Chapter 4379 — The Banquet Invitation
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
After having Chai Laoshi send the letter off, Wei Zhao spent the next two days, apart from continuing to have people gather information, keeping Wang Xinyan and Huang Xiaotao company, talking and chatting. The Morning Star Academy's selection trials in the Weihu sea region had been under way for several days now and were clearly nearing their end; the time he had left with the two girls was running out.
Wei Zhao meant to stay with them right up until they left. After all, once they parted, who knew how many thousands of miles would lie between them, and when he might next be together with the two of them was anyone's guess. There was, however, an interruption in the middle of it: Steward Song of the Qingtian Escort Agency came calling.
"Young Hero Ling, might I ask you to pay our Qingtian Escort Agency a visit? Everyone in the agency is hoping you'll come back and take a look. Do you happen to have the time?" Steward Song said, cupping his hands with a face full of smiles.
"Steward Song, I'm only a nominal escort of the Qingtian Escort Agency. Anyone could have been sent with a message to fetch me—why trouble you to come invite me in person?" Wei Zhao could not help but be surprised.
By strength, this Steward Song was the agency's number two man; by standing, he was in no way below Qi Wenmo, the young master. For a figure like that to come invite him in person was already a considerable show of respect.
"Young Hero Ling, you're too kind. Given your standing and the great debt the agency owes you, at the very least the young master should have come to invite you. Sending an old man like me is already a breach of courtesy," Steward Song said with an apologetic smile. "But the chief escort returned today, and the young master couldn't get away for the moment, so I could only come in his stead. I beg you to overlook the lapse."
"Not at all, not at all. When you put it that way, Steward Song, I really can't bear it. In that case, let's head over now," Wei Zhao agreed readily.
Since the chief escort had returned and they had come to invite him at this particular moment, it was plain they wanted him to meet this chief escort. Just now Wang Xinyan and Huang Xiaotao were with their master, and there was nothing important on the Hong Merchant Guild's side, so Wei Zhao happened to be free. A trip to the Qingtian Escort Agency to meet this long-heard-of but never-met chief escort would not go amiss.
"Splendid—after you, please!" Steward Song was delighted at this and at once sent someone back to the agency to report the news, while he himself accompanied Wei Zhao back, deliberately keeping half a step behind out of respect.
Wei Zhao was both the great benefactor of the Qingtian Escort Agency and honorary vice chairman of the Hong Merchant Guild, and moreover close to the personal disciples of the Divine Nun of the East Sea. A figure like that could not be taken lightly anywhere, and ordinary folk could never summon him. Wei Zhao had agreed so readily that even he, grand steward of the Qingtian Escort Agency though he was, felt honored and flush with face.
Through several streets and alleys, the two soon arrived at the Qingtian Escort Agency. The whole place was decked with lanterns and streamers, the crowd packed layer upon layer, every face beaming with joy—a rare scene of festival.
Wei Zhao could not help but find the sight a little strange. So the chief escort had come home—hardly a stranger. Was there any need for such pomp and bustle?
Yet on the faces of the escorts throughout the agency, this joy was plainly heartfelt, not forced smiles mustered to make up a crowd. Clearly this chief escort he had never met was no simple figure—this was true devotion of the heart, and in that respect at least, Qi Wenmo still fell far short of his father. (To be continued..) R752