Chapter 4023 — Do Not Come Looking for Me Again

Hong Zhong smiled faintly. "If it were this old man choosing, I would certainly take the second option. So long as one has sufficient power and status, spirit jades can be had in whatever quantity one wishes. But this title of honorary vice president—though it is an empty title—represents position and privilege, and under ordinary circumstances no amount of spirit jades could buy it. Once you reach the Middle Island, Young Hero Lin, this title will make your affairs go far more smoothly."

"In that case, I shall put you to the trouble, Steward Hong." Wei Zhao decided on the spot. In any case, he would inevitably have to go to the Middle Island in the future; since Hong Zhong had said as much, there was no reason to hesitate.

"Young Hero Lin is indeed decisive. Fill in this appointment letter, and you are the honorary vice president of our Hong Clan Merchant Guild!" Smiling, Hong Zhong took out a letter of appointment and handed it to Wei Zhao—evidently he had long since corresponded with the main headquarters about this.

"Then from now on, we are colleagues! But since I am already an honorary vice president, does that make you, Steward Hong...?" Wei Zhao was briefly taken aback, then smiled. He guessed that had he chosen the spirit jades, Hong Zhong would never have brought out this letter of appointment; it was simply that Hong Zhong knew him well enough to be certain he would choose the post of vice president.

"This affair came so suddenly; someone behind the scenes has surely been colluding, but within the Hong Clan Merchant Guild there must also be those whose backsides are not squarely seated!" Hong Zhong smiled with a meaningful air. "Settling accounts after the autumn harvest—that is what this moment is for. Speaking of which, this old man has not moved from his position in quite a long while."

Hearing this, Wei Zhao smiled in sudden understanding. "Then I shall wait quietly for Steward Hong's promotion."

While Wei Zhao and Hong Zhong were talking, the Gathering Talents Hall was already in an uproar from top to bottom. The reason was none other than this: Zheng Tianjie was dispatching people in every direction, trying by every means to dig up the truth about Wei Zhao.

Watching the situation unfold toward the very scene she least wished to see, Tianchan knew she could no longer remain a mere bystander; otherwise the situation truly might spiral beyond all control.

At this thought, Tianchan immediately sought out a female cultivator of profound strength named Lianxin, whom she had taken as her master in the Pill Hall after being transported to Cloud Terrace Island.

"Chan'er, coming to see your master so late at night—is something the matter?" Lianxin regarded Tianchan with gentle eyes. She was exceedingly fond of this recently accepted disciple, and had always treated her as her own child.

Tianchan paid her respects with great reverence, then drew a pill from her bosom—the very one she had gone out of her way to bid for at the auction that day.

"Master, whatever its quality or luster, this pill ranks at the very top even among the finest. Your disciple is merely puzzled: the Hong Clan Merchant Guild has never been known for its pills, so how did they come by top-grade pills of such caliber—and more than a hundred of them at once?" Tianchan feigned confusion.

This question had long been troubling Lianxin and the others as well. "True enough. Even our Five Elements Pharmacy, long famed for its pills, brought out only ten top-grade pills this time, yet the Hong Clan Merchant Guild produced more than a hundred in one go. Truly inconceivable. If this continues, the Five Elements Pharmacy may well be squeezed out by them."

Tianchan promptly concurred. "Indeed. The Five Elements Pharmacy is an important source of income for our Pill Hall; we cannot simply let it come to harm. So your disciple believes we should find an opportunity to investigate this matter thoroughly."

"That you should have such concern, Chan'er, delights your master." Lianxin smiled warmly, then said, "By the way, do you know that young man from the Hong Clan Merchant Guild? Yesterday your master seemed to hear him calling your name."

"Yes. I met him a few times back in the mortal world, but we are not close," Tianchan replied.

"In that case, Chan'er, you might find a way to approach him and inquire about the origins of these top-grade pills. Perhaps you can glean some clue," Lianxin suggested.

Just as she had hoped—Lianxin's words struck precisely at what Tianchan desired. Her bidding for this top-grade pill had been for exactly this purpose: to have a proper and justified excuse to meet Wei Zhao once.

"Yes, your disciple understands." Tianchan at once withdrew from Lianxin's room and left the Gathering Talents Hall. She had to relay the news from this side to Wei Zhao as quickly as possible, so that he could prepare in advance.

Tianchan's sudden visit was indeed a pleasant surprise for Wei Zhao. From the first moment he had seen her yesterday until now, Tianchan's strange behavior had become a great knot in his heart.

During the daytime auction, there had been too many people and too many eyes about—especially with Zheng Tianjie glaring like a tiger at her side—so even had Wei Zhao wished to strike up a conversation with Tianchan, he had had no opportunity at all. And after the auction dispersed, Tianchan had immediately returned to the Gathering Talents Hall with the others, leaving him even less able to act. Little had he expected that she would now come to him of her own accord.

"Tianchan, are you... are you all right?" Wei Zhao drew a deep breath. He had had a thousand words to say, yet they came out as a single brief greeting.

Hong Zhong, who had been with him, smiled knowingly at the sight and tactfully withdrew from the room, leaving the two of them alone.

After Hong Zhong had gone, Tianchan's originally cold expression gradually grew complicated, until at last a trace of the warmth familiar from their days in the mortal world returned to it.

Recalling the little moments the two had shared in the mortal world, she thought how beautiful those days had been compared with the present. She had imagined that coming to Cloud Terrace Island would be a wondrous journey full of promise, never expecting reality to prove so cruel—too painful to look back on, and impossible even to flee.

At the thought of why she had come, Tianchan's mood plunged straight back to its lowest point. After a long while, her face darkened and she lowered her head. "Wei Zhao, I... I am sorry..."

"What is it?" Wei Zhao's heart skipped a beat, and a vague foreboding rose in him. He asked hastily.

Tianchan kept her head down and said nothing for a long time, an expression of sorrow on her face as though she were about to weep. Wei Zhao hurriedly forced a smile onto his face and feigned sudden understanding. "Oh... you mean how you pretended not to know me earlier. That is all right—there were so many people and so many eyes about, after all. A little caution is never a bad thing, and I understand completely. Besides, you have come to find me now, haven't you? I am not so petty as all that!"

"Yes, you are petty," Tianchan could not help but laugh. But she quickly composed her face again and said with great solemnity, "Wei Zhao, I will not joke with you. The reason I came to find you today is simply to tell you one thing! From today onward, do not come looking for me again. And if you meet me in the future, you must pretend we are not acquainted..."

"Why?" Wei Zhao's expression changed at once, and he was struck dumb. He could never have imagined that after coming to acknowledge him, Tianchan would say something so heartless! R1152