Chapter 4076 — The Return of Hong Zhong
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 3
Yet the moment he stepped through the guild's front doors, a familiar figure inside made Wei Zhao's steps falter. Then, with heartfelt delight, he said, "Elder Hong, when did you get back?"
At the sight of Wei Zhao, Hong Zhong's face likewise lit up with joy. He hurried forward and looked him up and down, clicking his tongue in wonder. "Young Hero Lin, parted for many days, and you have been reborn once again! This pace of your strength's advancement truly opens this old man's eyes—joyous news, joyous news!"
"Grandpa Hong, you only see your junior martial brother—do you not see us?" Shangguan Lan'er stepped up from behind with a grin.
"Heh heh, little Lan'er, this Grandpa Hong may overlook anyone, but never you, you little girl!" Hong Zhong chuckled, then turned to Ning Xuefei and cupped his hands in salute. "This must be Miss Ning of West Island. I have long heard of you—come, come, upstairs, please!"
"Just call me Feifei, Grandpa Hong," Ning Xuefei said with a sweet smile.
After inviting the three of them to a private room upstairs, Hong Zhong at once ordered a banquet spread. After exchanging pleasantries and reminiscences, he personally apologized to Ning Xuefei and Shangguan Lan'er on behalf of the Hong Clan Merchants' Guild. The two women, however, did not take it to heart at all—even if they bore a grudge, they would settle it with Si Haitao, and would never lay it at the guild's door.
Only then did Hong Zhong explain to Wei Zhao the reason for his return to North Island this time. "To be frank with you, Young Hero Lin, this old man volunteered to come back to North Island. With such a huge scandal as Si Haitao's, only this old man could return to clean up the mess. As of now, I hold the post of vice chairman while concurrently serving as the steward of the North Island branch."
Wei Zhao was slightly taken aback at these words and asked in puzzlement, "Given your connections and relationships here on North Island, Elder Hong, you are indeed the obvious choice to handle the aftermath—but to concurrently hold the post of branch steward, that rather sounds like a demotion, does it not?"
Normally, if Hong Zhong had truly come merely to clean up the mess, a few conciliatory words would have sufficed; there would have been no need for him to concurrently serve as branch steward and remain long-term on North Island, far from the seat of power at the Middle Island headquarters. For a vice chairman, this was hardly a good thing.
Instinct told Wei Zhao that Hong Zhong's days on Middle Island had likely not been going smoothly.
Sure enough, Hong Zhong sighed and said, "You may not know this, Young Hero Lin, but although this old man was promoted to vice chairman on merit and counts as one of the top figures at the guild headquarters, I have long operated here on North Island and my foundations at headquarters are not deep. Hence, when I went to Middle Island this time, I was immediately squeezed out by a faction led by the executive vice chairman."
Wei Zhao's eyelid twitched slightly. This situation was indeed enough to catch one off guard—a powerful dragon cannot suppress a local snake, and all the more so when the other party's position and power both exceeded Hong Zhong's. A veritable local dragon, he was.
Hong Zhong downed a gulp of wine and continued, "Holding an office without any real power, I could accomplish nothing. I have already been rendered a figurehead by their combined efforts. If I stayed on, I fear I would have become utterly idle. So I could only seize this opportunity to return to North Island first—at least here I can retain a measure of autonomy."
"It seems the Hong Clan Merchants' Guild is a jianghu of its own!" Wei Zhao sighed with emotion, then consoled him, "Never mind. We will proceed step by step. When you have time, Elder Hong, tell me the details—let me see whether I can be of help."