Chapter 1430 — First Arrival at the Zhao Family
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"Hmm..." Zhao Guangyin nodded. "Qibing, you are to take that thing and come with me—back to the Zhao family at once!"
There were too many people here, too many eyes and ears, so Zhao Guangyin did not utter the words "Qi Gathering Pill."
"Understood!" Zhao Qibing nodded hurriedly. "The thing is right here against my chest. Shall we set off now?"
"Let's go!" Zhao Guangyin had long known that his son's leg was broken, yet seeing the boy in a wheelchair with his own eyes still filled him with feeling. He walked over, took the chair himself, and pushed Zhao Qibing toward the bar's entrance, speaking as he went, "Cihua, everything here is in your hands!"
"Rest easy, boss. While Young Master Bing is away, I will do my utmost to handle affairs here!" Li Cihua answered with a hasty nod.
"Good. But remember this: for the time being you must keep a low profile and stir up no trouble," Zhao Guangyin instructed. "There is a saying—take one step back, and sea and sky open wide. The old master is certain to enter seclusion. During this period not the slightest mishap may be allowed; everything must clear the road for the old master's breakthrough!"
"Yes, boss!" Li Cihua's expression turned grave, and he agreed at once. So Old Master Zhao was about to break through to Heaven rank—and once he became a Heaven-rank expert, the lift to the Zhao family's strength would be beyond reckoning. Nothing, then, could be permitted to go wrong while the old master advanced.
Zhao Guangyin nodded, and with Old Bi and Zhao Qibing he left the bar.
When they reached the car, Old Bi stepped forward first and lifted Zhao Qibing into the back seat, while he himself took the passenger seat as before.
He did so partly out of respect for Zhao Guangyin, the future patriarch, and partly because Zhao Qibing was now a man of merit in the Zhao family. If this Qi Gathering Pill proved genuine, then Zhao Qibing's standing would surely rise with the tide—he might even become heir to the patriarch.
After Zhao Guangyin got into the car, he told the driver to head straight back to the Zhao family and not linger in Songshan City, lest a long night breed many dreams.
"Qibing, let me introduce you—this is Old Bi of our house, your grandfather's steward, and the old steward of the Zhao family besides," Zhao Guangyin said. "Just call him Grandpa Bi."
"Yes, Father!" Zhao Qibing answered respectfully, then turned to Old Bi. "Grandpa Bi, how do you do? Thank you for earlier!"
"Heh heh, Young Patriarch, this child is a good one—so courteous!" Old Bi nodded with a smile.
Zhao Guangyin felt a flicker of awkwardness. He knew Old Bi was insinuating that his own son by Yu Xiaojin was arrogant and overbearing. But it was hardly strange: a legitimate son of a legitimate line, the young patriarch's boy, could scarcely help looking down his nose at everyone at home.
Especially at that rebellious age, when a boy knows neither the height of heaven nor the depth of earth. Yet this Zhao Qibing had actually won Old Bi's praise!
Zhao Guangyin knew well enough what Zhao Qibing was like; outside, the boy was an arrogant, domineering sort as well. He merely behaved more properly in front of his elders.
But Zhao Guangyin would never call him out on it. Within the family, though he was the young patriarch, Old Bi was close to his second brother's son and rather cold and displeased toward his own. And Old Bi, as a clan elder, would surely enter the Council of Elders once Zhao Guangyin ascended to the patriarch's seat—which made his opinion on the choosing of the next patriarch all the more weighty.
Now that he looked favorably on Zhao Qibing, Zhao Guangyin could take a measure of comfort. When the day came to select the next patriarch, even if Zhao Qibing were chosen, that would be far preferable to his second brother's child taking the seat.