Chapter 342: Wang Zhenhua’s Dilemma

With his goal now set in mind, Edmund’s eyes were ablaze as he looked at Wei Chen like he was looking at a savior. However, the long years he had spent in high society and his position of power had taught him not to show his emotions outwardly.

Even so, this was too much for him to hide completely. At most, he could only suppress his excitement, but Wei Chen could still see it in his eyes.

"Mr. Rothenberg, if you’re truly interested in gaining access to such elixirs, I suggest we have a talk over tea with my wives. After all, Mo Xingyao, one of my wives, is the CEO of one of the largest conglomerates in our world. I’m sure she can procure those pills for you," Wei Chen said, already setting up a future deal for Mo Xingyao.

"Of course, Young Master Wei. I’ll certainly talk with her," Edmund replied eagerly.

Wei Chen wanted to end the conversation there, but then he remembered something.

"By the way, I need you to help me with something. It should be easy with the influence of a man of your stature."

"Oh?" Edmund’s interest suddenly piqued.

"Let me hear it, then. I bet that if something requires the help of a powerful man such as yourself, it can’t be that easy," Edmund said, intrigued by the notion.

"No... It’s actually easy for you. Here’s what I want your help with."

Wei Chen then proceeded to tell Edmund what he needed help with.

After a short briefing, Edmund nodded in understanding and promised to take care of it for him.

Seeing this, Wei Chen took out a plain, light-white shirt from his storage ring and handed it to Edmund.

"What is this, Young Master Wei?" Edmund asked as he touched the light-white fabric of the shirt.

The fabric felt soft and smooth to the touch. It felt somewhat like silk, but it was more delicate than ordinary silk. It was also cold to the touch, colder than the usual temperature of ordinary fabric. However, it wasn’t too cold to wear. Instead, it gave off just the right amount of coolness to provide a refreshing sensation, even during winter.

Is this some kind of new synthetic material that I don’t know about, or is it something else? Edmund wondered to himself.

Seeing Edmund’s confusion, Wei Chen finally revealed its nature.

"This is a Thousand-Year Frost Spider Silk shirt. It’s light, cool to the touch, and most importantly... impervious to all kinds of mortal weapons," Wei Chen introduced the shirt.

"Impervious... to mortal weapons?" Edmund repeated the key words.

"Yes." Wei Chen nodded. This meant that the only things capable of damaging it were artifact weapons of at least Earth Grade.

"Ahem... I mean, high-quality artifact weapons from back in my world." Wei Chen quickly corrected himself when he noticed that the term Earth Grade seemed to confuse Edmund.

"Oh! I see..." Edmund nodded in understanding, even though he didn’t quite understand what Wei Chen meant.

"I’ll give this to you as a gift, and I’ll give you something even more special or better than this if you take care of what I asked," Wei Chen said.

He needed to offer some incentive upfront because he didn’t want to owe this old crook a favor, or... cash in the favor this guy owed him so quickly.

"Oh! Thank you very much, Young Master Wei!" Edmund politely expressed his thanks.

He would accept it first before finding an opportunity to test this so-called... Frost Spider Silk.

Wei Chen noticed that Edmund seemed to be thanking him merely as a formality and still didn’t understand just how valuable this thing was. He didn’t mind. Given enough time, the old man would eventually realize just how incredible the material was.

And to be honest, what material from the cultivation world wasn’t absurd?

For example, there were blades capable of cutting through metal like tofu.

That was another kind of absurdity altogether.

...

After Wei Chen finished talking with Edmund, he returned to the lounge inside the estate, where Mo Xingyao and Dream Butterfly were waiting for him.

"Yaoyao, there’s something I need to tell you," Wei Chen called out to her as he walked into the lounge.

Mo Xingyao excused herself from the president’s economic advisors and walked toward her husband alongside Dream Butterfly.

"Huh? What do you need?" she asked, a bright smile on her face.

Wei Chen glanced toward the president’s group of advisors. It seemed that Mo Xingyao had gained quite a lot from their discussion. Otherwise, this greedy little wife of his probably wouldn’t be smiling so brightly, with her eyes practically shining as if they had dollar signs reflected in them.

Wei Chen then told her about Edmund.

"I see... But he needs to go to the other side. If he wants to consume the best lifespan-extending elixir, we need to monitor his health. We don’t know what will happen if a mortal from this world consumes them. As you know, the bodies of mortals from this world are weaker than those of mortals from our world," Mo Xingyao explained.

After he had told Mo Xingyao about Edmund, the man had come to the lounge and had a talk and socialise with Wei Chen and his wives, especially Mo Xingyao.

The party was going on for about a few hours before it’s time for Wei Chen to go back to rest at the safehouse.

Since this visit was only for scouting, surveying, and preliminary negotiations, Wei Chen hadn’t signed anything. They had only reached a verbal agreement. He needed to write a report to his boss and see whether his boss approved of the plan. Now that he had actual data from this side, he could provide details about what they could trade, what kinds of goods this side wanted, and what kinds of goods should never fall into the hands of this side.

After Wei Chen and his group returned to the safe house, Edmund watched the convoy drive out of his estate and disappear down the long road.

He stood there watching until Wei Chen’s group was completely out of sight, his hand clutching the plain white shirt.

Then he handed the shirt to his old butler, who stood beside him.

"Bring this shirt to the shooting range and see how it fares against various calibers," Edmund instructed.

"Yes, Mr. Rothenberg."

The old butler accepted the shirt and went to the shooting range in the basement to carry out his instructions.

— Meanwhile, China, Wang Manor —

At the heart of Beijing stood Wang Manor, hidden behind an artificial forest. A vast, secluded, and heavily guarded compound belonging to the Wang Clan resided behind a curtain of lush greenery and bamboo.

Unlike the extravagant mansions favored by wealthy businessmen, the manor was dignified and understated, with architecture that blended traditional Chinese elements with modern design.

The main building was a large, elegant structure with dark tiled roofs, white stone walls, wooden accents, and wide windows overlooking a carefully maintained garden. Ancient-looking pavilions, ornamental ponds, stone paths, and carefully pruned trees gave the compound the atmosphere of an old Chinese residence, while modern security systems were discreetly integrated throughout the grounds.

The surrounding walls were high enough to provide privacy without making the residence look like a fortress.

Security personnel were stationed at several concealed checkpoints, while cameras and other surveillance equipment monitored every entrance and approach to the compound.

Some of them were Chinese special forces, while others were private soldiers raised by the Wang Clan from childhood.

All in all, this place looked more like an elegant palace than a manor. No... it was more like the residence of a modern-day Chinese emperor than that of a chairman.

Within the estate, Wang Zhenhua could not sit still as he waited for a report from his people in the United States.

They had sent almost all of their available personnel and activated nearly all of their assets in the United States, whether they were operating inside or outside the US government. They had even contacted many Chinese-related companies in the United States that owed them favors, and they had cashed in on nearly all of those favors.

All of this was for two objectives: finding out what had happened to Elder Liu and making contact with the special guests of the United States.

Wang Zhenhua could not sit still. Elder Liu knew many of their national secrets, and he did not want to abandon him like a disposable tool. Even if he had been willing to do so, he still did not know where Elder Liu was right now.

Every minute felt like an hour to him. By now, he was starting to regret sending Elder Liu to the United States.

But logically speaking, Elder Liu should not have lost to those Yankees!

Even if the Americans had advanced technology, Elder Liu was an expert, a rare genuine cultivator who could fight against firearms.

"Sir! We finally made contact! It’s one of our civilian sleeper agents!" one of Wang Zhenhua’s confidants said excitedly, holding the phone in his hand.

"What did you say?" Wang Zhenhua asked as he rushed toward his confidant, his eyes filled with hope.