Chapter 3573 — I Must Decline

"Ha, seems that brat Kang Zhaoming wasn't lying—you really do know how to put on a fierce front!" Seeing Wei Zhao's flat, unruffled expression, Xu Lingchong was instantly amused. "But let this young master give you a word of warning: Cloud Terrace Island is not that qi-starved mortal realm of yours. Here, Heaven-rank experts are thick as dogs in the street. A man of your pitiful ability had best tuck his tail between his legs and keep his head down, or you'll be dead before you even know what killed you!"

"I accept Senior Brother Xu's instruction," Wei Zhao said, still betraying nothing.

Xu Lingchong gave a contemptuous smile, then said, "I've already heard from Kang Zhaoming and Zhong Yongliang about your grudges with them in the mortal realm. But now that you've come to Cloud Terrace Island, I, as your senior brother, will settle the matter for you: so long as you vote for Kang Zhaoming tomorrow, all your old mortal-realm grudges will be wiped clean."

Without waiting for Wei Zhao's reply, Xu Lingchong made to turn and leave. After all, in his view, coming in person to say such a thing was already a great face granted to the other party; as for the other refusing the settlement—well, that was simply impossible. Unless this Wei Zhao had been kicked in the head by a donkey!

Yet Wei Zhao's next words turned his expression abruptly: "Senior Brother Xu's kindness—I must decline."

"What?" Xu Lingchong's step halted. He turned back in disbelief and looked coldly at Wei Zhao. "Brat, say that again!"

"Oh." Wei Zhao wore the picture of obedience. "Since Senior Brother Xu bids me say it, I have no choice but to say it: I said Senior Brother Xu's kindness is something I must decline. I will not vote for Kang Zhaoming."

At these words the whole hall erupted in an uproar. To snub Young Master Xu so bluntly, so utterly without face—had this Wei Zhao really taken this place for the mortal realm, where he could do as he pleased? Did he not know that the man could flatten him with a single hand, effortlessly?

In that moment, everyone looking at Wei Zhao did so with the eyes one reserves for a dead man!

Even Pavilion Master Hu Yunfeng fawned and flattered this Young Master Xu. Yet here was a mere newcomer up from the mortal realm, daring to defy Young Master Xu in public—if that was not courting death, what was?

"Good! Very good! So you do have some spirit!" Xu Lingchong laughed in sheer fury. Here in paltry Welcome Pavilion, he had never met a newcomer who dared defy him openly. Wei Zhao was the first!

"Seems you still know a rule or two—you know an inner-pavilion disciple like me can't raise a hand against an outer-pavilion disciple like you, and that's why you're so reckless!" Xu Lingchong, convinced he had grasped the source of Wei Zhao's confidence, sneered: "But you've probably forgotten one thing: you can only stay in Welcome Pavilion for a year. After that year—whether you succeed in Foundation Establishment and enter Qingyun Pavilion, or prove a worthless wretch and get banished to hard labor—either way, no one will be able to protect you then... heh heh..."

Faced with such undisguised menace, Wei Zhao's expression remained unchanged; he simply regarded the other with serene indifference. Xu Lingchong felt as though his punch had landed on cotton—thoroughly unpleasant. Any other newcomer threatened like this would by now be scared witless, pissing himself and scrambling to beg forgiveness. When had he ever met anything as impervious as Wei Zhao?

"Hmph, seems you still don't understand your position! You really are a carefree one!" Xu Lingchong looked at Wei Zhao as though at an idiot and sneered on: "Even if I don't lift a finger against you, don't think hiding in Welcome Pavilion for a year will make everything fine. I'll tell you plainly—I have no end of ways to deal with you, and when I do, you'll still cry yourself a nice, rhythmic river of tears!"

"That's just how I am—can't help it! Eat when it's time to eat, drink when it's time to drink, and don't keep your troubles locked in your heart. Soak in the bath, wash your feet, savor every second of comfort while it lasts... Drink today while there's wine today; let tomorrow's sorrow wait for tomorrow." Wei Zhao shrugged and spoke with a helpless air.

He had seen plenty of such threats back in the mortal realm, when his strength had been even lower than now—and had he not come through lively as ever? Cry himself a rhythmic river of tears? When the time came, no one yet knew who would be weeping!

Those who had once threatened Wei Zhao had either ended up dead, or become his underlings, or lived on under someone else's protection—Kang Zhaoming being a case in point.

Perhaps, in time to come, this Xu Lingchong would himself need whose protection to stay safe—who could say?

"You... you've got nerve. Since that's how it is, I'll say no more. Meng Jueming, you know what to do?" Xu Lingchong's face was livid; he shot Meng Jueming a cold glance and asked.

"Rest assured, Young Master Xu. From now on, he can more or less kiss cultivation resources goodbye," Meng Jueming said hastily.

"Hmph!" Meng Jueming nodded—no, it was Xu Lingchong who nodded, gave a hmph, and turned to leave. Meng Jueming's final words had at least salvaged him a shred of face.

Hearing Meng Jueming's words, Kang Zhaoming was elated! On Heaven-Rank North Island, to want to advance without cultivation resources? That was sheer fantasy.

Never mind that Wei Zhao seemed formidable now—everyone here stood at the great consummation of the late Heaven-rank stage. Their starting points, so to speak, were identical.

At present Kang Zhaoming was an alchemist and thus a bit weaker, but once he pushed through to the early stage of Heaven's Path Foundation Establishment, that would be Wei Zhao's day of death!

With gloating delight he thrust a middle finger at Wei Zhao. True, Wei Zhao's refusal to vote for him was a slight disappointment, but it was no great matter—at worst he would turn around and drum up a few more votes from Xuanji Pavilion! Just now, a few of those old fellows had still shown Xu Lingchong a measure of respect; so long as the benefits were sweet enough, they would surely back him.

By contrast, Wei Zhao had thoroughly offended Xu Lingchong—and that was the greater gain. This way, even without his own prodding, Xu Lingchong would take the initiative to find ways to deal with Wei Zhao. Let Wei Zhao get ready to weep!

Meanwhile, on the other side, though Zhong Yongliang had not spoken to Wei Zhao, he had thrown him several meaningful looks before leaving. He had been an undercover agent all along; now that Xu Lingchong was preparing to move against Wei Zhao, his moment to be useful had come—he would be perfectly placed to tip Wei Zhao off.

Once Xu Lingchong and his party had gone, the other newcomers glanced at Wei Zhao with schadenfreude, then drifted off in twos and threes, chatting and laughing. As for Meng Jueming and Meng Tong, they were in remarkably good spirits, teasing each other: "Tsk tsk, someone's in for a heap of bad luck now. Fools up from the mortal realm—sure enough, they never know how high the heavens are or how deep the earth!"

Watching the crowd disperse, the long-suffering senior brother at last said with a face full of worry, "Junior Brother Wei Zhao, you were far too rash just now. Take a step back and the sea is wide, the sky is clear—a cultivation second-generation like Xu Lingchong is not someone we can afford to provoke!"

Off to the side, Xiao Ran and Qiao Hongcai said nothing, but their expressions made plain that they too felt Wei Zhao had let his temper get the better of him. RS

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