Chapter 4036 — Of Use at Last

"Oh? From what you're saying, if I simply stand aside, you'll let me walk away unscathed?" Hong Zhong said in surprise.

"Exactly. We're only after this brat, purely to avenge our third brother. We've no intention of making an enemy of the Hong Merchant Guild. Of course, there is one condition—it would be best if Steward Hong didn't come poking his nose in. After all, fists and feet have no eyes, and if you get hurt by accident, there'll be nothing we can do about it." This time it was Nan Tianxiong who spoke.

They were not afraid of Hong Zhong going back and telling others if they killed Wei Zhao here. With the upright and honorable pretext of avenging their third brother Nan Tianyong, this was a pure matter of jianghu grudges; even the higher-ups of the Santie Pavilion would not interfere, only turn a blind eye.

But if they were to kill Hong Zhong to silence him and keep the news secret, that would actually do Nan Tianxiong and the other two no good. Hong Zhong was, after all, an important figure in the Hong Merchant Guild. However quietly they might do it, the Hong Merchant Guild's capabilities meant they could still trace the faintest clues—and when that time came, the three of them would be in for a world of trouble.

"So that's how it is. It seems you gentlemen are quite sensible after all. You clearly had the chance to take advantage of me in my moment of weakness, yet you still exercise such restraint—commendable." Hong Zhong spoke unhurriedly, taking his time, then turned the conversation: "It's just a pity you're still too foolish."

"What did you say?" Nan Tianxiong's expression darkened at once, and Nan Tianguan and Yu Jiang likewise wore unfriendly looks.

"I said you're too foolish—you actually thought I would stand by and do nothing about Young Hero Lin. If that isn't foolish, what is?" Hong Zhong laughed mockingly. "The relationship between Young Hero Lin and me is far beyond anything you could imagine. We've known each other for a long time!"

Wei Zhao was slightly taken aback, somewhat unsure what Hong Zhong meant by that last remark. Known each other for a long time? Was he trying to prove something to Nan Tianxiong?

"You old bastard, you're courting death!" Nan Tianguan's expression turned savage in an instant, yet tinged with a strange, inexplicable glee.

Were it not for his wariness of the Hong Merchant Guild's influence, he would have loved nothing more than to hack Hong Zhong to pieces to vent his hatred. Originally he had no such chance, because Nan Tianxiong would never have allowed it—but now Hong Zhong was courting death himself, and no one could stop him even if they wanted to. Then no one could be blamed.

"Steward Hong, I'll say it to you one more time: I do not wish to make an enemy of the Hong Merchant Guild, nor do I intend to kill you. Do not mistake our forbearance for weakness. Surely you've heard that my patience has never been good. Killing a man or two out here on the vast sea is no more than a casual, offhand trifle." Nan Tianxiong's face was dark as water.

"It seems you really are courting death. Then I won't stop you either—rest easy and die, old thing!" Nan Tianxiong abruptly rose to his full height, radiating a terrifying aura, and even the fierce bird spirit beast beneath his feet trembled, barely able to hold its form.

Yet it was the weak flying spirit beast beneath Hong Zhong and Wei Zhao that showed not the slightest abnormality, as though Nan Tianxiong's aura could not affect it at all.

"Life-Seizing Overlord Fist!" Nan Tianxiong's figure was like some primeval demon god. A single, simple punch smashed down from above, yet it carried an incomparably domineering and piercing force, and even the sea surface dozens of zhang below was stirred into waves.

Behind him, Nan Tianguan and Yu Jiang looked at Hong Zhong and Wei Zhao as though they were already dead men.

Even among Gold Core experts, Nan Tianxiong was a troublesome and ruthless character. With only the meager strength of a frail old man like Hong Zhong and Wei Zhao's paltry cultivation, they could not possibly withstand a single move.

The only thing they needed to watch for now was not to let the two of them fall straight into the sea afterward. After all, the Star-Ink Stone and those rare treasures had not yet been obtained. If they killed the men and thus let the treasures slip through their fingers, that would be too great a joke.

And yet, in the face of Nan Tianxiong's astonishing killing blow, both Wei Zhao and Hong Zhong maintained the same calm and unruffled expression. Wei Zhao was still sitting cross-legged, healing his injuries, while Hong Zhong did not regard his opponent as worth his attention at all.

Watching the Life-Seizing Overlord Fist draw near his head, Hong Zhong at last lazily extended a hand and gave a light swat, as though swatting a fly. Then a giant golden palm abruptly appeared beside Nan Tianxiong and sent him flying with a single blow!

"Huh?" Nan Tianguan and Yu Jiang were dumbstruck at the same time. Nan Tianxiong, a Gold Core expert, had not only failed to kill his opponent in an instant—he had been sent flying by a single palm from Hong Zhong. What a shocking twist!

Fortunately, the two of them had been preparing all along to fish the corpses of Hong Zhong and Wei Zhao out of the sea, and now it came in handy—they managed to catch Nan Tianxiong just before he fell into the water. Otherwise, no matter how strong Nan Tianxiong was, once he fell into the sea he could only become feed for the sea beasts; there was no second possibility.

After being caught, staggering, by Nan Tianguan and Yu Jiang, Nan Tianxiong was left shaken to the core by that palm strike and took a long while to finally come back to his senses. When he looked at Hong Zhong again, his expression had unmistakably turned to unprecedented horror and dread.

As for Nan Tianguan and Yu Jiang, they now looked as though they had seen a ghost. Even Nan Tianxiong had been sent flying by a single palm—if it had been the two of them, wouldn't they have been swatted so hard their shit came out?

He was plainly nothing but a merchant. How could this unremarkable old man possess such appalling strength?

"Out of consideration that your uncle still has some ties with my Hong Merchant Guild, I will not kill you this time. But if there is a next time, if you come capering and prancing before me again, you had best come prepared to die." Amid Hong Zhong's placid expression, a murderous intent flashed that made one's heart pound with dread.

If, before this, he had still cared somewhat about Nan Tianxiong's background, then now, seated in the position of vice president of the Hong Merchant Guild, Hong Zhong was a person of real power even in the Central Island, where the great figures gathered. He could basically stand on equal footing with Zheng Dongjue and had no need to fear much at all.

Even if he did strike and kill Nan Tianxiong, there would not be much trouble—only that he had not yet returned to report for his new post, and being too conspicuous would easily invite criticism.

That way, though there would be little problem for himself, Wei Zhao, as a newcomer to the Yingxin Pavilion, might well bring disaster upon himself. Not only would the Law Enforcement Hall of the Santie Pavilion investigate him, but even the figures behind Nan Tianxiong would likely move against him as well—which would be counterproductive. R1152