Chapter 4005 — Safe and Sound
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
Fortunately, Wei Zhao was not the sort to forget a kindness, and gave him no such opportunity.
Hong Zhong's eyes lit up. He glanced at Nan Tianxiong and the others in the distance, then sighed. "Young Hero Lin, you truly have great skill and even greater nerve—surrounded by formidable enemies, and you still dare show yourself on such an occasion. This old man must say it: I salute you."
"What must come will come, sooner or later. One can only meet force with force," Wei Zhao said calmly.
Honestly, so many things had happened today out of the blue that he could never have anticipated them. Had he known in advance, he would have thought long and hard about whether to risk attending this birthday banquet at all.
But what should have happened and what should not had both already come to pass; no amount of regret could mend it now. Wei Zhao's mindset had become that of a man so lice-ridden he no longer bothers to scratch—or, as the saying goes, a dead pig that fears no boiling water.
In the end, nothing in the world of cultivation was ever absolutely safe. Threats always existed, differing only in magnitude. Rather than fleeing from them, it was better to face them head-on—Wei Zhao had long since come to this realization.
"Young Hero Lin has real mettle. But if you ever have need, don't hesitate to tell this old man. These old bones may be worn, but they can still handle a petty villain or two," Hong Zhong said with a laugh.
"Then I thank Steward Hong for his kindness." Wei Zhao spoke evenly. For the time being he had no need of outside help—at least not until his identity was exposed, he did not.
After a few words with Wei Zhao, Hong Zhong did not linger long. His status represented the Hong Clan Merchant Guild, after all, and he was one of the few focal figures at the banquet.
In such a delicate situation, his contact with Wei Zhao could only go so far. Any more, and showing him too much favor would not be helping Wei Zhao but harming him.
The birthday banquet that followed had turned into an out-and-out gathering of power among the elite, having nothing more to do with a nobody like Wei Zhao. After being dragged by Shangguan Lan'er into staying a while longer, Wei Zhao ultimately left early anyway.
Rather than standing on the sidelines watching these great personages play their games of power, Wei Zhao would sooner go back to his cave abode and cultivate. At least that gave him a greater sense of solid ground underfoot. Perhaps one day in the future he too would count among those dignitaries—but for now, at least, he had not the slightest interest in such confounded nonsense.
As things stood, Xu Lingchong had become an enemy to the death. After being snipped into a eunuch, there was no telling what revenge he might attempt. Before, he had abided by the Threefold Pavilion's rules of the game; hereafter, who could say? A personal ambush or assassination was not beyond him.
Beyond that, the threat from Nan Tianxiong and his crew had plainly grown. Wei Zhao could sense it clearly—their suspicion of him had come surging back.
So Wei Zhao's position was now more dangerous than ever before. Only by ceaselessly raising his strength could he calmly deal with these crises that might erupt at any moment. To that end, he must cultivate without pause. R1152