Chapter 1466 — Each with Their Own Agenda
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
Therefore, Wei Zhao was set upon making contact with Zhao Qilei and his companion! Still, just how contact was to be made called for a certain finesse. Though Zhao Qilei and Zhao Qiwu were no less eager to approach him, being too overt about it would hardly do!
The inn provided no meals. Over these past few days, whenever Wei Zhao wanted something to eat, he went out and bought food from the little eating stalls in the vicinity; and on occasion, when he was deep in the midst of practicing his pill-fire, he simply forgot to eat. Not that it mattered—as a Xuan-rank cultivator, Wei Zhao could go several days without food and suffer no harm whatsoever.
Of course, abstaining for too long would not do either. A Xuan-rank expert was no immortal—unlike his Heaven-rank betters, he could fast for three or five days without concern, but after ten days to half a month, hunger would assail him terribly, for the rate at which true qi could be drawn from the outside world was nowhere near sufficient to replenish what his body consumed!
Wei Zhao, however, was a special case. The jade-pendant space held an inexhaustible supply of energy to restore all that he expended, and he had only to convert that energy directly into his own, doing away even with the step of spending true qi to renew his physical strength.
Glancing at the hour and judging that it was about time for the evening meal, Wei Zhao stepped out of his room. As he opened the door, he deliberately made a little noise. With their Xuan-rank cultivation, Zhao Qilei and Zhao Qiwu could hardly fail to detect the sound of his leaving—and besides, the rooms they had taken were not far from his own.
Sure enough, just as Wei Zhao had anticipated, moments after he walked out and shut his door, a guestroom not far off opened as well, and Zhao Qilei and Zhao Qiwu emerged together—only, when they saw that Wei Zhao was entirely alone, a flicker of surprise crossed their faces!
For you see, in the Ice Palace trial, each family or faction was permitted to field two participants, and most families did send a pair, for kinsmen could always look out for one another—far better than a single man going it alone!
Of course, exceptional cases existed. For instance, if the Xuan-rank juniors within a family were on bad terms with each other and bitterly contended, then, for the sake of safety, a family sending only a single junior to the trial was perfectly normal.
After all, if the two juniors dispatched were both cold-blooded by nature, there was every chance they would turn the trial into an occasion for cutting each other down. Should an accident occur, the loss would far outweigh the gain—not only would the trial's purpose go unfulfilled, but the family would have squandered two Xuan-rank experts in vain.
"What a coincidence! Might you be heading out for supper?" Zhao Qilei quickened his steps and asked Wei Zhao with a smile.
"Yes, I am. And what might you two be about... You two are new arrivals, I take it? I don't recall seeing you before." Wei Zhao was equally eager to strike up a conversation, so he seized on Zhao Qilei's opening and asked a question of his own.
"Yes indeed—we only arrived today. Our very first day here, knowing no one and nothing, and we were just racking our brains over where to get supper!" Zhao Qilei nodded. "This inn serves no meals, so we have to sort it out ourselves... Brother, why don't you come along with us? This younger brother here will gladly treat you!"