A Good-for-Nothing

240. It’s Getting Interesting (II)

Translator: Dragon Rider

“Your family did a good job. I like this place very much.” A smile curled the corners of the Demon King’s mouth. “According to you, Zhu Ning sneaked into the Holy Land. The SMB and your family searched for over twenty years, but nobody ever found the Demonic Seed, which means that Zhu Ning knew what the Demonic Seed could do.

This is also the very reason why a person as smart as Zhu Ning would by no means have hidden the Demonic Seed somewhere that people could find.” The man cast a sidelong glance at him and added, “Given the usual efficiency with which you people handle things, it’ll probably take you another twenty years to locate the Demonic Seed.”

“Surely we have to do something, Master?” Zhou Yihao was astonished.

They’d been looking for the Demonic Seed for so many years, and now, after they finally found a clue on it, they were going to give up just like this?

Zhou Yihao said anxiously, “Master, you still need the power contained in the Demonic Seed, don’t you? If by any chance those guys of the SMB beat us to it–”

“It’s okay if they beat us to it. They would’ve long since got some clues if finding the Demonic Seed were that easy.”

The man added with a chuckle, “Those guys of the SMB are even more anxious than I am, because the very thought of me getting the Demonic Seed scares them.”

“So what is your plan, Master?”

“The mantis stalking the cicada might fall prey to the siskin following in its wake.”

Zhou Yihao’s eyes widened with amazement. What a brilliant idea!

The man ignored the admiring expression in his eyes. With a wave of his hand, a cloud of black demonic Qi was conjured in mid-air.

The huge amount of energy churning in that cloud of demonic Qi made Zhou Yihao’s eyes glint longingly. “Master, this is…”

“Recently, some kids have made contact with your family, right? Give this to Zhou Congzhi. Tell him that I’d be happy to play a part in anything that would give those people of the SMB headaches.”

Zhou Yihao’s heart gave a jolt. “Master, how did you come to know–”

Zhou Yihao broke off in the middle of a sentence, feeling an urge to slap himself across the face. He was so stupid. What could possibly escape the notice of such a powerful being as his master?

“Yes, Master. I understand.” Zhou Yihao gingerly took his leave.

Zhou Congzhi had spent a large sum of money on the interior decoration of this villa. With simply a press on a button on the remote control, the curtains slowly opened automatically. The weather was very good this day. Sunlight gently went through the windows which were wide open, shining onto the man’s exceptionally charming features. He had dashing eyebrows and bright penetrating eyes. His forehead bore some black markings. His eerie, vertical pupils lent an air of something breathtaking to his whole being.

“This is so interesting.”

The man’s faint murmur was heard in the room every corner of which was bathed in sunshine. As the sunlight drove away the darkness, three corpses which were still warm were revealed, lying this way and that on the ground, all their faces cloaked in a shroud of black gas, lifeless.

…

Technically speaking, members of the Zhu family counted as warlocks. As a result, there was always cloud and mist coiling around the top of the Four Sides Hill.

It was now summer already. Shen City was one of the couple of cities known as “Ovens” in this country. Because of the geographical location of the Four Sides Hill, when He Zheng and Li Zong got out of the car, they were not greeted by a heat wave as they’d expected.

Old Master Zhu, like the last time, was standing in the gateway, waiting to welcome them. The old man knew what was best for his family and always made the right choice. He hadn’t intervened in any family matters for many years, but after the headquarters of the SMB sent him a message, he’d summoned all related family members and had them stay in the Zhu family, and also made sure that nobody would disclose anything to outsiders.

He’d done it to make things easier for the SMB and also to protect the Zhu family.

The old man saw things more clearly than anybody.

At the sight of He Zheng and Li Zong, the old man gave a smile and took a small step forward.

“Grandfather.”

“Good boy, are you tired?”

“Not very.” He Zheng had a lot to say, but when words sprang to the tip of his tongue, he didn’t know where to start.

Old Master Zhu laughed and heavily clapped him on the shoulder. “Go. Your cousin will take you to your room to get some rest. There’s something I need to talk with Li Zong about.”

Zhu Qi was waiting on the side. His eyes reddened at these words, but when He Zheng looked at him, he forced a smile and said, “Let’s go, He Zheng. I’ll take you inside to have some rest.”

His heart going more leaden, He Zheng inclined his head. Halfway to the house, he couldn’t help but twist his head around to call, “Grandfather.”

“What is it?”

Eyes burning, He Zheng smiled, “Nothing. I just felt like calling you.”

“Go. Get some rest,” said Old Master Zhu with a genial smile.

He Zheng followed Zhu Qi into the residence.

This old residence of the Zhu family was very large, with a garden in front of the houses. The two of them were walking along a path with luxuriant and well-spaced ornamental plants on both sides. For fear that He Zheng would feel bored, Zhu Qi was talking to him. “Zheng, all of us know that you got a place on the Special Talents Training Program (STTP). Grandfather’s very happy. He said that he could tell at a glance that you’re a smart kid.”

“Oh? What else did he say?” asked He Zheng nonchalantly.

Smiling, eyes curved, Zhu Qi replied, “Grandfather also said that before your birth, he’d performed divination and found that you’d be uncommonly gifted.”

He Zheng chuckled self-deprecatingly, “Yeah. Pity I fell victim to Qiao Peiyu’s venomous scheme. Otherwise my mother wouldn’t have undergone all those hardships.”

He exhaled deeply and continued, “But Qiao Peiyu has come to grief as well, and she won’t be able to make any more trouble. I heard that she fell ill shortly after returning to the Qiao family. She’s got her just deserts.”

Seeing the sorrow on He Zheng’s face, Zhu Qi could barely forebear from slapping his own face, inwardly cursing his stupid mouth, wondering why he hadn’t chosen a better topic.

“Brother Qi, I heard that you got a girlfriend.”

In an effort to make up for his mistake, Zhu Qi hurriedly responded, “Yeah, we’re engaged to be married. Ahem… Zheng, I believe things will get better and better. It’s said that Brother Li has been reinstated as vice-superintendent. You’ve got to stick up for us.”

He Zheng smiled a relaxed smile, put his arm around Zhu Qi’s shoulders and said, “Nobody would dare mess with my family.”

Seeing that the previous topic was really no longer bothering him, Zhu Qi relievedly grinned.

Meanwhile, Old Master Zhu and Li Zong, along with Zhu Mingcong, Old Master Zhu’s eldest son, and Zhu Mingzhang, Old Master Zhu’s second son, were in a room discussing the future of the Zhu family.

What Zhu Ning did over twenty years ago was a mystery to everybody, but all members of the Zhu family knew that the reason why Zhu Ning had done those things must be because she’d received some instructions from the God of Divination.

No matter what Zhu Ning’s original intention had been, what the Zhu family was faced with on this day was a disaster this family was destined to encounter, and also a responsibility this family was supposed to take on.