1660 Old Cao

Tang Wulin did not have much contact with her in the past, so he did not know very much about her. However, Liu Jingyun did! There were many tall tales told about Ling Zichen in the Tang Sect.

He was only thinking about whether the scientists in the Tang Sect would engage in mob violence if they were to catch a glimpse of what he was looking at now. Even though Tang Wulin was the Tang Sect's Sect Master…

Tang Wulin struggled for a moment before he chose to remove his arm at last. This was done to prevent any awkwardness between them when she woke up.

Just as he was about to carefully pull his arm out, Ling Zhi Chen said, "Don't move. Please let me sleep for a little while longer."

Tang Wulin was stunned. He lowered his head to look at her and found that her eyes remained closed. She was truly beautiful when she was calm. She looked just like a cute little kitten as she was curled up and leaning against him.

Tang Wulin was about to say something. He opened his mouth, but he did not manage to speak. On the other hand, Ling Zichen's breathing sounded more and more even again.

Tang Wulin discovered that though Ling Zichen was not a powerful soul master, she was very skilled at controlling her body. Otherwise, he would not have failed to notice that she was awake earlier. However, when he saw that her saliva had begun to drip onto his shoulder, he could confirm that she was finally sleeping soundly.

The car continued its smooth journey to Heaven Dou City. Ling Zichen, still sleeping soundly against Tang Wulin's shoulder, suddenly sat upright. Tang Wulin felt as the weight on his arm lightened while the warmth he felt turned into coldness. He instinctively turned his head to look toward her.

Ling Zichen had yet to open her eyes. She leaned on the seat and said indifferently, "Don't think too much about it. I was only borrowing your shoulder for a moment. You're the one that has taken advantage of me. We don't owe each other anything."

Tang Wulin's lips moved. He wanted to reply to her, 'Who wants to take advantage of you anyway?' However, he was a man. He would still need to remain a gentleman, so he did not say anything in the end. Moreover, he could not forget how Ling Zichen kept calling out for her father earlier.

Such a powerful woman had a fragile side to her as well.

"Sect Master, Sister Ling, we're here." Liu Jingyun drove the car into the underground garage and opened the door for Tang Wulin and Ling Zichen.

Both of them got down from the car in succession. Ling Zichen walked forward with long strides as if she was trying to stay a certain distance from Tang Wulin.

Liu Jingyun glanced at Tang Wulin. Tang Wulin sensed Liu Jingyun's eyes on him and he felt that it was a rather strange look.

Tang Wulin glared at him. Liu Jingyun hastily stopped looking, but the smile on his lips still remained. It was precisely because he was acquainted with Ling Zichen for a long time, he would be able to tell that Ling Zichen treated Tang Wulin differently. Ling Zichen was usually as prickly as a porcupine, but she would always step forward bravely at a crucial juncture. She was a 'goddess' that was admired by those geeky male scientists.

They boarded the elevator and entered the Tang Sect's underground world in Heaven Dou City. Tang Wulin knew this place well and its pathway was very familiar to him. Ling Zichen walked in front of him the whole time while he followed right behind her.

As they advanced along the path, they inevitably encountered people in the Tang Sect and Tang Wulin discovered an interesting phenomenon. The Tang Sect's disciples would immediately stop upon meeting Ling Zichen, then instinctively retreat by one step before they addressed her respectfully as 'Director Ling'. There were also some disciples that addressed her as 'President Ling' and then they noticed Tang Wulin's presence. The respect in their expressions remained the same, but they appeared to be relieved before they greeted Tang Wulin.

What sort of place did this woman actually hold in everyone's hearts?

"Old Cao, where are you?" Ling Zichen dialed a number on her soul communicator as she walked ahead. Tang Wulin could not help staggering upon listening to her form of address. With much effort, he relied on his amazing coordination to stand firmly.

Old Cao… It was obvious who she was calling.

In Tang Wulin's heart, he had a huge amount of respect for the Heartless Douluo and the Amorous Douluo. Thus, he was genuinely taken aback by how this woman before his eyes addressed them.

Moreover, Li Zichen did not address 'Old Cao' in a disrespectful, rigid tone. She sounded like she was addressing him casually, like he was a member of her family.

Ling Zichen turned around and glared at Tang Wulin when he moved out of shock. She mumbled 'Hmm' into the communicator twice. "Alright, we're here."

Tang Wulin did not utter a word because he was well aware that he was incapable of outspeaking this woman here. He decided he might as well remain silent. She had the audacity to address the Heartless Douluo in such a way, yet Liu Jingyun's expression remained unchanged. It was apparent that she had been using this term for quite some time.

They came all the way to the Heartless Douluo's office. When Tang Wulin saw the Limit Douluo, the first thought he had was, 'Please transfer Director Ling back here…'.

"Old Cao." Ling Zichen whose expression had been icy cold all this while finally cracked into a smile upon seeing the Heartless Douluo. She took a skipping step and charged forward, pouncing into Cao Dezhi's arms.

The Heartless Douluo whose expression was normally reserved and serious had already burst into a smile. He caressed her long hair affectionately. "Little girl, you're a grown woman now, yet you're till hopping around like a child."

Tang Wulin felt as if ten thousand mechas just surged across his chest. He badly wanted to yell. 'That's not what she's usually like!'

Cao Dezhi smiled and said to Tang Wulin, "Sect Master."

"Hello, Your Excellency." Tang Wulin instinctively stood upright and saluted Cao Dezhi with a military salute. It was a habit he picked up from the Blood God Army years ago. More than anything else, this man remained Blood One of the Blood God Army in his heart.

Liu Jingyun closed the door and left, leaving the three of them in the room. Cao Dezhi patted Ling Zichen, who was still snuggling on his chest and unwilling to leave. "Alright, we have serious matters to discuss."

Ling Zichen loosened her grip. The three of them took a seat and Tang Wulin explained Long Yeyue's message once again.

"So what do you have in mind then?" asked Cao Dezhi.

Tang Wulin pondered for a moment. He took a glance at Ling Zichen. Ling Zichen glared at him. "What is it? Something that I'm not allowed to listen to, huh?"

Tang Wulin spoke in a deep voice, "Your Excellency, I hope that I can discuss the plan with you in private. It's not that I don't trust Director Ling, but I'm worried that she might end up revealing it."

Ling Zichen immediately leaped up. "Tang Wulin, what do you mean? Are you calling me an airhead?"

The corners of Tang Wulin's lips twitched. "Big Sister, you're the one that said that, not me. I'm only thinking that the fewer people that are aware of the plan's details, the better it is."

Ling Zichen raised her hand and pointed at him. "Who are you calling a big sister?"

"Alright, alright. Zichen, take a rest in the next room. I shall call you in a moment. You're not allowed to behave disrespectfully to the Sect Master," said Cao Dezhi with a glum expression.

Ling Zichen took a glance at him and scoffed in rage. She turned around and walked to the resting lounge by the side.

Cao Dezhi muttered to himself, "I'm going to explain the details regarding the War God Hall to you."

Tang Wulin said, "alright."

Cao Dezhi said, "As a Federation-owned soul master's organization, the War God Hall is the melting pot of all the powerhouses in the Federation. Their headquarters is located in the mountainous area of the West Mountain. That area is completely under military control. Other than the War God Hall, it is guarded by the Central Army Corps under the direct command of the Federation. The Central Army Corps is mainly in charge of protecting Mingdu and it is one of the most formidable armies in the Federation, on par with the Sea God Army. Thus, you will need to go through the Central Army Corps in order to enter the War God Hall's headquarters. This is because the headquarters is located in the core region of the Central Army Corps."

Tang Wulin spoke in slight astonishment, "The War God Hall's Hall Master is the Boundless Sea Douluo Chen Xinjie. He is the regimental commander of Sea God Army, but why is the War God Hall located inside of the Central Army Corps?"

Cao Dezhi answered, "This is the Federation's attempt at balancing power. Chen Xinjie is the big brother in the military, but he is not the big brother overall. There needs to be a balance in the military as well as the parliament. If not, it will result in big trouble when an issue arises in a place of concentrated forces. The War God Hall is in the Central Army Corps not only for its own protection, but also so that they can keep an eye on the War God Hall. As a result, the War God Hall and the Central Army corps have become the military's two great factions. The relationship between both of them is not considered overly friendly."