Chapter 4398 — Preparing for the Grand Gathering
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"By the way, Brother Qi, there's a favor I'd like to ask of you," Wei Zhao suddenly said, his expression turning grave.
"Brother Ling, don't talk like that—between us, what's this talk of favors? Whatever you need, just say the word. I'd go through fire and water to get it done for you," Qi Wenmo said, thumping his chest.
"I'd like to borrow the Qingtian Escort Agency's channels to secretly escort someone back to Weihu City first, and from there on to the North Isle. Would that be possible?" Wei Zhao asked.
"Secretly escort someone?" Qi Wenmo was briefly taken aback, then nodded without hesitation. "Of course that's no problem. Escorting people is exactly what the Qingtian Escort Agency does—getting a person from one place to another is nothing. But Brother Ling, who is this person?"
"Brother Lu, you can come out now." Wei Zhao smiled faintly and called Lu Bianren out from the inner room, then introduced the two to each other. "This is my senior brother from the Azure Cloud Pavilion of the North Isle, Lu Bianren. And this is Qi Wenmo, the young master of the Qingtian Escort Agency."
"A pleasure to meet you. I look forward to your guidance," Lu Bianren and Qi Wenmo said simultaneously, cupping their hands in salute to each other.
"Brother Ling, could this Brother Lu be the acquaintance you ran into earlier at the Central Chamber of Commerce? We searched high and low and couldn't find him, yet the two of you just happened to meet on your own—what a coincidence under heaven!" Qi Wenmo looked Lu Bianren up and down, and understanding dawned on his face. Like Wu Baoliang, Lu Bianren was one of the people Wei Zhao had asked them to look for.
"Ha ha, it certainly was a coincidence," Wei Zhao said with a laugh, glossing over it. "Brother Lu came to the South Isle months ago on a mission, but some mishap occurred and he's been stranded here ever since. Our fellow disciples back on the North Isle are all worried about him. That's why I wanted to ask you, Brother Qi, to use the agency's channels to get Brother Lu back as quickly as possible."
"Say no more, say no more. Brother Ling's business is the agency's business. It's just escorting one person—what's all this talk of asking favors? You're being far too formal, Brother Ling," Qi Wenmo said with an easy laugh.
In truth, sharp as he was, he could more or less guess that there must be something unsaid behind all this—something Wei Zhao could not conveniently explain, or else he would not have gone out of his way to say "secretly escort." But Qi Wenmo would not press him. Everyone had their own **, after all, and if a careless question of his put Wei Zhao and his companion in an awkward spot, he would have no one to blame but himself.
Those in the escort business asked only what should be asked and never what should not—that was the most basic rule of the trade. Otherwise, at best you offended a client; at worst you might invite disaster out of thin air. As the young master of the Qingtian Escort Agency, Qi Wenmo had a firm grasp of that much.
"Then I'll leave Brother Lu in your hands, Brother Qi," Wei Zhao said, dispensing with pleasantries. He turned to Lu Bianren. "Brother Lu, I still have matters to attend to here on the South Isle, so I won't be heading back with you. Give my regards to Brother Ku and the others, and tell them not to worry about me."
"Mm. You must be careful yourself, junior brother. The old saying goes that great skill makes one bold, but our opponent is truly formidable. Whatever you do, do not act rashly on your own. Best to return and report to the higher-ups, then plan carefully for the long term," Lu Bianren warned, unable to hide his unease.