Chapter 4600 — Running Home to Complain
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
For someone like Wei Zhao, fighting above one's level was nothing unusual—but crossing a whole major realm to take on an opponent was still well-nigh impossible.
"Ah, that wretch slipped right past us—how cunning!" Shangguan Lan'er was briefly taken aback, then flew into a rage. That scoundrel Ma Dangfeng had dared to slander her grandfather in public, and she had been all set to make the man pay dearly for it—yet the fellow had tossed off a couple of face-saving platitudes and sauntered off without a scratch. Infuriating!
"Miss Shangguan, Ma Dangfeng may look arrogant and overbearing, but he's no fool. Besides, now that he's framed it that way, even if only for the sake of Lord Shangguan's reputation, you can't very well move against him." Lu Bianren sighed from the sidelines.
"I know that—that's why I called him cunning. He got away with it! Otherwise I'd have had him seized and punished roundly!" Shangguan Lan'er shrugged in helpless fury. It was a habit she'd picked up from Wei Zhao—since growing close to him, she'd absorbed it without even noticing.
Lu Bianren smiled and said nothing. He'd nearly been throttled to death by Ma Dangfeng just moments ago; if anyone present had reason to hate the man most, it was surely him. Yet just now he behaved as though nothing had happened.
Since there was no dealing with the man for the time being, anger was good for nothing. Better to set vengeance aside for now—a gentleman may wait ten years for his revenge.
"By the way, have any of you heard from our young junior brother?" After stomping her feet in a fit of pique for a while, Shangguan Lan'er suddenly changed the subject. The whole reason she'd come today was to ask about this. Wei Zhao had been gone for over a year, and not a single word had come from him the entire time. No one fretted over him more than she, his young senior sister.
"Not yet. The last word we had of Junior Brother Lin was his doings at the Southern Continent Escort Gathering. He was being hunted by a heretic cultivator from something called the Old Sect of the Western Hills—said to be a founding-stage titan of the Western Hills heretical faction. After that, there's been nothing." Lu Bianren sighed.
"So even you haven't received any message from him? Ai, that junior brother of ours is really too much—he can't even spare a thought for those of us who worry about him..." Shangguan Lan'er shook her head in disappointment.
Yet for all her words, a sliver of gladness stirred secretly in her heart. If Wei Zhao had sent word to the likes of Lu Bianren but not to her, wouldn't that mean her place in his heart as his young senior sister ranked below Lu Bianren and the rest? Shangguan Lan'er had always regarded Wei Zhao as her dearest friend in the Tri-Layered Pavilion—if that were truly so, she'd have good reason to grieve.
"Miss Shangguan, you can't fault Junior Brother Lin for this. In truth, it's not that he doesn't wish to send us word—it's simply that the Southern Continent is far away, and finding someone to carry a letter is no easy matter. Besides, with a powerful heretic cultivator from the Old Sect of the Western Hills in relentless pursuit, he couldn't risk seeking a messenger even if he had the chance. It might expose his whereabouts." Lu Bianren reasoned.
"Mm, that's true enough. Then I'll be off." Since there was no news of Wei Zhao, Shangguan Lan'er naturally wouldn't linger at the Azure Cloud Pavilion. After a brief farewell she turned and left with Little Curly Bear—though just before departing she suddenly looked back and added, "If any of you hear from our junior brother, tell me straightaway, all right?"
"Of course. Take care, Miss Shangguan." Lu Bianren nodded, watching her bouncing, skipping figure recede, and couldn't help a faint smile. An odd thought rose unbidden: this little princess of the Soaring Heavens Pavilion and Junior Brother Lin would truly make a fine match—and surely Lord Shangguan would be glad to see it too.