Chapter 4180 — The Automatic Artifact-Refining Mechanism

For a moment Huang Xiaotao was both delighted and bashful. She liked Wei Zhao—of that there was no doubt—and now that Shangguan Lan'er, his "official girlfriend," had personally brought them together, surely there could be no obstacle left...

Wei Zhao, however, was utterly dumbstruck. He had never imagined Shangguan Lan'er would suddenly spring something like this on him. What was he supposed to do now?

This was no private occasion. With both Hong Zhong and Shangguan Lan'er watching, a flat refusal like last time would truly wound Huang Xiaotao. Besides, though the girl said nothing now, her face crimson, Wei Zhao could tell she was hoping he would nod.

Huang Xiaotao's nature was the classic soft outside, unbending within. If Wei Zhao refused her now, she might force a smile on the spot, but once home she would surely weep in sorrow, and such a heartbreak would be hard to heal.

Yet Wei Zhao had no wish to incur more debts of the heart. As things stood he could neither refuse nor accept, and in his helplessness he could only say, "If we get along well enough, then let us take our time and see how things go, and let nature take its course."

"Mm, mm." At those words Huang Xiaotao's heart bloomed with joy, and she gave a docile, bashful nod. Though Wei Zhao's answer was hardly decisive, it could already be taken as assent; from now on, being with Wei Zhao would be open and aboveboard.

"Wonderful! But you must remember that I'm the one who brought you two together—I'm your matchmaker, after all, hee hee!" Shangguan Lan'er giggled and egged them on, though that inexplicable sense of loss within her still refused to fade.

"Haha, the two of you are a fine match—a talented scholar and a beautiful lady, made for each other. Young Hero Lin, your good fortune is truly the envy of all. Congratulations, congratulations!" Hong Zhong laughed from the sidelines.

"This... many thanks, Shopkeeper Hong." As for Hong Zhong, an onlooker who knew nothing of the truth, Wei Zhao had no idea how to explain, and could only change the subject: "By the way, Shopkeeper Hong, apart from Mount Tianwu in Hucai, is the Life-Image Mushroom found anywhere else?"

Come to think of it, his original goal in going to Mount Tianwu in Hucai had been the Life-Image Mushroom, yet he had unexpectedly stumbled upon the Ten-Thousand-Crossing Golden Core Fruit, and after that a whole chain of events had dragged him off to Middle Island. Over more than a month, Wei Zhao's gains had been considerable indeed—yet the one thing missing was the Life-Image Mushroom, his original objective.

It was for this very reason that Wei Zhao had not gone looking for the Scrap King these past few days. Otherwise, even if Su Zhaohe had challenged him to a public duel, he would have rushed off to the Scrap King's to study artifact refining long ago.

"Oh? Didn't you go to the Northern Island Cultivators' Guild, Young Hero Lin? Did you not go looking yourself?" Hong Zhong asked, puzzled.

"It's a long story. I did go to Mount Tianwu in Hucai, but before I could look for the Life-Image Mushroom, I got into a fight with someone that left us both badly hurt, and after that I was shuffled off to Middle Island—I simply never had the chance." Wei Zhao shook his head with a bitter smile, and briefly recounted what he had encountered on Middle Island.

"That's right—we went to Mount Tianwu in Hucai together at the time, and that's how I came to know Wei Zhao," Huang Xiaotao chimed in with a nod.

"Is that so? To think you really went to Middle Island, Young Hero Lin!" Hong Zhong raised an eyebrow in surprise. His introduction of Cai Zhongxuan of Middle Island to Wei Zhao had in fact been a precaution against the worst; he had never expected it to prove useful.

Beyond his surprise, hearing of what Wei Zhao had done on Middle Island, Hong Zhong could not help clicking his tongue in admiration. Every single deed had been no small feat—Wei Zhao was indeed no creature of the common pond.

"Yes, so now I'm back to square one. I still have to find another way to get the Life-Image Mushroom, and if all else fails, I'll have to make another trip to Mount Tianwu in Hucai," Wei Zhao said helplessly. He did not know how much longer the Scrap King could wait, but in any case, the sooner he got his hands on the Life-Image Mushroom, the better.

"That may not be necessary. A month ago I already posted a bounty for you at the Northern Island Cultivators' Guild. I expect results by the end of this month, so you may as well wait a little longer, Young Hero Lin," Hong Zhong said with a smile.

"That's wonderful—many thanks, Shopkeeper Hong! Here, let me toast you!" Overjoyed, Wei Zhao at once raised his cup in thanks.

……………………

Western Island. After playing on the Northern Island for so long, Ning Xuefei had finally returned to her familiar home. Yet the first thing she did was not to go see her mother, the island lord, but to seek out Han Jingyi without delay.

"Jingjing, Jingjing, guess who I saw on the Northern Island?" Ning Xuefei threw her arms around Han Jingyi, who was studying the automatic artifact-refining mechanism, and teased her mysteriously.

"Who? Weren't you going to see Shangguan Lan'er?" Han Jingyi blinked her big eyes, somewhat puzzled.

"Of course I saw Lan'er, but I'm not talking about her—I mean someone else, someone with a deep connection to you, Jingjing!" Ning Xuefei said, winking and grimacing.

"A connection to me? I've never even been to the Northern Island—who could have a connection to me?" Han Jingyi was all the more baffled.

"Who says there isn't? The person I saw on the Northern Island this time is the very one you think of day and night, Jingjing!" Ning Xuefei laughed.

"Could it be Brother Wei Zhao?!" Han Jingyi's eyes lit up at once, and she clung to Ning Xuefei, excited and capering.

"Hee hee, that's the one!" Ning Xuefei said, and taking a small box from her bosom, containing three top-grade pills, handed it to Han Jingyi: "Here, these were refined by your Brother Wei Zhao. Put them away quickly!"

"Top-grade Foundation Establishment Golden Cores?" Han Jingyi was both astonished and delighted. "Does Brother Wei Zhao know I'm here?"

"Not yet—I haven't told him. I was thinking I'd bring you over next time and give him a proper surprise!" Ning Xuefei stuck out her tongue.

"Go to the Northern Island?" Han Jingyi nodded again and again, the anticipation on her face plain for all to see, and then she grabbed Ning Xuefei and asked eagerly, "Feifei, how is Brother Wei Zhao now? Tell me quickly."

Ning Xuefei then carefully recounted everything that had happened since she went to the Northern Island, from beginning to end, and because Wei Zhao was part of it, Han Jingyi listened with particular absorption, instinctively growing tense and happy even over the most trivial, inconsequential little things.

Especially when she heard how Si Haitao had harassed the two girls and Wei Zhao had stepped forward, she grew so tense she scarcely dared breathe, and only when she heard that five Golden Core disciples had appeared did she pat her little chest and let out a sigh of relief.

"Brother Wei Zhao went to the Northern Island Cultivators' Guild? And then? Did he find the Life-Image Mushroom?" Han Jingyi pressed.