Chapter 4365 — A Lesson
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"Mm, Sister Xinyan treats me even better than her own flesh and blood, and Master dotes on me too—she indulges us in everything, just like we were her own daughters. You saw it yourself just now," Huang Xiaotao said, her face glowing with happiness.
She had thought parting from Wei Zhao would be painful, but both Wang Xinyan and the East Sea Divine Nun had made her feel something like home. Even though she thought of Wei Zhao every waking moment, the days were not nearly as hard to endure as she had imagined. On the contrary, she had been happy these past weeks.
Orphaned young, she had been forced to live as a dependent in relatives' homes, where everyone around her treated her less like a child than like merchandise—and even after they discovered her fine aptitude for cultivation, she was merely a rare commodity, something to be hoarded and sold at a profit. Never once had anyone shown her genuine care.
But now she had not only Wei Zhao, but also Wang Xinyan, a gentle, lovely sister, and the East Sea Divine Nun, a master as devoted as a loving mother. Huang Xiaotao was a contented soul; to have so many people who cared for her was happiness enough, and she asked for nothing more.
Wei Zhao cast Wang Xinyan a grateful glance, secretly counting himself lucky that all his confidantes were so good-natured. Had even one of them been the jealous type, his head would be aching by now.
Wang Xinyan naturally knew what he was thinking. She shot him a glance brimming with allure, then could not help covering her mouth to laugh. She had always been kindhearted by nature, and she and Huang Xiaotao had taken to each other so well that her goodwill toward the girl came straight from the heart.
To contend without contending—perhaps Wang Xinyan herself never realized it, but this reasonableness and generosity of hers only made Wei Zhao adore her more, value her more, love her more.
"Never mind the two of us. How about you? Seems you've run into trouble again?" Wang Xinyan asked with concern.
Though she did not know exactly what Wei Zhaotong and his lot were scheming, this whole affair reeked of conspiracy. Had Wei Zhao handled things just a little poorly earlier, it might have ended in disaster. Fortunately the outcome was decent—not only had they failed to get their way, but they had ended up trapping themselves.
"A bit of trouble, yes, but nothing serious. I can handle it," Wei Zhao said with a smile. It was rare for him to be reunited with the two women, and he did not want to spoil such a fine moment with dismal talk. Besides, with his own strength, he truly could cope.
"Tell us about it. Do you really mean to report only the good news and keep the bad from us? Then we'll do the same from now on—whatever trouble we run into, we won't tell you either!" Wang Xinyan pursed her lips in mock displeasure.
"Right. I learned it from you," Huang Xiaotao chimed in.
"How long have you two even known each other, and already you're speaking with one voice?" Wei Zhao said, caught between laughter and tears. He could only surrender. "All right. There's nothing else to do anyway, so I'll tell you."
"That's more like it!" Only then were Wang Xinyan and Huang Xiaotao satisfied. They sat down, each clinging to one of Wei Zhao's arms, and signaled for him to hurry up and talk.
"That they suddenly recommended me to the Academy's Big Three—I'm certain that was Wei Zhaotong and Cheng Qitian's doing. I believe you've both seen that much," Wei Zhao said.
"Cheng Qitian scheming is no surprise—we've crossed him before. But Wei Zhaotong is a branch shopkeeper of the Hong Merchant Guild, and an old friend of Hong Zhong's. You had no quarrel with him, so why would he join forces against you?" Huang Xiaotao asked, puzzled.
"I wouldn't say no quarrel—at least not from his point of view. I ruined a good thing of his, so he holds a grudge," Wei Zhao said with a faint smile.