the matter of the divinatory symbols decrypted by my maternal grandfather.”

He Zheng flicked Li Zong a glance and then added, “It’s okay if you are not allowed to tell me. I don’t really want to find out about it that bad.”

While he was making these remarks, each and every single cell of his seemed to be screaming “Tell me the truth!” Li Zong knew very well what He Zheng truly had in mind. After the two of them sad down against a column shoulder to shoulder, Li Zong relaxedly squinted his eyes and said, “The truth about these things will naturally come to your knowledge when you participate in the entrance test for the Special Talents Training Program (STTP).”

And so was He Zheng.

“Wait. What do you mean by ‘test’?” He Zheng asked. ‘I still need to pass a test after Li Zong pulled strings for me?’

Li Zong softly flicked a glance at him. As if able to read He Zheng’s mind, he replied in a calm tone of voice, “There’ll be an interview and a written examination, followed by orientation courses. Even though it’ll be a merely formality, you need to be there.”

Li Zong paused and added, “Of course, deep down I wish you’ll pass the interview and the written examination all by yourself.” He reached out his hand, stroked He Zheng’s face and continued, “I promised you that I’d get you a place on STTP, but He Zheng, there’s something I have to tell you in advance.

If you are not ready, I will never allow you to perform any tasks – I’ve been through enough worry during this incident.”

He Zheng’s lips tightened into a thin line. He had found the first half of Li Zong’s words somewhat unpleasant, but the last remark made him… made him a little shy.

“I see.” He Zheng awkwardly twisted his head aside. “If it’ll really be that difficult, maybe I’ll start studying when I get back, and try to earn myself an admission unaided… ” Thinking that he had already learned the rudiments, He Zheng was confident that he would be making steady progress if he put efforts into it.

Li Zong’s seemingly dual-pupiled eyes met He Zheng’s, as if he was asking He Zheng whether he meant it.

He Zheng felt more awkward. “I mean it!”

“Glad to hear that.” Li Zong gave a smile, which was quite rare, held He Zheng in his arms and chuckled. He Zheng’s waist went limp as he heard the chuckle.

After quite a while, He Zheng, fascinated by the charms of this man, dreamily wondered, ‘Has Li Zong by any chance been manipulating me with all kinds of finesse in the knowledge that I tend to be amenable to friendly persuasion but not to compulsion?’