Chapter 4350 — A Grand Gathering of Escort Agencies
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
To the Qingtian Escort Agency, a man like Wei Zhao was the sort of talent one could search for with a lantern and never find. He simply had to be recruited. A mere nominal escort's title was far from enough; if they could bring him in as a resident escort, only then would he truly be one of their own.
Seeing Wei Zhao hesitate, as if about to shake his head and refuse, Qi Wenmo hurried to cut in and add, "Brother Ling, this is not simply me trying to recruit you—I want to ask you a favor."
"A favor?" Wei Zhao was taken aback. There was no way he could serve as a resident escort here, but if it was merely a matter of doing something to help, that was another matter.
"Exactly. As I mentioned, my father is busy preparing for the Southern Continent Escort Agencies' Grand Gathering. Brother Ling, you are powerful and capable of fighting above your level—so I hope you will fight on our Qingtian Escort Agency's behalf and take part in this grand gathering!" Qi Wenmo said, his eyes burning with fervor.
"What is that, exactly?" Wei Zhao asked with a frown. When he had first heard of it, he had assumed it was merely an industry summit among the escort agencies of the Southern Continent, but from what Qi Wenmo had just said, there were evidently contests involved as well.
"Every three years, all the escort agencies in the waters around the Southern Continent gather together to hold a grand gathering of escort agencies. From it, the top five agencies are chosen, and their rankings determine the corresponding escort routes and profit distribution. Naturally, the higher the rank, the greater the share of profits," Qi Wenmo explained to Wei Zhao.
Where there are people, there is a martial world, and of all trades, the escort business is the most inextricably bound to that martial world. In a sense, therefore, the triennial Southern Continent Escort Agencies' Grand Gathering could almost be understood as the martial arts assembly so often spoken of by storytellers!
"The top five agencies?" Wei Zhao was briefly startled, then could not help asking, "And where does the Qingtian Escort Agency rank…?"
"Three years ago, our Qingtian Escort Agency barely made the cut, entering the top five for the first time. Of course, we were ranked last—the fifth of the five." Qi Wenmo gave a bitter smile, then his face lit with anticipation. "But if you were to join us this year, Brother Ling, I am confident our ranking would rise. As for compensation and treatment, whatever you ask, Brother Ling, we will find a way to satisfy it. In short, I guarantee you will be pleased. What do you say?"
"This…" Wei Zhao hesitated. The terms on offer were undeniably generous, but he had never intended to stay long in the Southern Continent. He could only decline tactfully. "Brother Qi, to be frank, I came to the Weihu Sea carrying a mission from my sect. I never intended to remain here long-term. Joining the agency… I'm afraid that truly won't be possible…"
"Oh? Brother Ling is on a sect mission?" Qi Wenmo was taken aback. Seeing that Wei Zhao's expression held no trace of deception, he asked, "What mission is it? Have you completed it?"
"Not yet." Wei Zhao shook his head with a bitter smile. From the very first moment he and Huang Xiaotao arrived in the Weihu Sea, trouble had clung to them. Then their shipment had been waylaid midway, after which they had gone to Zhenduan City and the Lufeng Forest—and the mission that had been one of the original purposes of this journey had not been touched from beginning to end, let alone made any progress.
"In that case, if it is convenient, Brother Ling, why not tell me what your mission is? I can help you think of a way. I would not claim the Qingtian Escort Agency is especially powerful, but at least in these waters around the Southern Continent, our connections run wide. Perhaps we can be of help," Qi Wenmo promptly offered.