The General Director looked at the other two deputy ministers and laughed.

"Told you, didn't I? I knew he'd say that for sure."

Cai Qidong's expression didn't change, playing it off like he had a thick skin.

The General Director chuckled and said,

"Relax, it's just contact. He won't be in any real danger.

I've talked with the old folks at Fuyu Mountain.

Wen Yan carries the Heaven Bestowed Talisman. Even though he doesn't have much cultivation talent, he'll naturally grasp the basic abilities of that talisman.

He won't drown, and the amount of water pressure he can handle is way beyond those Taoists who got the Calamity Protector Goddess Talisman through teaching.

Plus, his last name is Wen."

Cai Qidong frowned, and this time instead of arguing, he just asked,

"As far as I remember, Wen Yan doesn't have any special background, right?"

"No background, but he's got the Wen surname, hasn't cultivated, and won't drown. So that Dragon God isn't going to make things too hard for him.

Based on old records about King Guilong, and the temperament that Dragon God's been showing lately,

And judging by Wen Yan's usual behavior, even in the worst-case scenario, that Dragon God won't take his life."

"Huh, what's that supposed to mean?"

"Of course there's a story behind it, back in the day…"

Half an hour later, Cai Qidong left the video meeting, scratching his head involuntarily.

After thinking it over, he tried calling Wen Yan.

And then found out he'd been blocked.

Cai Qidong cracked up.

"Heh, that little bastard really holds a grudge."

He didn't rush to deal with it either. He had plenty of other stuff to do these days.

So a week slipped by, he finished up most things, and just as it was time for some verbal sparring, Cai Qidong tried again—and he was still blocked.

After thinking about it, since he needed to go to Virtue City anyway, he decided to pay a visit in person.

Before dawn, he took a ride to Virtue City, wandered around town, circled the outskirts, and while waiting at a red light, saw the stone archway at the intersection and couldn't help but laugh.

If the General Director hadn't mentioned it, he would never have known that something so important was just sitting here in plain sight, right in the center of the city, and nobody had really noticed it.

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he probably wouldn't have believed it either.

Even this close up, he didn't feel anything special about the stone archway.

Just ordinary grey-white granite, not even that big, plain to the point it looked like any regular piece of decor.

The light turned green, the cars started moving, and he took one more look up close. Shaking his head, Cai Qidong sat down at a teahouse near the Wenyan Family home and called Feng Yao, telling him to contact Wen Yan.

Wen Yan was still at home, just getting up, stretching a bit and sitting down to breakfast, when Feng Yao called.

"Hey, Feng Yao, haven't seen you around lately."

"Been running around like crazy, a million things to handle. Anyway, just letting you know, the Minister's in Virtue City right now, waiting at that teahouse near your place."

"Huh?"

"Daring enough to block the Minister for so many days, and he actually took time to come see you himself. Show him some respect, would you?"

"Uh…" Wen Yan looked a little embarrassed—he'd totally forgotten about this mess.

After being on the receiving end of Cai Heizi's personal attacks, he'd just blocked him right away, then totally forgot about it. Anyway, if nothing serious happened, Cai Heizi wouldn't call him himself, and if it was important, someone else would let him know.

Feng Yao spoke earnestly.

"Alright, seriously, word's gotten out somehow that you blocked the Minister.

Now he's come all the way to Virtue City himself, and this morning folks are saying he personally came to coax you.

Turns out he really is here to see you—don't tell me that's not face! Take the win, and at least give him some way to save face."

"Okay, got it."

Wen Yan hung up, took Cai Heizi off the blacklist, glanced at the time, and realized he'd left him blocked for a whole week now.

He'd originally planned to check out Yu State today, swing by the welfare center, wave around a shovel, and show off in front of the little guys there.

Now breakfast was ruined, so he told Sparrow Cat and Little Zombie to sleep in and headed out of the complex, making his way to the teahouse.

Once inside, only the driver showed him over, then went back to have morning tea in the main hall.

Cai Qidong had already ordered breakfast, and invited Wen Yan to sit and eat together.

Cai Qidong, thick-skinned as ever, didn't mention his earlier sly sarcasm, nor the fact that being blocked, and his trip to Virtue City, were rumors he'd spread himself.

No doubt those rumors had already reached Wen Yan through Feng Yao.

Wen Yan, naturally, didn't bring it up either, just cheerfully enjoyed his food.

After eating their fill, Cai Qidong wiped his mouth.

"I've got a favor to ask."

"Sure, Minister, just say the word."

"I want you to go have a chat with the West River Dragon God."

Wen Yan's head snapped up, eyes wide as he stared at Cai Heizi.

"Minister, you messing with me? You want me to go talk to that one?"

"Only you fit the bill. Lucky you didn't officially join the Scorching Sun Department, and you still carry the Heaven Bestowed Talisman. Aside from you, we really don't have a suitable candidate. I'd like to solve this peacefully, so if there are conditions to be negotiated, lay them out—any requests, just speak up."

"You mean my requests, or the Dragon God's?"

"Either is fine."

"You guys are still holding up the Dragon King Temple situation. How am I supposed to negotiate?"

"We don't even know who he is. We're just equally blocking the founding of all new temples, that's all."

Wen Yan went silent. He really didn't want to take this job—were they nuts?

Even arguing with Gauss before only happened after Gauss had already been beaten down—he'd never dare mouth off right in front of the boss with nothing to back him up. That's the way to get killed, for real.

"I'm not up to it."

"Do it however you want. Any reasonable, acceptable request, you'll get it."

Wen Yan thought for just a second before blurting out,

"I want to build a temple by the river in Virtue City."

"…"

Cai Qidong's face froze. He's doing this on purpose, isn't he!

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