Chapter 4275 — Drawing Them In
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
"Mm, then let me ask one more thing: just how much Star Ink Milk is there? If the two of us join, will there be enough for so many to share?" Wei Zhao inquired, careful to confirm.
In his reckoning, a rare treasure like Star Ink Milk could not possibly be plentiful, and the other party already numbered six. Whether he and Huang Xiaotao could secure a share by joining was hard to say.
Judging by the balance of strength between them, even if Wei Zhao and Huang Xiaotao joined forces, they could not hope to contend with those six. Should it come to pass that they could not even get a sip of the dregs, they would have no one to blame but themselves for a wasted effort.
"Your misgivings are not without reason, young brother, but in my view there is little cause for worry. According to my friend the spirit beast steward, the formation guarding the Star Ink Milk has not been opened by anyone for a full three years, so a good store of it should have accumulated." Brother Chang pledged this with the utmost assurance.
"Then... how shall it be divided when the time comes?" Wei Zhao pressed on. Even if there truly was a good deal of Star Ink Milk, it depended on how it was apportioned. If this Brother Chang demanded ten or eight catties off the top, and then his Dao companions and hangers-on took their turns, by the time it came to the two of them there would be precious little left.
"Heh heh, that you need not worry about. Our agreement is this: each person may fill only a single bottle at the outset." As he spoke, Brother Chang produced a small spirit jade bottle, modest in volume—no larger than a bottle of floral water from the mortal world—and smiled. "By order of joining the group, I go first, then each takes his turn in sequence. You two join last, so naturally you draw last. This much I trust you can understand, young brother. But I believe there should be Star Ink Milk enough—at the very least, a bottle apiece should remain for the two of you."
Brother Chang did not thump his chest and promise the world, for that would only breed distrust. Spoken as it was, his words seemed fair-minded and were all the easier to believe.
Wei Zhao considered a moment. This method of division was reasonably fair. He and his companion were, after all, latecomers; in both strength and standing they were inferior to the others, so it was only natural they be placed last in priority.
So long as the other side did not play some contemptible trick—taking the whole of the vast waters in a single ladle—then by this arrangement they should reap some small harvest. If even that failed, he could only blame his own poor luck.
Of course, he could not rule out another possibility: that this Brother Chang would go back on his word and fatten himself at their expense. That would be a grave problem indeed. But since one had come out to venture, such risks could not be avoided in any case; to insist on absolute safety, one would have to hide at home forever and never emerge.
"Very well, we join. Thank you for your kindness, sir." Wei Zhao exchanged a glance with Huang Xiaotao, then at last nodded in confirmation.
"Splendid! Young brother, you are no ordinary man—you have not disappointed me." Brother Chang broke into a broad smile. The reason he had been willing to expend so much breath was precisely to bring Wei Zhao and his companion into the fold. Had Wei Zhao shrunk back at the last and lost his nerve, it would truly have been a waste of time. R1152