Chapter 4985 — Vice Island Master Soejima Enters the Fray
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
"Mm. Since this Wei Zhao can fight above his level, his strength is genuinely not weak; we mustn't underestimate him. Ordinary experts likely won't be able to deal with him." Zheng Dongyang pondered a moment, then said, "How about this: we make no rash moves for now. When the time comes, we'll have Vice Island Master Wu step forward to deal with him!"
"Vice Island Master Wu?" Tong Yangxi was taken aback, and said with a look of surprise, "The Vice Island Master Wu you speak of, Master Zheng—could it be Wu Che, the standing vice island master who rose out of nowhere last year?"
The Middle Island Master's Cabinet had always divided power among five: one island master and four vice island masters. The standing vice island master held the greatest real authority of the four, with a say in virtually every matter great and small; in power and in rank he stood second only to the island master, making him the number-two figure in Middle Island's official hierarchy.
As for the Wu Che Tong Yangxi had named—though he had deep seniority within the Master's Cabinet, he had always kept his talents and his light well hidden. In terms of presence he could not even match Di Xingdao; after all, the latter's strength on paper was low, but he was a legendary figure known to every household, and forceful by nature besides, his true strength by no means negligible even within the Master's Cabinet.
And yet Wu Che was not truly incompetent—he merely kept his depths concealed. When the Master's Cabinet held its internal re-election for standing vice island master last year, the man the outside world had never favored suddenly made his move and carried the day in one stroke, emerging as a dark horse of no small note.
"The very same," Zheng Dongyang said with a nod.
"But he's the number-two figure in Middle Island's official circles—even vice island masters like Di Xingdao and Chu Wentian are pressed down beneath him. And they say he keeps everyone at arm's length; precious few can claim his acquaintance. Master Zheng, you can actually prevail upon even him?" Tong Yangxi was now all the more astonished.
For merchant houses like theirs, those few in the Master's Cabinet were always the ones they watched most closely. Even if they could not become insiders sharing in the profits, they must do their utmost to cultivate ties—at the very least, they could not let such figures become stumbling blocks, or their business would be hard to conduct.
Tong Yangxi had spared no effort in that regard, and the newly elevated standing vice island master Wu Che in particular had been the chief target of his assiduous courtship. It was a pity that Wu Che had always met his overtures with indifference, at most accepting a few gifts at festivals and holidays—Tong Yangxi had not even earned the right to be received in his halls.
"Just so. This Vice Island Master Wu is indeed aloof and proud by nature. But Steward Tong would do well to remember my standing—others can only beg favors of him, whereas he must come begging to me. I am a guest of honor at his table!" Zheng Dongyang laughed in satisfaction.
"Quite so, quite so. A high-grade alchemist like you, Master Zheng, holds transcendent status wherever he goes; ordinary folk cannot even get an invitation. However aloof and proud Wu Che may be, he can't do without pills and elixirs," Tong Yangxi said in sudden understanding, smiling apologetically.
"You may not know this yet, Steward Tong, but the reason I made this special trip to Middle Island wasn't purely in answer to your invitation—it was also on account of Vice Island Master Wu. He's now a peak expert of the late Mystic Ascension stage, and before long he'll set about assaulting the Titan realm, so he urgently needs someone to help him refine pills. To bring me here, he's written no small number of letters over the past year," Zheng Dongyang said with a smile.