Chapter 3795 — What Objection Do You Have?

It felt exactly like a referee who had turned a blind eye and blown a crooked whistle, only to be exposed on the spot. Even with Hu Yun Feng's thick skin, he could not help but break into a sweat.

This Meng Zhou really was a hopeless case, rotten mud that would not hold up a wall. Damn it, could you not have gritted your teeth and held out a little longer? Did you have to fall so fast? Could you not see that Qiao Hongcai was still able to stand?

But no matter how awkward or shameful it was, a word spoken was water poured out — spilled water cannot be gathered back. However ironic the scene, he could only grit his teeth and see it through.

"Your name is Wei Zhao, is that right? A mere newcomer, and you dare to nitpick the Pavilion Master's ruling? Has the senior brother in charge of affairs never taught you the rules of the Welcoming New Pavilion?" Hu Yun Feng shot Wei Zhao a cold glance and rebuked him in a harsh, stern voice.

After a pause, Hu Yun Feng continued: "But since you have asked, and before so many people, this Pavilion Master will condescend to answer your question. A moment ago was a moment ago; now is now. Whether those two are standing or kneeling at this instant, at the very least, when this Pavilion Master delivered his ruling just now, neither of them could stand. Do you have any further objection?"

At those words, the crowd below exchanged glances. Hu Yun Feng's pronouncement had been delivered with great vigor, but its content was, in truth, nothing but sophistry.

Everyone knew that the most basic and central principle behind every rule of the newcomer challenge, upheld to guarantee fairness and justice, was that victory and defeat must be decided by the two combatants themselves. No one else — referees included — was permitted to interfere for any reason whatsoever.

In the duel now before them, both sides had been left badly wounded. Hu Yun Feng's intervention had been an unavoidable act of necessity, but he was still obliged to minimize any disturbance to the outcome. And yet the result was plainly a crooked whistle, tilting without hesitation toward Meng Zhou — a clear betrayal of the newcomer challenge's original purpose. To call his words sophistry was not the slightest exaggeration.

Wei Zhao could not suppress a cold laugh and was about to retort, but unexpectedly Qiao Hongcai, forcing himself upright on sheer willpower, walked down from the arena platform on his own. He threw Wei Zhao a look, signaling that there was no need to keep arguing with Hu Yun Feng.

Grateful as he was for Wei Zhao's intention to stand up for him, he also knew that, given the vast gulf in status between them, such an argument could never produce any result. However strong or formidable this Wei Zhao, leader of theirs, might be, he could not change the reality that he was still merely a newcomer of the Azure Cloud Pavilion.

A mere newcomer of the Azure Cloud Pavilion arguing with the dignified Pavilion Master of the Welcoming New Pavilion — no matter how firmly right and justice were on his side, it was useless. The outcome was foreordained from the start.

Wei Zhao understood this perfectly well. Since Qiao Hongcai himself meant as much, there was no need for him to keep tangling with Hu Yun Feng here. This foul grievance should be left for Qiao Hongcai to settle himself.

As for Hu Yun Feng... Wei Zhao was in no hurry. Back in the mortal world, how many formidable figures had he trampled underfoot? There was no rush — not for the moment!

A hero need not fear too humble an origin — the same held true on Cloud Terrace Island! Was Zhang Lifeng not a newcomer from the mortal world? And how did things turn out for him in the end?

"Senior Brother Ku, take Hongcai back first. I will come by shortly to heal his injuries," Wei Zhao said to Senior Brother Ku.

Qiao Hongcai's wounds were grave, but Wei Zhao remained absolutely certain he could restore him to full health in short order. Today's challenge tournament, after all, was not yet over; he and Xiao Che still had to stay and keep watch here.

Senior Brother Ku and the others were visibly taken aback. They knew only that Wei Zhao was an alchemist and had never heard that he could heal the injured as well. To refine pills and heal wounds both — was Wei Zhao not treading the path of Zhang Lifeng, the Divine Alchemist and Sage Physician?

Doubts filled their minds, but Senior Brother Ku and the others asked no further questions. In his view, it was eight or nine parts certain that Wei Zhao had on hand a top-grade fourth-rank Great Return Pill he had refined himself, or perhaps a supreme fifth-rank Great Return Pill. Senior Brother Ku nodded to Wei Zhao, then helped Qiao Hongcai away.

Wei Zhao and the others lodged no further protest. Thus the duel between Qiao Hongcai and Meng Zhou was settled once and for all. Both had been left badly wounded, yet under Hu Yun Feng's favoritism the advantage had gone to Meng Zhou, who had stripped four points of credit from Qiao Hongcai and also taken possession of Cave Dwelling No. 12 at the foot of the mountain.

"Leader, what do you say to me challenging Meng Zhou right now?" Xiao Che suddenly spoke up and proposed.

Meng Zhou was now insensible, and even if he could be brought around, he would be a mere ornament incapable of resistance. If Xiao Che truly issued a challenge at this moment, Meng Zhou's only choice would be to surrender at once; otherwise, to vent Qiao Hongcai's anger, even an honest man like Xiao Che would not in the least mind sending him on his way.

Moreover, Meng Zhou now held Cave Dwelling No. 12 at the foot of the mountain. In all the Azure Cloud Pavilion, those who could take the initiative to challenge him — setting aside the equally gravely wounded Qiao Hongcai — were only two: Zha Wu of Cave Dwelling No. 14 and Xiao Che of Cave Dwelling No. 15.

If Xiao Che proposed to challenge Meng Zhou of his own accord, it would be entirely fair and reasonable. Even if Meng Jue Ming and his lot dragged Pavilion Master Hu Yun Feng in, it would be useless; they could find no grounds whatsoever to stop Xiao Che.

Unexpectedly, Wei Zhao only smiled faintly and said, "This foul grievance — better to leave it for Hongcai to settle himself in the next round. You just follow the original plan and fight your way up one cave dwelling at a time. Not only will you avoid wasting any credit, but when the time comes, Meng Zhou may well find himself weeping tears he has none left to shed."

Xiao Che was instantly struck dumb. Gazing at Wei Zhao's profound and inscrutable smile, he thought for a moment, then could not help but smile in understanding. "Then I know what to do."

The reasoning was simple. If he challenged Meng Zhou now, it would indeed be kicking a man when he was down and would vent a measure of Qiao Hongcai's anger — but it carried one aftereffect: Meng Zhou would from then on fall back to Cave Dwelling No. 15 at the foot of the mountain.

In that case, Meng Zhou need only surrender of his own accord and hand over the four points of credit he had just gained to buy himself the excellent safe harbor of Cave Dwelling No. 15. So long as he did not issue a challenge himself, no one could interfere with him. Such an outcome was plainly not what Wei Zhao and the others wanted to see.

Before Meng Zhou had been made to pay a sufficiently bitter price, how could they let him off so lightly?

Such a thing — not to mention Qiao Hongcai would never agree to it, even Wei Zhao would not agree!

On the surface, Hu Yun Feng's ruling in Meng Zhou's favor did indeed let Meng Zhou reap a great advantage, but in a certain sense it was also, at the same time, shoving him into a pit of fire.