Chapter 3692 — That May Not Be So
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 3
Yet he, an ordinary newcomer of common stock, with no background and no exceptional strength, who had achieved nothing worth mentioning in the trial and even had his spirit herbs snatched away clean, had instead received such a gift. If word of this ever got out, it would drive a great many people green with envy.
And all of it was thanks to Wei Zhao. Without him, Qiao Hongcai could forget about ever dreaming of a Foundation Establishment Pill; in this trial he would not even have scraped together a fourth-place ranking, and would instead have ended in the pitiful humiliation of last place with a zero, branded thereafter as incompetent and never again looked upon with favor by the sect.
"Th-then I won't stand on ceremony. Thank you, Leader Wei Zhao." As he spoke, Qiao Hongcai rose at once, walked up to Wei Zhao, and thumped his head on the ground three times in quick succession.
Wei Zhao started in fright and hurriedly helped him up, frowning. "What are you doing! Between brothers like us, is there any need for this?"
Miserable Senior Brother and Xiao Che, looking on from the side, were likewise dumbstruck.
In the cultivation world, forming factions and acknowledging a leader was common enough, but as the saying went, a man's knees are worth their weight in gold. Any cultivator was a being who stood above the countless creatures of the world, and apart from the elders of one's own sect, one would never lightly kneel to anyone. Even a managing senior brother like Meng Jueming could never make newcomers like Meng Zhou kneel to him. That Qiao Hongcai would do such a thing truly exceeded their expectations.
"Heh heh, Leader Wei Zhao, don't be angry. I just got carried away for a moment and couldn't help myself." Only then did Qiao Hongcai realize what he had done; even he was a little surprised at himself, and he gave a sheepish chuckle.
Only then did Wei Zhao smile. But though he said so, he knew in his heart that if this fellow Qiao Hongcai had not truly regarded him as his leader, he would never have done something so out of line.
"Next time, don't go kneeling so helplessly. It was only a Foundation Establishment Pill—scared me half to death!" Wei Zhao said with a laughing scold. "I thought you were about to propose to me!"
Miserable Senior Brother and Xiao Che burst out laughing. Wei Zhao's joke broke the awkwardness that had gripped Qiao Hongcai, though as for kowtowing to Wei Zhao, he did not regret it in the slightest.
In strength, in character, in generosity toward his own people—by any measure, Wei Zhao was a good leader such as one rarely met, and far more dependable than the likes of Meng Jueming.
For a newcomer of common stock like him, with no background at all, to be able to serve under Wei Zhao's banner was already a blessing cultivated over several lifetimes.
The four of them drank several more cups together, and over the meal Xiao Che and Qiao Hongcai repeatedly toasted Wei Zhao. Xiao Che was reserved and sparing of words; his gratitude toward Wei Zhao was no shallower than Qiao Hongcai's, but he could not express it so plainly, and could only show it through his toasts.
Wei Zhao understood this well enough. Since both of them came from the secular world and their temperaments were compatible, his relationship with Xiao Che was in fact even closer than with Qiao Hongcai. A few cups down, and everything was understood without a word.
When drinking with a true friend, a thousand cups are too few. At their level of strength, ordinary liquor could no longer intoxicate them at all, and the four of them, in high spirits, drank deep into the night before scattering at last, fully satisfied.