Chapter 2947 — Volunteering for the Task

Zhao Qilei was stunned. He had never imagined that his grandfather had been lying to him — lying to him all along! His grandfather had never intended to acknowledge Wei Zhao as leader; making him the young heir, telling him to build a good relationship with Wei Zhao — all of it was false, all of it was using him!

Yet at this moment Zhao Qilei merely lowered his head. He was no longer the impulsive Zhao Qilei of before; the house arrest he had endured had deepened his cunning, and he would not do anything rash.

Zhao Qilei was thinking about how to resolve the crisis before him. With his strength, even if he suddenly turned on the old master and broke with him, it would be of no use — it would only cost him his own life and accomplish nothing.

But Wei Zhao could not use his strength now; here he was nothing but meat on the chopping block. Even Zhao Qibing could easily restrain him. To hope for Wei Zhao to turn things around was utterly impossible!

"Qitan, what do you make of this?" As Zhao Qilei stayed silent, the old master Zhao looked at him with a half-smile and asked.

"Grandfather, as the heir presumptive of the Hidden Zhao family, Qitan naturally puts the Zhao family's interests first. Grandfather's decision is Qitan's decision!" Zhao Qilei said.

"Huh?" Hearing this, Zhao Qibing thought to himself, has Zhao Qilei lost his mind? At a time like this he still can't see it's all a performance? Still dreaming of being the young heir?

But just as Zhao Qibing was about to say something, the old master Zhao cut him off with a look. The old master turned to Zhao Qilei and asked with keen interest, "Oh? So then, for the sake of the Hidden Zhao family's interests, if I told you to kill Wei Zhao, you could do it?"

"Naturally!" Zhao Qilei said firmly. "Zhao blood runs in my veins; I am a son of the Zhao family! Grandfather, I admit I felt uncomfortable that you used me to set up Wei Zhao, but I also understand your wish to be rid of him, so I have decided to stand on your side!"

"Are those your true thoughts?" The old master Zhao had never expected this of Zhao Qilei — that he would so openly break with Wei Zhao. Was this not all too dramatic?

"I know, Grandfather, that on the strength of a single third-grade pill you could not possibly pass the position of heir presumptive to me. But it cannot be denied that Zhao Qibing and I now stand on equal footing. His strength may exceed mine after taking the pill, but I have been through two trials and have richer experience than he does. I also have Zhao Qiwu, an unknown quantity, as my ally. So I am not inferior to him, and I too have the right to compete!" Zhao Qilei spoke slowly, reasoned and measured. "Grandfather, I ask only that you give me a fair chance to compete!"

"Haha, of course!" The old master Zhao suddenly laughed. "It is good that you can think this way. Our hidden clan also follows the rule of survival of the fittest — only competition breeds drive!"

"Grandfather..." Zhao Qibing's expression changed at once. He had not expected the old master to agree to Zhao Qilei's demand to compete for the heir presumptive's position. But that was not what had been said before!

"Qibing, I know what you are thinking, but Qitan is right. You and he stand on equal footing; both of you have contributed to the Hidden Zhao family. So you cannot demand that others not compete with you!" the old master said.

"Yes..." Zhao Qibing said, somewhat helplessly. He did not know why the old master had changed his tune at the last moment, but at a time like this he could not defy him at will, and could only nod in assent.

Seeing Zhao Qilei's sudden defection, Wei Zhao was somewhat angry too, but once he calmed down he sensed something strange in it. Most likely Zhao Qilei had known nothing about today's affair and had been kept in the dark — otherwise that scene just now could never have happened.

And for Zhao Qilei to turn traitor under such circumstances and side with the Hidden Zhao family seemed rather bizarre, for Wei Zhao knew what sort of person Zhao Qilei was. In the present situation, there had to be other reasons behind it.

So Wei Zhao said nothing and simply watched how things would unfold. What would come today would come; if it was a blessing, so be it; if it was a disaster, it could not be avoided. Since he had already been poisoned, Wei Zhao had no other choice but to get through this moment first.

"Qitan, though I believe what you say is sincere, to test you and prove you truly deserve to be the Hidden Zhao family's successor, you and Qibing shall now dispose of Wei Zhao together!" The old master glanced at Zhao Qilei and spoke.

This was the old master Zhao's true aim: he wanted Zhao Qilei to kill Wei Zhao. No doubt Wei Zhao's heart would be in agony — to watch his own follower betray him and come at him with a blade raised. How cruel that would be!

"No problem!" Zhao Qilei agreed readily. "Grandfather, did you think I truly wanted to acknowledge him as leader? I had no choice. When you took Zhao Qibing back into the Zhao family and made him the first in line to the heir presumptive's position, what was I to do? To protect myself, I had to take a different path and acknowledge Wei Zhao as leader — but in my heart I still hoped to become the head of the Hidden Zhao family! Now that I have this chance, I will certainly cherish it! So there is no need for Zhao Qibing to lift a finger; I can do it myself!"

"Oh? Yourself? Very well, then go and finish Wei Zhao!" The old master Zhao looked at Zhao Qilei in some surprise, but nodded all the same.

"Yes, thank you, Grandfather, for giving me this chance to wipe away my shame!" Zhao Qilei cupped his hands and thanked him joyfully. "I have long wanted to be rid of Wei Zhao. That a son of the illustrious Hidden clan should acknowledge a loose cultivator as leader — how humiliating!"

Zhao Qilei's words left even Zhao Qibing stunned. Was this Zhao Qilei? Could this be the real him, and all that had come before merely a facade? If so, Zhao Qilei was far too calculating!

To have endured in silence all this time, acknowledging Wei Zhao as leader only out of necessity, all for the sake of one day returning to the Hidden Zhao family? At this thought, Zhao Qibing glanced at his grandfather, and the two understood each other without a word. A Zhao Qilei like this was truly terrifying!

"Zhao Qilei, very good, very good indeed! No wonder I always felt your attitude toward me was somewhat affected — so it was all an act! It seems I misjudged you!" Wei Zhao looked at Zhao Qilei and suddenly spoke.

Zhao Qilei was slightly taken aback, but then sneered, "Hmph, what good does it do you to see through it? You are at death's door now; there is no point in saying more!"