Chapter 3786 — Succeeding to the Third Pavilion Master's Seat
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 3
"It's fine. You know, for all his reckless bluster, I'd bet my life Hongcai has thought this through more thoroughly than any of us. If he has already set his mind on burning his boats, then we have even less reason to hold him back. Let him go and do it!" Wei Zhao patted the Suffering Senior Brother on the shoulder and consoled him.
In his view, if Qiao Hongcai's attempt at Foundation Establishment should fail, then judging by the rough exterior and meticulous interior the fellow had displayed in the previous round, he would most likely concede defeat of his own accord, just as Xiao Che had, rather than foolishly gamble his life on bravado.
And to look at it from the most pessimistic angle, even if Qiao Hongcai truly crossed blows with Meng Zhou, no matter how badly wounded he was, so long as he could cling to that single breath and not die, Wei Zhao was confident he could pull him back. So in a sense Wei Zhao had ample capacity to save the day, and there was no need to worry overmuch.
Just then, Xiao Che, who had been standing nearby, spoke as if struck by a thought: "Brother Wei Zhao, Senior Brother Ku, there's really no need for either of you to fret so much over him. I have a premonition—that fellow Hongcai is very likely to reach the summit before I do."
After several days of wholehearted adjustment, Xiao Che privately judged that his odds of a successful Foundation Establishment were nearing eighty percent, and he meant to make the attempt within the next couple of days. Yet no matter how thorough one's preparations, the process of breaking through to Foundation Establishment differs from person to person.
A man driven by momentum like Qiao Hongcai might see results in the space of a few breaths. But he, Xiao Che, was a different matter: his process would be like simmering congee over a slow fire—win or lose, he would likely be locked in the struggle for some time.
"Ha... that's a good thing. Hongcai is just the sort to serve as vanguard. Letting him go first and give Meng Zhou a run for his money is fine enough, and then you, Xiao Che, follow with the second hand. Two hands, two forms of insurance—that makes it complete! Don't idle about here either; go into seclusion at once and I'll wait for your good news!" Wei Zhao said with a laugh.
"All right." Xiao Che nodded, took his leave of the Suffering Senior Brother, and turned to enter Cave Dwelling No. 15 beneath the mountain.
Watching Xiao Che depart, the Suffering Senior Brother finally turned to Wei Zhao and said with feeling: "Junior Brother Lin, to be frank with you, until today I always believed that among the lot of us, you alone were a dragon among men, a phoenix among fowl. But now I suddenly have this feeling—our Junior Brother Xiao and Junior Brother Qiao are no creatures of the common pond either. Following you, Junior Brother Lin, they are bound to soar to the heavens one day. It's only I, the senior brother, who has neither talent nor skill, and whose life will come to no more than this."
"Senior Brother Ku, now you're selling yourself far too short." Wei Zhao draped an arm over the Suffering Senior Brother's shoulder. "Since the occasion offers, your junior brother here owes you a word of honest advice: we cultivators must above all else have confidence in ourselves. If even you do not believe in yourself, how can you presume to hope for a breakthrough? By the way, Senior Brother Ku—how did those two Foundation Establishment Barrier-Breaking Pills I gave you last time work out?"
The Suffering Senior Brother gave a sheepish laugh. "I was afraid of wasting the fruit of your labor, Junior Brother Lin, so I'm still adjusting and preparing to this day. I haven't taken them yet."