Chapter 3502 — Seeking Shelter and Stirring Trouble

"I don't know the one in front, but I've seen a portrait of the one behind—that's Zhang Naipao, the man they call the fiercest besides Wei Zhao." Tu Xiaoshou explained.

"So that's Zhang Naipao?" A gleam of excitement flashed through Lou Taixie's eyes. He hesitated a moment, then hurried over. "Brother Pao! Your fame precedes you!"

Zhang Naipao blinked, studying Lou Taixie with some puzzlement. Only after confirming that he truly did not know this man and had never laid eyes on him did he speak. "Who are you? Do you know me?"

"Brother Pao, I come from the Outlands, from the Deep Marsh Sect out there. My name is Lou Taixie! I've heard Brother Pao's great name many times, and I've come this time precisely to pledge myself to you!" Lou Taixie hastened to introduce himself. Beyond the ancient sects of the Central Plains, there existed in the Outlands a number of families and factions that ordinarily had no dealings with the Central Plains, each living its own life, appearing only when Cloud Terrace Island was about to open.

The real reason Lou Taixie sought to attach himself to Zhang Naipao was to vent his spleen. He had first clashed with Xiao Che, then with Wei Zhao; naturally he could not go crawling to Wei Zhao now—even if he did, he would likely be given the cold shoulder.

Nor was he reconciled in his heart; he wanted to teach Wei Zhao and Xiao Che a lesson, and the best choice for that was Zhang Naipao! Word had it that Zhang Naipao and Wei Zhao were enemies, and that Zhang Naipao was a formidable figure besides. With the right prodding, Zhang Naipao would surely clash with Wei Zhao again—and then he could quietly gloat.

Truth be told, it was his petty, shadowed nature at work: he reckoned Wei Zhao had been shamed when he was teaching Xiao Che a lesson.

"Oh?" Zhang Naipao was rather puzzled—how would someone from the Outlands know of him? If it were someone from the Central Plains seeking shelter, that would be understandable. "What's your strength, then?"

Zhang Naipao wanted to make sure this fellow wasn't simply too weak and hoping to shelter under him, to coast through the trial on his coattails! He did not mind taking on a few stronger lackeys—just as Wei Zhao had once gathered a whole crowd of them.

But the key problem was that he could not take on dead weight; having to look after a lackey during the trial would be nothing but trouble.

"I'm at the peak Great Perfection of the late Heaven rank." With that, Lou Taixie revealed his aura, then pointed at Tu Xiaoshou. "He's my friend too—same strength!"

Tu Xiaoshou had no idea why Lou Taixie was pledging himself to Zhang Naipao, but having a strong man to shield him during the trial could only be a good thing. His own attachment to Lou Taixie had in fact been to find someone to lean on in the trial—otherwise, alone and outnumbered, he feared he would not last and would simply die there.

"Paozi, since these two are sincere about being your lackeys, take them in," Zhong Yongliang said mildly, glancing at the two of them.

"Yes, Brother Liang!" Zhang Naipao nodded quickly. "Good—since that's the case, you two follow me. This is my leader, Zhong Yongliang, Patriarch Mad Dragon of our Tomorrow Upon Tomorrow Sect. You'd best show him some respect!"

"Ah!" Lou Taixie instinctively glanced at Zhong Yongliang. To be called a patriarch at such a young age? Truly formidable! But then he thought of the sinister air of the Tomorrow Upon Tomorrow Sect, and it seemed less surprising that one so young could be a patriarch. "This lowly one pays his respects to Patriarch Mad Dragon!"

Tu Xiaoshou too hurried over to greet Zhang Naipao and Zhong Yongliang.

"Mm, let's go—let's eat something together. I'm starving after that journey!" Zhong Yongliang waved a hand, gesturing for everyone to eat first.

"Excuse me, would you mind registering first?" The shopkeeper in the Eight Trigrams robe came over cautiously. He had already confirmed the newcomers' identities, so he dared not be presumptuous.

"Register your mother's—! You think I'm an impostor?" Zhong Yongliang slapped the Eight Trigrams-robed shopkeeper sprawling with one blow! He was no ordinary Zhong Yongliang now, but Patriarch Mad Dragon Zhong Yongliang—the Cloud Terrace Island plan had been launched by him and Patriarch Xuanchen together back in the day. So only Patriarch Xuanchen himself could come and speak with him on equal terms; anyone else, and Zhong Yongliang would not give them so much as a glance!

The Tomorrow Upon Tomorrow Sect was an indispensable faction in opening Cloud Terrace Island! And Zhang Naipao was an indispensable man among them! Zhang Naipao's duty, like that of the other inheritors, was to absorb the Five Baleful Demonic Qi from the formation at the entrance to Cloud Terrace Island, easing the pressure on the inheritors defending against it!

Only a man like Zhang Naipao could absorb the Five Baleful Demonic Qi—which was why Zhong Yongliang had grounds for his arrogance! If Patriarch Xuanchen would not come to them, then Cloud Terrace Island could not be opened!

It was only that Patriarch Mad Dragon had later died, and the Tomorrow Upon Tomorrow Sect had declined somewhat, so Patriarch Xuanchen had begun to slight them. But now, Zhong Yongliang had returned to life!

"I wouldn't dare..." The struck shopkeeper in the Eight Trigrams robe wore a bitter expression. He had not expected the Tomorrow Upon Tomorrow Sect to be so overbearing, yet he dared not question them further and could only let them in—while secretly dialing Patriarch Xuanchen's number...

Zhong Yongliang led Zhang Naipao swaggering toward the dining hall, but halfway there Lou Taixie blocked their way. "Wait a moment!"

"What are you doing?" Zhong Yongliang frowned, displeased. "Whatever it is, it can wait until we're eating. Why block my way?"

"No, no—there's an important matter I must warn the Patriarch about!" Lou Taixie said. "In the dining hall, there's a ruthless man dining with his family right now, and he won't let anyone else in. Go in and you'll get a beating!"

"What?! Who's so arrogant as to hog the whole dining hall alone? Isn't that my usual trick?" Zhong Yongliang was instantly amused. "In all my years, I've met precious few who dared put on airs in front of me!"

"That's right, but this man is very arrogant." Lou Taixie nodded. "Just now, Tu Xiaoshou and I were both scared off by him!"

"What a pair of cowards—scared off just like that? Who's in there? I'd like to see whether he can scare me off too!" Zhong Yongliang sneered, speaking with complete indifference.

"Right, let's see who scares whom!" Zhang Naipao nodded as well. His divine art had just been perfected, and he was eager to show it off—and here someone with no sense had delivered himself right to his door.

"That man said his name is Wei Zhao..." Lou Taixie said weakly.

"Who cares what his name is—gah!" Zhong Yongliang stopped dead in his tracks and turned to look at Lou Taixie. "What did you say? His name is Wei Zhao?"

Zhang Naipao was taken aback too. He had not expected to run into Wei Zhao again so soon after arriving—truly, enemies are fated to meet on a narrow road!