Chapter 4938 — Sending You All Back
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 3
Their only task was to deliver the men back to the Dingcheng Academy's treasure ship; beyond that they took no interest whatsoever, not even bothering to inquire whether Zang Zili and the others were alive or dead. Everyone knew this was a hot potato, and naturally they avoided it like the plague rather than poking their noses into trouble.
"Master Lin, if you do not mind, why not come to the Alliance branch for a cup of tea? Consider it my chance to play the host?" From first to last, Zhuang Yifan never so much as glanced at Zang Zili and the others; instead he bent all his efforts toward currying favor with Wei Zhao.
"There is an Alliance branch here?" Wei Zhao blinked slightly.
"Indeed. The Yellow-Rank Academy Alliance's headquarters is in Leidong City, but Leidong Plain Island is an important Alliance stronghold, so naturally there is a branch here as well. The accommodations are quite decent—Master Lin could go and rest a while, ease your weariness." Zhuang Yifan smiled as he explained.
"I see. Let me first escort the Morning Star Academy disciples back; I will drop by this evening when I have time." Wei Zhao nodded.
"Of course, of course! I will send you all back!" Zhuang Yifan hurriedly offered, eager to please.
For the dignified chairman of the Yellow-Rank Academy Alliance to lower himself so—one had to admit it was rather humbling for him. But there was no help for it; who could blame him, when alchemists enjoyed such exalted status?
A Xuan-rank first-grade alchemist, in particular, was a welcomed guest wherever he went, even in the Xuan-rank sea region. Even those mighty figures at the Giant Realm, masters of surpassing strength, did not dare slight such people in the least; more often than not they had to tread as carefully as Zhuang Yifan was doing now—after all, one never knew when one might need to beg a favor of them.
"Very well." Wei Zhao gave him a glance, half-smiling, and made no pretense of declining.
In truth, he could not afford to decline. Zhuang Yifan might already believe him to be a Xuan-rank first-grade alchemist, but clearly he did not yet trust him completely. Beyond currying favor, the man's more important motive was most likely to keep him from slipping away midway. If Wei Zhao refused flatly, it would only make him look guilty and invite suspicion.
"Little Miss Ni, let us part ways here. We will meet again when the chance arises." Wei Zhao turned to bid farewell to Ni Caiyue at his side.
"Ah? Oh..." Ni Caiyue was still drifting in a daze, and it took her quite a while to come back to herself and hurry to nod. From the moment Wei Zhao had stepped in to deal with those two unfortunate Libation Officers, to turning the tables and toppling Zang Zili, to now being inexplicably fawned over and honored by Zhuang Yifan—the day's events had been one shock after another, full of twists and turns, and she still had not fully recovered her wits.
Seeing this, Wei Zhao chuckled and paid the silly girl no further mind. He beckoned Wang Xinyan and the others over, and then, beneath the awed gazes of the crowd in the distance, was personally escorted by Zhuang Yifan back to the Morning Star Academy's treasure ship.
Meanwhile, aboard the Morning Star Academy's treasure ship, all was already in chaos. The commotion stirred up by Wei Zhao and the others had been far too great—it had not only drawn a crowd of academy disciples to watch, but the final thunderous burst had been earth-shaking, churning up towering waves across the surrounding sea. Had the treasure ship not been so massive, it would long since have capsized.
Under such circumstances, if those aboard still failed to realize that something had happened to Wei Zhao and his party, they would have been fooling themselves. It was only that the two places were so far apart that they could not make out the specifics; all they knew was that Wei Zhao and the others had run into enormous trouble.