Chapter 3455 — Here Comes Ergoudan!

"I'm afraid they won't be getting back for a while. Come pick them up whenever you have time!" Kun Cun said, and was about to hang up. "All right, I won't keep you any longer. Goodbye, Mr. Wei Zhao!"

"Wait! What classmates of mine?" At Kun Cun's words, Wei Zhao immediately thought of Bai Weituo and the others, and asked hurriedly, "Speak more clearly!"

"Didn't your classmates come here to travel? I think they're called Zhang Duopan and Bai Weituo. If you're not coming to pick them up, then let them enjoy themselves here for now—it's not as if they'll starve!" Kun Cun said.

"Give me the address. I'll come find you." Wei Zhao drew a deep breath. "But before I arrive, you must guarantee their safety!"

"That's no problem. Our sect has its rules, and we won't drag ordinary people into this. You're a cultivator, and you're the one we're after," Kun Cun said flatly. "I'll send you my address in a moment. Come as quickly as you can!"

"Fine!" Wei Zhao nodded and agreed.

"Then I shall await the honored arrival of Mr. Lin with great anticipation. Once you're here, don't bother going back—hahahaha!" Kun Cun burst into laughter and hung up.

Wei Zhao stared at his phone and frowned. His plan had been to head straight for Island X, where he had trained as a child, and take Little Nine to the Loess Sect—but now it seemed plans could not keep pace with change. He would have to make a trip to Southeast Asia first.

Since something had happened to Bai Weituo, Wei Zhao had to inform Leader Bai, for both reasons of sentiment and of duty. So he decided to return to Donghai City first, and make his decision after that.

Since Kun Cun meant to use Bai Weituo to lure him to the Right Miao Sect in Southeast Asia, they should be safe enough before he arrived—and that set Wei Zhao's mind at ease.

The car drove on and finally stopped before the gate of his villa in Donghai City. It was evening now, and Wang Xinyan ought to be at home; the brightly lit living room of the villa seemed to confirm it.

Wei Zhao opened the door and walked in. Wang Xinyan was indeed at home—but seated in the living room were two people whose presence caught Wei Zhao somewhat by surprise!

"Leader, you're back!" Ergoudan rose joyfully from the sofa and ran over to give Wei Zhao a bear hug.

Beside him, Yu Yuanyuan also stood up and greeted Wei Zhao shyly.

"Ergoudan, what brings the two of you here?" Wei Zhao looked at him with pleased surprise. He had not expected the man to find his villa in Donghai City—though old man Wei must have told him the way.

"Well, the autumn harvest is done and there's nothing much to do, so I cured some bacon. Yu Yuanyuan happened to want to get out and about too, so we came. I brought the bacon for you, Leader—didn't you used to love the cured meats I make?" Ergoudan said.

"Ergoudan, you really are thoughtful!" Wei Zhao had not expected him to remember such a thing, and was touched. It might be a mere trifle of daily life, but it showed how much Ergoudan truly kept him in mind—curing the meat and bringing it all this way in person!

"It's nothing. Yu Yuanyuan wanted to see a bit of the world too. That place, West Star Mountain—it's just too small. How could a girl from the city stay cooped up there forever?" Ergoudan said with a laugh.

"Speaking of which, your way of talking has become much more standard. You used to open your mouth and out came 'me reckon' and the like—Yu Yuanyuan corrected that for you, didn't she?" Wei Zhao said with a smile.

"That's right, she's been teaching me to speak proper Mandarin!" Ergoudan scratched his head guilelessly—which itself showed just how much he cared for Yu Yuanyuan.

"So how have you two arranged things?" At the thought, Wei Zhao felt a headache coming on. He had meant to go straight to Southeast Asia upon his return, but now that Ergoudan had come, he could hardly fail to entertain them—and yet he could not possibly leave Bai Weituo unrescued. For a moment, Wei Zhao was truly at a loss.

"Nothing much. Yu Yuanyuan just wants to look around a bit!" Ergoudan said. "I promised her that after we were married I'd take her on a honeymoon, but I've been busy all this time and never had the chance. Now that I finally have some free time, we thought we'd see about finding a place to go!"

"How about the two of you come with me to Southeast Asia?" A sudden inspiration struck Wei Zhao. Southeast Asia was a fine tourist destination as well; Ergoudan had no particular goal in mind, so one place was as good as another. That way Wei Zhao could both rescue Bai Weituo and entertain Ergoudan—two birds with one stone!

"That'd work, only I..." Ergoudan was a little short of funds. He made his living by hunting, and most of his money went to support his family; his savings were limited.

Wei Zhao had known Ergoudan for so many years—how could he not guess what was on his mind? He smiled slightly and said, "You've come to my home as a guest. How could I possibly let you spend a single cent? Everything is on me. If you're unwilling, then leave at once—and take your bacon with you. I don't want it!"

"Well... heh, all right then!" Ergoudan did not stand on ceremony with Wei Zhao. From his words he could tell that Wei Zhao truly did not mind such things, and that if he refused his kindness, Wei Zhao would genuinely take offense.

"Leader, I'm really sorry to put you to such expense," Yu Yuanyuan said, following Ergoudan in calling him Leader so naturally. In the countryside, after all, the eldest child in a household was also called the leader—that is, the big brother.

"Xinyan, see to their lodging first. I'm going over to Teacher Bai's place—there's something I need to discuss with him."

Wei Zhao said to Wang Xinyan.

"Mm, go ahead. Don't worry about me—I'll be fine!" Wang Xinyan shook her head.

Wei Zhao said nothing more and headed straight for Leader Bai's residence.

Leader Bai was somewhat surprised that Wei Zhao should visit so late. "Xiaoyi, you're back?"

"Yes, matters over there have just wrapped up, so I came back to have a look!" Wei Zhao said. "Master, there's something I've thought over, and I still feel I ought to tell you!"

"Oh? What is it? Come in and tell me!" Leader Bai gestured for Wei Zhao to enter first. "Xinxin, look who's here!"

Guan Xin emerged from her room, and at the sight of Wei Zhao she was both startled and delighted. "Wei Zhao, you've come! Shall I cook something?"

"Haha, no need. It's too late—don't bother cooking. I came here because I have something to discuss with Master," Wei Zhao said. "If you have things to do, go ahead!"

"Ah... I see..." Guan Xin was slightly disappointed—Wei Zhao had not come to see her, after all. She lowered her head and turned to go back to tending her herbs. These past days she had vaguely begun to gain some insight from the herbs, and she believed her inheritance would soon succeed!

"Xiaoyi, you're about to break your little junior sister's heart. These days, apart from gaining insight from herbs and studying alchemy, the person she talks about most is you!" Leader Bai said with a smile. (To be continued)