Chapter 1468 — Zhao Qilei's Recruitment
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 3
"What I mean is that we act together during the trial and split the results evenly between us. That way, our odds improve a little as well!" Zhao Qilei issued the invitation. Abrupt as it was — the two had met only today — the conversation had carried them to this point, and the proposal came at precisely the right moment.
"This matter... forgive me, but I cannot agree on the spot. My sect has its rules. Give me leave to consider it before I answer..." Wei Zhao did not accept outright, but declined with tact.
Zhao Qilei was somewhat disappointed at Wei Zhao's answer, though it was within his expectations. It was only natural that Wei Zhao should have misgivings: who would rashly agree, on the very first day of acquaintance, to team up with a man whose very character they did not yet know, and enter a trial at his side?
"Heh, of course. Brother Ling need not answer at once — go back and think it over first." Zhao Qilei laughed. "Come, let us speak no more of such things. Great bowls of wine, great hunks of meat — we men of the jianghu need not stand on ceremony..."
As he spoke, Zhao Qilei cut off a piece of the roasted lamb leg and thrust it into his mouth, chewing noisily. Back when he was hidden away in the Zhao family, he had been a man of excellent breeding and refinement; the Zhao family's rules were strict, and he would never have eaten or drunk in such a manner. But in his eyes, Wei Zhao came from a jianghu sect and must carry jianghu habits, so he did this to win Wei Zhao's goodwill and draw him into his own team.
Wei Zhao was a skilled hand at the peak of the mid Profound Rank — no weak existence by any measure. With Wei Zhao joining, they would be like a tiger given wings.
"Good." Wei Zhao had always wolfed down his food anyway; he too cut off a chunk of the lamb rack and set to gnawing at it.
Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, the three rested and chatted idly for a while, and then Zhao Qilei rose to settle the bill. The food here was rather expensive, but Zhao Qilei clearly did not care.
The three left the restaurant and climbed straight into the carriage. All of them were Profound Rank cultivators; naturally they could not get drunk — and with friend and foe so hard to tell apart, they dared not get drunk. For all that Zhao Qilei joked and laughed with Wei Zhao and deliberately courted him, he remained very much on his guard against the man in his heart.
Once in the carriage, the hearty manner in which Zhao Qilei had been drinking vanished at once, replaced by calm, and he said to Zhao Qiwu, "This Ling Yi is no simple fellow — not an easy man to handle either. After a whole meal, he gave me no clear promise."
"Young Master Tan, that is only natural, really. Look at it from another angle: if someone tried to recruit us, could we agree on the spot?" Zhao Qiwu laughed. "In any case, let us simply invite him to dine with us every night for the next few days. Even if he will not join us, we must not let him become an enemy."
"That goes without saying. It is only that the boy has yet to let slip a single useful piece of information. Which sect he belongs to, I still have no idea." Zhao Qilei frowned.
"Yes, his background is truly unclear. If it is as he says, then his sect must be no small one..." Zhao Qiwu nodded as well. "But his identity need not be doubted. His car was borrowed from the Mystery Investigation Bureau — most likely to ensure a smooth journey all the way. At present, the only ones who can have dealings with the Mystery Investigation Bureau and obtain its help are the hidden families and sects of that rank. Back when someone from the Yu family went out to train, did the Mystery Investigation Bureau not send people to protect them as well?"