Chapter 3449 — A New Junior Brother

"Oh?" Wei Zhao was slightly taken aback—he really did not feel all that hot! In truth, the whole way here across the Haku Namata Desert and on into Fireflame Mountain, heat there certainly had been, but never that unbearable, scorching sensation.

He glanced at Yu Yi, who was already soaked with sweat, while Wei Zhao and Shen Yushu showed nothing out of the ordinary at all! That Shen Yushu, as the inheritor, was easy enough to understand—but Wei Zhao... ah, of course: Wei Zhao was a cultivator of the seven attributes of the five elements, and fire was one of those within him, so it stood to reason that he would not fear the heat.

The constitution those fire-attribute cultivators possessed, Wei Zhao possessed as well—only stronger, never in any way inferior to theirs.

"It's nothing. I have fire attribute in my body too," Wei Zhao said with a shake of his head, and quickly stepped into the cave.

Yang Shuizhen lay upon a rock inside the cave at that very moment, his face a livid blackish-green, dreadfully ugly to look at. Had it not been for the faintest ripple of true qi still stirring in him, Wei Zhao might well have taken him for a dead man.

But none of that mattered. So long as a breath remained in him, Wei Zhao could heal him.

"Stand guard for me while I treat his wounds," Wei Zhao said. In truth, there was no need for a guard on Fireflame Mountain—this was Burning Cloud's own territory—but Wei Zhao was simply in the habit of it.

"Right away, Leader. Rest assured, I won't let anyone disturb your treatment!" Burning Cloud said hastily.

Wei Zhao nodded, sat down cross-legged, pressed his fingers to Yang Shuizhen's pulse gate, and set the Xuanyuan Dragon-Taming Art into motion, beginning his healing.

Yang Shuizhen's injuries were grave indeed. Even though Wei Zhao had now reached the great consummation of the third layer of the Xuanyuan Dragon-Taming Art, a certain amount of time was still required.

Burning Cloud watched Wei Zhao intently from the side, tense with worry. Though he knew Wei Zhao must surely be confident of success, he could not set his heart at ease until he saw Yang Shuizhen restored.

Time slipped away, minute by minute, second by second, until at last Wei Zhao ceased the circulation of his inner-art formula. And Yang Shuizhen's complexion had changed from its former iron-blue to something now faintly ruddy! Though it was a pallor shot through with red, not yet the hue of full health, he was plainly close to that of a normal man—merely somewhat weak.

"There, that will do," Wei Zhao said, rising to his feet. "He should wake before long."

"Wonderful, Leader—thank you for this! If not for you, Shuizhen would never have left this cave for the rest of his life!" Burning Cloud said with a sigh of feeling.

"Think nothing of it," Wei Zhao said with a wave of his hand. "Between the two of us, there's no need for such courtesy."

Just as he spoke, Yang Shuizhen's eyes fluttered open in a daze. Before he could make out his surroundings, he cried out at the top of his voice: "The Tomorrow-and-Tomorrow Sect... how vicious you are!"

The cave resembled the mountain cavern of the trial back then, and Yang Shuizhen's memory still hung upon the instant Zhang Naipao struck him—so it was only natural that he cried out so.

"Shuizhen, how are you!" Burning Cloud, hearing Yang Shuizhen's voice, was startled and overjoyed at once. He hurried over, bent low, and called out.

"Ah!" Yang Shuizhen gave a start at the sudden sound of Burning Cloud's voice. He opened his eyes and looked hard, and only then saw that it was Burning Cloud before him and not Zhang Naipao. He let out a breath of relief. "Brother Shaoyun! What am I doing here? Didn't I go to the trial?"

"Shuizhen, the trial is long over. Zhang Naipao of the Tomorrow-and-Tomorrow Sect struck you gravely wounded, leaving you with barely a breath in you. To keep you alive, my grandfather placed you in this cave on Fireflame Mountain, holding on to that single breath—and that is how you have endured until now..." Burning Cloud explained.

"So that's how it was... yes, back then I thought I was going to die..." Yang Shuizhen nodded, but something puzzled him. "Then how did my injuries heal? Did you find me a top-grade fourth-rank Great Return Pill?"

"No. It was my leader, young hero Wei Zhao, who saved you! Shuizhen, get up—you must give the leader a proper thanks for stepping in to heal you!" Burning Cloud said.

"Wei Zhao?!" Yang Shuizhen was briefly stunned. The name rang a faint bell—he had heard tell that this was the only man in several trials who could stand against Zhang Naipao. Only, why he had become Burning Cloud's leader, Yang Shuizhen could not fathom.

But Yang Shuizhen was no fool. A man who could win Burning Cloud's wholehearted submission must have real skill, and the mere fact that he could heal him marked him as no ordinary person. Yang Shuizhen scrambled up from the ground and bowed to Wei Zhao. "Thank you, Leader Lin, for your healing hand. From now on, Shuizhen will be like Brother Shaoyun—I will serve Leader Lin with all my heart and strength, before and behind!"

"Haha, before and behind is going too far. So long as you're all right, that's enough!" Wei Zhao laughed. "From now on, cultivate diligently in the sect, and don't let your pride lead you into clashes with the likes of Zhang Naipao again!"

"I understand. This trial taught me that there is always a greater mountain beyond the mountain and a higher heaven beyond the heaven. Only someone like Leader Lin can afford to look down on other cultivators—I am still far from that." Having died once, Yang Shuizhen had come to see many things clearly.

"All right, it's time for the banquet. Let's go over together!" Wei Zhao said with a nod.

"Good—I feel as if I haven't eaten in ages. I'm a little greedy for it!" Yang Shuizhen brightened at once.

The three returned together to the Reception Hall of Fireflame Mountain. Shen Yushu and Yu Yi had already been shown off to rest, but when Rocket Launcher and Yang Dingtian heard that Yang Shuizhen had woken and could even walk about as if nothing had happened, they came running over in great excitement.

"Shuizhen, you're well?" Yang Dingtian trembled all over with emotion. In his mind, if Wei Zhao could preserve Yang Shuizhen's life, even as a cripple, that would have been enough—and now the boy could walk!

"Yes, Grandfather. Not only that, my strength remains! This time I have Leader Lin to thank!" Yang Shuizhen was thrilled as well.

"Young hero Lin, this old man... I don't even know what to say. My gratitude is beyond measure!" Yang Dingtian gazed at Wei Zhao, tears streaming down his aged face; the thankfulness in his heart could no longer be put into words.

"It was only my duty. Shaoyun is my junior brother, and when his friend is in trouble, I cannot stand by," Wei Zhao said with a wave of his hand.

"Uh... Leader, I'm your junior too, aren't I? You won't cast me aside, will you..." Yang Shuizhen said hurriedly upon hearing this.

"You follow Burning Cloud, so naturally you count as following me. Your troubles are not something I'll stand by and watch," Wei Zhao said with a smile.

"Haha, that's good then!" Yang Shuizhen was overjoyed at once.

A disciple was sent to invite Yu Yi and Shen Yushu to the dining hall, and Wei Zhao and the others made their way there alongside Rocket Launcher... And once the meal was done, it would be time for Wei Zhao to take his leave. RS