Chapter 522 — Upgrading to a Great House

The words he had spoken, those seemingly "heart-to-heart" confessions, were in truth a deliberate performance. If the Kang family truly rose to the rank of a great house, Kang Zhaoming would inevitably start scheming to wrest the future family headship from him. So Kang Zhaolong had moved first today, declaring his stance to Divine Doctor Kang — letting the old man know his position, letting him know that as family head he would never shortchange Zhaoming, and reminding him as well that Zhaoming was not entirely useless. With all that in place, Divine Doctor Kang would have no choice but to pass the seat of family head to Kang Zhaolong!

For Kang Zhaoming had already been written off by the family — labeled, and slated to be groomed as a dissolute young master. Once that was done, he would forfeit all right to compete for the family headship. How could a spendthrift playboy ever head a household?

The instant Kang Zhaolong turned and walked out of Divine Doctor Kang's room, he let out a cold laugh, then set off toward his own.

A great house was no longer Kang Zhaolong's ultimate goal. What he wanted was a martial arts great house — only then could they keep their footing for good and never be cast aside.

Wu Chengtian received Kang Zhaolong's call early that morning. He had assumed Kang Zhaolong was phoning to ask him for money, and jumped half out of his skin. Staring at the number on his screen, he hesitated over whether to answer or let it ring.

His grandfather had only just come round in the middle of the night. Wu Gonggao was a martial artist, and had waved it off as "nothing serious — I merely fainted from anger," yet even so Wu Chengtian dared not raise the subject of money now, for fear his grandfather might pass out all over again. This business would simply have to wait; for the time being, it could be set aside.

And so, watching Kang Zhaolong's call flash on the screen, Wu Chengtian found he could neither answer nor refuse. He was a man who cared about his face — and this was a splendid chance to show off. How could he back down now?

Yet in all honesty he did not quite dare to answer. What if Kang Zhaolong really was after money? If he had to admit he couldn't repay it yet, wouldn't that be a devastating loss of face? Forget showing off — people would laugh their heads off.

Still, this was fifteen million! Such a sum would make anyone's heart ache — and Kang Zhaolong had lent him so much in private that once he got home, he was bound to catch an earful from Divine Doctor Kang.

Gritting his teeth, Wu Chengtian answered the call after all. He was a man who valued loyalty; he could not let anyone look down on him. Even if it meant slapping his own face swollen, he would still play the fat man.

"Hello? Little brother Zhaolong? I was just sitting here thinking of calling you!" — for fear that Kang Zhaolong would bring up the matter of repayment, Wu Chengtian decided to strike first: "Let me tell you, about yesterday's dinner bill — I'll settle it with you the moment I get home. I didn't bring my bank card with me here!"

"Oh, that money — no rush." Kang Zhaolong blinked, and guessed at once what was on Wu Chengtian's mind. He was a man skilled at observing and reading others, though on the surface he always played the docile one, so harmless-seeming: "Between us brothers, you're not going to welch on me, are you? It never even crossed my mind. We'll talk when I'm back!"

One had to admit, Kang Zhaolong had a way with words. Speaking so not only bought him credit with Wu Chengtian and won the man's gratitude, it never once suggested he didn't want the money. On the contrary, it pointedly implied — you must pay me back; you are the leader, the capable one, and a man like you would never shortchange a little brother over a trifling sum! And yet it gave Wu Chengtian all the face he could want.

"Mm! I knew you would never doubt your big brother's character! What a straight shooter! Little brother, you are a true friend of mine, Wu Chengtian!" Sure enough, Wu Chengtian was moved to near tears and walked straight into the trap, convinced that Kang Zhaolong was a man of genuine loyalty — he would scrap and melt down every pot and pan he owned to see that money repaid! A brother like that, he must never let down!

"Heh heh, naturally — I've always taken you, Chengtian, as my big brother," Kang Zhaolong said. "Big brother, you'll have to look after me!" "You bet! Absolutely!" Wu Chengtian agreed readily.

"By the way, Chengtian, my grandfather and I have been invited to the Yu family's auction today, to discuss our Kang family's promotion to a great house. It's practically a done deal, but we're still a bit uneasy about it," Kang Zhaolong said. "Chengtian, would you come along and shore up our courage? With you, heir of the Iron Hand Wu family, there, we won't have a thing to fear!" "No problem!" The moment he heard this, Wu Chengtian agreed at once. It wasn't as if he had to do anything — just show up and lend his nerve? Of course he would accept. And he could still posture in front of his little brother — what was there not to like?

"Then it's settled, Big Brother Chengtian — I'll be waiting for you at the auction!" Kang Zhaolong's form of address had shifted to "Big Brother Chengtian," and Wu Chengtian's heart bloomed with joy on the spot.

Listening to Kang Zhaolong's phone call, Divine Doctor Kang was deeply gratified. This grandson of his truly had both courage and cunning — his words were watertight, not only winning Wu Chengtian's gratitude but also making it plain that this debt of fifteen million had to be repaid!

And what Kang Zhaolong said next won him even more of Divine Doctor Kang's admiring wonder. The boy actually claimed that the Kang family's promotion to a great house was already a done deal — was that not bald-faced lying?

They had not even made contact with the Yu family's liaison yet; they were miles from becoming a great house — and still Kang Zhaolong dared speak so! But Divine Doctor Kang understood his purpose. Had he said outright that he wanted to negotiate with the Yu family about the promotion, Wu Chengtian would most likely have had second thoughts — after all, his very appearance would signify that the Wu family stood behind the Kang family in this.

The Iron Hand Wu family held a singular position among the great houses, and Wu Gonggao's standing as a Profound-rank master was in itself enough to awe anyone! So if Wu Chengtian lent his support to the Kang family's bid for the rank, the matter would all but be in the bag.

For though the Yu family was powerful, there was no need for them to offend the Wu family over this. If the Kang family truly merited the rank, why not push the boat along with the current — and win the Wu family's gratitude besides?

The move was no small stroke of cunning. In truth, it was a ploy Kang Zhaolong had racked his brains to stage deliberately before Divine Doctor Kang, and his aim was to put the old man's mind at ease. And indeed his purpose was achieved: Divine Doctor Kang looked at him with unmistakable gratification and nodded. "Zhaolong, I used to worry — you are making your career in scholarly circles, not in management; who would inherit our Kang family's estate? Now at last I am easy." "Heh heh, rest easy, Grandfather. I will make our Kang family flourish in my hands — my goal is nothing less than the Wu family's kind of martial arts great house! Only thus can our Kang family enjoy glory for generation upon generation!" Kang Zhaolong clenched his fist. "Whoever stands in my way, whoever tries to hold me back, I will grind beneath my heel — Guan Xuemin, Lai Changyi, and that jumping clown Wei Zhao alike. I will make them all see that I, Kang Zhaolong, am the true winner!"

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