Chapter 4374 — What Now?
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
By the time dawn broke the next day, word of the Hong Merchant Guild's internal strife had spread like wildfire, and soon it had traveled every street and alley of Weihu City—after all, this was one of the foremost merchant guilds in Weihu City, its fame no whit inferior to those leading powers.
That Wei Zhaotong had been taken in hand and the Hong Merchant Guild had changed masters—this news too soon reached Qin Deli's ears, and he turned pale with fright.
After that rebuff at the Qingtian Escort Agency last night, he had thought the matter was over and done with. Who would have guessed that Cheng Qitian's death was only a brief prologue—the real drama was still to come!
Ling Yi of the Qingtian Escort Agency, joining hands with the two personal disciples of the East Sea Divine Nun, had stormed the Hong Merchant Guild overnight, and in a single clash subdued Wei Zhaotong and the two hired experts. The Hong Merchant Guild had changed masters from that moment on!
Now everyone in Weihu City, high and low, was telling the tale with relish—the whole city had nearly turned into a storytelling venue.
Qin Deli panicked outright. What became of the Hong Merchant Guild was no concern of his; even if the whole Weihu Branch burned to the ground, it had nothing to do with him. But that Wei Zhaotong had fallen into someone's hands—that was fatal!
Not that he cared for this so-called cousin of his, separated by who knew how many degrees of kinship. The crux was that Wei Zhaotong and he, Qin Deli, were grasshoppers on the same string, and the man knew almost everything about him. If he could not hold out under interrogation and spilled it all, once the truth came out, not only would Wei Zhaotong be finished—Qin Deli would be buried along with him.
No. He had to find a way to fish Wei Zhaotong out at once! Without time to think it over, Qin Deli hurried to seek audience with the three giants, determined to turn the situation around before it worsened further.
At that moment, the three founding-stage giants of the Morning Star Academy were gathered together, preparing to attend the day's selection assembly, when they saw Qin Deli burst through the door, and their gazes fell upon him one after another.
"What is it this time?" Ling Yuanqing said with a slight frown. He had not lost his temper on the spot, but last night's business had genuinely angered him, and naturally he was in no mood to show Qin Deli a pleasant face now.
Under the gaze of the three giants, Qin Deli felt his body sink, and he nearly dropped to his knees. Clearly, last night's affair had not merely turned Ling Yuanqing against him—the East Sea Divine Nun and Wei Hebei were just as displeased with him.
"This disciple pays his respects to the three directors." Though his heart quailed, Qin Deli was cornered; if he did not quickly find a way to salvage the situation, the next step might well be a grave with no burial ground. He could only brace himself and continue: "This disciple has just heard a matter that is causing a great uproar outside—it is said that disciples of our Morning Star Academy have aided and abetted evildoers, that last night they joined with outsiders in attacking the Hong Merchant Guild, and that they now hold the branch steward Wei Zhaotong. The matter is of grave consequence and greatly harmful to our academy's reputation. I beg the three directors to look into it."
"Is there such a thing?" The three giants were slightly taken aback. Given their lofty station, ordinary folk never even had the chance to speak with them; unless someone made a point of reporting, such street rumors would not reach their ears so quickly.
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