Chapter 2796 — Visitors from the Divine Fist Hall
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
Not long after Zhang Naipao left, three more cultivators arrived—clearly here for the trial as well. One of them, however, was traveling alone, his face sallow as though he had suffered some great misfortune, while the other two kept their distance from him, as if wary of being tainted by association.
"That sallow-faced disciple is from the Divine Fist Hall. One of his companions was crippled by Zhang Naipao, and because he has feuded with Zhang Naipao, the other two don't dare to get too close to him!" Ge Xian lowered his voice and explained to Wei Zhao and the others.
"Where are the other two from?" Wei Zhao asked.
"That I don't know. I only have news of that Divine Fist Hall disciple, because they had a fight with Zhang Naipao," Ge Xian said.
"Young hero, why not come sit with us?" At that moment Feng Shihua rose to his feet and extended an olive branch to the Divine Fist Hall disciple. In truth he was no fool—merely upright and guileless by nature. He could reason it out: Wei Zhao and Zhang Naipao were sworn enemies, and since he had been sitting with Wei Zhao, Zhang Naipao would inevitably count him as an enemy too. The enemy of an enemy is a friend, and this Divine Fist Hall disciple, whose companion had been crippled, must surely hate Zhang Naipao to the bone.
The Divine Fist Hall disciple was startled. He had not expected anyone to actively recruit him; disciples of the other sects could not avoid him fast enough, terrified of being drawn into his affairs and incurring Zhang Naipao's revenge. He had been wondering whether he should even continue with the trial, and now someone was calling him over.
"Hello… are you calling me?" the Divine Fist Hall disciple asked, pointing at himself with some uncertainty.
"Naturally. I am Feng Shihua, an early Heaven Rank inner-family expert and a scion of the ancient Feng family. Might I ask the young hero's honored name?" Feng Shihua asked with a smile.
"I am Li Ciba, from the Divine Fist Hall, a mid Heaven Rank outer-family expert!" Li Ciba said with clasped fists, plainly ill at ease. At any other time, a Divine Fist Hall disciple would have been haughty; though the other man was a scion of the ancient Feng family, he was only early Heaven Rank, and Li Ciba would certainly have looked down on him somewhat. But the circumstances now were different—Feng Shihua taking the initiative to speak with him was already an enormous face-saving gesture.
"Ha ha, Young Master Li, do sit down. Let me introduce you to the others!" Feng Shihua gestured toward Wei Zhao. "This is Young Master Lin, a late Earth Rank expert…"
At the mention of Wei Zhao's strength, a flicker of disappointment passed through Li Ciba's eyes. In his view, Wei Zhao's cultivation was simply too low. Among those present, only Feng Shihua was of the highest caliber, but to contend with Zhang Naipao and his companions—that was utterly impossible.
"Young Master Li must not underestimate Brother Lin. Though Brother Lin is only a late Earth Rank expert, just now, with a single move, he crippled one of Zhang Naipao's mid Heaven Rank subordinates. One move, nothing more. So Brother Lin's strength is the greatest among us all!" Feng Shihua had noticed Li Ciba's disdain and offered this explanation—he even addressed Wei Zhao respectfully as Brother Lin.
"Ah!" Li Ciba was stunned, staring at Wei Zhao in alarm!