Chapter 20: Convincing People with Virtue

Li Dongze quickly returned to his desk, rubbed his hands vigorously, and excitedly turned on his computer to compose a message.

"Centurion Fu, I have something to report. I just received news that the Night Wanderer I recruited has successfully completed the trial mission and returned to reality. Yes, he has cleared the Sheling Tunnel."

Clicking send.

Under the White Tiger Soldiers' system, subordinates were not allowed to call their superiors directly unless it was an extremely urgent matter. Typically, reports were sent via email or text messages.

Clearing the Sheling Tunnel was a significant event, but not an urgent one.

A dozen seconds after sending the message, Li Dongze's phone, placed on the desk, rang. The caller ID displayed Centurion Fu.

Calling directly? Li Dongze immediately grabbed his phone and answered.

"Li Dongze, you must take responsibility for your words."

A cold, crisp male voice came through the speaker.

"Centurion, this is indeed surprising," Li Dongze replied, completely at ease despite the warning. "I just spoke with him on the phone."

"Is there a strategy guide?" Fu Qingyang asked immediately.

"It will take a little longer."

Fu Qingyang was silent for a few seconds. Then, his cold tone softened slightly.

"I had no expectations, but this turned out to be a pleasant surprise. If this person can clear the Sheling Tunnel, he must have exceptional abilities."

"Li Dongze, you have recruited a talent for the White Tiger Soldiers. I will report this to the Elder Council and credit you with a great merit."

Oh my God, this is wonderful… Li Dongze's smile widened. Then he suddenly thought of something and lowered his voice.

"Should we keep this confidential?"

The fact that he had recruited a Night Wanderer was no longer a secret among the district captains in Kangyang. Even if they tried to keep quiet, people would eventually notice.

It wouldn't stay hidden for long.

Especially considering the agreement between the Five Elements League and Taiyi Sect, which granted Taiyi Sect the priority right to recruit any Night Wanderers that appeared in the country.

Because of this agreement, the Five Elements League had almost no Night Wanderers of their own—only a few scattered individuals.

Fu Qingyang sneered.

"Why would we hide it? Taiyi Sect has already made it clear they don't want this Night Wanderer. They have no right to go back on their word."

"What you need to guard against are people within the Five Elements League. I don't want another incident like the Hundred Flowers Society case. We must convince him with virtue and win him over."

That aligned with Li Dongze's thinking, so he humbly asked, "Centurion Fu, any guidance?"

"Make him a full-time member. Give him a raise."

Huh? A raise?

Is this what he means by 'convincing with virtue'?

"I don't like using money to buy people's loyalty, because relationships based on profit will eventually break over profit. I prefer convincing people with virtue, but virtue takes time to manifest, while money works instantly."

Fu Qingyang spoke calmly. "Have him write a strategy guide as soon as possible. I need to know the core details of the Mountain God Temple. And while we're at it, we'll repay Taiyi Sect's favor."

Any S-level spiritual realm would undoubtedly contain valuable intelligence—far more than an ordinary spiritual realm.

"Understood!"

Li Dongze ended the call.

"What kind of 'convincing with virtue' is this? But… this is definitely the Fu family's style."

The Fu family had fled overseas during turbulent times to escape the war. After a century of development, they had grown into a massive financial powerhouse.

Later, they accepted the government's olive branch, returning to the country with enormous wealth to participate in economic development.

The Fu family was not only a powerful financial force but also a legacy spiritual realm practitioner family. Every year, they produced a certain number of Scouts.

They were an influential family force within the White Tiger Soldiers.

Despite his young age, Centurion Fu was already a master of financial power, earning him the nickname "Money Prince" among the Four Young Lords of the official organizations.

Just then, Li Dongze noticed someone tagging him in the Kangyang District Spiritual Realm Practitioners' Management Group Chat.

Qingteng: "@Li Dongze, how's that Night Wanderer you recruited doing?"

Qingteng was the captain of the Hundred Flowers Society. If it had been another Wood Demon asking this, Li Dongze might have suspected ulterior motives.

But this female captain was gentle and kind—not one of those treacherous, seductive demons.

Bailong: "Wow, this is a brutal question. You already know it's impossible for anyone to clear the Sheling Tunnel, yet you're still rubbing salt in the wound?"

Before Li Dongze could reply, Bailong, who had a feud with Qingteng, jumped in to argue.

Da Jiba: "He must have died in the Sheling Tunnel. Someone in my jurisdiction also disappeared there yesterday. That poor soul still hasn't been found—probably dead inside."

Fire Masters were as blunt as ever.

Apart from these three active captains, the others remained silent, seemingly uninterested.

My friends, you'll be jealous of me… in just one second!

Li Dongze casually sent a 1,000-yuan group red envelope.

Then, he grabbed one for himself—five yuan.

Qingteng: "Thanks, boss."

Bailong: "Boss is generous."

Da Jiba: "Boss is strong and healthy."

They instinctively followed the usual process—grab the red envelope, express gratitude—before suddenly realizing…

Bailong: "No way?"

Da Jiba: "Li Dongze, what do you mean? Explain yourself."

Qingteng: "Li Shizhang?"

Li Dongze: "Thank you for your concern. The Night Wanderer I recruited successfully cleared the Sheling Tunnel."

The group chat instantly fell silent, as if everyone had been muted.

Yuan Ting: "Li Dongze, don't joke about this."

Yuan Ting, the Night Wanderer from Taiyi Sect, who rarely spoke in the Five Elements League's management group, was the first to respond.

Unlike the other captains, he couldn't ignore this topic—it was a huge matter for his profession. Even if the chances of it being a joke were high, he had to ask.

The other captains remained silent, waiting for Li Dongze's reply.

At that moment, Centurion Fu sent a message in the group chat:

"As of today, the first clearance of the Sheling Tunnel belongs to the Five Elements League. I will soon upload the strategy guide to the database. As an S-level trial spiritual realm, it has the potential to cultivate higher-quality Night Wanderers than other realms. I believe this will greatly support our organization's Night Wanderer training program."

Reading this long message, the captains were stunned.

Centurion Fu was an officer. His words carried far more weight than Li Dongze's. If he said it, it had to be true.

The Sheling Tunnel… had really been conquered?

Li Dongze had recruited a monster.

At that moment, the captains realized that this newcomer was far more valuable—not just because of his rare profession, but because of his own abilities.

Da Jiba: "I suddenly feel like organizing a team-building event."

Li Dongze: "You just want to poach my talent, don't you…?"