Chapter 4222 — The Wei Arc Seas
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
As soon as these people caught sight of Wei Zhao, every one of them could not help but show a look of awe. Wherever Wei Zhao and Huang Xiaotao passed, all present consciously parted to make way, not daring the slightest offense.
Times had changed. However much Wei Zhao had shone in the past, it had all fallen within the scope of a newcomer at the Welcome Pavilion—they could envy him, gossip about him, and if they found him displeasing, they could even sneer at him. But things were different now.
Because of that single sentence from Shangguan Tianxia, Wei Zhao now existed in a different world from them. Facing Wei Zhao was like facing Gongyang Jun back when he had burst onto the scene out of nowhere—they dared only to look up to him, and did not dare show the least disrespect.
They were no fools. They knew that in the face of a truly absolute gap, any self-important little schemes were utterly foolish notions that would bring them ruin and nothing else.
The rest of them—especially those who had once crossed Wei Zhao—dared only to keep a respectful distance from the Wei Zhao of today. There was one exception, however: rather than avoiding him or yielding, this person deliberately pressed close, feigning carelessness as she brushed against Wei Zhao. That person was Murong Zhen.
"Senior Brother Wei Zhao, it's been so long, and I've missed you so much." Murong Zhen greeted him in a coy, cloying voice. In the cultivation world, strength commanded respect, so calling him senior brother was not out of line.
Seeing this woman press up so seductively to entice Wei Zhao, Huang Xiaotao at his side unconsciously tightened her grip on his arm. She had long since regained her looks and her confidence, and she was certainly no inferior to a flirt like Murong Zhen—nor did she doubt Wei Zhao's self-control. Yet deep down, she still did not want Wei Zhao to have any dealings at all with a woman of such ill repute.
Wei Zhao smiled and patted Huang Xiaotao's hand to signal that she need not worry, then turned to glance at Murong Zhen and said mildly, "Given the history between us, words like 'missed you' seem a bit odd, don't they?"
"Oh, Senior Brother Wei Zhao, you're so magnanimous. Before, it was this humble girl who failed to recognize your eminence and gave you offense in many ways. I apologize to you here—please, whatever you do, don't take it to heart." Murong Zhen wore a tense look.
"Save your scheming. Speak plainly—I don't have time for your roundabout talk." Wei Zhao looked up at the mission board, not even turning his head as he spoke mildly.
"Well... Senior Brother Wei Zhao, you see, might this humble girl be allowed to serve a while longer in the post of newcomer steward? Rest assured, I will do my utmost to assist Pavilion Master Ku and Senior Brother Xiao, and I dare not harbor any other designs." Murong Zhen probed cautiously.
Although Xu Lingchong had returned, he kept a low profile and shut himself away, and he had never been interested in her anyway. Her only backer, Si Haitao, had no influence at all here at the Triple-Tiered Pavilion, so her present situation was truly precarious.
With Ku Zhongle installed as the Third Pavilion Master of the Welcome Pavilion and Xiao Che serving as the head senior brother of the newcomer stewards, the Azure Cloud Pavilion's influence within the Welcome Pavilion had, so to speak, fallen entirely under the control of Wei Zhao's faction. As a mere second senior steward of the newcomers, she was pinned down completely by Xiao Che. However much she schemed, she had no means of fighting back at all.
Whether she kept her position depended entirely on Wei Zhao's mood. If Wei Zhao took a dislike to her and wanted her removed, it was a matter of a single word, and there was not a thing she, Murong Zhen, could do about it.
"I'm no longer at the Welcome Pavilion now, and I won't meddle in its affairs any further. Four words for you: conduct yourself well." Wei Zhao answered.