Chapter 4068 — The Woman Behind the Scenes
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
Just as Si Haitao was frozen in shock, too stunned to speak, the mysterious man produced yet another bottle and set it beside the Fifth-Grade Great Meridian-Opening Pill. "Drink this down now," he said. "It will do your body no harm. Only, you must take an antidote once a month. So long as you harbor no improper thoughts, I will supply the antidote on schedule."
"This..." Si Haitao's heart sank at once. There truly was no such thing as a free meal in this world. The mysterious man had handed him such enormous benefits, and sure enough, there were conditions attached.
"Heh, hesitating is pointless now. Did you think, after everything I have told you, that I would let you leave this room alive if you refused?" As he spoke, a towering aura abruptly burst from the mysterious man's body, so fierce that the entire Central Tea Guild trembled.
Even with all of Si Haitao's experience, he was left gaping in awe at that terrifying presence, the like of which he had never witnessed. Never mind that he was a cripple now—even at the height of his power, before this mysterious man, he would likely have been little better than an ant.
He had no choice. Matters having come to this, Si Haitao could only tremble his way over to the table, pick up the bottle, and drink it down, not daring to harbor a single scheming thought.
"Sensible enough. Withdraw and rest well. Tomorrow you will formally take up your post at the Central Merchant Guild." The mysterious man waved his hand indifferently.
"Yes, yes, this subordinate takes his leave." Trembling with excitement, Si Haitao snatched up the Fifth-Grade Great Meridian-Opening Pill with one hand while kowtowing repeatedly to the mysterious man with the other, crawling backward out of the private room. Servants were already waiting at the door; they helped him change and bathe, and recover his strength.
After Si Haitao had withdrawn, the inner partition of the private room suddenly slid open without warning. The mysterious man's domineering, raging aura instantly dissolved into nothing, and he knelt and bowed toward the inner compartment, utterly reverent, not daring the slightest impropriety.
"The matter is settled. He takes up his post tomorrow. For the time being, this subordinate will supervise him personally," the mysterious man said respectfully.
"Good. You may withdraw." What came from within the compartment was unmistakably a woman's voice.
……………………
The scene shifts back to yesterday. After leaving the Hong Merchant Guild, Wei Zhao and the two women soon found a clean, tidy restaurant. It was nowhere near as grand as Huayang Court in the Skyward Pavilion, nor did it serve spirit-energy delicacies that cost hundreds of spirit jade at a sitting. The dishes were all ordinary fare, unrelated to cultivation, yet they were delicious and carried a warm, homey charm.
As for the five core disciples of the Skyward Pavilion, they had been trailing the three of them the whole time, monitoring every move of everyone around them. After the mishap with Si Haitao, they had to be doubly vigilant. If another clueless fool were to disturb the young ladies' good mood, it would be a grave dereliction of duty.
However, at the firm insistence of Shangguan Lan'er and Ning Xuefei, they did not follow into the private room. They could only take up positions around the area and await orders, leaving only Wei Zhao and the two women inside—along with a certain little curly-furred bear busy stuffing its face.
"Last time we were in such a hurry that I did not dare ask too much. So you are Miss Ning of West Island—forgive my disrespect! For what you did on the Far North Island, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am endlessly grateful and will remember it always." Wei Zhao raised his cup to Ning Xuefei in thanks.
"Oh, if I had known you were Wei Zhao, I would have been all the more determined to save you! It was only right." Ning Xuefei curved the corners of her mouth with a meaningful smile.