Chapter 4944 — A Seat at the Head Table
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"Very well. We shall meet again tonight," Wei Zhao said, rising to see his guests out.
But before the two of them had even stepped out of the reception hall, Zhuang Yifan suddenly halted in his tracks and said, with a certain weight of meaning: "Every year, after the Road of Giants concludes, there is a celebration banquet, and every academy sends representatives. It occurs to me that there is no time like the present—why not simply fold it into this evening's dinner? What does Master Lin think?"
"That is a matter for the Academy Alliance. Chairman Zhuang may arrange it as he sees fit; I have no objections." Wei Zhao glanced at him with some surprise. Was this really the sort of thing one needed to consult an outsider about?
"Then it is settled. When the time comes, Master Lin may bring Master Libation Li along—tell him Zhuang has reserved him a seat at the head table." Zhuang Yifan smiled a smile laden with meaning, then took his leave.
"Heh. That Zhuang Yifan certainly knows how to play the game." Wei Zhao watched the man's receding back and smiled. Zhuang Yifan's reason for saying that deliberately was plain enough: he intended to do Morning Star Academy a favor for Wei Zhao's sake. Otherwise, with so many Yellow-rank academies about, Morning Star's strength would hardly have earned it a place at the head table. This was a rare chance to show one's face.
No sooner had Zhuang Yifan taken his leave than Huo Yudie, Wang Xinyan, and Huang Xiaotao came bustling in, with Liu Ziqi and Li Ren following behind.
"Well? What did that Chairman Zhuang say?" Huo Yudie asked, unable to contain herself. Though she had already heard the whole story from Wang Xinyan and the others, she had still been sweating on Wei Zhao's behalf. He had only bluffed Zhuang Yifan for the moment by borrowing the name of a Xuan-rank first-grade alchemist—but if the man ever came to his senses, the consequences hardly bore thinking about.
"Nothing much. He asked me to refine a pill for him, and I agreed. Simple as that." Wei Zhao shrugged as though it were nothing at all.
"You agreed? He must want a Xuan-rank pill refined. Can you really do it?" Huo Yudie was startled. Liu Ziqi and Li Ren wore expressions of astonishment and doubt as well; only Wang Xinyan and Huang Xiaotao looked relatively calm, being long accustomed to such things.
"Whether I can or not—won't we find out by trying?" Wei Zhao smiled slightly, a trace of mischief at the corner of his mouth. "Even a Xuan-rank first-grade alchemist cannot guarantee success every time. If I fail this once, that is only normal, is it not?"
"So that is it!" The others understood at once. This was the secret of how Wei Zhao dared to lie to a man of Zhuang Yifan's stature.
A simple lie would have found it nearly impossible to fool Zhuang Yifan; even if it worked at first, the truth would inevitably show through. The brilliance of Wei Zhao's lie lay precisely in the possibility that it was not a lie at all—it could very well become truth, and even if it did not, there was a perfectly reasonable explanation. Half true and half false, it could not be toppled.
"By the way, Zhuang Yifan said he is holding a celebration banquet tonight. Master Libation Li, he also said he has reserved you a seat at the head table," Wei Zhao relayed.
"What? By custom, the celebration banquet is held at the Thunderclap City headquarters after all the trials have concluded. Why would it suddenly be moved up to now?" Li Ren did not quite follow, and after a moment of blankness he stammered: "The head table... and there is a place for me?"
"Indeed. That is exactly what he said. So make your preparations and come along tonight," Wei Zhao said with a nod.
"This is truly an enormous surprise!" Li Ren drew a deep breath and bowed solemnly to Wei Zhao. "Master Lin, on behalf of Morning Star Academy, I thank you for your great kindness!"