Chapter 2593 — That's Just Too Cruel
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"Haven't you ever heard the saying? 'A petty man is no gentleman; a man without ruthlessness is no true hero.' You've already turned traitor—what do you care about the rest?" Shen Yushu shot Leader Zhu a look of contempt.
"Fair enough..." Leader Zhu hesitated a moment, then nodded. "All right, then it's settled! But... the Medicine King won't get suspicious, will he?"
"What is the Medicine King, anyway? Could he possibly be a match for Brother Jianpai? Even with a whole batch of lightning rods stuck in him, he couldn't manage a thing—compared to Brother Jianpai, he's pathetically weak! I say he ought to change his name to the King of Lightning Rods," Shen Yushu said.
"Good, then," Leader Zhu nodded.
And so Gu Mengyao, Shen Yushu, Wang Xinyan, Han Jingyi, and Han Xiaochao went on ahead to school, while Wei Zhao stayed behind at home to treat Second Zhu's injuries. When Second Zhu got out of the car, Wei Zhao glanced at him and was instantly taken aback!
There had been a time when Second Zhu cut a dashing, high-spirited figure. Now he looked more like a man tottering on the brink of the grave—older even than Leader Zhu. Plainly, these past days had treated him miserably.
Still, it was hardly surprising. He had once been a cultivator, and his standing within the Hidden Zhao family must have been high. But now he was a cripple, an ordinary useless man. It was generous enough that the Hidden Zhao family gave him a place to stay at all—and that was only out of respect for Leader Zhu. But to expect the same respect and regard he had once enjoyed—that was impossible.
Even Zhao Qibing, who had sworn up and down that he would heal Second Zhu, stopped courting him once he had fully become the young heir apparent. He did not so much as glance at Second Zhu again, and he had not been in touch with Leader Zhu for a long time either.
After all, Leader Zhu's duty was to keep watch on Chen Xi—he could not spend every day at Zhao Qibing's side—and Second Zhu was a cripple besides. Zhao Qibing simply had no time to bother with him. One might say the Zhu brothers had long since been forgotten.
And that was precisely what had bred such bitterness in Second Zhu's heart. His injuries had been sustained entirely on Zhao Qibing's account, and he had genuinely been moved when Zhao Qibing promised to find a way to heal him—so moved that he had brought Leader Zhu along to pledge their service to Zhao Qibing.
But ever since Zhao Qibing had formally taken charge of the Hidden Zhao family and his position had changed, he had washed his hands of Second Zhu. He never mentioned healing Second Zhu again—and instead said time and again that he meant to help Elder Bi recover.
How could Second Zhu not resent it? And Second Zhu had seen clearly enough: Zhao Qibing was nothing but a hypocrite. Before he rose to power, he had courted the two brothers relentlessly to counter Zhao Qilei. But now Zhao Qibing was finished—about to go off to the Xuandan Sect's trial and certain death—so he did not care in the least. There was no one left worth courting, and Second Zhu had simply been selectively forgotten.
This, too, was why Leader Zhu had thrown in his lot with Wei Zhao. The two brothers had been, by their own reckoning, utterly loyal to Zhao Qibing—and what had they gotten in return? Not even an enemy showed them as much care. They knew well enough that Wei Zhao was very likely using them too, but Wei Zhao's use of them was open and aboveboard, a use stated plainly, like a fair trade between parties. And so, in his heart, Second Zhu actually leaned toward Wei Zhao.
It was only that, face to face with the enemy who had once gnashed his teeth at him, Second Zhu felt thoroughly awkward, and scarcely dared raise his head to look Wei Zhao in the eye.
"Second, what do you think you're doing? Aren't you going to pay your respects to Mr. Lin?" Leader Zhu frowned and gave Second Zhu a surreptitious kick.