Wangchun Tower.
Dongfang Rongrong came back to herself. "Senior Brother, this Lord Wei is indeed incredibly powerful. If he makes a move, won't our trip have been for nothing?"
"No matter how much we say, it won't compare to seeing him in person. Let's go!"
Upon hearing this, Song Yuanming rose and beckoned Dongfang Rongrong toward Star Cloud Tower.
After arriving at Star Cloud Tower and stating their purpose,
Zhang Zhidong brought the two of them to a private room to wait, then turned and went to seek Lord Wei Qing's instructions.
A moment later,
Wei Qing pushed open the private-room door and walked in.
"Song Yuanming and Dongfang Rongrong of Qingshan Sect pay their respects to Lord Wei."
When Song Yuanming and Dongfang Rongrong saw Wei Qing, they clasped their hands in salute.
"Please, take a seat."
"Thank you, my lord."
After the two sat down, Wei Qing began sizing them up.
Qingshan Sect.
From Zhang Zhidong, he had learned that Qingshan Sect ranked toward the upper end among the second-rate forces in Jizhou Prefecture. The sect had strict rules, and its reputation in Jizhou Prefecture was also quite good.
As for the two before him,
one was a Mid Seventh Rank, while the other was an Advanced Eighth Rank.
While Wei Qing assessed the two of them, they were also assessing him.
Only after coming into close contact with Wei Qing did they realize that they had seriously underestimated his strength. Their hearts were thrown into turmoil.
Sitting before him, they faintly felt as though they were being suppressed.
They had felt this sensation only in the presence of their own master, the Sect Master of Qingshan Sect.
Could it be that Wei Qing's strength had already reached the level of a Sixth Rank Martial Artist?
Yet according to the intelligence their sect had gathered, Wei Qing had come to Qingzhou City to undergo the formal Garrison Commander promotion assessment.
Such promotion missions had always targeted all the Eighth Rank Martial Artists in the Heavenly Mirror Division.
A sixteen-year-old Sixth Rank Martial Artist was unheard of—not only in the Heavenly Mirror Division, but throughout Great Zhou and even the four nations of the Eastern Domain. They had never heard of such a monstrous prodigy.
It seemed likely that he possessed a powerful exotic treasure for protection.
Just as the two were secretly speculating, A Fu entered the private room carrying four cups of tea. After gently setting them down, he turned and left, casually pulling the door shut behind him.
Wei Qing withdrew his gaze, lifted his teacup, and got straight to the point. "I've never had dealings with Qingshan Sect. May I ask why the two of you sought me out?"
"I had only recently arrived in Qingcheng when I heard of your deeds—slaying demons and rooting out traitors of the human race. I couldn't help but admire you, so I came today to witness your bearing for myself."
Song Yuanming smiled faintly.
"Only after seeing you today do I know the rumors were no exaggeration. My lord is indeed far beyond the ordinary."
"Mm."
Wei Qing gave a slight nod. He naturally heard the probing hidden in Song Yuanming's words, but did not pick up the thread. "You've seen this official now. If there's nothing else, please return."
"Uh..."
Song Yuanming's smile stiffened.
Why aren't you following the usual script? You're even issuing an eviction order outright.
Seeing this, Song Yuanming stopped concealing his intentions.
"My lord, your discerning eyes see through everything. We did indeed come to ask you about something."
Wei Qing took a sip of tea and set the cup back in place. "What is it? Speak plainly."
Song Yuanming's smile remained as he clasped his hands. "I imagine you know why disciples of our various sects have gathered in Qingyun City. May I ask, my lord, what do you think of the exotic treasure within the Black Mist Wasteland?"
Wei Qing replied, "With my eyes."
Pfft.
Upon hearing this answer, Dongfang Rongrong couldn't help laughing.
There was also a little more surprise and curiosity in her gaze toward Wei Qing.
She suddenly discovered that this Lord Wei was rather interesting, and the reverence she felt toward him weakened considerably.
Song Yuanming's lips twitched, as though ten thousand grass-mud horses were stampeding through his heart.
"My lord, I won't beat around the bush either. May I ask whether you're interested in that exotic treasure?"
"If I make a move, will you withdraw from the competition?"
Wei Qing asked back as though casually.
Song Yuanming spoke up. "If my lord makes a move, Qingshan Sect is willing to pay a certain price in exchange for you not doing so. But if you insist on taking action, Qingshan Sect will withdraw from the competition for the exotic treasure."
"Although Qingshan Sect withdraws, we're far from the only ones competing for the treasure. The other forces may not be willing to back out."
"If my lord doesn't make a move, that would naturally be an excellent outcome."
"Moreover, Qingshan Sect is willing to pay an additional price in exchange for Lord Wei making one move. What do you think?"
That final proposal had been a last-minute idea. If he could win Wei Qing's support,
Qingshan Sect's odds in this competition for the exotic treasure would surely increase dramatically.
Even if the disciples of those first-rate sects made a move later, he still wouldn't be afraid.
Wei Qing came from the Heavenly Mirror Division, after all!
Within Great Zhou, offending the Heavenly Mirror Division was by no means a wise decision!
The Heavenly Mirror Division might not even care for the exotic treasure in the Black Mist Wasteland.
As for the abnormalities in the Black Mist Wasteland, he refused to believe the Night Owl Guard had received no news.
Yet the Heavenly Mirror Division had never made a move, which was why their Sect Master had decided to compete for it.
Now, all that remained was to see how Wei Qing would respond.
"The price for getting me to make a move is beyond what you can afford!" Wei Qing bluntly rejected him. "As for the exotic treasure, I do have some interest in it. I'll go to the Black Mist Wasteland and take a look when the time comes."
"As for the competition for the treasure, everyone can rely on their own abilities. Don't worry—if I, Wei, prove too weak, the Heavenly Mirror Division won't make things difficult for you."
In truth, Wei Qing wasn't genuinely interested in that legendary exotic treasure.
Rather, ever since arriving in Qingcheng, the thread of unease in his heart had not vanished after eliminating the Spirit Stream Demonic Cat and destroying the Fang family.
It wasn't until Zhang Zhidong told him about the Black Mist Wasteland that, at the moment the phenomenon descended, the unease in his heart suddenly intensified!
He had to make a trip to the Black Mist Wasteland this time, to verify whether matters were truly as he suspected.
The tense expression on Song Yuanming's face gradually melted like snow beneath the blazing sun when Wei Qing said, "The Heavenly Mirror Division won't make things difficult for you."
If the Heavenly Mirror Division did not interfere, then the outcome of the contest between them and Wei Qing remained uncertain!
Song Yuanming's smile returned. He rose and clasped his hands. "Then I wish Lord Wei success in obtaining what you desire."
"We've troubled you greatly today. My junior sister and I will take our leave first."
"Take care!"
Before leaving, Dongfang Rongrong intentionally—or perhaps unintentionally—glanced at Wei Qing once, then followed Song Yuanming out of the government office.
Watching the two of them leave, a smile curled at the corners of Wei Qing's lips.
The purpose of these two from Qingshan Sect was nothing more than to probe his attitude toward the exotic treasure.
From this, it was clear that in the eyes of these sect disciples, he now carried considerable weight.
There were several reasons for this.
First, he came from the Heavenly Mirror Division.
Second, he was the acting magistrate, the highest-ranking Imperial Court official currently in Qingcheng.
Third, there had been that earlier warning demonstrating his strength!
After Song Yuanming's visit, the other forces also came calling one after another over the next few days.
This included disciples from the first-rate sects who arrived later.
Without exception,
they all wanted to find out the attitude of Wei Qing—and even the Heavenly Mirror Division—and whether they intended to compete for the exotic treasure.
After receiving the same reply as Song Yuanming, they all left with smiles on their faces.