Chapter 4233 — The Hong Clan Trading Company's Assignment

Wei Zhao and Huang Xiaotao exchanged a glance, and he at once cupped his hands to everyone present. "I am Ling Yi of North Island, and this is my fellow disciple, Junior Sister Huang. We greet our colleagues. We have only just arrived, and should we give offense in days to come, we beg you all to bear with us."

At these words every gaze in the hall settled upon the two of them, curious and appraising. Yet once they saw that both merely showed the cultivation of the early Golden Core stage, the crowd thought no more of it, and gave only the most indifferent of nods by way of acknowledgment.

Had Huang Xiaotao not worn a veil, she might have drawn a few admiring looks; but veiled as she was, no beauty could be seen, and at most one might judge the curve of her figure. Even should curiosity stir, none would trouble themselves over it.

Out here in the jianghu, what men cared for above all was strength. Seeing now that Wei Zhao and his companion were of only ordinary power—no great patron to cling to, nor any great threat to fear—there was no need to pay them much mind.

Seeing that the others looked but once and then went back about their business, so cold was their reception, Wei Zhao and Huang Xiaotao exchanged another glance and said nothing more.

"Heh heh, every escort here is a seasoned hand. Young Master Ling, pay no mind that they say little and spare you no pleasantries—when the day comes that you ride out together, every man among them will be a comrade who fights at your side in good faith and to the death!" Seeing this, Qi Wenmo strove to smooth things over, laughing as he spoke.

Wei Zhao and Huang Xiaotao nodded, though they made no commitment either way. The jianghu was treacherous, and it was only natural that men should guard against one another. Still, there was one thing in Qi Wenmo's words that was surely true: should trouble come when they rode out to guard the goods together, they would indeed be able to cover for one another. After all, it was their duty, and if the goods were lost, no one would come off well.

As the two were speaking, a sound of footsteps suddenly came from outside. All turned to look, and saw a somewhat portly, well-fleshed man of middle years come in from the outer courtyard, accompanied by the agency's guards.

At the sight, Qi Wenmo hastily left Wei Zhao and the others and strode forward to meet him, laughing warmly.

"Manager Wei! You are a rare and honored guest—many days have passed since last we met. I trust you have been well!" Qi Wenmo's hearty laughter had a way of drawing men close, of lowering their guard without their knowing it, so that thereafter, whether in business or in friendship, every word went twice as far.

Even with a total stranger, at a first meeting, it lent a man a certain warmth of familiarity. Otherwise, guarded as Wei Zhao was, he would never have agreed so readily to join the Qingtian Escort Agency.

Watching from behind, Wei Zhao nodded to himself. From this alone he could see that the young master of the Qingtian Escort Agency was a man not to be taken lightly.

Yet the name by which Qi Wenmo addressed the newcomer stirred something in Wei Zhao's heart. Manager Wei?

"Heh heh, well indeed. And the young master looks more spirited than ever, finer than in days past!" the newcomer replied with an easy laugh, all courtesy. Plainly these two had dealt with each other many times, and were old acquaintances.

"Haha, Manager Wei flatters me. That a grand steward of the Hong Clan Trading Company should come to my door in person—surely there is some grand piece of business in the offing?" After a couple of polite exchanges, Qi Wenmo came straight to the point.

Such was his usual manner of speaking: never abrupt, but rather making a man feel him honest and dependable, and trust him the more for it.

Hearing this, Wei Zhao was now wholly certain of the newcomer's identity. It was the very man Hong Zhong had spoken of before—the steward of the Hong Clan Trading Company's branch here in the Wei Arc sea region, and an old friend of Hong Zhong's these many years: Wei Zhaotong.

Huang Xiaotao glanced at Wei Zhao; she had caught it too. But Wei Zhao gave her an imperceptible shake of the head, signaling that they should not reveal themselves for now. After all, the two of them were using false names at present, and they could hardly greet Wei Zhaotong under those false names. Better to leave it until some later day when there was need.

"It is indeed no small piece of business." Wei Zhaotong nodded, and glanced at Wei Zhao and the others not far off, but said no more.

"Very good, very good. Manager Wei, pray step inside, and we shall talk it over within." Qi Wenmo understood at once, and nodded.

All business is a commercial secret, and this above all was a great commission for the Hong Clan Trading Company. The hall was crowded and eyes were many; to discuss matters openly—to name the goods, to name the route—and then have word of it leak out, whether by intent or accident, would be a fatal **blunder. It might well be that when the escort set out, a whole band of villains would already be waiting along the road.

The two at once went shoulder to shoulder through the great hall and into an inner room to talk in private, leaving Wei Zhao and the rest to wait outside.

Watching this, Wei Zhao nodded thoughtfully. So it seemed that though Qi Wenmo was in name only the young master of the Qingtian Escort Agency, since he could take it upon himself to deal with so great a client as Wei Zhaotong, he was in truth already half a master of the house. No wonder that even a swaggering, supercilious sort like Cheng Qitian had been so wary of him.

Even if the Poison Eye Mercenary Corps was a power to match the Qingtian Escort Agency, and even if both men were young masters alike, one was a mere second-generation heir and the other half a master of his house—and the gulf in standing between them was no small thing. Of all the second-generation heirs Wei Zhao had yet seen, this Qi Wenmo was surely among the most mature and seasoned, and beyond all doubt a man not to be taken lightly.

In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Qi Wenmo came out with Wei Zhaotong. Both wore smiling faces; plainly the business and the price had been settled, and what remained was to convey the goods from the Hong Clan Trading Company to the Qingtian Escort Agency and make ready for the road.

Yet before that, there was one matter of great importance: deciding which escorts would accompany the convoy.

"May I have everyone's attention. I have just concluded a piece of business with Manager Wei—an escort run for the Hong Clan Trading Company. The destination is the Fang family manor on Xianpeng Island, the goods to be delivered into the hands of Steward Fang himself. The payment is generous in the extreme. Any who wish to take this run may sign on now." Qi Wenmo's gaze swept the whole hall as he announced it in a ringing voice.

At his words, the men present looked at one another, yet not one showed any inclination to step forward and sign on.

Wei Zhao and Huang Xiaotao exchanged a glance, somewhat puzzled. Men die for wealth as birds die for food; Qi Wenmo had said plainly that the pay for this run was generous, and as the young master of the house he could not be lying through his teeth. And every man here was an escort who had come for gain—surely they could not all be too bashful to speak up. There was no need for such modesty.

What they did not know was that the reason the men hung back so was simply that this run was truly no easy one.