As Wei Zhong awaited news from the Li Family, the Yingying Yanyan surrounding him immediately swarmed closer:
"Master, Master, come and taste this! Sister Hua's cooking is divine—the aroma of this roasted spirit fish is driving us mad with hunger! But Sister Hua insisted you have the first bite."
After spending a day with Wei Zhong, the maids had realized that this Senior Wei Zhong carried none of the haughtiness of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. He treated them with warmth and kindness, even sharing lighthearted jokes from time to time. This emboldened them considerably.
With a playful shove, they pushed Sister Hua into Wei Zhong's arms. He embraced the warm, soft figure without hesitation, wrapping his arm generously around her waist.
Now that the Li Family had likely agreed to the transfer under Li Haowen's persuasion, accepting these maids would no longer cause any complications.
Wei Zhong gazed at the woman in his arms. At the tender age of sixteen, she possessed fair skin and exquisite beauty. The maids called her "Sister Hua" not because of her age, but because she held the highest cultivation base among them—the only one at the third layer of Qi Refining, granting her the greatest authority. Her name also contained the character "Hua," meaning "flower," which further cemented her title as "Sister Hua."
Wei Zhong guessed she was quite young. To maintain such a youthful appearance, she must have begun cultivating long ago. Her current stagnation in cultivation was likely due to limited talent and resources.
Wei Zhong rubbed the soft jade pendant on her abdomen, then opened his mouth. She immediately understood and fed him a piece of the grilled spirit fish.
After tasting it, Wei Zhong realized the grilled spirit fish truly had a unique flavor.
A smile spread across his face as he declared, "Excellent! You deserve a reward!"
With that, he produced a High-Grade Qi Nourishing Pill and placed it against her chest.
This generous gesture immediately drew squeals of excitement from the surrounding maids:
"Ah, Master, Master, I want one too!"
Sister Hua, whom Wei Zhong was holding, gazed at him with tender affection.
After pacifying the others with a few spirit stones, Wei Zhong finally asked the woman in his arms for her real name.
She was Xie Linghua, not a member of the Li Clan, but from a small cultivation family. After her family's decline, she was taken in by a Li Clan matriarch by chance.
Now that the matriarch had passed away, Linghua had lost her support and was sent to Black Lake Island to please Wei Zhong, the Foundation Establishment cultivator.
"Ling'er seems to have some skill in spirit cuisine?"
Wei Zhong, who was many cycles older than her, naturally wouldn't call her "Sister Hua." Instead, he gave her the nickname "Ling'er."
"When my family still existed, I learned a few skills from my father, but only the basics. I'm truly undeserving of such praise from a Senior and this reward. Though lacking in talent, Ling'er has some experience managing a family. I wish to remain by your side for the rest of my life, serving you."
Wei Zhong nodded. Such a sensible and clever woman who knew how to seize opportunities for advancement was rare. He was willing to give her a chance, but if she proved inadequate, he would simply replace her.
Stroking a strand of dark hair across her forehead, Wei Zhong said gently, "Very well. From now on, you shall manage Black Lake Island for this Daoist."
A flicker of disbelief crossed Xie Linghua's face before she realized what he meant and moved to kowtow in gratitude.
Wei Zhong chuckled and helped her up. "Rather than kowtow, why not feed this old man a few more bites of spirit fish?"
She wiped away the tears welling in her eyes, her face breaking into a radiant smile. With renewed tenderness, she fed him the spirit fish.
The surrounding onlookers watched Xie Linghua secure such a high position with just a few words before this Foundation Establishment Senior, their hearts filled with regret. They bitterly resented that they hadn't been the ones to approach him first.
Yet seeing the Senior's pleased expression, they dared not voice their complaints.
Despite the amicable atmosphere, the Qi Refining maids remained keenly aware of the vast gulf separating them from the Foundation Establishment cultivator. Some were already plotting how to make a good impression on Sister Hua later, wondering if they had ever slighted her in the past.
Just as Wei Zhong was enjoying himself, Li Haowen returned.
Seeing Wei Zhong, he immediately bowed deeply.
"Forgive me for interrupting your Senior's leisure."
Wei Zhong set Xie Linghua down, and she promptly led the others to stand aside.
A clever one indeed, Wei Zhong thought.
"Speak. Have your clan members agreed to my request?"
Li Haowen replied respectfully, "The Li Family will naturally comply with Senior's wishes. Moreover, Senior Chu's slaying of the Candle Daoist was a great boon to both the Li Family and myself."
"Oh?"
"Senior may not know this, but when that villain arrived, he sought to seize our clan lands. My father, as Clan Leader, refused to yield and was brutally murdered. With the loss of our pillar, my lineage was relegated to a branch family. In truth, Senior, you are my benefactor."
With these words, Li Haowen prostrated himself in a full bow.
Wei Zhong hadn't realized this deeper connection. Seeing Li Haowen about to perform further kowtows, he lifted him up with a surge of spiritual energy.
"Enough. This is all fate. There's no need for such elaborate formalities."
Only then did Li Haowen rise and present the Spirit Contract to Wei Zhong.
The seal bore the marks of both Wei Zhong and the Li Family crest.
Wei Zhong nodded and stored the contract in his storage pouch.
Noticing Li Haowen still standing there, he asked, "Is there anything else?"
Li Haowen replied frankly, "The Li Family wishes to invite you to become our Guest Elder. We implore you to shield our clan in these troubled times."
Wei Zhong sighed. The Li Family's request came as no surprise.
When the Li Family Patriarch passed away, the sudden arrival of the Candle Daoist had prevented the clan from being divided among its rivals. Now that the Candle Daoist was dead, the Li Family naturally turned to Wei Zhong for protection.
"Very well," Wei Zhong agreed, "but let's be clear. The Li Family must use my name, Chu Zhong, with utmost caution. Do not tarnish my reputation. If any Foundation Establishment cultivator harbors ill intentions toward your clan, I will intervene as necessary."
Li Haowen's face lit up with joy, and he bowed deeply. "Thank you, Senior! The Clan Leader instructed us to fulfill any request you might have."
Wei Zhong smiled and gestured toward the group of Yingying Yanyan. "Then let these maidens remain here for now. This vast Black Lake Island feels rather lonely with just an old man like me."
Wei Zhong made no attempt to conceal his words from the group of maids, and the descendants immediately erupted into cheers.
"While you're at it, find some Spirit Farmers to help me manage Black Lake Island properly."
"Yes, Senior."
Wei Zhong waved his hand, and Li Haowen wisely withdrew.
Wei Zhong stretched languidly, finally relieved that the matter of the spirit ground had been settled. He was no longer a Spirit Farmer living under someone else's roof, but a Foundation Establishment cultivator with his own Spirit Island.
Just as Wei Zhong was sighing in contentment, a child's voice suddenly rang in his ears:
"Now this is someone who knows how to enjoy life."
Startled, Wei Zhong turned to see a Red-Clothed Boy standing beside him.
Who is this? How did he sneak up on me without a sound?
The boy's right hand shot out with lightning speed, seizing Wei Zhong's arm before he could react.
Wei Zhong had no time to resist, his heart pounding with fear. As he struggled to break free, the boy spoke:
"Early Foundation Establishment at over a hundred years old? What a crooked, cracked date."
Wei Zhong was surprised. This person seemed to harbor no hostility.