Chapter 3953 — Identity Exposed
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
Looking back now, that notion was so absurd it made one's hair stand on end. Thank heaven Wei Zhao had never had the chance to cross blades with him; otherwise, given all his prior conduct, had Wei Zhao been left even the slightest opening, he would surely have been dead and gone by now, not even bones remaining.
"You're dying to finish me off in one strike and rid yourself of the trouble forever, aren't you?" Meng Jueming's face was full of mockery. He puckered his lips toward the two guards in the distance and sneered with complete assurance: "What a pity. This may be a dead mining zone, but there are never fewer than two guards posted here. Even if I'm no match for you, can you take on both guards at once? And even supposing you could kill them both at the same time, are you confident you could escape the combined manhunt of the Spirit Jade Hall and the Law Enforcement Hall afterward, Young Hero Lin?"
At that, Wei Zhao gave a noncommittal smile and shook his head. "All that rambling, all those circles you're talking in—are you really that afraid of me, Senior Brother Meng?"
"Afraid? Of course I'm afraid—I'm scared to death of you right now!" Meng Jueming deliberately put on an expression of utter terror, then his face shifted again. Tossing the spirit jade he held as a threat to Wei Zhao, he snorted: "But Young Hero Lin, there's one thing I'd advise you not to misunderstand. It's not that I'm afraid you'll kill me—it's that I'm afraid you won't give me what I want, forcing me to go to the Southern Heaven Pass, and that would be far too disappointing, wouldn't it?"
A truly troublesome creature! Wei Zhao exhaled a turbid breath and said coolly: "Go on, then. What is it you want?"
"Good, good. It seems Young Hero Lin still knows how to read the room. Best that way—saves us an ugly falling-out later. What I want is very simple; I'm sure Young Hero Lin will satisfy me, won't you? Heh heh!" Meng Jueming tossed the spirit jade in his hand again, laden with insinuation.
"You want spirit jade? How much?" Wei Zhao raised an eyebrow. If Meng Jueming's appetite went no further than spirit jade, then it was no real problem. Give him some spirit jade to hold him at bay for now, then find a chance to deal with him later—that would be a sound enough strategy.
But to his surprise, Meng Jueming suddenly burst into raucous laughter. Only when the two guards took notice did he lower his voice again and say: "Asking me how much? Young Hero Lin, are you joking? Put a pile of gold and a hen that lays golden eggs before you—which would you choose?"
So that was it! Wei Zhao understood at last. Of course—given Meng Jueming's greedy nature, a paltry sum of spirit jade could never satisfy him. The man had deduced that Wei Zhao possessed some means of recharging spent jade, and it was hardly surprising that he had set his sights on that.
"A hen that lays golden eggs? What do you mean by that?" Wei Zhao feigned bewilderment. No matter what, he could never let anyone learn of the jade pendant's space—his golden finger, bound up with his very life.
"I just praised you for reading the room, and in the blink of an eye you're putting on an act for me again. Is it really wise to be so uncooperative, Young Hero Lin? My temper may not be as easygoing as you imagine. If you make me unhappy, I might just turn around and sell you out to the Southern Heaven Pass. I daresay they'd treat me well enough in return. What do you say to that, Young Hero Lin?" Meng Jueming threatened, his face turning hostile.
At that, Wei Zhao said nothing. He simply regarded the other man with the same calm, even gaze—unhurried, unruffled, a still well without a ripple. R1152