Chapter 3166 — Terms and Favors

"Exactly!" Wei Zhao nodded. And that was precisely what puzzled him most. These three could have killed him with ease—so why were they still talking so much?

"In truth, the Ancestors of our Blood-Robe Huangquan Sect do not act lightly. That is the rule. The payment our employers give us is limited, and the most we may dispatch is a late-stage Heaven Rank expert. The fees never suffice to trouble the Ancestors themselves. Killing you might be no more than a lift of the hand for us, but we will not do it! Every trade has its rules, and we cannot break them!" Ancestor Gloom explained. "What is more—quite the opposite. Because our employer supplied us with false information, our Blood-Robe Huangquan Sect has suffered grievous losses. We mean to take some revenge upon this employer. We strongly suspect he deliberately set a trap for us!"

Most of these rules had been invented on the spot by Ancestor Gloom, all for the sake of winning Wei Zhao's trust. Yet his reasoning was plausible and well-founded, and Wei Zhao truly did believe what they said—otherwise, he could not for the life of him understand what these three had come for.

"Who is your employer? Who hired your people to kill me?" That was the question Wei Zhao most wanted answered.

"This employer is an old acquaintance of yours," Ancestor Gloom said. "Actually, we regard you as a young expert of boundless potential and wish to make your acquaintance—though that is a minor matter. Our Blood-Robe Huangquan Sect has young talents of its own. The main reason we have come to your door in person is to ask your help in teaching this employer a lesson. Otherwise, we cannot swallow this insult!"

"What? Does this employer have powerful backing? So powerful that even you dare not move against him?" Wei Zhao was taken aback.

"Not exactly!" Ancestor Gloom waved a hand. "After all, we are an assassin organization. Moving against an employer would be bad for our reputation. Besides, we only suspect this employer of setting us up—we have no proof, so it is awkward to act. And at present he is a disciple of an ancient sect, and we would rather not lay hands on a disciple of an ancient sect!"

"Pfft... a disciple of an ancient sect?" Wei Zhao was caught between laughter and tears. "You think that an ancient sect you yourselves shrink from—you think I would have a way to deal with them?"

"Of course you do. That is exactly why we came in person. Otherwise, what do you think—that your face is so great it would bring two Ancestors and this steward of mine to your door together?" Ancestor Gloom countered.

"Oh? Then who exactly is your employer?" Wei Zhao could not help but grow suspicious.

"Zhao Qibing!" Ancestor Gloom said. "He is currently a disciple of the Dark Night Palace. If we moved against a disciple of the Dark Night Palace, it would provoke conflict between the ancient sects. But you, Master Wei Zhao, need not worry about that. As far as I know, the present Palace Master of the Dark Night Palace, Gu Mengyao, is your woman, is she not?"

Wei Zhao was about to say that Gu Mengyao was not his woman, only a good friend, when he suddenly recalled Yaoyao's confession before she left. By that reckoning, she should count as his woman after all. So Wei Zhao nodded and said, "So it was Zhao Qibing..."

At long last, the doubt that had weighed on Wei Zhao's heart was resolved! He had been bewildered as to how he had provoked the Blood-Robe Huangquan Sect. It turned out they had not come looking for trouble on purpose—they had simply been hired to do it!

With that, Wei Zhao's hatred for the Blood-Robe Huangquan Sect faded. Assassin organizations took money and did the job; the true culprit was Zhao Qibing!

"And what benefit do I get from doing this?" Wei Zhao thought it over and asked in return. He knew this was a bargain with a tiger, but since Ancestor Gloom had explained so much—for all their talk, it came down to one thing: they would not move against Wei Zhao now. That was why he had the nerve to ask.

"Punish him, and give our Blood-Robe Huangquan Sect some satisfaction. Consider it a favor to us. Our Blood-Robe Huangquan Sect will owe you one, and we will surely repay it!" Ancestor Huangquan spoke up at this point.

"Owe me a favor?" Wei Zhao mused. This was a deal with nothing to lose and everything to gain! Gu Mengyao would certainly deal with Zhao Qibing without being asked, so it amounted to the Blood-Robe Huangquan Sect owing him a favor for free! This was a fine piece of business! So Wei Zhao nodded and said, "Good. Since that is the case, then it is settled!"

"Straightforward!" Ancestor Huangquan nodded as well. "I like straightforward people best. Good—this matter is settled, then. The three of us will trouble you no longer. We take our leave!"

"You are leaving already?" Wei Zhao was startled. He had not expected these three to have truly come for this matter alone—and to leave the moment it was done!

"Indeed. The purpose of our visit was to ask Master Wei Zhao's help in disciplining Zhao Qibing and giving us some satisfaction. Our Blood-Robe Huangquan Sect has stood for so long, and never has an employer played us so false. It is enough to make one spit blood!" Ancestor Gloom said bitterly.

"Very well. I will have a word with Gu Mengyao," Wei Zhao nodded. "Take care, all three."

"Good. No need to see us out—we are going." With that, Ancestor Gloom, together with Ancestor Huangquan and Ancestor Blood-Robe, walked out of Wei Zhao's villa. They truly did not linger for even a moment, and left the instant they stepped through the gate!

Watching their departing backs, Wei Zhao knitted his brows. Today's affair was truly a little strange! What Ancestor Gloom had said seemed entirely reasonable, and yet Wei Zhao could not shake the feeling that, given the stature of these three, there was no need for them to treat him thus—to come calling in person?

Could it really be over a single Zhao Qibing? If they wanted to deal with Zhao Qibing, surely they need only speak to the Dark Night Palace and owe it a favor—there was no need to come all the way to him and go through it twice over, was there?

Still, if it was because the present Palace Master of the Dark Night Palace was Gu Mengyao, and because they had once tried to assassinate him, and they feared Gu Mengyao would refuse them out of spite—that was possible enough. Hence they had come roundabout to him to serve as a middleman.

That was the only possibility Wei Zhao could think of. Still, since these three bore him no hostility, he was relieved. From first to last, his jade pendant had given no warning, which proved these three truly harbored no murderous intent toward him. Perhaps they really did not wish to move against him!

So Wei Zhao could only shake his head and set the matter aside for the time being. After all, there was no use in brooding over it. Since nothing had come of it, he might as well devote his energy to cultivating the Xuanyuan Dragon-Taming Art and tempering the forging flame! RS