Chapter 815: Hidden Depths

"The Chen clan's... two Grand Masters?"

Chen Wuji suspected his ears had a problem, his body leaning forward slightly, and he asked again.

This question left Zhang Lao baffled; he looked at Chen Wuji with a strange expression, "You don't know?"

"I know what a Master is, but a Grand Master—I truly don't know!" Chen Wuji said.

Zhang Lao suddenly burst out laughing, "You Chen clan, really, the old man is now completely convinced. No wonder you're an aristocratic family, the number one general's house; some things truly have a reason."

"You've attained the position of Regional Inspector Commander, yet you still haven't figured out your own clan's situation. Although hearing this may seem somewhat funny, you can't blame them; this is the Chen clan's foundation—they must have suffered losses before doing this."

Chen Wuji's face darkened a bit.

Zhang Lao actually agreed with that reason.

But it's also true that he's unhappy.

Chen Wuji really thought he had uncovered all the Chen clan's secrets, but then another one popped out unexpectedly—covered up tightly!

"Who is it?" Chen Wuji asked.

Zhang Lao shook his head, "I don't know; they never intended to show their true faces."

"I advise you not to dig too deep; the Chen clan is a family that strictly follows rules. The main line of the family head remains the main line; they may defect from the Chen clan, but it's almost impossible for anyone to harm the family head's main line. This set of rules has been used by the Chen clan for who knows how many generations, and as far as I know, it has never failed."

Chen Wuji let out a soft hum, "I need to find a chance to talk with them properly."

Previously, he could have been a bit clueless about these things; knowing or not knowing made no difference.

But now that he's in this position, Chen Wuji must figure out exactly what cards he holds.

If a foundation comes too late, it can't be called a foundation.

"Old Master, am I really someone you calculated?" Chen Wuji shifted the conversation and asked again.

Zhang Lao tapped the table with his finger, "Pour the wine!"

Chen Wuji stood up and filled the wine bowl to the brim.

Zhang Lao pinched the wine bowl with three fingers, gulped down two big mouthfuls, and let out a relieved sigh, "You should get to the bottom of these matters; although the reason sounds a bit hasty, it's indeed a fact. Moreover, this reason that seems hasty to you, in my old man's view, is not hasty at all—on the contrary, it's more accurate than any eyesight."

"You see, hasn't everything already been proven?"

Chen Wuji lightly smiled and nodded, "Your words, old man, I really can't refute a bit."

In fact, Chen Wuji didn't find this statement particularly hasty either.

"Whether in the era of Da Yu or in his previous life, divination and feng shui have always been something many powerful and wealthy people value greatly."

"Old man, since we've come this far, let's lay our cards on the table!" Chen Wuji suddenly said.

Although he hadn't paid much attention to Rivers and Lakes forces before, now the Compassionate Relief Abbey is tied to his chariot; some matters therefore need to be thoroughly discussed, to avoid unpleasantness later.

Zhang Lao's brows knitted sharply, "You brat, whose grandpa are you? Are you really trying to rebel?"

Chen Wuji laughed heartily, "Old Master, my words have no ambiguity—you are definitely the 'grandpa' in the grandpa-grandson pair; as his disciple, I dare not insolently steal your 'grandpa' character."

Zhang Lao let out a soft hum, shook his head, "Wicked disciple!"

After a pause, he spoke impatiently, "As for the Compassionate Relief Abbey's affairs, you don't need to worry excessively; since you are now the Young Master of the Compassionate Relief Abbey, once you become Tower Master, its affairs will naturally be yours to decide."

"This old man of mine will now do one thing: hand over the Compassionate Relief Abbey to you steadily. As for whether you want to keep it as a Rivers and Lakes force or bring it under your command, that's up to me—I, the old man, won't interfere."

"As a dying old man, finding you such a great backing for the Compassionate Relief Abbey is enough; I don't want to expend more energy. As the current Tower Master of the Compassionate Relief Abbey, I've already done remarkably well; now I'm truly old and useless."

Chen Wuji:...

That old man.

"Your words, old man, are rather casual, but will the others in Lou Li agree?" Chen Wuji asked.

"This is the only thing I, the old man, will do next. You are the Young Shopkeeper, the Tower Master; they should obey your words. If you point east, they cannot go west; if anyone disobeys, what's the point of keeping them?" Zhang Lao's aura shifted abruptly, his profound gaze suddenly like a bottomless abyss.

After all, he's been the hidden power behind the Compassionate Relief Abbey for decades; when that superior's aura manifests, the old man who once looked no different from an ordinary elder instantly becomes towering and unfathomable.

That immense pressure would make countless people lower their heads obediently, not daring to meet his gaze.

However, this aura had little effect on Chen Wuji.

He merely watched silently, gave a slight nod, "So, I understand."

Although a year ago Chen Wuji was merely a hunter, now he holds Nan Jun and commands an army of two hundred thousand; in terms of status, he surpasses Zhang Lao by an unknown amount. When he's casual, he can joke and be informal, but when he turns stern, a single glance is enough to make one's blood run cold.

This is the change brought by power and influence.

It is also Chen Wuji who has truly fought his way out of countless mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

After chatting briefly with Zhang Lao again, once the sky was completely dark, Chen Wuji proposed his leave.

The questions he needed to ask are now clear; thereafter he also actually gained the identity of Young Master of the Compassionate Relief Abbey.

With Zhang Lao's reassuring words, he can now use that Rivers and Lakes force with peace of mind.

Although the Compassionate Relief Abbey is a Rivers and Lakes force, according to Zhang Lao, the Mountain Doctor Divination's five gates hide many talents in the mountains.

These people seem able to fill some of the talent gaps currently in Nan Jun.

However, this matter isn't urgent for now; Chen Wuji of the Compassionate Relief Abbey plans to engage with them deeply before making a decision.

Returning to the Government Office, as Chen Wuji stepped over the gate, he heard a series of thumping sounds.

In a corner of the courtyard, the Yuan Jinshi brothers were actually splitting firewood by oil lamp light.

"Hurry up and rest—what firewood are you splitting in the middle of the night!" Chen Wuji shouted.

Yuan Jinshi stopped somewhat awkwardly, rose and said, "Sir, the firewood in the mansion is running low; it might not be enough for tomorrow's needs. Let's quickly get some more so as not to delay tomorrow's affairs."

"Let's talk about it tomorrow morning; splitting firewood in the dark, be careful not to chop off your hands. Put the axe down, go fetch a bucket of water for me to wash up." Chen Wuji ordered; the oil lamp's light was dim, and he truly worried those two kids would cut their hands.