Chapter 3698 — Acceptance
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
Li Zhengming hastily prostrated himself on the ground. "This one understands."
"All right, get up." Wei Zhao nodded faintly.
"Yes." Li Zhengming promptly scrambled to his feet. His injuries were not light, but Wei Zhao had used no martial technique when beating him, so he was not so far gone that he could not even stand.
Wei Zhao thought for a moment, then instructed, "After you go back, report to Meng Jueming that I am currently only at early-stage Foundation Establishment. You understand what I mean?"
Li Zhengming blinked, ran the connections through his mind, and quickly grasped Wei Zhao's meaning. He nodded. "I understand."
If he went back this time and reported to Meng Jueming that Wei Zhao was still merely at Heaven Rank Great Perfection and had not succeeded in Foundation Establishment, that would, in the short run, best suit the trick of playing the pig to devour the tiger and concealing one's strength—but at the ranking tournament to come, it would very easily give the game away.
Better, then, to reveal a little of Wei Zhao's strength to Meng Jueming in advance. That way he would neither expose Wei Zhao's hidden cards nor fail to win people's trust—only so could he play the inside man long and comfortably.
"Then... Chief Wei, I will take my leave." Li Zhengming glanced at Wei Zhao. He had already been in the cave dwelling for some time, and lingering too long would easily rouse suspicion.
"Wait." Wei Zhao suddenly called him back and held out a spirit jade. "Didn't you say you wanted to trade spirit jade with me? You came in on that pretext, after all. If you go back empty-handed like this, Meng Jueming and the others will still have questions, won't they?"
"This..." Li Zhengming looked somewhat abashed. He stewed over it for a long while before stammering out, "Chief Wei, there is something I must tell you. Brace yourself first—whatever happens, you must hold up."
One look at his expression and Wei Zhao had already guessed what he was going to say. He could not help but find it amusing. "Enough. If you have something to say, say it straight."
"Th-that... a while back, didn't a lot of people come to trade spirit jade with you? The truth is, Meng Jueming gave us a pile of junk jade and had us use it to cheat you out of your good jade. Which is to say, you traded a dozen-odd pieces of fine jade for a heap of worthless scraps—Meng Jueming played you..." Li Zhengming said, his face full of embarrassment.
In truth, this was something that had always puzzled him.
In his view, with Wei Zhao's shrewdness, how could he possibly fail to tell good jade from junk? And to be fooled again and again by the lot of them using the same pretext—he had even deliberately left several openings back then, yet Wei Zhao had shown not the slightest reaction!
Wei Zhao chuckled. "I know. I knew it was a scam from the very start."
"Huh? Then why did you still..." Li Zhengming was struck dumb. Who on earth, knowing full well it was a scam, would cooperate so obligingly and let himself be swindled?
Wei Zhao smiled faintly. "I collect junk jade for a special purpose. Compared with that, I actually do not depend much on good jade, so I was happy to play along with you all. I would even welcome you bringing me more junk jade!"
"So that's it! No wonder I always felt something was off!" Only then did Li Zhengming understand, and he let out a breath. "I said it all along—with Chief Wei's shrewdness, how could you fail to see through such a simple scam! Then from now on I will goad Meng Jueming into trading jade with you all the more!"