Chapter 2627 — A Warm Evening, Part One — "There Will Be a Chance. I'll Think of Something for You," Wei Zhao Said.

"Haha, all right then, I'll wait for it." The White Leader did not take it seriously either. After all, though Han Jingyi's injuries had been severe today, he had assumed they were only the physical torment inflicted by Little Eleven, that her meridians had not been severed, and that Wei Zhao had healed her perhaps with a Small Rejuvenation Pill and some marvelous wound medicine. He had not considered any deeper cause.

"It's getting late, so I'll be on my way too," Wei Zhao said. "As for Master Alchemist Zhang Liju's notes, I'll just have Jingjing send them to your email."

"That's fine, no rush on that," the White Leader said. "Her recovery comes first. She needn't come to school these next few days; I'll give her leave."

Wei Zhao nodded. He knew Han Jingyi's condition better than anyone; she was now completely fine. But he did not want to boast, so he merely gave an answering sound and rose to take his leave.

Down in the living room on the ground floor of the villa, Guan Xin was watching television with the White Leader's wife, waiting for Wei Zhao and the White Leader to come down. When they saw them, Guan Xin and the White Leader's wife both stood up.

"Xiaoyi, are you leaving already?" the White Leader's wife asked with a smile.

"Yes, Mistress, I'll take my leave now. I'll come visit another day!" Wei Zhao said.

"Xinxin, see Wei Zhao out," the White Leader said to Guan Xin.

"Mm!" Guan Xin was delighted at this, nodding excitedly. She hurried to Wei Zhao's side, nestling up to him like a little bird.

"Heh heh..." The White Leader smiled faintly. He had previously worried that Wei Zhao and Guan Xin might not get along. After all, what he hated most in life was discord among disciples; such had been the case between him and Xuanchen. So with his own disciples he cared about it all the more. Now it seemed that no trouble would arise between Wei Zhao and Guan Xin, which gratified him greatly.

Only after leaving the villa together with Wei Zhao did Guan Xin let out a breath. "You..."

"You..." To her surprise, Wei Zhao spoke in unison with her. He smiled. "You go first."

"I... what was I going to say?" Guan Xin was a little nervous. She had not seen Wei Zhao for so long that she was no longer as casual as before.

"Then let me speak first. I never imagined you'd have taken Master Bai as your teacher and be studying alchemy!" Wei Zhao said. "I had thought you were studying medicine!"

"I was surprised too! I thought that learning alchemy, I wouldn't be able to help you. But now it seems you're studying the art of alchemy as well..." Yet as she said this, Guan Xin suddenly thought of that girl called Jingjing. She was an alchemist too, and a second-grade one at that. Then Wei Zhao surely wouldn't value her as much, would he?

Seeing Guan Xin's expression change, Wei Zhao was slightly taken aback, not understanding what was wrong. "What is it? Why did you stop?"

"Nothing. I was thinking that I must work harder. I'm only a first-grade alchemist now, so I probably still can't help you..." Guan Xin said, a little self-mockingly. She felt rather useless.

"First-grade and second-grade alchemist, that really isn't so important. As long as you're willing, I can make you a second-grade alchemist at any time!" Wei Zhao said.

"Huh? A second-grade alchemist has to be at least a Mystic-rank cultivator, doesn't he? I'm only Yellow-rank, still far off, which is why I always fail when refining second-grade pills!" Guan Xin found Wei Zhao's words strange.

"Peak late Yellow-rank?" Wei Zhao glanced at Guan Xin's cultivation and nodded. "You're just one step from Mystic-rank. One Small Qi-Gathering Pill and you'll break through."

"You can see my cultivation?" Guan Xin was a little surprised, but she did not think much of it, assuming the White Leader had told him. What she dwelled on was what Wei Zhao had said after: "Ah, now I remember—you have a second-grade alchemist at your side. Indeed, if she could refine some Small Qi-Gathering Pills for me to take, it's not impossible that I'd become an early Earth-rank cultivator. Then, once I have a second-grade pill cauldron, I'd more or less be able to refine second-grade pills."

"That's true." Wei Zhao nodded and smiled. "But there's no need for all that trouble. Give me your hand!"

"Eh?" Guan Xin was startled, her face flushing slightly. Was Wei Zhao going to hold her hand? At the thought, her heart could not help racing, and her palms broke out in sweat. Still, nervous and happy, she reached out her hand, waiting for Wei Zhao to take it.

This was a scene she had long awaited, and she had never expected it to come at a reunion after so long apart. The heartbeat of this moment, the happiness of this moment, made Guan Xin feel that all the hardship of these days had been worth it—that her parting from Wei Zhao had been for the sake of a more beautiful meeting.

Seeing Guan Xin's expression, Wei Zhao was somewhat startled, but he quickly understood: Guan Xin had misunderstood! Though he was fond of Guan Xin, the matter with Wang Xinyan was still unresolved. Besides, at a reunion after so long, so abruptly, Wei Zhao could not possibly have many thoughts of that kind.

But Guan Xin had misunderstood, and Wei Zhao could not bear to crush her confidence, so he could only take her hand first.

He could feel Guan Xin's nervousness, and his own heart gave an inexplicable leap. The affection pressed down at the bottom of his heart, on this somewhat cold yet somehow warm night, surged up bit by bit, and Wei Zhao tightened his grip on Guan Xin's hand.

Some things must be faced in the end; some people can never be let go.

Wei Zhao did not know what his future would be like, nor whether the road ahead was dangerous or smooth. But along the way, there would surely be some unforgettable people keeping him company... In that moment, Wei Zhao understood a great many things.

Though the gap in strength between him and the Five Luminaries Sect was still great, Wei Zhao would never flee again.

He thought of a girl he could never forget, thought of those days long past. Xiao Ning, how is she doing now?

Wei Zhao felt a stir of emotion. He never could have imagined that one day his strength would be such that all the hidden families—including the hidden Yu family—would not dare act rashly, and that three hidden families would even become his underlings!

The leap in his strength meant that between him and her, the gap once imagined to be insurmountable no longer existed. But after so many years, things had changed and people had changed.

Though from Yu Bing's lips Wei Zhao had learned bits and pieces of news about Yu Ning, he did not know what it would be like when they met again.

Would his flight back then have brought her disappointment? If only life were as it was at first sight—how wonderful that would be. But how could the Wei Zhao of back then have foreseen the heights he now stood at? The level of the hidden families could almost no longer threaten Wei Zhao.

Sensing the faint sadness in Wei Zhao's mood, Guan Xin gave him a puzzled glance, not understanding why his spirits had sunk in an instant. Unconsciously, she tightened her grip on his hand.

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