Chapter 4599 — Lan'er to the Rescue
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
Under Shangguan Lan'er's watchful gaze, Ma Dangfeng could only stand aside and seethe. When Lu Bianren had been in his grasp, he'd still had a chance to silence him quietly and be done with it—but now, that was plainly impossible. Damn it, the coward had slipped through his fingers after all!
With everyone looking on, Lu Bianren gasped hoarsely for a good long while with no thought for dignity, and only then managed to steady his breathing. He slowly climbed to his feet, straightened his somewhat rumpled robes, and bowed deeply to Shangguan Lan'er. "Many thanks for saving my life, Miss Shangguan. I shall never forget this kindness so long as I have teeth in my head."
"It was nothing, no need to take it to heart. But do tell me what happened just now—did this thing really say my grandfather has no eye for talent?" Shangguan Lan'er smiled faintly. Though she kept close company with Wei Zhao, she had never once had dealings with this Lu Bianren; she'd only caught distant glimpses of him a few times. That she happened to be on hand today was his good fortune—otherwise his chances of living through the day would truly have been anyone's guess.
At her words, Lu Bianren glanced at Ma Dangfeng, his face still savage, then at the Azure Cloud Pavilion disciples all around, heads bowed, not daring to make a sound. His heart sank with utter disillusionment. Every disciple in this sect was that same cowering sort, without even the backbone of an ordinary man. That the Azure Cloud Pavilion had sunk to such an awkward pass—who else was there to blame?
"I'll warn you now—watch your tongue, or I'll have a nice long heart-to-heart with you." Ma Dangfeng threatened from the side, his tone sinister and insinuating. He meant every word; if Lu Bianren truly dared to accuse him, he wouldn't mind adding another life to his tally tonight.
Faced with a threat so utterly undisguised, Lu Bianren merely met his eyes with a calm expression, showing not the slightest intention of backing down. Slowly he said, "In answer to Miss Shangguan: yes."
"You!!!" Ma Dangfeng was so furious he nearly struck out again. He'd seen plenty of weaklings with no real strength, but one who didn't fear death the way Lu Bianren did—this was the first he'd ever met.
"Good. Very good. In all my years, this is the first time I've heard anyone say my grandfather has no eye for talent. You've opened my eyes, I'll grant you that—and this is something the old man really ought to hear for himself." This time she was truly angry. She gave a cold sniff and fixed her eyes on Ma Dangfeng. "Speak up. What's your name?"
"N-no, it wasn't like that—Miss Shangguan, please let me explain. This creature is nursing a grudge and spewing lies. Pavilion Master Shangguan has always been the man I respect most; how could I ever speak ill of him behind his back? My heart is pure and true, as plain as sun and moon to see. Miss Shangguan, you mustn't let a petty man pull the wool over your eyes!" Ma Dangfeng hastily put on the look of a man grievously wronged.
"His name is Ma Dangfeng," Lu Bianren said mildly from the side.
"Ma Dangfeng?" Shangguan Lan'er thought hard but couldn't place the name at all. Ever since Wei Zhao left, she rarely went out to amuse herself; mostly she heard scraps of news from Shangguan Tianxia. This so-called top rookie king, Ma Dangfeng—she truly had never heard of him.
Ma Dangfeng had meant to keep defending himself, but when he saw that blank, bewildered look on Shangguan Lan'er's face, his self-esteem took a heavy blow on the spot. It was one thing for Shangguan Tianxia to pay no heed to this top rookie king, but now even Shangguan Lan'er wore the contemptuous expression of one hearing a nobody's name—this was going too far. This was beyond all bearing!
The greatest blow one can deal the self-important is neither belittlement nor insult. It is being ignored!