Chapter 3982 — The Invitation Banquet

"Same as the last spirit herb trial: forty kinds of spirit herb seeds to a set. Copy the order exactly and give me five sets," Wei Zhao said at once.

This was something Wei Zhao had long since planned out. To get his hands on Devourheart Linglong Grass, aside from enlisting Hong Zhong and Chen Heihu to help with purchases, another option was the spirit herb seeds from the spirit herb field. Unfortunately, he was neither a member of the Pill Hall nor possessed of any reliable connections there, so relying purely on himself was plainly out of the question.

Kang Jingming, by contrast, had lately been thriving in the Pill Hall under Xu Lingchong's patronage. Word even had it that his place there was already reserved in advance—the moment affairs at the Welcome Pavilion concluded, he could join the Pill Hall straightaway. To work on him through this opportunity was nothing short of perfect.

Still, Wei Zhao could not possibly name Devourheart Linglong Grass outright. To cover his tracks, he had no choice but to demand all forty spirit herb seeds, just as in the last trial. They could serve as a reserve stock of spirit herbs in the future anyway; asking for more was no waste.

"Forty to a set, and you want five sets? Are you out of your damned mind for spirit herb seeds? You think the Pill Hall is my family's shop, that I can just take whatever I please?" Kang Jingming nearly stamped his feet in fury.

It was true enough that he had the connections to obtain spirit herb seeds, but five sets from Wei Zhao meant a full two hundred seeds—if that were discovered, the trouble would be enormous!

Kang Jingming was, after all, not an insider of the Pill Hall. Even if others accommodated him for Xu Lingchong's sake, they would never throw themselves into the fire over so small a favor.

Wei Zhao knew this was hardly realistic. Still, a deal was a deal—start high, settle low. He said at once: "Very well. I will reluctantly concede a step. Four sets."

"Impossible!" Kang Jingming refused flatly again. Wei Zhao might have appeared to retreat a step, but four sets still meant one hundred and sixty seeds—no small number, and the risk remained considerable.

Wei Zhao's expression turned cold on the spot. He gestured toward the door in dismissal: "In that case, there is nothing left to discuss. Gentlemen, take your leave. Forgive me for not seeing you out."

"Hold on—three sets. Three sets at the very most, no more than that!" Kang Jingming said hastily.

In truth, even three sets meant one hundred and twenty spirit herb seeds, still a risk that had to be taken. But the initiative now lay in Wei Zhao's hands, and he had no way out at all.

What was more, his master and patron Xu Lingchong stood right behind him—and Xu Lingchong had not come this time merely to wipe his backside. If he refused Wei Zhao's terms and thereby delayed Xu Lingchong's proper business, that would be inexcusable.

"Three sets?" Wei Zhao mused for a moment, then said: "Then I will take the cave dwelling instead. Four sets is my bottom line; otherwise there is nothing to talk about!"

"You—" Kang Jingming was about to flare up when Xu Lingchong impatiently cut him off and said to Wei Zhao: "Fine. Four sets for you. And you are never to bring this matter up again."

"No problem! But I will say this plainly up front: deliver them to me before sundown tomorrow. If you are even half a moment late or short a single seed, this agreement is void, and the Peak No. 1 cave dwelling will have nothing to do with you. Understood?" Wei Zhao said.

"It's a deal." Kang Jingming had no choice but to grit his teeth and agree. The timing was a little tight, but with Xu Lingchong stepping in, the matter would be easy enough to handle.

With Xu Lingchong's face behind it, he would not have to bear the slightest risk and could win back from Wei Zhao the all-important Peak No. 1 cave dwelling—for Kang Jingming, this trade was already a bargain. There was no need to keep haggling, or else provoking Wei Zhao into changing his mind would be the end of it.

"Then I will await Grand Steward Kang's good news," Wei Zhao said with a faint smile. Four sets of spirit herb seeds meant four Devourheart Linglong Grass seeds—already an unexpected delight, rare to come by.

Only then did Xu Lingchong finally speak: "Since the two of you have settled your business, this young master will state the purpose of his visit. Wei Zhao, I hear you once saved Junior Sister Lan'er in the back mountain?"

"Heh. And where did Young Master Xu hear that?" Wei Zhao was slightly taken aback.

A moment later, Wei Zhao cast a meaningful glance at Murong Zhen, who was watching from a distance. He knew the tale must have come from that woman's mouth, and must surely have been twisted beyond recognition—for if she had told the truth, given Xu Lingchong's position, he could never have let this venomous woman, who had tried to murder Shangguan Lan'er, off the hook. He would have slapped her dead long ago.

Xu Lingchong smiled smugly, feigning profundity: "In a little place like the Tri-Layer Pavilion, if this young master wishes to know something, it is naturally easy as turning over my hand. From the way you react, it seems there is indeed such a matter?"

"And what of it?" Wei Zhao countered, neither confirming nor denying.

Though he was minded to rid Shangguan Lan'er of the threat that was Murong Zhen, he had never intended to borrow Xu Lingchong's hand to do it. After all, he still did not know how Shangguan Lan'er had explained the business at Half-Moon Lake; if their accounts clashed and someone seized on the discrepancy, it would only make matters worse.

"By rights, a lowly newcomer like you has no business crossing paths with a lofty little princess like Junior Sister Lan'er. But Junior Sister Lan'er is a person who prizes loyalty and feeling. Because of this, she feels she owes you a favor. Of course, she also did you a good turn at the Enforcement Hall last time, so things should be considered even now," Xu Lingchong said in a tone of lofty condescension.

"And that too was thanks to Young Master Xu. It seems this favor will have to fall on Young Master Xu's head in the end," Wei Zhao replied, eyes half-lidded.

Xu Lingchong pretended not to hear this and carried on: "Wei Zhao, mark this one sentence well. Junior Sister Lan'er is a lofty little princess; she is not something a lowly root-grubber at the bottom like you can lay a finger on. If you wish to keep living well, then the farther you stay from her, the better. Do you understand this young master's meaning?"

Wei Zhao smiled an ambiguous smile, then gave him a look as though at an idiot. Mildly, he said: "Young Master Xu has mustered quite the retinue and come all this way—surely not for the sole purpose of telling me that?"

"Of course not. To sever those pitiful, humble fantasies of yours, so that you do not keep pestering Junior Sister Lan'er with the little favor you did her in the back mountain, this young master has decided to make an exception and issue you, a lowly newcomer, an invitation." Xu Lingchong shot a glance at Kang Jingming beside him, and Kang Jingming promptly handed an invitation into Wei Zhao's hands.

"The eighth of next month, Shangguan Lan'er's birthday banquet?" Wei Zhao scanned it once, and his eyes could not help narrowing slightly.