Chapter 4841 — Circumstances Are Stronger Than Men
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
"This disciple Qing Xuanzi pays his respects to Master!" Qing Xuanzi cried out excitedly, scrambling to prostrate himself in the full rite of accepting a master, forcibly choking back the rest of Wei Zhao's words.
The crowd around them erupted into an uproar. Qing Xuanzi's first kneeling might have been dismissed as the man inexplicably having a fit, but now that he had done it a second time, it could only mean one thing: the man was absolutely in earnest.
Wei Zhao stared speechlessly at Qing Xuanzi, who knelt before him and would not rise. The wood was already a boat; he had inexplicably acquired a disciple, and no less than the chief alchemist of Morning Star Academy. If word of this got out, it would be spectacular beyond belief...
"All right, get up first." Wei Zhao had no choice but to reach out and help Qing Xuanzi to his feet. Though this had not been part of his plans, on reflection it was not bad—it gave Chai Laoshi and his people a powerful patron, and having such a disciple remain at Morning Star Academy would also let him look after Wang Xinyan and Huang Xiaotao. No bad thing.
Steward Hao and the others sat slumped on the ground, their expressions stiff. Things had come to this point; the outcome of the grand auction was beyond doubt. Qing Xuanzi had been their greatest reliance, and now the pillar of their side had defected to the other and even knelt to become Wei Zhao's disciple. What the hell was the point of carrying on!
Every steward of the trading companies was filled with ten thousand resentments, but there was nothing to be done—circumstances were stronger than men.
One thing could be foreseen: with Qing Xuanzi as a powerful patron, no trading company in Morning Star City could ever stand shoulder to shoulder with the Hong Clan Trading Company again, much less get the chance to kick a man when he was down as they had today. For no one would dare offend the Hong Clan again—that would be tantamount to offending Morning Star Academy!
Yet this outcome, a tragedy for Steward Hao and his kind, was cause for universal rejoicing among certain others. Not only Chai Laoshi and his companions, but Wang Xinyan and Huang Xiaotao, still in Box Three, were beside themselves with excitement.
And as the two women cheered, the Donghai Divine Nun beside them wore a look of utter shock, her gaze shifting back and forth between Wei Zhao and Qing Xuanzi as she shook her head in speechless disbelief.
Nor was she alone—the other giants of Morning Star Academy, Ling Yuanqing and Wei Hebei among them, were likewise staring at Wei Zhao in a daze.
Though they had not known Wei Zhao's identity as early as the Donghai Divine Nun had, they were, after all, giants of the Foundation Establishment stage. So long as there was the faintest impression, even if they could not recall it at first, with time they would always manage to remember. They had now all recalled where they had seen Wei Zhao before—was this not the very creature they had once meant to forcibly take as a disciple!
Back then, in the Southern Continent's waters, at the first stop in Zhenduan City during the open selection, Huang Xiaotao had been taken under the Donghai Divine Nun's wing, while Wei Zhao had concealed his spirit-root attributes and slipped through. Later they had met again in Waihu City, and on the advice of Qin Deli, the purchasing steward, the three giants had personally rushed to the Qingtian Escort Agency—all to bring Wei Zhao into their fold. Only in the end, it had not succeeded.
At the time they had thought Wei Zhao merely happened to be capable of fighting above his level. The three giants of Morning Star Academy had never imagined that this creature, so young, could be so formidable!