Chapter 4349 — The Old Man at the Frontier Loses His Horse
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
Qi Wenmo promptly led Wei Zhao to the banquet hall the Qingtian Escort Agency kept for receiving honored guests. In the past, those who dined here had been, at the very least, figures of note in the Weihu Sea region—a measure of the regard in which he held Wei Zhao.
"Uncle Song, go to my father and report today's events to him. He has no time to concern himself with such matters now, but at the very least he must be informed, so we are not caught off guard if something else happens later." On the way, Qi Wenmo gave this instruction to the old steward who had followed at his side throughout, then pointed at the trembling pirate chief: "Oh, and lock this thing in the dungeon. He is a vital witness—nothing must happen to him."
"Yes." The old steward called Uncle Song nodded, then seized the pirate chief with one hand and leaped away. His figure drifted and wavered; he seemed to take but a single step, yet had in truth covered a dozen or more zhang—plain proof of a master exceedingly skilled in movement arts, and more importantly, a genuine expert of the Nascent Soul stage.
Seeing Wei Zhao studying the steward's back with curiosity, Qi Wenmo smiled and explained, "Uncle Song has deep ties to our Qingtian Escort Agency. He was first an orphan taken in by my grandfather, and later became my father's sworn brother in life and death. That the Qingtian Escort Agency could gain a firm foothold in this chaotic Weihu Sea region is in great part his doing. Brother Ling, you may not know it, but my Uncle Song's strength ranks among the foremost in the whole Weihu Sea—not a single expert dares underestimate him."
"So that is how it is." Wei Zhao nodded. If even an old steward of the Qingtian Escort Agency possessed such strength, the agency's foundations were plainly no trifling matter—no wonder it could stand firm in the Weihu Sea. Then curiosity stirred again: "Then this Steward Song's strength must be second to none in our Qingtian Escort Agency?"
"Indeed. Though the agency has many fine hands, the only one who could truly match Uncle Song—and perhaps even surpass him by a head—is my father, I should think. But lately he has been busy preparing for the Southern Continent Escort Gathering and rarely comes back to the agency. Otherwise I would certainly introduce you to him, Brother Ling—he has always loved making the acquaintance of heroes from all corners, especially young talents like you." Qi Wenmo laughed.
"Brother Qi flatters me." Wei Zhao waved a hand with a smile. He too enjoyed befriending able men, and since Qi Wenmo's father was the Qingtian Escort Agency's greatest fighting strength, he was genuinely interested in meeting the man.
The two came to the banquet hall, where wine and dishes were already laid out. Qi Wenmo poured Wei Zhao a cup himself and raised his own in thanks: "Brother Ling, I thank you for this business. It opened my eyes to the true face of that old fox Wei Zhaotong. From now on, our agency will certainly never work with him again."
"Brother Qi, you make too much of it. In truth I bear some blame as well—it happened that the docks at Zhenduan City were under strict lockdown this time, and I could not return in time, which cost the agency dear." Wei Zhao raised his cup likewise.
"No, no—Brother Ling, you have done very well. If fault there is, the greatest fault lies with me: I misjudged a man and fell into that old fox's trap, and so brought such a loss upon us." Qi Wenmo shook his head again and again, then went on: "Still, though the agency lost three hundred thousand spirit jades this time, we did not come away entirely empty-handed. When the old man at the frontier lost his horse, who could say it was not a blessing?"
"Oh? How do you mean?" Wei Zhao asked, puzzled.