Chapter 4102 — The Warrant Is Cancelled

He had heard plenty of legends about Zhang Lifeng from others before, but those were mostly word-of-mouth tales, far less real and reliable than the words of someone close to the man like Cai Zhongxuan.

"Ha, this old fellow is only a nominal disciple—how could I count as a prized disciple?" Cai Zhongxuan said with a laughing shake of his head.

"A nominal disciple is still a prized disciple. Otherwise, why would he hand over rare resources like the Snow Sword Heart Art into your keeping, Elder Cai? Or does Master Zhang have many direct disciples besides?" Wei Zhao probed.

"Direct disciples?" Cai Zhongxuan raised an eyebrow. "Speaking of which, my master really is rather unconventional. At his level, which of those great figures does not have disciples and grand-disciples scattered everywhere? My master alone goes his own way. Direct disciples aside, even nominal disciples can be counted on one hand—he hardly ever takes anyone in."

"Oh? A legendary figure like Master Zhang, and not even one direct disciple?" Wei Zhao could not help finding it strange. Only direct disciples were true heirs who could carry on the mantle. Could his bargain master really have reached such detachment that he had seen through even the matter of passing on his lineage?

"On that subject, my master once said something rather ambiguous—that in the mortal realm, he ought to have a direct disciple..." Cai Zhongxuan said suddenly.

"Ought to?" Wei Zhao was taken aback.

Cai Zhongxuan smiled bitterly. "Those were my master's exact words. The rest of us nominal disciples have been puzzling over it ever since. Either there is one or there is not. What is this 'ought to' supposed to mean? But my master would not say more, and we dared not press him. By now it has become an unsolved mystery in our Elixir Hall!"

At this, Wei Zhao's heart stirred. He did not know by what means, but judging from Zhang Lifeng's words, the matter of his having obtained the man's legacy in the mortal realm had already become known to him—it was simply that until they met face to face, it could not be formally confirmed.

What Wei Zhao suddenly thought of was... the matter of the latecomer at Zhang Lifeng's ancient tomb. Could it be...

He understood clearly in his heart, yet showed nothing on his face. Changing the subject, he said, "Elder Cai, you are deputy steward of the Five Elements Merchant Guild. Might you be able to procure some Heart-Devouring Linglong Grass and Living Aspect Mushrooms for me?"

"The Living Aspect Mushrooms will be rather difficult, but the Heart-Devouring Linglong Grass is no problem. I will have someone search the warehouse. The guild may not have any—mostly we keep finished pills on hand—but the Elixir Hall should." Cai Zhongxuan was exceedingly forthright and agreed without a second thought.

"Then I thank you, Elder Cai." Wei Zhao said gratefully. The Living Aspect Mushrooms had been asked about only in passing, while the Heart-Devouring Linglong Grass was naturally for refining Foundation Establishment Golden Pills—not only for himself, but chiefly with Xueli in mind.

Wei Zhao himself was already at the peak of the late Foundation Establishment stage, and having broken through only recently, he would have no use for them for some time. But Xueli's current strength was far too weak—she had not even the slightest ability to protect herself. If her strength were not raised quickly, any mishap in the days to come could easily turn into tragedy.

In any case, the Snow Sword Heart Art was already in place. Coupled with Foundation Establishment Golden Pills, with Xueli's talent and foundation, a swift breakthrough should be no great problem.

In the blink of an eye, three days passed. The Snow Sword Sect threw every force at its disposal into a citywide manhunt for Ling Yi and Xueli, yet the two seemed to have evaporated from the world. Not only were they not found—there was not even a single sighting reported.

By rights, with a reward of a thousand spirit jades posted, anyone who had seen them would surely have come forward to the Snow Sword Sect. Yet after three days, not one had.

Helpless, the Snow Sword Sect could only let the matter rest for the time being. A sect as vast as theirs, especially in a place as contested as the Middle Island, had all manner of important affairs to handle every day. It could not go on spending so much manpower over a mere serving girl who had eloped and fled.

As for Wei Shenjin, though he hated Ling Yi and Xueli to the bone, he had no energy now to hunt for them day after day. He had already spread word of his impending marriage; to keep delaying would only make him a laughingstock. The arrow was on the string and had to fly—he had no other choice but to marry Situ Qian.

After all, the invitations sent out had only stated that Wei Shenjin was to take a dual-cultivation partner, without naming who—only that she was a disciple of the Snow Sword Sect. Now, though Xueli had fled, the remaining Situ Qian happened to fit that description perfectly and could fill the place.

Strictly speaking, Wei Shenjin did not much care for Situ Qian. At most he felt a mild fondness for the woman. Otherwise, given how she had always thrown herself at him, the fact that a man of his temperament had never touched her said a great deal.

But as things stood now, Wei Shenjin was forced into a corner with no way out, and this was the only recourse left to him. His one consolation was that Situ Qian's qualifications were not bad either. She might not be as beautiful as Xueli, but her looks were hardly poor—and more importantly, Situ Qian had deep connections.

In the Snow Sword Sect, Wei Shenjin's only backing was a single Grand Elder, and even that was merely a distant tie of kinship. It could not compare with Situ Qian, the Elder's own granddaughter. Marrying Situ Qian would not only win him a beauty, but advance his standing in the Snow Sword Sect hereafter, making him a truly valued core disciple and pillar of the sect—two birds with one stone.

As for Ling Yi and Xueli, however unwilling Wei Shenjin might be, he could only set them aside for the time being.

The Snow Sword Sect could not go on expending so much manpower forever. These three days had proven that a mere warrant would never catch them. To achieve immediate results, they would have to request the Middle Island's Law Enforcement Hall to issue a sea-wide dragnet—but the Snow Sword Sect's influence was not yet great enough for that.

"Young hero Lin, I have good news for you. The Snow Sword Sect's warrant has been withdrawn." Cai Zhongxuan soon brought this news to Wei Zhao and Xueli.

"Truly? That is wonderful." Wei Zhao and Xueli were overjoyed. Even if this did not mean the Snow Sword Sect had wholly let them go, at least they could move about a little more freely from now on, rather than being cooped up in this room unable to step outside.

"With those warrants gone from every street, the two of you should be fine going out from now on, so long as you avoid crowded places." Cai Zhongxuan was happy for them. He himself might not give the Snow Sword Sect a second thought, but Wei Zhao and Xueli did not have his backing—if the Snow Sword Sect caught them, it would still be a great deal of trouble. (To be continued) R466