Chapter 4165 — The Road Home
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
It was common knowledge that Chief Hall Master Gongyang Jun of the Law Enforcement Hall had long enjoyed a close relationship with Shangguan Tianxia, and Su Zhaohe was Shangguan Tianxia's prospective disciple. Once he formally took him as master, he and Gongyang Jun would be as good as fellow disciples. If Niu Qiang could latch onto such a thick, sturdy leg, the benefits would be boundless.
"So the warrant for the martial artist Ling Yi was just to do someone a favor—meaning this case truly can't be made ironclad?" Si Haitao frowned.
"Exactly. If we force it through, I'm afraid it won't hold... All I can do now is arrest Wei Zhao first and hand him over to the higher-ups to decide," Niu Qiang said helplessly.
At the thought of Wei Zhao, he could not help thinking of his diehard brother Ma Jian, who had met such a miserable death because he had moved against Wei Zhao. If he again abused his office for personal revenge, he feared he would follow in Ma Jian's footsteps, and the consequences did not bear thinking about.
"In that case, why not simply bypass the official channels? They're far too restrictive, and I hear Shangguan Tianxia thinks well of Wei Zhao. If this blows up, even if you catch Wei Zhao, you won't be able to kill him. Private channels are safer." Si Haitao's eyes darted this way and that.
"Private channels? What do you mean by that?" Niu Qiang was utterly baffled.
"Isn't it simple?" Si Haitao glanced at him, privately thinking the man a fool, and prompted with forced patience, "Why are you handling this case at all? Isn't it to do Su Zhaohe a favor? Tell him Wei Zhao's identity—what do you suppose he'll do?"
"Brother Su will certainly move against Wei Zhao! He's at the very peak of his fortunes right now. Wei Zhao killed his cousin—how could he possibly swallow that? Even if he wanted to let it go, once word got out, people would inevitably call him weak, and it might even affect his acceptance as a disciple. Then he'd have no choice but to settle accounts with Wei Zhao!" Niu Qiang's eyes lit up with excitement.
"So, you tell him the intelligence, then take him to find Wei Zhao and challenge him, and after that all you have to do is sit back and watch the show! Su Zhaohe was deemed worthy by a figure like Shangguan Tianxia—you could call him the strongest Foundation Establishment expert without exaggeration. He'll make short work of Wei Zhao!" Si Haitao said with a sinister smile.
In his eyes, Su Zhaohe had already become a keen blade, and one aimed squarely at Wei Zhao. All he had to do now was egg Niu Qiang on to nudge that blade's edge a little closer to Wei Zhao's throat—nothing more.
Unfortunately, he still had no idea of Wei Zhao's true strength, and took it for granted that Wei Zhao must still be at the Foundation Establishment realm. When Wei Shenjin had been injured, it had been a sneak attack from behind by Wei Zhao—that hardly counted.
Little did he know that Wei Zhao was no ordinary man, and could hardly be measured by ordinary standards. Even if Wei Zhao walked right up to it, that so-called strongest Foundation Establishment blade, Su Zhaohe, would not be able to cut him down!
"A fine idea! Steward Si is truly brilliant!" Niu Qiang nodded again and again as he listened. This way he would neither break the rules nor take any risk, and at the same time he could please Su Zhaohe and use the opportunity to destroy Wei Zhao—three benefits in one stroke.
After staying on Central Island for more than a month, Wei Zhao bade farewell to the people of the Heavenly Path Sect. Then, after a long, lingering parting with the two women, Tianchan and Xueli, he finally set out on the road home. R1152