Chapter 511 — Kang Zhaolong's Sinister Designs

He still had no idea how his grandfather was doing. Wu Chengtian was frantic and wanted to go and see for himself, but they would not let him leave, and his impatience began to show.

"I have heard of the Iron Hand Wu family, but there is no proof that you are one of them. And even if you were, don't you have a bank card? Or make a phone call and have someone bring the money over," the waiter said, still neither servile nor overbearing.

"This..." Wu Chengtian was furious. The waiter had spoken politely enough, but he plainly did not believe that Wu Chengtian was of the Iron Hand Wu family — and Wu Chengtian had no way to refute him! Because he did owe them money, and it was only natural for them to doubt him.

Just as he was at a loss for what to do, a figure hurried over and asked in a low voice, "Brother Chentian, what's wrong? Have you run into some trouble?"

It was Kang Zhaolong. He had been watching Wu Chengtian all along; though he had said little at the banquet, in his heart he harbored a wish to cultivate ties with the Wu family. At his age, it was impossible for him to curry favor with Wu Gonggao, but he could certainly build a good relationship with Wu Chengtian.

When he saw Wu Chengtian settling the bill and lingering there for so long, it occurred to him that Wu Chengtian might have run into some difficulty. So he first sent the Xiao brothers off with Wang Xinyan, then turned back himself.

Compared with chasing women, tying himself to the Wu family mattered far more. Kang Zhaolong was by nature a brooding man, able at all times to restrain his desires and put his own interests and his family's above all else.

"Ha, I left in too much of a hurry earlier and didn't bring any money, so I ran into a bit of trouble settling the bill. I was just thinking of finding one of my underlings to bring the money over!" In front of Kang Zhaolong, Wu Chengtian would never admit that he had no money. He was used to putting on airs, and this moment was no exception; he spoke with a great show of swagger.

"Is that so? Then why bother making a call?" Kang Zhaolong said with a smile. "Aren't I your underling? How much is it? Brother Chentian, I'll pay it for you!"

Wu Chengtian had not expected Kang Zhaolong to say that, and he was instantly moved. He clapped Kang Zhaolong on the shoulder and said, "Good, good brother. From now on you'll follow me, Wu Chengtian. Rest assured, I said I'd treat, so how could I let you pay? But you cover it for me first, and I'll pay you back as soon as we're back." "No need to mention it — it's a trifling sum," said Kang Zhaolong. He had already seen through him: this Wu Chengtian, though about his own age, was nothing but a spoiled child who had never learned restraint, his whole nature swollen with arrogance and conceit. Without the name of the Iron Hand Wu family, he would be an idiot and nothing more. And that sort of person was the easiest to befriend. Kang Zhaolong smiled faintly, having found his direction. "How much altogether?" "Sir, fifteen million yuan in all," the waiter said, his heart greatly eased now that someone had come to pay, though his manner remained respectful.

"Huh? How much?" Kang Zhaolong was stunned, and he looked at the waiter with a strange expression. He had assumed that Wu Chengtian really had just forgotten his money, never imagining that Wu Chengtian could not afford the bill — but now it seemed that was exactly the case.

"Sir, the total comes to fifteen million yuan," the waiter repeated, though inwardly he was growing suspicious. These people were all well dressed and looked like men of means — but could they be fakes? Swindlers come to this place to cheat and bluff?

"Fine, run the card," Kang Zhaolong said through gritted teeth, taking out his bank card and handing it to the waiter.

As the outstanding figure of the Kang family's third generation, Kang Zhaolong was naturally never short of money; the Kang family's pharmaceutical laboratory was in his hands as well, bringing in twenty million a year in research funding. Still, to spend fifteen million in one stroke — he could not help but feel the sting. Yet when he thought of the returns this investment would bring, it seemed worth it. At the very least, he would have forged a connection with the Wu family.

Seeing Kang Zhaolong produce his card, the waiter breathed a sigh of relief. He took the bank card politely, ran it, and handed it back. "Sir, please keep it safe. Here are your receipt and invoice."

"All right..." Kang Zhaolong took back his bank card and glanced at the bill. His face twitched twice. If the fifteen million had all been for food, that would have been one thing, but the bill plainly stated that ten million of it was compensation for a broken vase! This Wu Chengtian was far too much of a wastrel — a casual squeeze of his hand had cost him ten million? The price was simply exorbitant!

Folding up the bill, Kang Zhaolong pretended that nothing was amiss and went downstairs with Wu Chengtian. Wu Chengtian said gratefully, "Zhaolong, you truly saved me in my hour of need. Those two from the Xiao family are utterly unreliable — no good at all!" "Heh, they are my relatives, after all, so it's hard for me to say much," Kang Zhaolong said with a smile.

"True enough — your two families are joined by marriage," Wu Chengtian nodded. "In any case, I've taken you as my underling. If you ever need anything, just say the word. Our Wu family will back your Kang family!"

"Then I'm truly grateful!" Kang Zhaolong said with a smile, while inwardly he was already hatching a plan — a plan to make the Kang family soar.

Originally, if the Kang family could produce the formula for the Life-Extending Detox Pill before this great families' auction, even if they could only manufacture a small quantity, it would be a bargaining chip for the Kang family's elevation to a great family.

Once they became a great family, the circles they could reach would be on an entirely different level — a higher tier altogether. They could establish ties with the hidden great families behind the Yu family, and if they pleased them, perhaps one of them would send a guard for their household and teach them martial arts; the Kang family might then become an ancient martial arts family. And if at that time another expert of the late Yellow rank or even the Mystic rank appeared, no one would be able to shake the Kang family's standing.

Kang the Divine Physician, Kang Guifeng, and Kang Zhaolong alike understood perfectly well that a family that rose on wealth alone was all too easily brought low — the Xiao family being a case in point. Though they had not yet been stripped of their status as a great family, in truth they existed in name only.

But if the Xiao family had an expert like Wu Gonggao to hold the seat, then no matter how far they fell, no one would dare make light of them; the congratulatory gifts from the other great families each year alone would be enough to support the whole household. And as for the Wu family's business — everyone gave them face, and was it not all because of Wu Gonggao, that Mystic-rank expert?

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