Chapter 4213 — The Master of Qingyun Pavilion

Still, Wei Zhao could well understand the reason behind it. Huang Xiaotao was his partner, and over these past days she had often sat with Shangguan Lan'er, the two as close as sisters, so that people naturally branded her with Shangguan Tianxia's mark. However much the great personages might covet her, none of them would risk snatching someone belonging to Shangguan Tianxia.

By the time it drew to a close, every one of the great personages had had their turn, and the Golden Core disciples still left unchosen knew their hopes were gone, and could only disperse in resignation.

Wei Zhao was also about to head back to the Welcome Newcomer Pavilion, when someone behind him suddenly hailed him with a chuckle. Turning to look, Wei Zhao could not help but twitch an eyelid—the man behind him was dressed in the robes of a Daoist priest, with the air of an immortal about him, and was none other than Yu Zhenyang, Master of Qingyun Pavilion.

"Greetings, Pavilion Master," Wei Zhao and Huang Xiaotao at his side said together, raising their hands in the salute of disciples—after all, by any reckoning, the two of them were now inner-sect disciples of Qingyun Pavilion.

"No need for such courtesy." Yu Zhenyang waved a hand with a smile, unexpectedly approachable. "Wei Zhao, I am delighted that a genius of your caliber could emerge from Qingyun Pavilion—and Xiaotao as well. The future of the Threefold Pavilion of North Island will rest on the two of you. A heavy burden and a long road lie ahead."

"You flatter me, Pavilion Master," Wei Zhao said, hastily modest, exchanging a glance with the somewhat stiff Huang Xiaotao.

The other disciples passing by all wore looks of open envy. Yu Zhenyang, as Master of Qingyun Pavilion, was a top-tier personage of the same rank as Shangguan Tianxia. Even for inner-sect disciples, a glimpse of him was ordinarily hard to come by—who had ever seen this great figure appear of his own accord to greet anyone? Wei Zhao was truly favored by heaven; such fortune was not to be envied.

"Heh, it is well to be neither conceited nor rash. But what I said was the plain truth—the two of you need not be so modest." Yu Zhenyang smiled, unbothered, then brought it up himself: "Wei Zhao, since Pavilion Master Shangguan named you just now, shall I have you transferred to Chongtian Pavilion? It would be more proper and justified henceforth. And with me to see to it, the formalities are simple enough."

"Thank you for your consideration, Pavilion Master, but this disciple feels it is quite good to remain in Qingyun Pavilion. There is no need for the trouble," Wei Zhao declined at once with a smile.

He had already grasped most of what Shangguan Tianxia meant. Since he was only half a disciple, whether he went to Chongtian Pavilion or not made little difference, and staying on in Qingyun Pavilion was quite good.

If anything, going to Chongtian Pavilion meant he might see Xu Lingchong, Meng Zhou, Yu Jiang, and that whole lot every day. It was not that they posed any threat—the point was that the mere sight of them was irritating. That sort of thing soured one's mood, and there would be no end to the gloom of it.

At these words Yu Zhenyang rejoiced inwardly. Anyone could see that Wei Zhao's future was boundless; though Shangguan Tianxia had named him, for such a peerless genius to be taken by Chongtian Pavilion for nothing—if he, as Master of Qingyun Pavilion, felt not the slightest thing about it, that would be pure self-deception.

Had Wei Zhao truly set his heart on Chongtian Pavilion, he naturally could not have stood in the way; but since Wei Zhao was willing to stay, nothing could be better. Qingyun Pavilion had grown feeble to a certain degree, and to revive it would take a legendary figure like Zhang Lifeng of old—and by all appearances, Wei Zhao was in no way inferior to the Zhang Lifeng of those years!

"Since your mind is made up, I shall not press you further. Qingyun Pavilion is your home in any case; you and I are our own people, so there is no need for formality between us. Tell me—is there anything you need my help with?" Yu Zhenyang said, seizing the opening.

With his station and authority, to arrange some small matter in Qingyun Pavilion was a word and no more. Such favors cost him nothing, so he gave them wherever he could; to have Wei Zhao owe him a debt of gratitude was something he could only wish for.

After all, over all these years, Wei Zhao was the third person, following Gongyang Jun, across so many cycles of the inner-sect tournament, to draw words of praise from Shangguan Tianxia!

Shangguan Tianxia rarely praised anyone in public—especially on such an open and formal occasion as the inner-sect tournament. In all history, it had happened only three times.

Of Zhang Lifeng there was no need to speak: he now stood as a legendary figure at the very summit of Yunjie Island. As for Gongyang Jun, young as he was, he too was unfathomably deep—not only did he hold such a vital post as Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall, his renown and standing in the Threefold Pavilion had already come to faintly override the vast majority of the elders. In a few more years, perhaps, he might mount a challenge to the Masters of the Threefold Pavilion themselves.

With such living precedents before his eyes, if Yu Zhenyang still failed to recognize Wei Zhao's potential, he could never have risen to his present position.

"Since the Pavilion Master puts it that way, this disciple will make bold to accept," Wei Zhao said, without excessive refusal. He knew that at such a moment, making a modest request would not provoke distaste but rather draw the two of them closer; and since he had resolved to remain in Qingyun Pavilion in the days to come, cultivating good relations with Yu Zhenyang was entirely necessary.

"Speak freely—whatever you require, name it," Yu Zhenyang said with a smile, as expected.

"Well, this disciple hopes that in the days to come, the Pavilion Master might arrange somewhat larger quarters for me in Qingyun Pavilion—the sort that can lodge a few more people," Wei Zhao said after a moment's thought.

"Heh, with your strength and potential, Wei Zhao, that is only your due. Even if you had not asked, our pavilion would never stint on talent." Yu Zhenyang smiled, and cast a teasing glance at Huang Xiaotao beside them, the implication plain enough.

Huang Xiaotao at once lowered her head in shyness; even through her veil, others could feel the flush on her face at that moment.

Wei Zhao smiled at the sight and offered no further explanation, only asking Yu Zhenyang to send word to those below to arrange larger quarters. When the time came, Huang Xiaotao would of course move in to live with him—but he had no intention of living as a pair of lovebirds with her.

In Wei Zhao's reckoning, not only Huang Xiaotao would move over, but Ragamuffin King would be dragged along as well. The artifact-forging had not yet succeeded, but the man had after all thrown his whole heart into fighting at his side for so long, and already counted as one of his own—and he happened to be a disciple of Qingyun Pavilion too, merely one who had fared poorly before.

Beyond them, naturally there were Xiao Che, Qiao Hongcai, and the others; gathered together they could look after one another, and it would be all the easier for Wei Zhao to help raise their strength.

"Besides that, have you any other requests?" Yu Zhenyang asked further.

"None. Thank you for your concern, Pavilion Master," Wei Zhao replied. After all, this was their first dealings with each other; even if the request had been meant to draw them closer, he must know when to stop, lest he seem insatiably greedy and defeat his own purpose. (To be continued) R466