Chapter 4284 — Take Your Portion in Turn
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
As Chang Daoping's dual-cultivation partner, Cao Shishi's standing in the group went without saying. She was the designated second to take the Star Ink Milk, and she promptly drew out a small spirit-jade bottle of the same model and trotted over, all eagerness. Only after filling it to the brim did she turn back with visible reluctance, glancing behind her at every step.
Once Cao Shishi was done, it was Luo Tuoxiang's turn. He had long since readied his little spirit-jade bottle and rushed up without delay, likewise filling a full bottle.
After him came the three—Hu Youli, Fan Dongji, and Fang Miaojin. They too had prepared identical little spirit-jade bottles well in advance, and each took a bottle in turn.
At last it was Wei Zhao and Huang Xiaotao's turn. But before they could step up, Luo Tuoxiang suddenly spoke.
"You two, what kind of bottle do you plan to use? Surely not bigger than ours?" Luo Tuoxiang asked, grinning broadly. "Before you draw the Star Ink Milk, you'd best bring them out for everyone to see. You may be last in line, but by the rules you can each draw at most one small bottle—I don't need to spell that out for you, do I?"
"Exactly. And if there's any left after you two take your share, Brother Chang gets to decide what becomes of it. Surely you can't just scoop up the whole basin between you, no matter how much there is?" Cao Shishi nodded in earnest agreement, terrified that these two tiresome bumpkins might get the better of her.
At that, Wei Zhao glanced at Chang Daoping, only to find the man curling the corners of his mouth with a knowing, playful look, showing no inclination to speak—evidently he was taking a stance of tacit approval.
Their concern was not without reason. Wei Zhao exchanged a glance with Huang Xiaotao and obligingly produced two small spirit-jade bottles. As an alchemist, Wei Zhao never lacked such things, and these were of the most common size on the market, all but identical to the spirit-jade bottles the others had just used.
Cao Shishi and Luo Tuoxiang had nothing more to say. Even if they were loath to let Wei Zhao and Huang Xiaotao have any Star Ink Milk, they dared not act on their own before Chang Daoping spoke—what if they overstepped and trod on Chang Daoping's toes? Given his consistently domineering style, the thing he hated most was others acting on their own authority!
Wei Zhao smiled faintly and paid the pair no further mind, walking hand in hand with Huang Xiaotao toward the little stone basin. Given the relationship between them, they had no need to guard against each other the way the others did.
At long last they were about to obtain the Star Ink Milk, yet Wei Zhao's mood was nowhere near as calm as his face suggested. Anyone else in his place would surely be stirred to the depths—that was only human nature; if he felt not the least bit excited, that would be truly unnatural.
Reaching the little stone basin, Wei Zhao and Huang Xiaotao found the temperature around them had suddenly shot up several degrees, as though scorched by the blazing sun of high summer. At a distance they had not much noticed it, but now that they were close, this strange heat became unmistakable.
Yet this heat seemed to radiate from the statue itself, while the breath seeping from the stone basin below was its exact opposite—cool and faintly icy, like a rare gust of cool wind striking one's face in the height of summer, filling one with involuntary delight, refreshing body and mind alike.
It truly was a fine thing! R1152