Chapter 4673 — Temporary Team-Up
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"Fine. For Vice Island Master Shangguan's sake, I'll let you tag along and leech a few benefits off us." Ren Zhongyuan gave a cold snort and withdrew his hand with a sullen air.
Vice Island Master Shangguan? This time it was Wei Zhao's turn to be taken aback. He had been on Cloud Tier Island long enough to have crossed paths with Shangguan Tianxia, that top-tier titan, more than once, yet he had never heard that the man was actually the North Island's vice island master.
All along, the North Island had emphasized only the Sandie Pavilion—from top to bottom, everyone spoke of nothing but the North Island's Sandie Pavilion—and against such a backdrop even the island master had seemed shrouded in mystery, let alone a vice island master.
That Shangguan Tianxia was the master of the Chongtian Pavilion was known to all the world, but his identity as the North Island's vice island master was known to far fewer; at the very least, newcomers of Wei Zhao's shallow seniority had never heard it mentioned.
Seeing the charitable, condescending look on Ren Zhongyuan's face and the rest, Wei Zhao's earlier ferocity ebbed away. Noting that everyone was watching him—especially Huo Yudie, whose gaze carried a hint of pleading—he curled one corner of his mouth and gave an ambiguous nod. "Very well, then. I'll trouble you for the trouble."
These few were hardly worth mentioning as individuals, but unless it was truly necessary, Wei Zhao had no wish to clash with Eastern Continent people for the moment. These sorts had deep ties in every sort of academy, after all, and short of the last resort, there was no point in Wei Zhao making enemies.
Seeing Wei Zhao cooperate so readily, Huo Yudie finally let out a small sigh of relief. From their earlier dealings she had already sensed an indefinable arrogance in his bones—hard to see on the surface, yet present everywhere all the same—and she had genuinely feared he might come to blows with these people, in which case things would spiral completely out of control.
Fortunately, arrogant though this Wei Zhao was, he was not entirely without self-awareness. At least he knew how to bend and stretch, which showed he was no brainless fool.
"Junior Sister Yudie, let's go." Ren Zhongyuan took the lead in striding forward, though he did not forget to glance back at Wei Zhao. "I hope you won't drag us down. Otherwise, even if you're Vice Island Master Shangguan's own disciple, it won't help you—if your strength fails and you die in the trial, no one will have a word to say about it."
Jiali and the other man followed behind him, likewise remeasuring Wei Zhao with a knowing look and a touch of mockery. "Heh, no wonder Senior Sister Huo took a fancy to you—turns out you've got such a powerful patron behind you. But it's still the same as I said: be careful not to die."
Wei Zhao shrugged it off carelessly. These fellows clearly meant to use him as a punching bag—did they really take him for a soft persimmon? If the journey passed without incident, so much the better; otherwise they had best be careful not to kick an iron plate.
"Don't take it to heart. They're only taking it out on you because of me. I'm sorry." Huo Yudie deliberately walked at the very back with Wei Zhao and apologized in a low voice.
"Oh, it doesn't bother me at all." Wei Zhao answered with a faint smile.
"Mm, that's good, then." Seeing that Wei Zhao's airy composure did not seem feigned, Huo Yudie could not help but regard him with a little more appreciation. His strength was far below Ren Zhongyuan's and the others', but to remain unruffled by favor and disgrace alike was truly rare; set against those people, the gulf between them was plain at a glance.