Chapter 4113 — The Ultimate Backer

Among the whole crowd, only Zheng Tianshuo's face was ashen, so furious that he gritted his teeth. He knew perfectly well that Di Xingdao's words had been aimed squarely at him!

The old man had only just recovered from his injuries, and his strength was still far from its peak—but with his genius cultivation, recovering his former power was merely a matter of time. Faced with a Di Xingdao at his peak, not to mention a mere Zheng Tianshuo, even his own grandfather Zheng Dongjue would likely have to yield a step or two.

Originally, as his status as the young master solidified, Zheng Tianshuo had felt that winning over Tianchan, that ravishing beauty of a sister-in-law, was already a sure thing within his grasp. Then Di Xingdao had to go and utter a single sentence that sealed off every last bit of hope. That old bastard who refused to die!

Even so, Zheng Tianshuo did not dare hold a grudge against Di Xingdao—holding one would be useless anyway, since they were not even on the same level. If he truly provoked the man, being killed by him would be as easy as crushing an ant. The only person Zheng Tianshuo could hold a grudge against now was Wei Zhao, the one who had healed Di Xingdao.

Sensing Zheng Tianshuo's resentful, cold glare, Wei Zhao merely smiled faintly. For the man he was now, so long as Zheng Tianshuo did not resort to underhanded tricks against Tianchan, nothing else posed any real threat. The man's strength was far inferior even to that of his dead cousin Zheng Tianjie—what business did a specimen like this have competing with him?

Meanwhile, Zheng Dongjue, who had just arrived, cast his grandson a meaningful glance. He had heard rumors of late about Zheng Tianshuo pestering Tianchan, yet had no intention of stopping it. After all, his original purpose in arranging the ghost marriage between Tianchan and Zheng Tianjie had been nothing more than to take revenge on Tianchan; now, even if the prize simply fell to another of his grandsons, it made no great difference.

But in the past, it had been a matter of a single word. Now that Di Xingdao had publicly declared that he would stand behind Tianchan, Zheng Dongjue could not act rashly for the time being.

After all, Di Xingdao's legend of looking down upon all heroes stood there for all to see. No matter what, Zheng Dongjue had to weigh the matter carefully; at least until he had truly gauged Di Xingdao's real strength, it would not do to tear off all pretense with such a legendary figure.

Thinking this, Zheng Dongjue immediately put on a face full of smiles and stepped forward to offer his congratulations: "Lord Tian, now that you have recovered from your grave injuries, it is like a dragon returning to the sea, a fierce tiger back to its mountain—the day you regain your former glory is close at hand. This is truly a joyous occasion!"

Di Xingdao smiled slightly. "Deputy Hall Master Zheng flatters me. Glory or no glory, that is all in the past. As far as I am concerned, everything has begun anew."

At this moment Hou Guanqi and Cai Zhongxuan came over from afar. Seeing them, Zheng Dongjue said, "Little Hou, Lord Tian's recovery is a joyous event of the highest order—shouldn't you hurry and find some way to inform Hall Master Zhang?"

The words carried a strong note of probing. Zheng Dongjue had never been content to play second fiddle to anyone—yet to openly defy Zhang Lifeng was beyond him; he lacked not only the ability but even the nerve. The only opening he could exploit was the fact that Zhang Lifeng was absent year-round.

Even so, he dared only make petty moves, for fear that Hou Guanqi and the other nominal disciples had some secret means of contacting Zhang Lifeng. If he were caught red-handed while scheming, he would be finished.

Hou Guanqi betrayed nothing, answering without the slightest leak: "Deputy Hall Master Zheng, my master is like a divine dragon—one sees its head but never its tail. He is not easy to find. Still, I will do my best to send word, and once he receives it, he will naturally return."

Zheng Dongjue nodded, then glanced at Wei Zhao again and said, "So this must be Pharmacist Lin. Since you have healed Lord Tian's injuries, you are a great benefactor to our Elixir Hall. Whatever you may ask, we shall never decline!"

The words were rousing and generous enough, yet Wei Zhao could still clearly hear the perfunctory ring beneath them. He smiled faintly. "If the need arises in the future, I certainly will not stand on ceremony. But for now I am still only a wandering cultivator; following Senior Cai here is already a rare chance for study and tempering."

"Is that so? To cure even an incurable ailment like Lord Tian's—if word spread, it would shake heaven and earth. Pharmacist Lin is being far too modest," Zheng Dongjue said with narrowed eyes, feigning admiration.

"I would not dare. What I say is the plain truth—I sincerely wish to learn a thing or two from Senior Cai," Wei Zhao said, still in that same mild tone.

Hearing this, Zheng Dongjue looked Wei Zhao up and down once more, thinking to himself that the man seemed utterly ordinary and absurdly young; by the sound of him, he truly did not resemble any formidable pharmacist.

In Zheng Dongjue's estimation, this Wei Zhao had most likely just happened to have on hand a prescription specifically for treating injuries like Di Xingdao's—a blind cat stumbling onto a dead rat, so to speak, and thus healing him. Otherwise, if his medical skill were truly comparable to Zhang Lifeng's, he would long since be famous across the Five Great Islands. Why would he need to tag along learning from Cai Zhongxuan? Clearly he was no formidable figure.

Having reached this conclusion, Zheng Dongjue at once ceased to take Wei Zhao seriously, and could not even be bothered to pay further attention to this clod of a nobody who had crawled out of some nameless backwater. He said dismissively, "In that case, Little Cai, you entertain Pharmacist Lin for me and take him to get something to eat, as a token of our thanks. I have matters to attend to, so I will not keep you company. And the rest of you, stop crowding around here—have none of you work to do?"

With that, Zheng Dongjue, assuming the air of a great man, clasped his hands behind his back and departed with Zheng Tianshuo in tow, while the other Elixir Hall disciples dispersed as well.

Hah, the old bastard certainly knows how to put on airs! Wei Zhao and Di Xingdao exchanged a glance, their eyes all mockery and derision.

Having been on Cloud-Tier Island so long, Wei Zhao had seen no small number of big shots—whether Shangguan Tianxia of the Northern Island or Di Xingdao before him, their presence was inborn and commanded respect. Only this Deputy Hall Master Zheng was different: the little dignity he possessed was all an act, and everywhere he went he carried himself like a petty man drunk on his own success, exactly the manner of that Kang Jingming. It truly left one speechless.

"Since this exalted personage has already spoken, Lord Tian, young friend Wei Zhao, shall we do him the honor of going out for a meal?" Hou Guanqi joked with a grin.

"Very well. I have been wanting to get out and stretch my legs and breathe some fresh air. Let us find a place outside," Di Xingdao said with a nod and a smile.

"Then let us go to the Five Elements Merchant Guild. There will be fewer prying eyes and ears there, so we can speak freely," Cai Zhongxuan suggested.

He had considered that going out to eat would certainly mean bringing Tianchan along. Although she was now Di Xingdao's sister and no one would say anything about her joining them, her relationship with Wei Zhao still ought not to be exposed for the time being—they had to be careful. (To be continued) R655