Chapter 2121 — The Seventh Match: Those Disciples Who Competed Earlier Must Have Used This Elixir, Turning Them into Puppet Bio-Men Who Fear Neither Pain Nor Death and Have No Minds of Their Own!
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
When Wei Zhao returned to his temporary lodging, the healthy ruddiness drained from his face and turned somewhat pale. He had only temporarily replenished some energy and repaired the damage to his internal organs, but the healing was far from complete. Now that he was back in his quarters, there was no need to keep up appearances...
"Leader, what's wrong?" Han Xiaohu was startled at the sight of Wei Zhao and asked at once.
"Nothing much. The power of an early Heaven Rank expert really is extraordinary—especially taking such a blow head-on..." Wei Zhao smiled wryly. "I've suffered severe internal injuries. I need to circulate my energy and heal now. Just don't disturb me. I'll skip lunch!"
"Ah... then the next match..." Han Xiaohu was frightened to hear Wei Zhao was injured. "Should we just forfeit the next match?"
"Heh, it's fine. I'll be better in a little while," Wei Zhao said indifferently.
"Oh..." Han Xiaohu nodded, and hearing Wei Zhao say so, said no more.
At noon the Zhao family disciples brought food. Wei Zhao sat with eyes closed, healing, and Han Xiaohu dared not disturb him; he set aside a portion for Wei Zhao, then quietly finished lunch with Han Tianba and waited patiently for Wei Zhao to recover.
If the Zhao family's messenger came to invite them to compete before Wei Zhao recovered, Han Xiaohu planned to refuse. Wei Zhao's health mattered most; the outcome of a match was not so important—so long as the green hills remain, there will be no shortage of firewood.
Yet just as the hour of the afternoon match was about to arrive, Wei Zhao suddenly opened his eyes and let out a long breath of turbid air: "Phew—"
"Leader, you've recovered?" Han Xiaohu asked, overjoyed to see Wei Zhao open his eyes.
"Yes, recovered!" Wei Zhao nodded. "I expect the Zhao family's people will be here soon."
Sure enough, scarcely had his words fallen when from outside the lodging came the voice of a Zhao family disciple: "Is Old Master Han in? The second match of the day is about to begin. Please, Old Master Han, bring your family's competing disciple and the stakes to the council hall to register..."
This time Han Tianba did not rush to agree, but turned to look at Wei Zhao. In his view, Wei Zhao had been gravely injured that morning; competing now, if it hindered the healing of his wounds, would be a loss not worth the gain!
They had already won so many matches; losing one or two now and then would not dent the hidden Han family's prestige in the slightest—and as for the stakes, the hidden Han family could afford to lose them.
"Let's go, Xiaopo, Old Master Han. Let's see what this sixth match is about!" Wei Zhao said. "May I ask what this match tests?"
"My apologies, I forgot to mention it—this match is an alchemy contest..." the Zhao family disciple answered cautiously. It was not that he had forgotten; he had come expressly to deliver the notice, so how could he have forgotten to say?
The reason he did not disclose the content of the match was simple: Old Master Zhao had instructed him beforehand to sound out Wei Zhao's side. If Wei Zhao was injured and the content of the match was not revealed, then Wei Zhao would very likely forfeit on account of his wounds.
But if the content were revealed and it happened to be Wei Zhao's strong suit, how could Wei Zhao refuse? That was why he had deliberately been so vague before!