Chapter 4541 — Preparations for Departure
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
"Don't worry. When I have need of you, I won't stand on ceremony," Wei Zhao said with a smile and a nod, a surge of warmth rising in his heart.
Across all five great isles of the Heaven Tier, the Qitian Escort Bureau's present strength counted for nothing, but at least it was a power to be reckoned with in the Southern Isle's waters. And with its influence now surging, if it could weather the coming calamity, it would in time become a force no one could overlook—a most useful ally, perhaps of great service in the days to come.
After bidding farewell to Qi Mingyuan and Qi Wenmo, Wei Zhao went over the wall and back the way he had come under cover of night, slipping past the Longzhou Escort Bureau's many watchers. He found a remote inn and took a room, but he did not stay long—barely three hours. When the sky outside was just beginning to pale, he set out, heading straight for Weihu Pier.
To return to the Northern Isle, he could hardly take the sea route. Leaving aside whether there even was a direct passage to the Northern Isle, if such a route existed, it would likely mean at least half a year at sea. Wei Zhao had no such leisure.
So there was really only one way back to the Northern Isle: riding a flying spirit beast. And as it happened, Huang Xiaotao's large spirit bird was boarded right here. Back when Morning Star Academy had come to Weihu City to select disciples, Huang Xiaotao could have taken the bird with her—it had been her loyal companion for many years—but for Wei Zhao's convenience, she had ultimately left it behind.
Still wearing the Thousand-Silk Mask, Wei Zhao drew no particular attention while collecting the spirit bird. Only the attendant who received him gave him a rather startled glance.
For in the earlier records, the owner of this spirit bird had been a young woman surnamed Huang, and she was said to be close to the now-famous Ling Yi. Yet the man before him was a coarse-looking rustic warrior—the two could not have been less alike.
But puzzled as he was, the attendant did not pry. A minor figure of his lowly strength who wanted to make his way in the Southern Isle's waters had to mind his tongue, or in a place where men were killed in the streets at the slightest provocation, it would be all too easy for words to bring disaster.
In any case, the warrior carried the special token and had paid the boarding fees for the whole period, so the attendant briskly led Wei Zhao straight to the spirit bird.
Spirit beasts were already highly intelligent, and though this bird had not been tamed by Wei Zhao, seeing him again after so long, it was clearly delighted and excited. It knew full well that Wei Zhao was its "master," and besides, Huang Xiaotao had come quietly to visit it before she left, instructing it to obey Wei Zhao's every command.
Had it been some other fierce, intractable spirit beast, Wei Zhao might have had some trouble on his hands. But this gentle-natured bird presented no such difficulties—like master, like beast. In a sense, the bird's temperament was cut from the same cloth as Huang Xiaotao's: mild and soft, yet strong and enduring. (To be continued...)