Chapter 4938 — Sending You All Back

Their only task was to deliver the men back to the Dingcheng Academy's treasure ship; beyond that they took no interest whatsoever, not even bothering to inquire whether Zang Zili and the others were alive or dead. Everyone knew this was a hot potato, and naturally they avoided it like the plague rather than poking their noses into trouble.

"Master Lin, if you do not mind, why not come to the Alliance branch for a cup of tea? Consider it my chance to play the host?" From first to last, Zhuang Yifan never so much as glanced at Zang Zili and the others; instead he bent all his efforts toward currying favor with Wei Zhao.

"There is an Alliance branch here?" Wei Zhao blinked slightly.

"Indeed. The Yellow-Rank Academy Alliance's headquarters is in Leidong City, but Leidong Plain Island is an important Alliance stronghold, so naturally there is a branch here as well. The accommodations are quite decent—Master Lin could go and rest a while, ease your weariness." Zhuang Yifan smiled as he explained.

"I see. Let me first escort the Morning Star Academy disciples back; I will drop by this evening when I have time." Wei Zhao nodded.

"Of course, of course! I will send you all back!" Zhuang Yifan hurriedly offered, eager to please.

For the dignified chairman of the Yellow-Rank Academy Alliance to lower himself so—one had to admit it was rather humbling for him. But there was no help for it; who could blame him, when alchemists enjoyed such exalted status?

A Xuan-rank first-grade alchemist, in particular, was a welcomed guest wherever he went, even in the Xuan-rank sea region. Even those mighty figures at the Giant Realm, masters of surpassing strength, did not dare slight such people in the least; more often than not they had to tread as carefully as Zhuang Yifan was doing now—after all, one never knew when one might need to beg a favor of them.

"Very well." Wei Zhao gave him a glance, half-smiling, and made no pretense of declining.

In truth, he could not afford to decline. Zhuang Yifan might already believe him to be a Xuan-rank first-grade alchemist, but clearly he did not yet trust him completely. Beyond currying favor, the man's more important motive was most likely to keep him from slipping away midway. If Wei Zhao refused flatly, it would only make him look guilty and invite suspicion.

"Little Miss Ni, let us part ways here. We will meet again when the chance arises." Wei Zhao turned to bid farewell to Ni Caiyue at his side.

"Ah? Oh..." Ni Caiyue was still drifting in a daze, and it took her quite a while to come back to herself and hurry to nod. From the moment Wei Zhao had stepped in to deal with those two unfortunate Libation Officers, to turning the tables and toppling Zang Zili, to now being inexplicably fawned over and honored by Zhuang Yifan—the day's events had been one shock after another, full of twists and turns, and she still had not fully recovered her wits.

Seeing this, Wei Zhao chuckled and paid the silly girl no further mind. He beckoned Wang Xinyan and the others over, and then, beneath the awed gazes of the crowd in the distance, was personally escorted by Zhuang Yifan back to the Morning Star Academy's treasure ship.

Meanwhile, aboard the Morning Star Academy's treasure ship, all was already in chaos. The commotion stirred up by Wei Zhao and the others had been far too great—it had not only drawn a crowd of academy disciples to watch, but the final thunderous burst had been earth-shaking, churning up towering waves across the surrounding sea. Had the treasure ship not been so massive, it would long since have capsized.

Under such circumstances, if those aboard still failed to realize that something had happened to Wei Zhao and his party, they would have been fooling themselves. It was only that the two places were so far apart that they could not make out the specifics; all they knew was that Wei Zhao and the others had run into enormous trouble.

The Libation Officer in charge was frantic with anxiety. Wei Zhao might not be a Morning Star Academy disciple, but his standing within the academy was far more important than that of those disciples. If he perished on Leidong Plain Island, this Libation Officer could only return with his own head in hand; the academy's mighty ones would never let him off lightly. As for the chief alchemist, Qing Xuanzi, he would likely come after him for his life outright.

Fortunately, however, the news they had received so far went no further than the Alliance guard squad making arrests; they had not yet learned of Wei Zhao's subsequent life-and-death struggle with Zang Zili, that Giant of the Mountain-Opening Stage. Otherwise, the Libation Officer in charge would likely have fainted dead away from fright.

"There is no help for it. The only course now is to send word at once and seek instructions from the academy's three mighty ones. One way or another, we must find a way to ransom Master Lin back. We cannot leave him detained in a place like this—if anything were to happen to him, I would have no business serving as Libation Officer ever again." The Libation Officer in charge was like an ant on a hot pan, pacing in circles and muttering to himself.

Over in another corner of the ship, meanwhile, Bao Zuoliang and Su Kesheng, who had returned long ago, were gloating with secret delight. Had it not been for all the eyes watching aboard the ship, the two of them would have dearly loved to throw a victory banquet in celebration.

Ever since their failed attempt on the Giant's Road, which had cost them dearly for nothing, the two had been full of bile. Had they not retained a measure of self-awareness, they might well have kept scheming to do Wei Zhao in on the Giant's Road afterward—though such notions were mere fantasy.

Even if Bao Zuoliang acted on impulse, Su Kesheng would absolutely have stopped him. He had to—walking right into the lion's den was courting death.

But now all was well. The two of them did not need to rack their brains at all; that posturing, high-and-mighty Wei Zhao had kicked an iron plate all on his own. After coming out, he had actually dared to make a scene in public, rousing even the Alliance guard squad—could any good possibly come of that?

"Heh heh, the Alliance guard squad is notorious for its overbearing ways, and that Wei Zhao is the sort who looks down on everyone. Now he's done for—once he falls into the guard squad's hands, he'll be lucky to escape with only a layer of skin peeled off!" Bao Zuoliang whispered excitedly.

"From where I stand, it won't be as simple as losing a layer of skin. He may well lose his life this time," Su Kesheng said with a cold laugh.

"Surely not? Even the Alliance guard squad wouldn't kill just anyone. It shouldn't be that extreme, should it?" Though Bao Zuoliang dreamed of Wei Zhao's death, he had not yet sunk to self-deception.

"Ordinarily no, but this time it is certain—and I would say nine chances out of ten!" Su Kesheng declared with absolute certainty.

"Why is that? Tell me quickly!" Bao Zuoliang's eyes lit up at once.

"Young Master Bao, did you not hear what those people who passed by earlier said? The one Wei Zhao provoked this time is no ordinary person—it is Chang Laiting of Dingcheng Academy, a man of great renown. And he even overturned two of Dingcheng Academy's Libation Officers. With matters having gone this far, the breach is irreparable," Su Kesheng analyzed.

"But even so, that still should not be enough to get him killed outright, should it?" Bao Zuoliang was somewhat stunned.

"Ordinarily it would not be, but have you forgotten, Young Master Bao—that rumor we heard on our way back? Zang Zili, Dingcheng Academy's chief alchemist, was invited to Leidong Plain Island. She is Chang Laiting's own mother, and a Giant of the Mountain-Opening Stage besides. With her son being bullied, do you really think she will spare Wei Zhao?" Su Kesheng wore the profound expression of one who saw through everything.