Chapter 4378 — Hong Zhong's Reply
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 3
Cheng Qitian was dead, after all, and he had been the young master of the Poison Eye Mercenary Corps. Though it was the Holy Nun of the Eastern Sea, a titan of the Opening-Heaven stage, who had struck the blow, and though Cheng Haonan would not dare seek vengeance even with a hundred times his courage, the man had died at the Qingtian Escort Agency, and given the old grudges between the two houses, there was no guaranteeing he would not redirect his hatred at Qingtian.
Wei Zhao had arranged for men to watch the Poison Eye Mercenary Corps for any sign of stirring precisely so that he might learn of their movements in advance and react swiftly. Yet to his surprise, Cheng Haonan did not move against the Qingtian Escort Agency at all; instead, he had entered into partnership with the Longzhou Escort Agency.
"Brother Ling speaks true. They come with ill intent, make no mistake. Here in the Weihu sea region, the Qingtian Escort Agency has always held to the principle of doing good to others, for a friend more is a road more, and a foe more is a wall more. There are, however, two sworn enemies whom we have kept suppressed all these years: the Poison Eye Mercenary Corps, and this very Longzhou Escort Agency!" Qi Wenmo nodded.
"Then if they chose this moment to join hands, Brother Qi, can you guess their purpose?" Wei Zhao asked.
"The Grand Gathering of the Nanzhou Escort Agencies is nearly upon us. For the two of them to ally at such a time, if my guess is not mistaken, they mean to combine their strength and squeeze us, the Qingtian Escort Agency, out, and contend for a place among the Five Great Escort Agencies." Qi Wenmo did not treat Wei Zhao as an outsider, and laid out his analysis point by point.
The Qingtian Escort Agency was one of the Five Great Escort Agencies of Nanzhou. Though it ranked at the bottom, it was still the greatest in the Weihu sea region, and the Longzhou Escort Agency, unwilling to remain obscure, had now suddenly made such a move—plainly they meant to take its place.
"In that case, this Grand Gathering of the Nanzhou Escort Agencies will indeed have to be handled with care," Wei Zhao said thoughtfully. What style the Longzhou Escort Agency favored, he did not know, but the Poison Eye Mercenary Corps was assuredly no flock of harmless birds. Seizing this chance to take their revenge on the Qingtian Escort Agency, there was no telling what underhanded tricks they might resort to.
"Brother Ling, this is a grave matter. I must hurry back and make arrangements; I cannot linger. I beg your pardon." Qi Wenmo was plainly restless, and could not spare the time to sit and drink tea with Wei Zhao any longer. He rose at once to take his leave.
"Very well. I shall go back and look in on things when I can. I will not keep you today." Wei Zhao rose at once to see him out. After sending the preoccupied Qi Wenmo on his way, he turned and sought out the same assistant again: "That Wu Baoliang and Lu Bianren I had you inquire after—any word yet?"
He had not only set men to watch the Poison Eye Mercenary Corps; he was also making inquiries about Wu Baoliang and Lu Bianren. He had already entrusted the matter to Qi Wenmo, but one more channel was one more chance.
"Not yet," the assistant said, shaking his head.
"All right, you may go for now." Wei Zhao waved a hand. Such things could not be rushed. If even the Qingtian Escort Agency's web of connections had searched this long without word, then clearly these men were not easily found.
Just then Chai Laoshi came over, a letter in his hand, and handed it to Wei Zhao with a face full of excitement: "A letter from Vice President Hong has arrived!"