Chapter 4180 — The Automatic Artifact-Refining Mechanism
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
For a moment Huang Xiaotao was both delighted and bashful. She liked Wei Zhao—of that there was no doubt—and now that Shangguan Lan'er, his "official girlfriend," had personally brought them together, surely there could be no obstacle left...
Wei Zhao, however, was utterly dumbstruck. He had never imagined Shangguan Lan'er would suddenly spring something like this on him. What was he supposed to do now?
This was no private occasion. With both Hong Zhong and Shangguan Lan'er watching, a flat refusal like last time would truly wound Huang Xiaotao. Besides, though the girl said nothing now, her face crimson, Wei Zhao could tell she was hoping he would nod.
Huang Xiaotao's nature was the classic soft outside, unbending within. If Wei Zhao refused her now, she might force a smile on the spot, but once home she would surely weep in sorrow, and such a heartbreak would be hard to heal.
Yet Wei Zhao had no wish to incur more debts of the heart. As things stood he could neither refuse nor accept, and in his helplessness he could only say, "If we get along well enough, then let us take our time and see how things go, and let nature take its course."
"Mm, mm." At those words Huang Xiaotao's heart bloomed with joy, and she gave a docile, bashful nod. Though Wei Zhao's answer was hardly decisive, it could already be taken as assent; from now on, being with Wei Zhao would be open and aboveboard.
"Wonderful! But you must remember that I'm the one who brought you two together—I'm your matchmaker, after all, hee hee!" Shangguan Lan'er giggled and egged them on, though that inexplicable sense of loss within her still refused to fade.
"Haha, the two of you are a fine match—a talented scholar and a beautiful lady, made for each other. Young Hero Lin, your good fortune is truly the envy of all. Congratulations, congratulations!" Hong Zhong laughed from the sidelines.
"This... many thanks, Shopkeeper Hong." As for Hong Zhong, an onlooker who knew nothing of the truth, Wei Zhao had no idea how to explain, and could only change the subject: "By the way, Shopkeeper Hong, apart from Mount Tianwu in Hucai, is the Life-Image Mushroom found anywhere else?"
Come to think of it, his original goal in going to Mount Tianwu in Hucai had been the Life-Image Mushroom, yet he had unexpectedly stumbled upon the Ten-Thousand-Crossing Golden Core Fruit, and after that a whole chain of events had dragged him off to Middle Island. Over more than a month, Wei Zhao's gains had been considerable indeed—yet the one thing missing was the Life-Image Mushroom, his original objective.
It was for this very reason that Wei Zhao had not gone looking for the Scrap King these past few days. Otherwise, even if Su Zhaohe had challenged him to a public duel, he would have rushed off to the Scrap King's to study artifact refining long ago.
"Oh? Didn't you go to the Northern Island Cultivators' Guild, Young Hero Lin? Did you not go looking yourself?" Hong Zhong asked, puzzled.
"It's a long story. I did go to Mount Tianwu in Hucai, but before I could look for the Life-Image Mushroom, I got into a fight with someone that left us both badly hurt, and after that I was shuffled off to Middle Island—I simply never had the chance." Wei Zhao shook his head with a bitter smile, and briefly recounted what he had encountered on Middle Island.
"That's right—we went to Mount Tianwu in Hucai together at the time, and that's how I came to know Wei Zhao," Huang Xiaotao chimed in with a nod.
"Is that so? To think you really went to Middle Island, Young Hero Lin!" Hong Zhong raised an eyebrow in surprise. His introduction of Cai Zhongxuan of Middle Island to Wei Zhao had in fact been a precaution against the worst; he had never expected it to prove useful.
Beyond his surprise, hearing of what Wei Zhao had done on Middle Island, Hong Zhong could not help clicking his tongue in admiration. Every single deed had been no small feat—Wei Zhao was indeed no creature of the common pond.