Chapter 4361 — Somewhat Familiar
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
"This one is Qi Wenmo, young master of the Qingtian Escort Agency. It is an honor to receive the three seniors. Forgive me for failing to welcome you properly!" Pressing down the doubts and alarms in his heart, Qi Wenmo greeted the three giants with the utmost respect.
"We come uninvited and have put the young master to trouble," Ling Yuanqing said with a faint nod.
"Not at all, not at all! The three seniors are honored guests of the whole Weihu Sea. That you would condescend to visit my Qingtian Escort Agency is a blessing we could not have earned in several lifetimes. Please, come inside!" Qi Wenmo, flattered and flustered, smiled ingratiatingly as he hurriedly ordered arrangements made and led them into the agency's reception hall.
Following behind the three Mountain-Opening Stage giants, Wei Zhaotong and Cheng Qitian slipped in along with the crowd. Qi Wenmo's eye twitched, but he could hardly drive them out in front of the three giants, and so he could only turn a blind eye.
Once everyone had entered the reception hall and the three giants had been invited to sit, Qi Wenmo's eyelid twitched again. Only now did he notice Huang Xiaotao, who stood beside the East Sea Divine Nun, and he was startled and puzzled in equal measure. Yet because she kept her veil on the whole time, he could not be entirely sure it was the same person, and he could only press his doubts down into the depths of his heart.
In fact, among those present, Cheng Qitian had also seen Huang Xiaotao before, and the same doubt lingered in his mind. But he did not take it too much to heart. These days many female cultivators wore veils when they went out to avoid trouble; it was quite likely nothing more than coincidence.
"Young Master, we would not come knocking at the gate of the Three Treasures without cause. We have come this time to see one of your agency's escorts—a man by the name of Ling Yi," Ling Yuanqing said, coming straight to the point.
"Ling Yi?" Qi Wenmo was taken aback again. He cast an unconscious glance at Huang Xiaotao, then said cautiously, "May I ask, seniors, what business you have with Ling Yi?"
"We have heard that Ling Yi's strength is astonishing and that he can challenge opponents beyond his own cultivation realm. So we have come to meet him, and if he is willing, we intend to take him as a disciple," Ling Yuanqing said without beating around the bush.
They had come to take a disciple? Qi Wenmo grew all the more bewildered. Ling Yi's strength was indeed absurdly great—he had even crippled a peak early-Nascent Soul expert like Old Kong. But so far not many people knew of him. Surely his fame could not have spread far enough to stir even these three Mountain-Opening Stage giants?
Glancing at the smug, gloating looks on the faces of Wei Zhaotong and Cheng Qitian nearby, Qi Wenmo grew all the more certain: those two were surely behind this!
Yet even knowing so, Qi Wenmo did not dare refuse. This was, after all, a word spoken by Ling Yuanqing himself. Never mind him—not a soul in the Weihu Sea would dare say no.
"Yes. Please wait a moment, seniors. I will have someone bring Ling Yi here at once," Qi Wenmo said with a nod, then shot a look at Steward Song, who stood at his side.
A short while later, Wei Zhao stepped into the reception hall under Steward Song's guidance, and the eyes of Ling Yuanqing, Wei Hebei, and the East Sea Divine Nun—three Mountain-Opening Stage giants—all fell upon him at once. They exchanged a rather strange glance.
Though they could not recall the particulars, the perception of Mountain-Opening Stage giants was no empty boast. Even a single glimpse taken back at the selection grounds, amid that sea of people, would leave an impression on them. Seeing Wei Zhao again now, they could not help but find him somewhat familiar. (To be continued.) R752