Chapter 4944 — A Seat at the Head Table
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
"Heh, Master Libation Li exaggerates. I have trespassed upon Morning Star Academy's hospitality for so long; this little matter is the least I could do. Besides, if thanks are truly owed, they are owed to Zhuang Yifan—this was his own proposal." Wei Zhao shook his head with a smile.
"No—had we not basked in your light, why would Chairman Zhuang show Morning Star Academy such favor?" Li Ren waved his hands again and again, then explained: "Master Lin, you may not know this, but every year the celebration banquet is nominally held to celebrate the Road of Giants trials; in truth, it concerns the re-ranking of all Yellow-rank academies. The closer an academy sits to the head table, the more the Alliance will favor it in days to come, and the more cultivation resources it will receive! And those who occupy a seat at the head table have always been only a scant few of the very finest Yellow-rank academies—Thunderclap Academy, Dingcheng Academy, and the like. Our Morning Star Academy has never once been granted such an honor!"
The more Li Ren spoke, the more excited he became, until his face was glowing red. If he could represent Morning Star Academy in occupying a seat at the head table this time—though it was entirely Wei Zhao's doing—then he, the presiding master of libations, would be reckoned to have won a great merit himself. Upon returning to the academy he would surely be richly rewarded, promoted three ranks at a stroke, and rise straight to the clouds!
"So that is how it is. Then Zhuang Yifan really has sent a weighty gift," Wei Zhao said in sudden understanding.
He had thought it was no more than a meal and a chance to show one's face, never imagining such deeper meaning. Zhuang Yifan was indirectly making clear that he had every ability to lift Morning Star Academy up—provided, of course, that Wei Zhao refined the pill for him. Otherwise, crushing Morning Star Academy underfoot would be a trifling matter for him.
"Since Chairman Zhuang took charge of the Yellow-rank Academy Alliance, he has always balanced the scales and rarely promoted any single academy so actively. For your academy to win his favor means it is only a matter of time before you stand shoulder to shoulder with the top academies. Truly a cause for congratulations," Liu Ziqi said with a smile, though her expression was inevitably somewhat complicated.
This was a fine thing, bringing both fame and profit—a great joy for Morning Star Academy, but not so for her own Morning Proud Academy. For a sworn enemy to suddenly soar aloft, no one standing in Morning Proud Academy's shoes could bring herself to smile.
"The same to you, the same to you." Li Ren was still immersed in his delight, and only after the words left his mouth did he realize what he had said. His expression turned deeply awkward at once. The other was vice dean of Morning Proud Academy—the same to her, indeed!
For a moment the atmosphere in the reception hall turned rather strange. Liu Ziqi, the guest, was filled with a tangle of feelings; Li Ren, the host, looked sheepish and knew not what to say. The scene lapsed into an impasse.
It was then that Wei Zhao suddenly spoke up: "Dean Liu, Master Libation Li, I have an idea—would the two of you be willing to hear it?"