True Dragon Guards, they were considered top-tier existences. The magical artifacts and ghostly beings utilized by them, especially those reaching the True Dragon Guard level, were at least of the Sect-Guardian grade.
And what did Sect-Guardian grade signify? It meant being the cornerstone of a major sect. Yet, the Wei Dao Division was willing to gift such an item so readily.
It was precisely because of this.
Zhang Wei and Zhang Chao exchanged glances, each seeing the curiosity in the other's eyes.
What kind of person could prompt the Wei Dao Division to give away such a thing?
Instantly.
Before Zhang Wei could even ask, Zhang Chao couldn't help but speak first:
“Sister, who is that old gentleman? Do I know him? Is he a prominent figure in our ghost exorcism circle, perhaps from Longhu Mountain? Or our Maoshan sect, or maybe one of the Five Immortals of the Northeast?”
Zhang Mei didn't hold back. Clutching the newly acquired information, she smiled brightly:
“If you try to guess in that direction, you’ll exhaust all your brain cells and still won’t figure it out.”
Upon hearing her words.
Zhang Wei paused, a suspicion already forming:
“He’s not a Tai Shan Bei Dou level figure? Sister Mei, don’t tell me he’s just an ordinary ghost exorcist, or perhaps… that old gentleman isn’t a ghost exorcist at all, but a regular person?”
Although the guess seemed absurd, the implication in Zhang Mei’s words forced Zhang Wei to consider this possibility.
As expected.
Zhang Mei’s voice came through the phone:
“Haha, Zhang Wei, you’re the smart one, your brain is sharper than Zhang Chao’s dull one. Yes, that old gentleman is a regular person. I’ll send you his information on WeChat now.”
With that, Zhang Mei’s tone shifted from a smile to seriousness:
“But before that, Zhang Wei, I need to convey a message from the Wei Dao Division.”
“They said this item has been gifted to the old gentleman. If you urgently need it, you can approach the old gentleman and see if an exchange is possible. However, you absolutely cannot snatch it or demand it. If you dare to do so, you’ll become a wanted person by the Wei Dao Division.”
“You must be polite to that old gentleman. Don’t think that just because you’re a ghost exorcist and he’s a regular person, you can be disrespectful. This is what the Wei Dao Division has repeatedly emphasized.”
“In fact.”
“If it weren’t for the fact that Zhang Wei, you saved that old Mr. Qiu, the Wei Dao Division wouldn’t have informed you that the item was given to the old gentleman, nor would they have given you the old gentleman’s information. They would have simply said the item was traded away.”
Subsequently.
Zhang Mei reiterated her message, especially warning Zhang Chao that if he dared to follow and act presumptuously in front of the old gentleman, his legs would be broken.
Only after receiving affirmative replies from Zhang Wei and Zhang Chao did she send the old gentleman’s information.
Out of curiosity.
As soon as Zhang Wei received the information, he clicked it open, and Zhang Chao leaned in to look as well.
Upon seeing it.
They were stunned, finally understanding why the Wei Dao Division would gift such a precious Sect-Guardian grade item to an ordinary person.
At this moment.
Zhang Chao gazed at the old gentleman’s information on his phone and exclaimed with emotion:
“I thought the Wei Dao Division had gone crazy. So it was given to Old Mr. Wang. No wonder the Wei Dao Division gifted it for free.”
Zhang Wei nodded in agreement, neither confirming nor denying:
“Old Mr. Wang deserves the Wei Dao Division gifting him a Sect-Guardian grade ghostly item. If it were me, even if they gifted him a Nation-Guardian grade item, I would be happy to see it.”
Old Mr. Wang, that was the name they learned after seeing the information.
The old gentleman’s surname was Wang, his full name was Wang De, and he was 95 years old.
Just by looking at his name.
Zhang Wei and the others didn’t think much of it at first. However, as they read further, they couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of respect.
Wang De had earned three Special Citations and seven Major Citations, and had been awarded 53 military medals.
At the age of 13, to protect his homeland, he lied about his age, claiming to be 16, and enlisted. From then on, until the establishment of Great Xia, he participated in over 20 battles and was wounded seven times.
During one battle, he was the sole survivor of his entire company, yet he fought to the death without retreating. After the battle, he was awarded a Major Citation, and his name resounded throughout the barracks.
On another occasion, they were dispatched to Hua Mountain. Hua Mountain had been steep since ancient times, with a path only five to six centimeters wide, a sheer cliff on one side. Dozens of comrades fell to their deaths from the cliff before even engaging in combat.
During the fiercest fighting, soldiers walking on the five to six centimeter mountain path would slip on blood. After this battle, only four people remained in the entire company, including Wang De.
Furthermore, at the age of 23, he was personally awarded the ‘Special Combat Hero Medal’. In the same year, he participated in the resistance against the United States supporting the White Robe Country.
Before departing, he had signed a military order, vowing to complete the mission.
The ferocity of that battle was such that the mountaintops in the combat zone were shaved off by several meters.
Wang De and his comrades fought on with no food or water, resorting to drinking their own urine to hold their ground, ultimately achieving victory.
After the war, he and his fellow combat heroes were awarded the title of ‘Hero’ by the White Robe Country for their heroic deeds.
Upon their victorious return, he soon participated in another self-defense counterattack against the Jiaozhi Country.
He lived his life quietly and anonymously until his retirement. The city offered him housing several times, but he firmly refused.
He said, “Compared to my fallen comrades, I have lived for decades longer. Of the more than 40 people from my hometown who joined the army with me, only I am left. I am already content and cannot take too much from the country, nor cause trouble for the country. We must give opportunities to the young.”
Even now, when talking with his family, he often says, “I am not a hero. Those sacrificed comrades are.”
…
Looking at the information about Old Mr. Wang.
Zhang Wei and Zhang Chao fell silent. Although the information only briefly introduced Old Mr. Wang’s deeds and could not fully depict the situation at the time.
Even so.
Zhang Wei and the others understood the hardships Old Mr. Wang had endured, simply by seeing ‘three Special Citations, seven Major Citations, and 53 military medals’.
Involuntarily.
Zhang Chao spoke slowly:
“My father once told me that earning even one Special Citation was an extraordinary feat, requiring immense sacrifice. Such sacrifice was akin to defecating on the King of Hell’s head and still managing to retreat unscathed.”
He then looked at Old Mr. Wang’s information, his gaze distant:
“And Old Mr. Wang actually earned it three times…”
Zhang Wei nodded in agreement:
“My father also told me these things. Old Mr. Wang’s achievements are not just living legends, they are legends among legends.”
Zhang Wei and the others understood.
Why the Wei Dao Division would gift a priceless treasure to an ordinary old man for free. It was because he was worthy of such a gift. In the eyes of the Wei Dao Division, this priceless treasure was insignificant compared to him.
Subsequently.
After looking at the address of Old Mr. Wang from the information.
Zhang Wei thought for a moment and decided he still needed to visit Old Mr. Wang.
He intended to exchange the item with the Wei Dao Division, converting it into system points, and trading it with Old Mr. Wang.
With system points enhanced by the item, he believed that as he grew stronger, the value of protecting Old Mr. Wang would not be inferior to the ghostly item gifted by the Wei Dao Division, and there would be no loss for Old Mr. Wang.
Immediately after.
For Hua Hua’s safety, Zhang Wei booked his flight for the day on his phone.