Chapter 2686 — Precious Memories

"Heh, I understand." Wei Zhao did not think much of it. Had he not just sold a massive batch of pills to a hidden family himself? Zhao Qibing's current strength might well have come from pills Wei Zhao had sold him—so really, Wei Zhao ought to thank him for his contribution to Yu Xiaoke's orphanage.

"By the way, do you have any dealings with the younger generation of the other hidden families..." What concerned Yuning was Wei Zhao's present standing. If he could become good friends with a few of those heirs, as he had with Yu Bing, then the resistance to the two of them being together in the future would be a little less. Even if it could not work now, once that matter was settled and Yuning had completed her task, she could still be with Wei Zhao.

"The heirs of the other hidden families? Not bad." Wei Zhao smiled. "I get along well with the hidden Pi family, the hidden Han family, and the hidden Zhuang family..."

"Mm, that's good. If you're close friends with the young men of those families, my grandfather will surely look at you with new eyes in the future," Yuning said.

Wei Zhao smiled bitterly to himself, privately thinking Yuning naive. Those family heirs were far more than merely his friends—they were his underlings, and even the old patriarchs of their families trailed at his heels. Could the Yu family's old ancestor fail to see that?

The very fact that, under such circumstances, he had still not extended an olive branch to Wei Zhao suggested that either the hidden Yu family had a more formidable backer behind them, or there was some unspeakable reason for it. Wei Zhao now stood at the very pinnacle of the hidden-family world—at least on the surface—and yet the Yu family's old ancestor still treated him thus. When something is this abnormal, there must be something sinister afoot.

But none of this could he explain to Yuning. Some matters she herself might not understand. Who knew what scheme the hidden Yu family was playing? Take the hidden Zhao family—they too had no real backing, and yet they set themselves against him at every turn.

As for Zhao Qibing, Wei Zhao actually felt somewhat helpless. By his own reckoning, he should have finished Zhao Qibing off just now, but he could not do so. Reason had overruled impulse. Had Wei Zhao killed Zhao Qibing, he would have shattered the present calm between the hidden families and himself.

At the level of the hidden families, Wei Zhao did not command universal obedience. At the very least, he was at enmity with the hidden Yu family, the hidden You family, the hidden Zhao family, and the Qianshan Sect. If Wei Zhao killed Zhao Qibing, the other hidden families would all feel threatened, and if they truly banded together, Wei Zhao would be no match for them at all.

Wei Zhao knew his own affairs best. Though he appeared formidable now, able to annihilate Heaven-rank experts with ease, that was founded solely upon surprise attacks—and he could not launch them in succession. So Wei Zhao had always been careful, deterring the hidden families while never touching their bottom line.

Move against one, and they might all unite against him; move against none, and each minded only its own household, unlikely to join forces easily. That was why Wei Zhao had let Zhao Qibing go—though this time he had not let him off lightly either. Even if the Medicine King wished to heal that third leg of his, it would cost considerable effort.

"It's about time. Let me take you home," Wei Zhao said, seeing that Yuning's spirits had improved.

"Ah... home..." Yuning would have liked to stay with Wei Zhao a while longer, but it suddenly occurred to her that she had been abducted by Zhao Qibing, and that her family must be in an uproar of worry. And if her grandfather came looking and saw her with Wei Zhao, and misunderstanding arose—if in a fit of rage he killed Wei Zhao—what then?

At that thought, Yuning nodded hurriedly. "Wei Zhao, will you keep in touch with me often from now on?"

"Of course. I'll give you my number—you can call me anytime," Wei Zhao said with a smile.

"Mm, all right. I'll call you when I get the chance." Yuning nodded happily.

"Get yourself together. I'll take you back," Wei Zhao said.

"Hm? You'll take me?" Wei Zhao had said earlier that he would take her home, and Yuning had thought she had misheard. But now that he had said it again, she was certain she had not, and so she was puzzled. "You... you mean it?"

"What's so strange about that?" Wei Zhao was taken aback too; he had not given it much thought.

"You'll go to my house... aren't you afraid my father and grandfather will keep you there? Do you really dare come back with me?" Yuning stared at Wei Zhao in disbelief. She truly could not fathom how Wei Zhao dared return with her. Was he not afraid of meeting her family?

"In the past, perhaps I wouldn't have dared. But now it doesn't matter—your grandfather wouldn't dare keep me," Wei Zhao said lightly.

"Wouldn't dare?" Yuning looked at Wei Zhao, shocked. If not for her impression that Wei Zhao was no braggart, she would have thought he was talking wildly. The old head of the hidden Yu family would not dare keep Wei Zhao?

After all, the hidden Yu family was among the very top of the hidden families—and Wei Zhao could contend with its patriarch?

"Heh, you'll know once we're there." Wei Zhao rose with a smile, walked over to the video camera nearby, switched it off, took out the memory card, and placed it in Yuning's hand. "This card holds the evidence that Zhao Qibing abducted you here. Do with it as you like."

"Mm..." What mattered to Yuning was not the evidence, but what came after—the scene of her time with Wei Zhao. This recording would be a precious memory she would keep forever. Yuning resolved to treasure this memory card always, and take it out to watch whenever she had a moment.

In the past, Yuning's greatest regret was that she had never taken a photograph with Wei Zhao, and so she could only make do with painting. But now it was better—the man and woman in this recording were herself and Wei Zhao. Whenever she missed him, she could take it out and watch.

Yuning carefully tucked the memory card away, fearful of losing it, yet also afraid Wei Zhao might see through her purpose. Her cheeks flushed with shame, and she dared not look him in the face. Only when she saw that Wei Zhao had paid it no mind, and had gone to put the camera away, did she breathe a sigh of relief.

"Let's go, I've got everything packed." In truth, Yuning had little to pack—she had only smoothed her disheveled hair and tugged straight the wrinkled hem of her clothes.

"Mm, I'll take you back now." Wei Zhao nodded and naturally took Yuning's hand. "Tianyu Town, isn't it?"