Chapter 4349 — The Old Man at the Frontier Loses His Horse
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
Wei Zhao turned and glanced at Wei Zhaotong's retreating back, then could not help frowning. This man was not merely black-hearted and vicious, having schemed to swallow up the life-saving supplies that meant survival for the several hundred souls of Fangjia Manor on Xianpeng Island; now that the truth had come to light, he showed not the slightest intention of bowing his head and admitting fault, and instead kept arguing with such shameless sophistry. To be so utterly devoid of honor as to reach this degree—truly a rarity in history.
A scoundrel of that stamp had sunk completely into the ranks of conscienceless black-hearted merchants, and was utterly unworthy of calling a man like Hong Zhong his friend. If Hong Zhong were here, he would surely have cut ties with the wretch on the spot.
Wei Zhao was minded to make an example of Wei Zhaotong, yet after turning it over carefully in his mind, he first withdrew together with Qi Wenmo.
He was too weak and isolated now; the time was not yet ripe. Wei Zhaotong was no easy quarry—beyond being a formidable hand at the Nascent Soul stage himself, he was also the representative voice of one faction within the Hong Chamber of Commerce. To deal with him, one would have to plan in stillness before acting, and wait for a perfect opportunity.
Seeing Qi Wenmo, Wei Zhao, and the others emerge, the escorts waiting outside immediately crowded around, all talking at once and asking what had happened.
As for the passersby who had gathered to watch the excitement, every one of them craned their necks with keen anticipation—the sort who love a spectacle and never mind how big the trouble grows, wishing for nothing more than a brawl between the Qingtian Escort Agency and the Hong Chamber of Commerce.
"We're leaving," Qi Wenmo said, his face blank, and without another word strode off. The escorts exchanged bewildered glances; but from the look of things, they had clearly come off the worse, and with the young master in a temper, no one dared ask more.
They had come breathing fire and fury, and in the end had gained not the slightest advantage, only to slink back in disgrace. Standing on the second floor, Wei Zhaotong watched the backs of the Qingtian Escort Agency crowd and gave a cold laugh, cursing with contempt, "Idiots."
Back at the Qingtian Escort Agency, the escorts waited with solemn faces for the young master's next orders—only to see Qi Wenmo wave his hand and say, "All of you, disperse."
Every face was written with disbelief. Qi Wenmo had not held the helm of the Qingtian Escort Agency long, but his men knew this young master's style well enough—he was absolutely not one to swallow a loss.
Two years earlier, Qi Wenmo had even personally led men into several clashes with the infamous Poison Eye Mercenary Corps, forcing Cheng Haonan into headlong retreat, after which the man never again deliberately obstructed the agency's business. So fierce a young master—faced with a matter like this, would he really swallow his grievances and keep silent?
But since Qi Wenmo had spoken, no one dared waste words; after exchanging a glance, they nodded and went their separate ways.
Wei Zhao had meant to find a place to stay first—after all, he had delivered the escort and hauled the pirate chief back; everything that was his to do had been done. What came next was Qi Wenmo's affair, not something for a nominal escort like him to fret over.
But Qi Wenmo suddenly called him back: "Brother Ling, wait. This business did not merely wrong you—you also performed a great service. As the man in charge of the agency, by both sentiment and reason, I must reward you properly. I will have a banquet laid on at once, to welcome you and wash the dust from your journey."
"Then... I shall obey rather than stand on courtesy." Wei Zhao nodded in assent; he had nothing pressing anyway. And judging by all that had gone before, Qi Wenmo was indeed a man worth befriending—closer ties would do no harm.