Chapter 4422 — The Inside Story
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
"Who said we have to force anyone? And what's all this about you going yourself—who do you think you are? You're the young master of the Qingtian Escort Agency, and one day you'll be in charge. Can't you use your head when you do things?" Qi Mingyuan wore a look of utter disappointment, and rapped Qi Wenmo hard on the head.
"Then what do you say we do, Father?" Qi Wenmo said helplessly, one hand clutching his head.
"Fool. Hasn't Old Eighth Tang been saying all along that his old injuries torment him so much he doesn't want to live? Just send him!" Qi Mingyuan glared and curled his lip.
Qi Wenmo was taken aback, then remembered this Old Eighth Tang. The man had worked at the Qingtian Escort Agency for many years and counted as a veteran escort of some seniority.
He had heard that in his youth, Old Eighth Tang had made something of a name for himself in the waters of the Southern Continent, and had once been a man who bowed to no one. But those who love bravado and brawling seldom come to a good end, and Old Eighth Tang was no exception. After one failed fight, every major bone in his body had been broken one by one, his own bones piercing his internal organs—he had nearly gone to report to the King of Hell.
In the end, though his life was saved and he barely recovered a little strength, he was left with severe aftereffects ever since. When he first joined the Qingtian Escort Agency, he could still hold on with difficulty, but as time went on—especially after too much sea wind and rain—the aftereffects flared more and more often, each time worse than the last. It was simply worse than death.
Several times he had been so tormented that he saw no point in living, and thought of ending it all—he had even made attempts, but others always stopped him. Now the agency kept him like an idler, and he could only numb himself with drink, getting dead drunk every day, muddled and dazed.
"This time is a good chance for Old Eighth Tang to be released, and he can earn a hefty burial fee for his family besides. It's a good thing for him and for our agency alike—why not do it?" Qi Mingyuan instructed earnestly.
"That's true as far as it goes, but Father, this is the most passive approach—just going through the motions. There's no way we'll score like this," Qi Wenmo said with a frown.
"Score? You're actually hoping to score in this round, you little fool—are you stupid or something?" Qi Mingyuan looked at Qi Wenmo in disbelief, then imperceptibly gestured toward Hai Wuliang not far away and lowered his voice: "Do you know why there's even a second round?"
"Wasn't it something the five of you worked out together?" Qi Wenmo said, puzzled.
"That's only what they say on the surface. In reality, this second round was purely the Four Seas Escort Agency's proposal, pushed through by every kind of coercion and inducement, relying on its position as leader of the jianghu," Qi Mingyuan explained crossly.
Qi Wenmo was speechless for a moment. He truly had not known there was such an inside story behind it.
"Now you understand, don't you? The Demon Cold Sea was always the Four Seas Escort Agency's home ground. This so-called new sea route is unfamiliar to the likes of us, but to them—do you think it's unfamiliar territory too? So this is a contest tailor-made for them. The only ones with any hope of scoring are themselves. The other thirty-one agencies are just there to keep the prince company in his studies. Scoring is nothing but a pipe dream," Qi Mingyuan said with a rueful sigh. (A windfall of an event—a cool phone awaits you! Follow Qi~Dian/official account (WeChat: Add Contacts—Add Official Account—enter qdread) and join right away! Everyone wins a prize—follow the qdread WeChat official account now!) (To be continued)
...R752