Chapter 1636 — Yu Shan Returns
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
Elder Bi nodded, his face darkening. It was true that Zhao Qilei would not speak so wildly about such a matter; even if it was meant to be secret, given the bond between the Zhao and the Yu families, learning the truth would hardly be difficult. So Elder Bi pondered a moment and said, "By your account, Wei Zhao's strength has very likely not fallen at all—that he has recovered to his former level? Which is to say, late Profound-rank?"
"That is hard to say for certain, but it is my inference," Zhao Qilei said.
"Come to think of it, something of the sort has happened before!" Zhao Qibing said suddenly. "Earlier, when Wei Zhao fought Ma Zhu, it was said that Wei Zhao had been crippled too—strength entirely gone, his meridians snapped. So all those enemies of his rushed in to settle the score. In the end, not only was Wei Zhao not crippled, he seemed to have broken through, and he trampled those who came looking for trouble into the ground. What Qitan says does have a certain merit to it!"
Zhao Qibing did not refute Zhao Qilei, for he had personal experience of the matter. The last time, he had nearly believed Wei Zhao's strength was gone and gone looking for trouble—only, before he had even set off, Wei Zhao came storming through his own door. So on this point Zhao Qibing was of the mind that it was far better to believe it true than false.
"In that case, let me call the Yu family first and ask. If such a thing really did happen, then we dare not act rashly!" Elder Bi said with a dark face. "Qitan, such a momentous affair—why did you not speak of it sooner?"
"After the trial concluded, the Ice Palace Master gave special instructions: the course of this trial is to be kept strictly confidential and must not be brought up lightly. Were it not for this once—watching you all go and throw your lives away for nothing—do you think I would have dared risk saying it?" Zhao Qilei said with a pained face. "So, Elder Bi, there is no harm in your asking the Yu family. As for other households, do not ask them. Should word spread and the Ice Palace Master lay the blame upon us, it will not go well."
"So that is how it is!" Hearing Zhao Qilei's explanation, Elder Bi's expression softened a good deal. "Young Patriarch, you are the Yu family's son-in-law—why not give them a call and inquire about this matter?"
"Very well, I shall make the call." Zhao Guangyin nodded and agreed. Now that Zhao Qibing had returned to the Zhao family, he was his son—and a formidable contender besides—so naturally Zhao Guangyin was quite eager.
Over at the Hidden Yu family, the scene was one of utter chaos, nothing at peace. The reason was none other than this: Yu Shan had come home, bringing one piece of good news and one piece of bad.
The good news was that Yu Bing had passed the trial and stayed on in the Ice Palace, becoming an outer disciple of the Ice Palace. The bad news was that Yu Shan had been turned into a cripple—and crippled because Yu Bing had colluded with outsiders to beat him into one!
Feng Nitian was a man of an ancient sect. After Wei Zhao crippled him, the Ice Palace showed the Ancient Feng family some face and dispatched a disciple to escort him home personally. Yu Shan received no such courtesy: the Ice Palace's disciples simply dumped him into the nearest hospital, paid a little of his medical bill, and washed their hands of him.
By the time Yu Shan had recovered, risen from his bed, and walked back to the Yu family under his own power, nearly a whole month had gone by.
Yu Xiaochen sat dark-faced in the family head's seat, watching his second brother and Yu Shan, both displeased of countenance. Yu Shan's accusation was one side of the story only; now that Yu Bing had entered the Ice Palace and become an outer disciple, who could say what the truth of the matter truly was?
A newly admitted outer disciple had no right to contact his own family; the Ice Palace merely sent a letter in his stead to deliver the notice.