Chapter 4954 — You Can't Guard Against a Thief Forever

"I will not see you out." Zhuang Yifan's eyes did indeed carry a trace of regret; Chang Minghui had guessed a few threads of his thinking correctly. Of course, this was not the fruit of any deep-laid scheme—it was simply a matter of going with the flow. If the other man insisted on delivering such a hefty handle into his hands, he was hardly going to decline.

What a pity, though. Chang Minghui was no simple-minded brute, and in the end he chose restraint. That left Zhuang Yifan with no opening to make a move against him, and he could only let him go.

"Hmph!" Chang Minghui shot one last glare at Wei Zhao, the look of a starving wolf fixing on a lamb, chilling enough to make the heart crawl. No one needed to be told this man would never let Wei Zhao off; it was only that, held back by Zhuang Yifan's authority, he had to force down a defiance that burned ten thousand times over.

Watching Chang Minghui's receding back, Zhuang Yifan turned a meaning-laden look on Wei Zhao and offered a warning: "Forgive me—we have given Master Lin a fright. But this Town Master Chang is known as the Debt-Clearing Ghost, and if this round is settled there will only be a next. Master Lin would be wise to take care."

"I thank the Guild Master for the warning. I know where I stand." Wei Zhao inclined his head slightly.

"If Zhuang may speak his mind, Master Lin might consider staying on for a few days. At least here in the League branch, no one would dare act recklessly," Zhuang Yifan suggested smoothly.

"I appreciate the Guild Master's kindness, but it will not be necessary," Wei Zhao said without a moment's hesitation.

Had he been a more timid man, Chang Minghui might truly have frightened him. After all, there was nothing bad about spending some time in the League branch, especially with a top-tier expert of Zhuang Yifan's caliber—a late-stage Kaishan cultivator—guaranteeing his safety. But if he were so easily cowed, he would not be the Wei Zhao he was today.

"Is that so? Then Master Lin must be doubly careful. There is nothing Chang Minghui will not stoop to. If Master Lin has need of anything, he has only to send word to me. Zhuang will spare no effort." Zhuang Yifan spoke with a grave expression, and it was no empty courtesy—he genuinely feared for Wei Zhao's safety. After all, this was the near-Mystic-rank, second-grade alchemist on whom he had wagered, and if Wei Zhao died, everything would be for nothing.

"Then I thank the Guild Master once more." Wei Zhao smiled, then added, "It grows late. I think it is time we took our leave."

"Very well. I will see Master Lin out," Zhuang Yifan said, rising at once to follow.

"No need. Please stay, Guild Master—until we meet again." Wei Zhao waved a hand and, under the eyes of the whole assembly, led the way out of the banquet hall, as though the earlier business with Chang Minghui had not weighed on him in the slightest.

Though Wei Zhao declined several times, Zhuang Yifan ultimately escorted the whole party in person to the League branch's main gate, where he finally came to a stop. Had Wei Zhao not refused him again and again, he would certainly have seen them all the way to the Morning Star Treasure Ship.

"Master Lin, are we really safe just walking out like this?" Li Ren glanced back at the League branch swallowed in the night behind them, shaking inside, terrified that Chang Minghui might burst out at any moment.

Though they said nothing, Liu Ziqi, Wang Xinyan, and the others all looked at Wei Zhao with worry plain on their faces. Being marked by an expert of the late-stage Kaishan giant realm was truly no easy thing to bear; that sense of peril, like a thorn at one's back, was enough to crush a person's spirit. Never mind Wei Zhao, the target himself—even they were finding it hard to endure.

"If I told you there was nothing to worry about, would you believe me?" Wei Zhao answered the question with another.

"Impossible. I have never dealt with Chang Minghui myself, but his reputation is that of a man who repays every grudge. Now that he has come looking for you, he will not let it rest." Liu Ziqi's expression was somewhat grave. Matching herself against Chang Minghui would be pushing her own strength too far; at a level like the Kaishan stage, how easy was it to overcome the strong with the weak?

"Indeed. I have never once believed he would let me go." Wei Zhao chuckled.

"Then why refuse Zhuang Yifan's offer? From what we saw just now, Chang Minghui is deeply wary of him—staying here should be perfectly safe. You could simply lie low for a while, then travel with Zhuang Yifan to Morning Star Academy or Morning Pride Academy. That would be foolproof." Liu Ziqi frowned in regret.

In her view, Wei Zhao was a man who time and again produced delightful surprises, but in the conduct of life he was still not seasoned enough. Pride, most likely, was what had made him turn Zhuang Yifan down—but now his life was at stake. Was this any time for pride?

"Aunt Liu is right. As it happens, that was my thinking too, but after turning it over, I decided it would not do," Wei Zhao said with a shake of his head.

"Why not?" Wang Xinyan asked.

"There may be a thief for a thousand days, but there is no guarding against one for a thousand days," Wei Zhao said, sweeping a glance over them.

"You mean..." Liu Ziqi and the others were startled by his words. If they were to speak aloud what lay behind them, it would truly frighten a person to death—never had they imagined Wei Zhao harbored such a thought.

Then again, such a thing on anyone else's part would be earth-shattering; on Wei Zhao, who had done so many earth-shattering things, it was naturally no longer anything to marvel at.

Taking in their astonished faces, Wei Zhao turned to Li Ren. "By the way, I would like to know—with its defensive capabilities, could the treasure ship hold off a late-stage Kaishan expert?"

"Hard to say. If it were running at full power, it should be no problem, but if it is simply moored here as it is now, the defensive formation is kept at the bare minimum. I think it would be a close thing," Li Ren said after some thought.

"In that case, might I trouble Libationer Li to put out word for me—say that our treasure ship has decided to return to Morning Star Academy first thing tomorrow morning, and that the other Morning Star disciples whose trials are not yet finished are entrusted to the Academy League's care. Would that be possible?" Wei Zhao said, stroking his chin.

"No problem. Whatever Master Lin instructs, I will carry out," Li Ren agreed readily. He knew that anything coming from Wei Zhao, even if he acted on his own initiative, would draw not the slightest reproach—and besides, this was a trifling matter.

"You are not thinking of..." Wang Xinyan trailed off, thoughtful; with that telepathic understanding between them, she had more or less guessed Wei Zhao's intent.

"The League branch is under Zhuang Yifan's protection—he dares not make a move there. Once the treasure ship sets sail, it will be hard for him to break the defensive formation, so that is no good place to act either. And once we reach Morning Star Academy, it will be even harder for him. So there is only one place left where he can strike." Wei Zhao looked at them and smiled. (To be continued.)