Chapter 4983 — Two Thugs

"That's hardly surprising. The Famous Elixir Sect may be headquartered here on the Central Isle, but word is they've built themselves up quite nicely over in the Eastern Isle too, forging ties with all sorts of powers there. This Zheng Dongyang appears to have some manner of partnership with them, which is why Tong Yangxi was able to bring him in. He may be Zheng Dongjue's elder cousin, but if a man chooses where to set up his own banner, even Zheng Dongjue has no say in it." Wei Shenjin explained.

"That's true enough." Wei Zhao nodded in sudden understanding, though a faint sense of wrongness still lingered at the back of his mind—only just what was wrong, he could not for the life of him put his finger on.

After a moment's pause, he turned to Wang Xinyan and asked, "By the way, how have things been at the Elixir Hall lately? Has Grandmaster Zhang come back these past two years?"

"No. The old gentleman hasn't shown himself in a very long time. These two years the Elixir Hall has still been Zheng Dongjue's to command." There was a sigh in Wang Xinyan's voice.

A situation that dragged on this long boded ill for her. Zheng Tianshuo had never once given up his designs on her. True, overawed by the Heavenly Dao Walker, Zheng Dongjue dared not do anything outrageous on his grandson's behalf—but now the Heavenly Dao Walker had gone to the Eastern Isle, and Zhang Lifeng, the Elixir God, came and went like a dragon glimpsed through clouds. The Elixir Hall was all but Zheng Dongjue's own word made law.

Should Zheng Dongjue ever take it into his head to do something ugly, Tian Chan would have almost no power to resist. Even with Hou Guanqi and Cai Zhongxuan—those nominal disciples of Zhang Lifeng—stepping forward to shield her, they could never hold back a Zheng Dongjue who covered the sky with one hand.

Wei Zhao had been prepared for such an answer, yet he could not help feeling a little disappointed all the same. His trip to the Central Isle this time was chiefly to see Tian Chan and Xueli, true—but he had not come without a thread of hope. If luck favored him and he could meet Zhang Lifeng, then those slumbering beauties of his might yet be saved.

Alas, it was fated to remain a lovely fantasy. By the look of things, meeting this master of his—bargain though he was—would be no easy matter. The hour of destiny had simply not arrived, he had to admit.

As the group talked, a clamor suddenly rose outside. Someone was shouting at the door: "Who was it that laid hands on our Famous Elixir Sect men just now? Get out here and show yourself!"

At this sudden commotion, the patrons inside the Heavenly Elixir Pavilion all rushed out, and a great crowd of onlookers promptly gathered outside, every one of them pointing and murmuring. The Heavenly Elixir Pavilion and the Famous Elixir Sect had truly locked horns today—this place was fated to know no peace.

Wei Zhao and Tian Chan exchanged a glance, then followed the crowd out the door. At once he spotted the middle-aged man standing at the very center of the throng, and the moment Wei Zhao saw the emblem on the man's sleeve, he froze.

"You're the Profound Ascension cultivator who wounded Diao Huanshan?" The middle-aged man's gaze snapped straight to Wei Zhao.

"That's right, it was me. Who are you to the Morning Star Academy?" Wei Zhao said with a slight frown.

The middle-aged man had come brimming with menace, but at these words he could not help being taken aback. He had not said a single word about it—how did this fellow already know he belonged to the Morning Star Academy?

Little did he know that Wei Zhao had spent so long at the Morning Star Academy that he had even come away with the title of honorary dean. If he could not recognize the Academy's emblem by now, he would have to be blind.

"Ho, so you've got a bit of an eye in your head after all, knowing I'm from the Morning Star Academy. That's right—I am Zhao Youque, Libationer of the Eastern Isle's Morning Star Academy!" The middle-aged man announced his name, then gave a cold laugh. "Word is you're a Profound Ascension cultivator, so you think you can throw your weight around and bully Deputy Steward Diao of our Famous Elixir Sect. Why not try bullying me too, while you're at it?"

Before the words had left his mouth, Zhao Youque abruptly unleashed a mighty aura, the strength of the mid Profound Ascension stage laid bare in an instant, startling everyone around. Experts of the Profound Ascension stage were such rare creatures—and here were two in one day. This spectacle had been well worth watching.

At the sight, Tian Chan, Xueli, and Wei Shenjin all blanched. They knew Wei Zhao was a Profound Ascension expert, but only of the early stage, while this man stood at the mid stage—two whole tiers above him. Even with Wei Zhao's strength, he might not be a match for this Zhao Youque.

Yet Wei Zhao seemed wholly oblivious, still watching Zhao Youque with the same placid expression. He frowned slightly and said, "You're a libationer of the Morning Star Academy, and you've come all the way to the Central Isle to play thug for the Famous Elixir Sect—don't you think you're dragging the Academy's good name through the mud?"

"What the hell do you know!" Zhao Youque's face darkened at once.

Of course he knew it was a disgrace. The post of Libationer of the Eastern Isle's Morning Star Academy was no trifling matter. Perhaps in the Eastern Isle, where experts were as thick as clouds, it drew little notice—but once abroad, he represented the Academy's very face. The moment he stooped to such sordid, back-alley business, the Morning Star Academy's reputation would suffer for it.

But Zhao Youque had no choice. His footing in the Morning Star Academy rested entirely on Zheng Dongyang. This time Zheng Dongyang had come out to take private work and line his own pockets, and Zhao Youque was nothing but a tag-along lackey. Now that this mess had blown up, the Famous Elixir Sect could not handle it themselves, and Zheng Dongyang could not possibly show his face in person—so who else was there to send but him?

"So you're determined to be the Famous Elixir Sect's running dog, are you?" Wei Zhao's formerly placid expression turned a shade more severe. He was, after all, the honorary dean of the Morning Star Academy, and he had no wish to see its reputation damaged over a thing like this—but if the man simply would not listen to reason, then there was nothing to be done.

"Watch your filthy mouth, boy. I'd originally meant to stop short of going too far—but if you truly don't know better and mean to provoke me, you'll be the one to suffer for it in the end. If you've any sense, make your apologies now and be quick about it. I'm advising you out of the kindness of my heart—don't go ruining yourself!" Zhao Youque said, his face ugly.

"Heh. I'll pass those words right back to you. Out of respect for the fact that you come from the Morning Star Academy, I've no wish to hurt you—I'll let you off." Wei Zhao shook his head mildly.

"No wish to hurt me? Hahahaha! You're a funny one, boy—your strength's nothing to write home about, but you've got the art of putting on airs down pat. An early-stage Profound Ascension, and you're going to let a mid-stage one off? In front of all these people—only you could utter such shameless bluster." Zhao Youque laughed loudly.

"You don't believe it? You're a man of the Eastern Isle yourself, surely—is challenging above one's tier such a strange thing?" Wei Zhao gave him a look that was half smile, half something else.

"True enough, such things are common as dirt in the Eastern Isle, where geniuses gather like clouds. But is this the Eastern Isle? Hmph—next time you try to bluff someone, think it through first. Or are you telling me you're from the Eastern Isle too?" Zhao Youque looked Wei Zhao up and down.

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