Chapter 1558 — Half a Treasure Map
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
The two of them were still talking when the sound of footsteps came again from outside the cave. It was unmistakably the strange man, returning!
Zhao Qilei patted his chest in silent relief. Lucky they hadn't left — if they had, that strange man really could have caught up with them!
"I'm back! I'm back!" The strange man charged into the cave in high spirits. Spotting Wei Zhao, he was overcome with joy. He strode over in three or four quick steps and thrust an oil-paper package into Wei Zhao's hands. "My good disciple, I have kept this map safe all these years and never let those evil senior brothers of yours get their hands on it! Ha ha — for them to dream of laying claim to that treasure is nothing but fantasy!"
Wei Zhao looked at the oil-paper package in the strange man's outstretched hands. He could neither take it nor refuse it!
By the strange man's words, the thing inside the oil-paper package was clearly a treasure map, and the treasure it pointed to was evidently something of tremendous value. Perhaps it was precisely this treasure that had brought disaster upon the strange man and his disciple!
But how could Wei Zhao bring himself to make it his own? If this strange man had been an evil person, it would be one thing — but the man was pitiable. Wei Zhao truly did not want to take his belongings; otherwise, when the man eventually regained his senses, he would surely regret it beyond measure.
"This..." Wei Zhao made no move to reach for it.
"Take it! My good disciple, what are you doing?" The strange man saw Wei Zhao not reaching out and grew puzzled.
"All right..." Wei Zhao had no choice. He extended his hands and accepted the oil-paper package.
"Open it quickly! Look and see whether it's damaged!" the strange man urged. "Originally, your master memorized everything drawn on that map. But over the years, my memory has grown worse and worse — some of it has slipped away. The years do this to a man... I had no choice but to fetch it."
"All right..." Listening to the strange man's rambling, incoherent talk, Wei Zhao could only comply and open the oil-paper package. Heaven knew what would happen if he did not follow the old man's instructions — the strange man might well fly into another frenzy.
Wei Zhao opened the oil-paper package. Sure enough, inside lay a treasure map — though only half of one.
"Where is your half of the map? Take it out and join them together!" the strange man said. "Once they're joined, your master will take you to seek the treasure!"
"I... I don't have that half on me..." Wei Zhao gave a wry smile.
"Not on you? That makes sense — how could you carry such an important thing on your person at all times? If the bad people from the sect ever found out and snatched it away, that would be disastrous!" The strange man paused, then sighed. "Alas... your master hid that treasure all those years ago. The map, your master drew it and split it in two. But this memory of mine... I can't even recall what is drawn on this half anymore..."
"Master, keep this map with you for now. We'll talk again once I've brought my half," Wei Zhao said, and moved to hand the map back.
"You keep it on you — otherwise I'll only forget where I put it again!" The strange man waved his hand. "It's getting late. Let us rest. Tomorrow, you go and fetch your half of the map, and we'll seek the treasure together..." He paused. "By the way, it has been so many years — let your master see how far your cultivation has progressed!"