Chapter 4650 — The Azure Dragon Elder!
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 3
Compared with the previous two, this representative from the Southern Continent could hardly be called a grand figure at all; many people merely glanced over and paid him no further mind. But Wei Zhao was different—because this was an old acquaintance of his!
"Qi Wenmo, young master of the Qingtian Escort Agency, representing the Southern Continent Escort Alliance, congratulates Miss Ning on the joy of her birthday!" Qi Wenmo proclaimed his gift in a loud, clear voice, head high and stride bold.
At the sight, Wei Zhao could not help feeling stirred—he truly had not expected the Southern Continent's representative to be Qi Wenmo. Yet on reflection, though unexpected, it was also entirely reasonable: the Southern Continent Escort Alliance was the orthodox representative of the Southern Continent's seas, and the Qingtian Escort Agency was now the overlord of the Southern Continent's escort trade, so having him represent the Southern Continent was only fitting.
This time it was not Qi Zhihuan who came, but Qi Wenmo; the further implication was likely that they wished to use this occasion to let Qi Wenmo build a few more connections, smoothing the way for him to take over the Qingtian Escort Agency in the future.
Wei Zhao watched Qi Wenmo from afar. Old friends meeting ought to gather and talk at length—only his seat was rather far off, and the North Island and Southern Continent guest sections were not adjacent, so Qi Wenmo could not see him at all. He would have to wait for a later chance to renew their acquaintance.
After Qi Wenmo took his seat, the next to present gifts was Lan Tieshan, who, in his capacity as a disciple of Shangguan Tianxia of the Chongtian Pavilion, represented the North Island in offering Ning Xuefei a generous gift.
Although the nominal official envoy of the North Island this time was Wei Zhao, his standing was plainly not weighty enough. After all, everyone sent this time was a grand figure—even Qi Wenmo was one who might one day take charge of the Southern Continent's escort trade—so only someone like Lan Tieshan or Gongyang Jun appearing on the North Island's behalf could hold the occasion in proper order.
This time it was Lan Tieshan who appeared, which meant Gongyang Jun had no interest in such matters; given his proud and solitary nature, he indeed looked down on this sort of errand. Moreover, the two had been charged with secretly protecting Shangguan Lan'er, and now that Lan Tieshan had appeared in public, Gongyang Jun could all the more not show himself.
After Lan Tieshan, the guests from the Middle Island, the Eastern Continent, the Southern Continent, and the North Island had all successively taken their seats. Every gaze turned toward the entrance, and people whispered to one another in low voices: only the South Island remained. Who, they wondered, would the Spirit Beast clan—who never had contact with the outside world—send this time to congratulate the West Island's princess?
Beneath the gaze of the multitude, the hall's atmosphere congealed for a brief moment; only then did a figure suddenly stride in through the great doors—dragon stride and tiger tread, glances darting with godlike spirit—and in an instant he became the focus of the whole hall. Even the principal figures, Ning Shanghe and Ning Xuefei, were eclipsed by his radiance. In everyone's heart four words rose unbidden: stealing the host's thunder!
The Spirit Beast clan kept to themselves and had no dealings with the outside world; the high-ranking members known to the world were but a scant few. And this one who had appeared now was, in everyone's eyes, a very unfamiliar face. The crowd buzzed: which master of the Spirit Beast clan was this?
Surely he could not be some ordinary underling—would that not be a public provocation? Even a power as mighty as the Spirit Beast clan might not have the nerve to casually provoke the West Island, would it?