Chapter 3569 — Old Jiao Has a Problem
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 3
Unfortunately, the words had already been spoken—private cave-dwelling exchanges were permitted, and that was the rule of the Welcome Pavilion. Even if Meng Jueming wanted to stop it now, he had no way to; he could only wish he could slap himself twice across the face. If he had not let his mouth run and announced that rule just now, how would that newcomer Wei Zhao have found such a gaping loophole to slip through?
"Hmph, what are you all still gathered here for? Break it up, all of you, get back to your own cave dwellings! And you two from the mortal realm—go find Kubi for the incantation and mnemonics for your subsequent cultivation!" Meng Jueming was furious at the sight of these newcomers, Wei Zhao most of all. If not for the sect rule that inner disciples may not raise a hand against outer disciples, he would have struck Wei Zhao down this very moment. A country bumpkin from the mortal realm—what did he amount to!
What a pity that an inner disciple could not even issue a formal challenge to an outer disciple—unless that outer disciple had already advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage! He would have to wait and take his revenge through other means.
Since the senior managing brother had spoken, the newcomers exchanged glances and could only disperse, each impatient to try out his own cultivation cave dwelling.
"Cousin Jiu, you have to help me! Surely you are not really going to make me live in that Cave Dwelling Number Fifteen down the mountain? If I do, how am I supposed to beat that loathsome Wei Zhao a month from now?" Seeing that most of the others had gone, Meng Zhou hurried over to Meng Jueming's side to complain.
"Hmph, whose fault is it that you cannot measure up? You could not even beat a counterfeit from the mortal realm—you have thrown every last shred of my face in the dirt!" Meng Jueming scolded him irritably. He had once placed great hopes on Meng Zhou and had intended to groom him into his own right hand; now, before the boy had accomplished a single thing, he had brought a whole mess of trouble down on Meng Jueming's head instead.
Meng Zhou's face flushed scarlet, and he rushed to defend himself: "Cousin Jiu, you know my strength better than anyone. Just now I really was caught off guard for a moment and let Wei Zhao find an opening. I was going to give him a bit of face, but who knew he would go straight for a dirty trick the moment he stepped up!"
Meng Jueming mused, "That is true enough. The brat is cunning. If it had been a fair and open fight, there is no reason a local cultivator at Great Perfection like you should have lost to a counterfeit from the mortal realm."
"Exactly! So in next month's ranking tournament, I will definitely pound him until he is spitting teeth—but Cousin Jiu, if you really make me live in Cave Dwelling Number Fifteen down the mountain, then it will be a different story." Meng Zhou quickly made himself agreeable. What he feared most was that Meng Jueming would wash his hands of him from here on. If he lost such a powerful backer for nothing, he would have nowhere in the world to go and weep.
"Hmph, how could words I declared in public be taken back? You listen to me, boy: whether you want to or not, you will go hole up in that Cave Dwelling Number Fifteen down the mountain!" Meng Jueming swept him with a stern glare that made Meng Zhou jump in fright.