Chapter 4214 — A Complete Change of Attitude
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 3
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.