Chapter 2690 — For No Reason At All?
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"Young Master Lin, please, come in!" Once Yuning had gone, the Yu family's Old Ancestor gestured for Wei Zhao to enter.
"Old Master Yu, you sent Yuning away because you have something to say to me, don't you? Speak plainly—no need for courtesies." Wei Zhao saw through the old man's intent and, wasting no time on roundabout talk, came straight to the point.
"Straightforward as ever, Young Master Lin. Then I'll speak frankly." The Yu Old Ancestor nodded. "Young Master Lin, thank you for stepping in this time. Had you not acted out of righteousness, little Ning might already have been... by that scoundrel Zhao Qibing..."
"I told you, I merely happened to be there." Wei Zhao waved a hand.
"No. You had no ties of any kind to our Hidden Yu family or to little Ning, yet you acted out of righteousness, and this old man is deeply grateful. In thanks, I have decided to give you some heavenly treasures as recompense!" said the Yu Old Ancestor.
"No ties of any kind?" Wei Zhao frowned slightly and looked at Old Master Yu.
"Indeed. So naturally we cannot let Young Master Lin act for nothing—we will make compensation, of course!" The Yu Old Ancestor nodded. "Our Hidden Yu family cannot owe you a favor."
"Old Master Yu, what do you mean by that? Little Ning and I—would you call us old acquaintances? I doubt the Old Master could be unaware of it?" Wei Zhao now understood what the old man was driving at: he was trying with all his might to draw a clean line between himself and Wei Zhao, refusing to link this rescue with Wei Zhao's acquaintance with Yuning—he wanted to treat Wei Zhao purely as a benefactor!
"Young Master Lin, this old man has hardships he cannot voice. Some things you do not know—things even little Ning does not know. But since we have come this far, I will hold nothing back. I will speak the truth. The situation now is this: I have seen what lies between you and little Ning, but in some matters, this old man has no say!" The Yu Old Ancestor shifted his tack and began to play on sentiment.
"What do you mean?" Wei Zhao's heart gave a slight jolt; he looked at the Yu Old Ancestor and asked.
"When little Ning was small, a betrothal was already arranged for her. The betrothed is an ancient sect!" said Old Master Yu, the Old Ancestor. "Our Hidden Yu family sets great store by this marriage, and so does the other sect. So I beg Young Master Lin's understanding: formidable as you are—able to kill a Heaven-rank expert in a single strike, and this old man does not presume to be your match—can you kill a peak late Heaven-rank expert in a single strike? And more than one? So, Young Master Lin, I hope you will restrain yourself. Do not make trouble for our Hidden Yu family, and do not make trouble for yourself. The ancient level is not yet something you can provoke or contend with!"
Wei Zhao was somewhat shaken by Old Master Yu's words and watched him with uncertain, doubtful eyes. He was half in disbelief, yet it explained perfectly why every other hidden family had sought to ingratiate themselves with him while the Hidden Yu alone had not—it seemed they had found another patron on high.
An ancient sect—another ancient sect! Wei Zhao drew a deep breath. With his present strength, he was naturally no match for an ancient sect; yet now that he had resolved to face the matter of Yuning squarely again, he did not wish to give her up so easily either!
"I once told the secular Yu family that the Yu family owed me two wives. Now the secular Yu family is destroyed, and as the power behind them, the Hidden Yu family will naturally have that debt settled on you!" Wei Zhao said coolly. "Yuning is one. Seems I'm still short one?"
"Young Master Lin jests..." The Yu Old Ancestor's heart skipped a beat, though his face remained composed. "Our Hidden Yu family has only one granddaughter of marriageable age—Yuning—and she is already betrothed. Naturally we cannot give Young Master Lin two wives, ha ha..."