Chapter 87: Han Hao's Admonition

Chen Meng heard Wu Tengkong’s voice on the other end of the line. Though he had already guessed as much, he still put on the air of someone just learning the fact, and said in feigned shock, "Chief, you’re there too? Chief, did I say something wrong? Chief, are you angry? Chief, please be generous and forgive me this once if I misspoke."

Wu Tengkong chuckled. "No, you said it very well. Very sincere."

Chen Meng was speechless. Fine, this was the truly shameless one.

But he had to be even shameless himself. "Chief, actually, what you do is even better than what I said. It’s just that your disguise has always been so good no one else could see through it."

Han Hao nearly retched. That meant all that nonsense he had just been accused of a lecherous exhibitionist and a shameless bootlicker was all part of the disguise, was it?

Wu Tengkong sighed. "I never thought the one who understood me best would be you, little fellow. If I weren’t decades older than you, I’d almost want to sworn-brother you."

At the mention of sworn brothers, Chen Meng felt a little uneasy, for he thought of the old man.

But Wu Tengkong was not the old man, after all. Once he recovered, he said with some regret, "Yes, I wish I had been born in the same era as you, Chief. If you don’t mind, I could also be your godson."

Han Hao could no longer bear to listen and directly hung up the phone.

Too damned shameless. He was even trying to become someone’s son now.

"Damn it, why did he hang up?" Chen Meng listened to the busy tone with some exasperation. "I was just about to get myself a godfather. If I could recognize Wu Tengkong as that cheap godfather, wouldn’t I be able to walk arrogantly all over Jiangzhou City from now on? That would carry far more prestige than calling Han Hao Uncle. Han Hao must have been jealous, so he hung up the phone straightaway. As expected, he wants to monopolize me as his dear nephew. Alas, there’s no helping it. Outstanding people are always this popular wherever they go."

Inside the Enforcement Bureau, Wu Tengkong nodded. "Good hang-up. Trying to take advantage of me? This kid’s no good."

Hearing that, Han Hao almost thought he had heard wrong. Just a moment ago you were praising Chen Meng to the skies.

Wu Tengkong said unhurriedly, "If he became my godson, how could I possibly let him call you Uncle? Embarrassing. What are you staring at? Don’t tell me you want to be my sworn brother?"

Han Hao was dumbfounded. So when you said taking advantage, you meant I was taking advantage of you?

Wu Tengkong sent Han Hao away, and once he got outside, Han Hao immediately called Chen Meng back. He knew that if he did not explain the situation clearly, Chen Meng would never let it go.

Chen Meng was absolutely no decent fellow. He admitted that Wu Tengkong had been entirely right about that.

Seeing the incoming call, Chen Meng considered acting tough and hanging up directly. But when he thought of his contribution, he ultimately swallowed his pride.

"Uncle, why are you calling me back again?"

Chen Meng spoke with complete warmth, utterly unlike his cursing tone from moments ago, and Han Hao almost failed to react.

Just now you were calling me Captain Han, Han Hao, and even Weasel, and now I’m Uncle again.

When you need me, I’m your uncle. When you don’t, I’m apparently nothing at all. How realistic.

Han Hao took a deep breath. Faced with such a shameless creature, it was better not to argue with him, or he would drag you down to his own level of shamelessness and then beat you with his abundant experience.

"I have something to tell you," Han Hao said directly.

"Then go ahead, Uncle." Chen Meng sounded a little expectant.

"Yesterday our operation achieved pretty good results, but the Huang family received the news ahead of time and most of them got away. In the end we only captured forty-three people, and thirty-nine of them were Divine Physique beings, including six second-rank Divine Physique beings." Han Hao explained.

Hearing this, Chen Meng felt no joy at all; instead, he became somewhat worried.

So many from the Huang family had escaped. What if they all came looking for revenge?

"Don’t worry. I’ve already increased the manpower around your home. Unless the Huang family members are all dead men, no one will be able to hurt you or your family," Han Hao promised.

He also knew Chen Meng’s concern, but Chen Meng did not dare trust Han Hao’s words completely.

Chen Meng had never been the sort to place his life in someone else’s hands.

"Because you captured Huang Xiaomao, we achieved such a big harvest. I reckon you’ll earn quite a bit of merit," Han Hao continued.

"That counts as good news." Chen Meng nodded.

He still did not know how much merit he would receive. He had logged into the Enforcement Bureau app several times, but his merit points had not yet been updated.

"There’s another matter. I wonder if you still remember that Jiang Lan girl. She’s not dead, nor has she left Jiangzhou City. According to the confession we extracted overnight, she has already become the personal disciple of the new guardian of the New Moon Cult." Han Hao said.

Chen Meng was utterly dumbfounded.

"Personal disciple?" he asked in confusion.

What was that supposed to mean?

"The cults adopt the sect system from the ancient wilderness. From the bottom up, they’re divided into outer disciples, inner disciples, core disciples, stewards, guardians, elders, and cult master. Core disciples are generally third-rank Divine Physique beings and already count as the middle ranks of the cult, while guardians and elders can be considered high-ranking. As for the cult master, there’s no need to say more. Over the years, we haven’t even found many cult masters, but at the very least, a cult master should be at the demigod level." Han Hao briefly explained the cult’s structure to Chen Meng. "A personal disciple, however, exists outside that hierarchy. Usually only a guardian’s disciple is qualified to be called a personal disciple. Although a personal disciple may not necessarily be a third-rank Divine Physique being, they can still enjoy the treatment of a core disciple. The one who sent Huang Xiaomao to kill you this time was Jiang Lan, secretly inciting him from behind the scenes."

"That really isn’t good news." Chen Meng said helplessly. He had already witnessed that woman’s madness last time.

"Chen Meng, I know you’re very talented and your academic performance is excellent, but that’s not enough." Han Hao said earnestly, feeling it necessary to point something out to him. "When I was in university, there was a student at our school who became a third-rank Divine Physique being in his sophomore year. He was hailed as the chosen son of our university, and he himself was also very impressive. He went on several expeditions against cults and entered the ancient wilderness, leaving behind astonishing achievements. For a time, he truly seemed like the chosen son of destiny, the hope of our school’s future. Some even called him the hope of the nation."

"That impressive? Then he should at least be a demigod by now, right?" Chen Meng asked curiously. A figure like that would have been formidable indeed.

"Not quite. Once, two demigods started fighting, and he got too close. A cult demigod casually slapped him to death. When he died, it was miserable beyond words, his flesh and blood smashed into a pulp until he became nothing more than a slab of meat. That day, the entire school saw him off, holding a grand memorial ceremony. In the end, the line for food extended all the way to the entrance of the cafeteria." Han Hao said with some sorrow.

Chen Meng was already staring blankly. That was that tragic?

"Do you understand what I mean now?" Han Hao asked after thinking for a moment.

"Yes. In the future, when doing things, one must not act alone. One should also acknowledge a few godfathers, and the stronger the better, otherwise who’s going to escort you and keep you safe? Uncle, am I right? Look at the last time, Wu Tengkong... Uncle, that troublemaker isn’t beside you right now, is he? Last time that guy was about to be slapped to death, he directly recognized an ancestor, and in the end, once Ji Wuli made a move, even the cats and dogs were flattened outright."

Chen Meng said all this with utter seriousness.

"That’s not what I meant!" Han Hao could not help roaring after hearing this. "Whose reading comprehension teacher taught you that?"