Earth Green Pine had a good memory. Something suddenly surfaced in his mind, and he let out such a sharp cry of astonishment that Earth Drill Star, on the other end of the line, nearly jumped out of his skin.

"Sect Master, what do you mean, 'him'...? You know Wei Zhao?" Earth Drill Star was utterly baffled, with no idea what Earth Green Pine was talking about or what had startled him so.

"Lin Dongfang... Little Yi... that's it! Back then, when that man took Ranran away, he told my father to have Ranran train together with Little Yi... Could it be him?" Earth Green Pine was muttering to himself, paying no attention to the phone.

Earth Drill Star, sensing that Earth Green Pine had no intention of answering him, and hearing him rattle off a string of incomprehensible names, did not dare press further. He could only wait in silence.

"Earth Drill Star, in a moment, ask that Wei Zhao whether he... knows Lin Dongfang, and what relation he bears to Lin Dongfang," Earth Green Pine said, having pieced the threads together and arrived at a rough conjecture. Then he gave Earth Drill Star his instructions.

"Oh? All right..." Earth Drill Star had no idea why Earth Green Pine wanted him to ask such a thing, nor who on earth Lin Dongfang was, but since it was the Sect Master's order, he would naturally ask: "Shall I go ask him now?"

"Yes. As for the earlier terms, agree to the two vials of Earth-Element Essence Liquid. Have him revive Earth Tyrant first. Once you've asked him this question, relay the answer to me at once, and I'll decide how to proceed," Earth Green Pine said urgently.

"Understood. I'll go report back to Wei Zhao right away." Earth Drill Star nodded hurriedly.

"Wait—be sure to show him respect. Do not address him by name," Earth Green Pine warned.

"Rest assured, Sect Master. I'm only speaking this way because I'm reporting to you. To his face, I call him Senior Lin." Earth Drill Star was taken aback, unable to fathom why the Sect Master would care about such things too.

Wei Zhao, for his part, had no interest in eavesdropping on the phone call between Earth Drill Star and his Sect Master. Though eavesdropping would have been no challenge for Wei Zhao, he was not that sort of person.

"Finished seeking instructions?" Wei Zhao asked indifferently.

"Yes, Senior Lin!" Earth Drill Star said quickly. "Our Sect Master says we can give you the two vials of Earth-Element Essence Liquid—that's no problem. He asks that you first revive our Young Sect Master."

"Oh, that's fine." Wei Zhao nodded. "Shall we begin now? But when will you give me the Earth-Element Essence Liquid?"

"That... how about this: once we return to the Western Regions, we'll have it delivered to you at once, Senior Lin?" Earth Drill Star asked cautiously.

"Too long. Have someone bring it now." Wei Zhao waved a hand impatiently. "Besides, once you've gone, what if you never give it to me? Am I supposed to go chasing you down in the Western Regions? I haven't the time!"

"Uh... that works too." Earth Drill Star had never intended to welch on the deal—the Sect Master had already agreed to it, so there could be no change—and so he nodded readily. "I'll have someone fly it over right away."

"Good. Then let's begin the treatment now." Wei Zhao nodded. "By the way, while I'm treating him, kindly wait outside."

"No problem at all. Oh, Senior Lin, may I ask you a question?" Earth Drill Star asked at last.

"Go ahead." Wei Zhao thought nothing of it.

"May I ask, Senior Lin, do you know a Mr. Lin Dongfang?" Earth Drill Star inquired cautiously.

"Oh?" This time Wei Zhao was actually taken aback. "You know him? Why do you ask?"

"Well, it was our Sect Master who had me ask. May I ask what relation you bear to Mr. Lin Dongfang?" Earth Drill Star continued.

Wei Zhao hesitated. He did not know whether the Loess Plateau Sect and Lin Dongfang were friends or foes, but then he thought: what did it matter if they were enemies? What did it matter if they were friends? If they were enemies, they would not dare do anything to him—they still had to beg him for help, and he could even take the chance to extort a few more good things out of them.

And if they were friends, then at worst he would go ahead and restore Earth Tyrant to normal, costing Wei Zhao nothing. So with that in mind, Wei Zhao answered truthfully: "I suppose you could say he's my grandfather."

"Very good, Senior Lin. Then please begin treating the Young Sect Master. I'll step outside to excuse myself now." Earth Drill Star nodded and made ready to report back to Earth Green Pine.

Wei Zhao was rather mystified. Earth Drill Star had asked a single question and then said nothing more, neither confirming friend nor foe—what was that supposed to mean? But Wei Zhao did not dwell on it. Perhaps the man had merely heard of Lin Dongfang's fame as a divine physician from years past.

In truth, whether Earth Drill Star watched or not, he could never have learned Wei Zhao's method of treatment; it was simply that Wei Zhao did not want Earth Drill Star to know how easily he could revive Earth Tyrant—otherwise he would have had a hard time driving up the price.

So after Earth Drill Star left, Wei Zhao paid Earth Tyrant no mind at all. Instead, he sat off to the side and began to cultivate...

The moment Earth Drill Star stepped out of the room, he called Earth Green Pine.

"Drill Star, how did it go? Any news?" Earth Green Pine asked urgently as soon as he picked up.

"Yes, I have news!" Earth Drill Star said. "Wei Zhao says Lin Dongfang is, more or less, his grandfather..."

"Hiss—" Earth Green Pine drew a sharp breath. So he really was connected to that man! Earlier he had thought his wild imaginings a bit ridiculous, none too reliable—but now it seemed his guess had been right on the mark!

"What is it, Sect Master?" Earth Drill Star, hearing something off in Earth Green Pine's voice, asked quickly.

"Nothing. Drill Star, think of a way to make Tyrant acknowledge Wei Zhao as his leader—and it must be with genuine sincerity, no playacting!" Earth Green Pine had made up his mind in an instant. If Wei Zhao really was that man's grandson, then he had bet on the right horse. To be connected with Wei Zhao was to be connected with those two—and though he knew not where those two had gone now, the day would surely come when they reemerged upon the jianghu!

"Ah?" Earth Drill Star was stunned, unable to fathom why Sect Master Earth Green Pine would suddenly make such a decision. But he dared not ask more, only saying: "Yes, I understand. When the Young Sect Master wakes, I will convey your meaning to him!"

"Good. If he won't listen, call me directly. I'll speak to him myself!" Earth Green Pine said.

"Yes, Sect Master!" Earth Drill Star answered promptly.

After hanging up, a flicker of excitement crossed Earth Green Pine's face. For the Loess Plateau Sect to become a vassal sect of those two would be no disgrace at all. Back in the day, the Tomorrow-After-Tomorrow Sect had taken pride in exactly such a thing—others could not even begin to envy them!

In Yanjing City, Liu Tianli had spent the past few days dreaming of striking it rich—when out of the blue, he received a call from "President Lang"!

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