Chapter 4082 — Huang Xiaotao's Sorrowful Past
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 3
Compared with the flying spirit beasts commonly used by the Triad Pavilion and the merchant guilds, this spirit bird was by no means small. Even after all four of them climbed aboard, it did not feel crowded in the least, and once it took flight it was exceedingly steady—steady enough, in fact, that one could sit in meditation and cultivate upon its back.
Once the spirit bird was airborne, the four of them had little to do, so they chatted idly to pass the time and, in passing, to learn a little more about one another. Wei Zhao was, after all, a newcomer who had joined at the last moment; the better they knew and understood each other, the more smoothly they would work together on the mission.
After a few exchanges, Wei Zhao suddenly said, "Captain Xiaotao, there is something I am rather puzzled about, and I do not know whether I ought to ask. Of course, if it is inconvenient, that is quite all right—I am purely curious, nothing more."
"Oh? Since we are all in the same squad, we ought to be open with one another. Whatever questions Brother Lingyi has, just ask me directly, and I will certainly tell you everything I know," Huang Xiaotao said warmly.
"Very well, then forgive my impertinence. Captain Xiaotao, you said just now that the three of you are all disciples of the Qingyun Pavilion, but from what I know, the Triad Pavilion does not take female disciples, does it? Are not female cultivators all sent to the Western Isle? And another thing—why does Captain Xiaotao wear a veil?" Wei Zhao asked curiously.
In all his half year at the Welcome Pavilion, apart from Murong Zhen, that special case, he had never once heard that the Qingyun Pavilion had female disciples as well.
As for why she covered her face, he had his own conjectures. Either the woman was beautiful beyond compare, like a fairy descended from heaven, or she was so hideous that no one could bear to look at her. Either way, it was the sort of thing that readily invited trouble; otherwise, if her looks were merely ordinary, there would be no need at all to deliberately veil herself—doing so only stirred the imagination and drew attention.
"That..." Huang Xiaotao was slightly taken aback. She had no particular wish to conceal anything, but for a moment she simply did not know how to put it into words.
At this, Cong Zhima at her side at once spoke up helpfully on her behalf: "Brother Lingyi, there is something you do not know. Captain Xiaotao was once an outstanding disciple of the Chongtian Pavilion, and she came from the same cultivator tribe as that famous Su Zhaohe of today. Because her strength and talent were exceptional, the higher-ups of the Chongtian Pavilion thought highly of her; and with Su Zhaohe, that genius disciple who comes once in a thousand years, also putting in a good word for her, Captain Xiaotao was kept on as an exception and not sent to the Western Isle."
"A disciple of the Chongtian Pavilion? Did Captain Xiaotao not say just now that all of you were disciples of the Qingyun Pavilion?" Wei Zhao said in surprise.
Huang Xiaotao's eyes dimmed and she said nothing, leaving Cong Zhima to continue on her behalf: "If that business had never happened, Captain Xiaotao would still be a disciple of the Chongtian Pavilion with boundless prospects, rather than being driven out to our Qingyun Pavilion. It is true that we came to know Captain Xiaotao because of it, but every time I think of that affair, I feel indignant on her behalf!"
"That affair?" Wei Zhao frowned slightly. Driven out of the Chongtian Pavilion and into the Qingyun Pavilion—why did that story sound rather like Murong Zhen's?