Chapter 228: Old Friends Arrive at Cyan Horse Marsh
In the room, Pavilion Master Zhengyi was talking with Li Guanqi by the window...
His wheelchair was parked alone at the side.
Seeing Zhang Ze in a daze, the Pavilion Master turned and smiled, "What, is there a problem?"
"No, that's not what I meant, it's just a bit sudden..." Zhang Ze smiled awkwardly, "Are you better?"
Upon hearing Zhang Ze's inquiry, the Pavilion Master smiled silently and shook his head.
"Just trying out something new. This magical artifact called Thousand Mechanism Body is quite interesting."
For situations like Wei Zhuang and Pavilion Master Zhengyi, Zhang Ze had inquired with Sect Leader previously.
However, he couldn't fully comprehend it because Sect Leader spoke all sorts of strange sayings about the heavens having flaws, humanity being damaged, and no return paths.
When asked for specific reasons, the answer was, you wouldn't understand even if I told you, until you have reached our level. Cultivate well, and when you've broken arms or legs, you will understand.
As for why not use the Illusion Technique for concealment, Sect Leader said it's related to one's state of mind.
Then again, you're at an age where not understanding is normal, followed by remarks about Unity of Heaven and Man, Spirit Platform Bright Realm, and everything being illusionary.
He couldn't grasp anything.
However, the Pavilion Master's upgrade in equipment might be a good thing.
Seeing the Pavilion Master in a good mood, Zhang Ze boldly asked a question he had suppressed for a long time.
"Pavilion Master, there is one thing I don't know if I should ask." Zhang Ze said.
"Ask away," Zhengyi nodded.
"It's a bit impolite, but I still want to ask." Zhang Ze scratched his face.
"It's okay, ask away, I won't get angry." The Pavilion Master smiled.
"Then I'll go ahead and ask." Zhang Ze confirmed once more.
"Mm."
"Pavilion Master, when you used the wheelchair before, why did you always have us push you? You can control swords, energy, and the heavens, surely you can control a wheelchair..."
When Zhang Ze finished, the room fell silent.
Li looked at his disciple with the urge to give him a good hit.
Zhengyi also seemed taken aback by Zhang Ze's question and after a while, he laughed and replied.
"Of course, it's to prevent awkwardness for you. Don't you think if I move around in a wheelchair by myself, your hands have no place to be?"
Zhang Ze thought about it and realized it indeed made sense.
Walking in front of or beside the Pavilion Master isn't quite respectful; behind him is most appropriate, but seeing the handles left unattended does feel awkward.
If not sitting in a wheelchair, just floating around beneath...
That's even stranger.
"Then I have no more questions." Zhang Ze said.
"Why have you come if you have no issues? Making fun of your elders?" Li asked as he prepared to show Zhang Ze what it means to be a mentor.
Zhang Ze promptly stepped back and performed a disciple's salute.
"I remembered something, but there is still one issue I don't understand."
"Speak," Li withdrew the iron rod.
"Isn't it a bit much for Thousand Mechanism Pavilion to cover all the fees for Sword Casting Abyss? Has Sword Sect run out of money?"
After saying this, Zhang Ze glanced at the Pavilion Master and his mentor.
"Just as I guessed you came to ask this, it's an order from Sect Leader." Pavilion Master Zhengyi said.
"Why?" Zhang Ze was puzzled.
"Partly a test and partly to keep you busy, Sect Leader's intention is for you not to leave Cyan Thorn recently."
After speaking, Pavilion Master Zhengyi sat back in the wheelchair, and Li naturally stood behind the Pavilion Master, placing his hands on the armrests.
Suppressing the urge to retort, Zhang Ze continued to ask, "Test me with making money? Haven't you been discouraging me from taking on too many merchant contacts?" After saying this, Zhang Ze glanced at his mentor.
"Your mentor doesn't approve, but I've always thought it's fine. You never know the cost of daily necessities without responsibility, and since your path has been smooth, we can only create some challenges for you when there are none."
Listening to the Pavilion Master's explanation, Zhang Ze asked again, "And if I solve the challenge?"
"Then, naturally, we'll find more things for you to tackle." This time it was Li speaking, though he seemed to have more to say.
After hearing this, Zhang Ze understood, these must all be Sect Leader's arrangements. Helping Thousand Mechanism Pavilion spend money is just a pretext; the true intention is to keep him from leaving Cyan Thorn, and outsourcing Qinghe Association to Thousand Mechanism Pavilion is probably also for this reason.
But I haven't caused any trouble?
Everything done these past six months has been good, hasn't it?
"Why?" Zhang Ze asked these two words for the second time today.
The Pavilion Master shook his head and lightly tapped his fingers, causing the scenery around them to change. He led Zhang Ze and Li Guanqi to a lake on the back mountain.
Then Pavilion Master Zhengyi raised his hand to point at the lake surface without speaking.
The Nine Lakes had no color change, only shimmering waves.
Clearly, this was a hint.
Yet Zhang Ze still couldn't understand anything.
Although he didn't understand, Zhang Ze felt he had to act as if he did.
Li Guanqi looked at his disciple for a long time, confirming he hadn't understood a thing, then sighed, "In any case, go busy yourself for now. If you can't come up with a solution, it doesn't matter, the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion's operations won't face issues. I'll find other things for you to do when the time comes."
But then Zhang Ze clasped his hands and said, "Then I ask Pavilion Master and Mentor to find more tasks for this disciple."
"You just returned a half-day, who have you plundered?" Li Guanqi frowned.
Even Pavilion Master Zhengyi looked on curiously, that mountain and pit were his excavations, excluding the Pavilion Master's service fee, that expenditure wasn't small.
Zhang Ze shook his head, "This disciple is not a leftover of the Demon Path, why would I plunder others? "Then he presented the reply from Zhendong Trading Company to the two elders.
It was like the numbers in this contract were calculated precisely, just enough to cover the recent deficit of the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion, and the subsequent fifty-year contract was detailed and clear, evidently establishing the Pavilion as an official strategic partner with Zhendong Trading Company.
"This is the second thing this disciple wishes to ask, do you think this matter is reliable?"