Chapter 4214 — A Complete Change of Attitude

"Many thanks, Pavilion Master," Wei Zhao and Huang Xiaotao said, cupping their hands in the salute of disciples, and they watched Yu Zhenyang depart. Before long the two of them went their separate ways as well—Huang Xiaotao back to the Azure Cloud Pavilion, Wei Zhao back to the Welcome Pavilion.

Though Yu Zhenyang, master of the Azure Cloud Pavilion, had only to speak a word to settle the matter of lodging, such arrangements still took time, so at least for tonight, Wei Zhao would have to remain in the Welcome Pavilion.

By now the year allotted to the Welcome Pavilion's newcomers had run its course. The flock of newcomers had gone off to where they belonged—some to the Triple Stack Pavilion, some to take up posts as stewards, some to the mining districts—and the newcomer caves prepared especially for them now all stood empty.

Wei Zhao alone was the exception; his was the only newcomer cave still occupied. Yet even so, to say nothing of the current newcomer steward senior brother of the Azure Cloud Pavilion—that much-put-upon senior brother—even Hu Yunfeng, master of the Welcome Pavilion, would not dare show Wei Zhao the slightest disrespect now.

When Wei Zhao returned to the Welcome Pavilion, he saw from afar a figure keeping watch at the entrance of his cave dwelling—none other than Hu Yunfeng himself.

"Junior Brother Wei Zhao, congratulations, congratulations! After today, you are bound for glory, with a future beyond all measure. To have a genius disciple like you is a honor the Welcome Pavilion has not seen in a hundred years!" Hu Yunfeng, abandoning his former manner entirely, came forward to greet Wei Zhao the moment he saw him, his face wreathed in smiles.

In the past, owing to differences of position, he had found Wei Zhao utterly detestable, but once he learned of Wei Zhao's performance in the inner-sect contest—and above all that Shangguan Tianxia had singled him out for praise before all present—if he still failed to set his attitude straight at once, he could only be called a fool beyond saving.

After all, Hu Yunfeng counted himself a man of the official world; there was no way he could lack even this much discernment.

"Pavilion Master Hu flatters me." Wei Zhao was slightly taken aback, then smiled. "You came looking for me specially today—is it about the cave dwelling? Rest assured, I will move out at once. I won't cling to it and refuse to leave."

"What sort of talk is that, Junior Brother Wei Zhao? You wound me!" Hu Yunfeng feigned anger. "The Welcome Pavilion was your first home when you came to Cloud Terrace Island, and it will be your home forever. So long as you wish to live here, so long as I hold office in the Welcome Pavilion for a single day, I will keep this cave for you always, and no one else shall be permitted to touch it!"

"Ha, that won't be necessary. I've already spoken with Pavilion Master Yu; the Azure Cloud Pavilion will likely arrange new lodgings for me tomorrow, so I won't trouble you further, Pavilion Master Hu." Wei Zhao shook his head with a faint smile.

"Oh? If Pavilion Master Yu is seeing to it personally, then Junior Brother Wei Zhao will certainly not be shortchanged—that sets my mind at ease." Hu Yunfeng smiled, but inwardly he was startled. This Wei Zhao had truly flown up to the branch and become a phoenix!

Not only had Shangguan Tianxia, master of the Skyward Pavilion, taken a liking to him, but even Yu Zhenyang, master of the Azure Cloud Pavilion, showed him such solicitude. With two such top-tier figures backing him, Wei Zhao could walk the Triple Stack Pavilion sideways from now on.

After all, though Hu Yunfeng was likewise addressed as Pavilion Master, his was merely the little Welcome Pavilion; in status and power he fell far short of any of the independent departments, to say nothing of top-tier figures like Shangguan Tianxia and Yu Zhenyang—they were simply not on the same level.

After a long spell of solicitous inquiries, Hu Yunfeng finally took his polite leave of Wei Zhao. He had come today on purpose, not daring to hope he might draw closer to Wei Zhao, but only that Wei Zhao would not hold his past deliberate targeting against him—and that alone would be a mercy from heaven.

Watching Hu Yunfeng's retreating back, Wei Zhao shook his head with a helpless laugh. The man had hounded him relentlessly before, and now, because of a single word from Shangguan Tianxia, his attitude had swung a full hundred and eighty degrees. It truly left one speechless.

Not long after Hu Yunfeng left, several more people arrived at the entrance of Wei Zhao's cave—but this time they were his own people: that much-put-upon senior brother, along with Xiao Che, Qiao Hongcai, and Li Zhengming.

"Junior Brother Lin, we've all heard about today's events—it's truly a matter for congratulations! We must drink a great cup to it!" the much-put-upon senior brother said joyfully.

He now sincerely felt that Wei Zhao was the benefactor fate had ordained for him. Without Wei Zhao, he would still be a man trampled on by all, perhaps not even holding on to his original post as newcomer steward second senior brother, and his days could never have been as comfortable as they were now—all of it thanks to Wei Zhao.

"Right, right! From now on the leader will rise step by step to the clouds—we must celebrate properly. Tonight we don't go home till we're drunk!" Xiao Che, Qiao Hongcai, and Li Zhengming declared in unison.

The first two were the underlings Wei Zhao had raised with his own hands; the last was the inside man who had served him with all his heart. All were the trusted people closest to Wei Zhao, and now that he had risen, they rose with him. For tonight's celebration the three of them had gone to no small effort to procure several jars of fine spirit wine.

"Good! Then tonight we drink our fill—and don't go home till we're drunk!" Wei Zhao laughed. With his present strength, no spirit wine, however fine, could intoxicate him even after a thousand cups—though the same could not be said for Xiao Che and the others.

The group burst out laughing and drained their cups together. In their year at the Welcome Pavilion they had weathered many storms side by side and cultivated a deep, unspoken understanding; there was no need for words.

"Junior Brother Lin, another toast to you—from now on we'll all be counting on your protection," the much-put-upon senior brother said, raising his cup again.

"You've got that wrong, Senior Brother Ku. Whatever I become, you will always be my senior brother. We advance together hand in hand—what talk is there of protection? You must drink a cup as your own penalty first!" Wei Zhao said with a speechless laugh.

"The leader's right—Senior Brother Ku has to drink a penalty cup first!" Qiao Hongcai chimed in, leading the raucous teasing.

"Fine, fine, I accept the penalty, I accept it," the much-put-upon senior brother could only reply with a bitter smile, then threw back his head and drained the cup, while Wei Zhao and the others clapped and cheered.

Yet for all that, the much-put-upon senior brother's words had indeed given Wei Zhao something to think about. Everyone present was a trusted ally, and in the days to come he would have to put more thought into them. Their present strength was passable enough within the Welcome Pavilion, but once they went out into the wider world, it would fall far short.

The celebration went on the whole night through, and only when someone came knocking at dawn the next day did it finally come to an end.

The one who came knocking was an inner-sect steward disciple of the Azure Cloud Pavilion, charged by Pavilion Master Yu Zhenyang with seeing to Wei Zhao's lodging.