Chapter 1432 — The Stratagem Succeeds

"Naturally! This old man's word is his bond!" Seeing Zhao Qibing's impatience, a flicker of disappointment crossed Old Master Zhao's eyes. He had thought this bastard grandson, raised among common folk, might prove to be something out of the ordinary—yet under the lure he had set, the boy had shown his true colors fast enough. Still, Zhao Qibing was the Zhao family's greatest benefactor; whatever he asked for, Old Master Zhao would have to grant it. It was not only a question of his own credibility—others were watching, too. Anyone who did the Zhao family a service would never be treated shabbily by Old Master Zhao.

"Then... your grandson presumes to make a rather excessive request!" Zhao Qibing clenched his teeth, swallowing his words as though he had summoned up a great resolve.

"Say it," said Old Master Zhao, somewhat displeased, though he let little of it show.

"Grandfather... your grandson knows this request is excessive, but he must speak of it all the same!" Zhao Qibing said. "Grandfather, your grandson would like to ask you for a Meridian-Clearing Pill. I hope Grandfather will grant it!"

"Ha?" Old Master Zhao was taken aback. He had assumed Zhao Qibing would say he wished to become the next head of the Zhao family—and that, too, Old Master Zhao would have granted, though it would have allowed him to see clean through the boy; if he accomplished nothing thereafter, it would be no late hour to depose him.

But he had never imagined Zhao Qibing would ask for a Meridian-Clearing Pill! Precious as the pill might be, Zhao Qibing had no use for it. It was a spiritual medicine for cultivators whose meridians had been injured—and Zhao Qibing was no cultivator, nor had his meridians suffered any injury. What use could the pill possibly be to him?

"Your grandson knows the Meridian-Clearing Pill is precious..." Zhao Qibing said, unable to quite keep the disappointment from his voice at Old Master Zhao's astonishment.

"You want the Meridian-Clearing Pill?" Old Master Zhao's expression turned strange. "Valuable as it is, it is worlds apart from the Qi Gathering Pill. Only, your grandfather finds it odd—what do you want it for?"

"It is like this: Old Zhu is one of my men. He risked life and death to protect me, and had his meridians wounded by Wei Zhao. Now he has fallen from Mystic rank to Yellow rank. Your grandson cannot bear to see him ruined, so I wish to ask for a Meridian-Clearing Pill for him to take, that he may cultivate once more!" Zhao Qibing said.

"Oh? Is that so?" Old Master Zhao was astonished beyond measure by Zhao Qibing's words. He had never once imagined that Zhao Qibing would ask for a Meridian-Clearing Pill on Old Zhu's behalf! Such a fine opportunity—he could have named any condition he wished—and yet he handed the chance to another! Old Master Zhao could not help but reassess Zhao Qibing. It seemed he had indeed misjudged the boy before; here was a lad of sentiment and honor!

From helping him search out the elixir this time to begging medicine for Old Zhu, every act spoke to the same truth, and Old Master Zhao was moved by a thousand feelings. This grandson raised among common folk was truly no ordinary person!

"Yes! I beg Grandfather to let your grandson fulfill his wish!" Zhao Qibing nodded gravely.

"Good! This request of yours, your grandfather grants it! But this request was one the Zhao family ought to have fulfilled in any case. Little Zhu is your man—and mine as well; giving him the Meridian-Clearing Pill is the Zhao family's own responsibility!" Old Master Zhao nodded. "This one does not count. If you have other requests, name them!"

This time, Old Master Zhao sincerely hoped Zhao Qibing would ask for something. After all, the boy was a great benefactor to the family; if he made no request at all, Old Master Zhao himself would feel he had failed him.

"But... Grandfather, I truly have no requests left..." Zhao Qibing thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"Qibing, would you like to become a cultivator?" Old Bi suddenly spoke up.

"That... of course I would like to, but I have long since passed the best age for cultivation, so I cannot cultivate..." Zhao Qibing said with a bitter smile.

"That is no obstacle. Since you have heard of the Meridian-Clearing Pill and know of the Qi Gathering Pill, then you must also have heard of a pill called the Foundation Establishment Pill—it can remake your meridians and bones and set you upon the path of cultivation!" Having said this, Old Bi turned to Old Master Zhao. "Patriarch, Little Bi has a request: I wish to take Qibing as my disciple. I beg the Patriarch to grant it!"

"Oh? Little Bi, you wish to take a disciple? Now that is a rarity! So many children of the clan wished to study under you, and you refused them all—yet today you raise the matter yourself?" Old Master Zhao asked, looking at Old Bi in surprise.

"This Zhao Qibing is of admirable character, and has rendered great service to the Zhao family. He fits precisely my standard for a disciple!" Old Bi said.

"Since that is so, it is more than Qibing could ever have asked for. I shall take it upon myself to have Qibing take you as his master!" Old Master Zhao nodded, though inwardly he was shaken. Old Master Zhao had never declared which of the third generation was the designated heir, but Old Bi's attitude carried the utmost weight!

He himself was about to advance to Heaven rank, and would afterward set out in pursuit of the way of Heaven. The family's chief affairs would then fall not only upon Zhao Guangyin's shoulders but upon Old Bi's as well. And if Old Bi favored some junior, that junior would very likely become the next heir to the family headship. As things stood, Zhao Qibing had great hope indeed!

Yet Old Master Zhao made no deliberate move to block anything. Since Zhao Qibing was of Zhao blood, had contributed greatly to the family, and now seemed to be of excellent character besides, there was no harm in weighing him as a candidate for heir for the time being.

"Qibing, will you not go and greet your master at once?" Zhao Guangyin's feelings at that moment were complicated as well—but mostly delight. Zhao Qibing was his son, after all; once taken as Old Bi's disciple, his standing would surely soar, and in time he might even become the next head of the family!

"Qibing greets Master!" Overjoyed, Zhao Qibing made to kneel and bow, but his leg was crippled; no sooner did he kneel than he toppled clean off the wheelchair and landed flat on his back, nearly splitting his head open!

"No need to kneel. You may kneel once your leg has healed—there is no hurry!" Old Bi, delighted to see how Zhao Qibing honored his master, smiled and helped him up from the ground and set him back in the wheelchair.

"Very well, Qibing. You may not yet understand what it means for Little Bi to take you as a disciple, but Guangyin will explain it to you presently. Your grandfather must go into seclusion now. You must strive to bring honor!" Old Master Zhao nodded at Zhao Qibing; he could scarcely wait to begin his seclusion.

"Rest assured, Grandfather. I will never betray the expectations of you and my master. I will cultivate diligently, and strive that one day I too may become a Heaven-rank master, like you, Grandfather!" With those words, Zhao Qibing had flattered Old Master Zhao into a Heaven-rank master—though he was not one yet.

For the fastest updates, please read with no pop-up windows.