Chapter 3986 — Passing Along a Message

After letting Wei Zhao inside with a cold smirk, Xu Lingchong and the others immediately bent low toward Gongyang Jun, who had arrived right after, their faces brimming with fawning delight. "Hall Master Gongyang, do come in, do come in!"

Once inside Huayang Residence, the main hall—already opulent enough on its own—now seemed even more like a dreamscape, a paradise of the immortals, thanks to the meticulous decorations adorning every corner.

At this moment, though the grandest of the bigwigs had yet to make their appearance, quite a few guests had already arrived early, exchanging pleasantries and currying favor. No ordinary figure could have gained entry today, and this was the perfect opportunity to expand one's connections.

Wei Zhao, however, plainly had no such designs. After a casual look around, he failed to spot Shangguan Lan'er, the star of the birthday banquet, so he found a quiet corner and sat down, sipping the fine spirit tea provided free of charge—rather enjoying himself, in fact.

Unlike Wei Zhao, who drew not a single glance, Gongyang Jun, entering right behind him, instantly became the center of attention. Yet his fearsome reputation and overbearing air commanded such awe that no one dared approach and strike up a conversation.

Lifting his gaze for a sweep of the room, Gongyang Jun then did something that made Wei Zhao's eyelid twitch: he walked straight toward him, and without a word, took the seat directly opposite.

What did this fellow want? Wei Zhao could not help but speculate in secret. Yet after sitting down, the man made no further move—he merely lounged somewhat lazily in the spacious chair, surveying the people and goings-on in the hall with cold, appraising eyes.

Wei Zhao glanced at him without betraying anything. Seeing no further movement, he paid him no mind and simply sat there with his arms folded, relaxed and composed.

And so the two sat facing each other. Because of Gongyang Jun, almost everyone in the hall could not resist stealing a glance their way, then silently withdrawing their gaze—lest they look too long and incur his displeasure.

After a good while, Gongyang Jun suddenly spoke. "What is your relationship with Zhang Lifeng?"

Wei Zhao was momentarily taken aback, then answered as if nothing were amiss, "Hall Master Gongyang jests. Master Zhang is a top-tier figure on the Middle Island. I am but an insignificant newcomer of common roots—how could I possibly have any connection to him?"

Unexpectedly, Gongyang Jun said flatly, "You are lying."

Wei Zhao was left speechless. He was indeed lying—only, even Zhang Lifeng himself did not know of their connection, and he had never breathed a single word of it to anyone. How could Gongyang Jun possibly know?

"First, you and Zhang Lifeng both come from the mortal world. Second, you and Zhang Lifeng are both alchemists. Third, after arriving on Cloud Terrace Island, you have repeatedly made inquiries about Zhang Lifeng. And you still claim there is no connection?" Gongyang Jun reclined on his side, one hand propping up his chin, and cast Wei Zhao a sidelong, condescending glance.

Wei Zhao was secretly alarmed. He had never imagined that a mere newcomer of common roots like himself would be investigated so thoroughly by this lofty Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall. He really was a little flattered—and more than a little unnerved.

"Lying before me is pointless." Gongyang Jun, for some reason, seemed in a talkative mood. He lazily tapped his own head with one hand. "Every scrap of intelligence in the Law Enforcement Hall is mirrored in this head of mine. And if necessary, I can employ the Soul-Searching Art at any time. Care to try?"

"I would not. Hall Master Gongyang, if you have business with me, pray speak plainly," Wei Zhao said in a low voice.

"Haha!" Gongyang Jun burst out laughing. "Boy, spare me the comedy. What business could I possibly have with a newcomer as lowly as an ant? I merely sought some diversion from boredom. Rest assured, I am not so bored as to use the Soul-Searching Art on you—I was simply curious about your relationship with Zhang Lifeng."

Wei Zhao fell silent for a moment, then said mildly, "I have no relationship with Master Zhang Lifeng. If you insist there must be one, then I can only say that I wished to ask Master Zhang for help in saving someone."

"Saving those inheritors of the mortal world, is that it? I never took you for such a sentimental soul. No matter. If you should meet Zhang Lifeng, you may pass along a message for me." Here Gongyang Jun's eyes suddenly turned sharp and cold, chilling as a blade's edge. "Tell him that the shame of that defeat back then, I shall repay a hundredfold. Tell him to rest easy—that day is not far off."

"Very well." Wei Zhao's face betrayed nothing, but inwardly he was churning like a storm-tossed sea. This was the first he had ever heard that Gongyang Jun had once crossed blades with Zhang Lifeng!

Given Zhang Lifeng's legendary career, even a formidable man like Gongyang Jun losing to him was, frankly, only natural. What stunned Wei Zhao far more was that, facing Zhang Lifeng as he stood today—at the very pinnacle of the Middle Island's elite—Gongyang Jun was confident he could avenge that defeat. Just how powerful must he be?

Thinking it over, Wei Zhao could not sense Gongyang Jun's strength at all, yet from the way he treated the high-ranking elders of the council, one thing was plain: this man was no ordinary figure. His strength, in all likelihood, already far surpassed that of the average elder!

A figure of such transcendence, hailed as the foremost talent of the Threefold Pavilion's new generation—truly, the title was well deserved.

As the two conversed, Wei Zhao's gaze suddenly caught several people entering through the door—all faces he least wished to see, and all too familiar.

Three of them: at the rear walked Yu Jiang, ahead of him Nan Tianguan, and at the very front a middle-aged man of exceptionally fierce and commanding bearing—none other than Nan Tianxiong, leader of the Three Heroes of the Nan Clan.

Along the way, Nan Tianguan said in a low voice, "Leader, you saw that fellow beside Xu Lingchong just now, didn't you? That was Kang Jingming. I'm growing more and more convinced that this one might be that Lin Er!"

Behind him, Yu Jiang chimed in, "Your disciple thinks so too. If Kang Jingming hadn't presented Xu Lingchong with something as fine as Star Ink Stone, would Xu Lingchong, on the strength of his common-newcomer status alone, have promoted him so vigorously—even bringing him out to serve as a greeter?"

Strictly speaking, the greeters at the Shangguan young lady's birthday banquet were a duty beneath even Yu Jiang, an inner disciple of the Soaring Sky Pavilion with his ordinary background—let alone a mere Kang Jingming. At this moment, Yu Jiang was green with envy.

Nan Tianxiong, striding in the lead, gave a slight nod and mused, "There is indeed something odd about this affair. But we have already struck a bargain with Xu Lingchong: he is to be promoted to managing senior brother of the Soaring Sky Pavilion, and Second Brother is to be enrolled nominally under his grandfather Xu Yuanzheng, so that once he completes his secluded cultivation and breaks through, he will become a direct disciple. Kang Jingming is his man; if we go probing him rashly, it will be awkward to explain ourselves later, won't it?" (To be continued..) R752