護花近衛 - 第2802章 相送地圖 - 翰墨軒

True, each of them had a powerful sect at their back, but the trial was never a contest of backing. Once they returned to their sects they could look down on Wei Zhao all they liked, but here—who was willing to suffer a loss to his face?

Even the few cultivators who had earlier offended Yang Qiqi felt that everyone was now in danger. Yang Qiqi and Wei Zhao were plainly on familiar terms—did offending Yang Qiqi mean offending Wei Zhao as well?

Fortunately, after Wei Zhao waited for Yang Qiqi to finish eating, he pursued nothing further; he simply led the several of them out of the dining hall.

Of course, though most of the disciples present feared Wei Zhao in their hearts, they also looked down on him. In their eyes he was nothing but a loose cultivator—however strong he might be personally, he was still just one man. When the time came to face the ancient sects, would he not be as so much dross?

"Brother Lin, I truly admire you today! Zhang Naipao is such a formidable man, yet before you he dared not make the slightest trouble!" Li Ciba said with worship in his voice.

"Indeed—if we hadn't run into Brother Lin, we would likely have come off badly in this trial," Feng Shihua agreed with a nod.

"That's certain. This Zhang Naipao is definitely not someone to provoke. Just look how wretched that local tyrant was—a cultivator from the Western Regions, who came all this way, and before he could even enter the trial, he was beaten down the moment he arrived. Ai!" Ge Xian chimed in.

Seeing the whole crowd flattering Wei Zhao, Yang Qiqi could not help but purse her lips. Hmph, this fellow really is detestable—it seems my revenge is hopeless now... Forget it, how would I even take revenge? He has saved me so many times; if I repaid kindness with enmity again, there would be no justifying it at all. At this thought, Yang Qiqi sighed to herself.

"Enough of that. All of you, come to my room—there is something I need to tell you," Wei Zhao said with a wave of his hand. He did not care about all that flattery; his thoughts ran further ahead. On the hidden plane, Wei Zhao could be said to have already gained a firm footing, but on the ancient plane he was still far too weak and had yet to make his voice heard. His acquaintance with Feng Shihua and Li Ciba was an excellent opportunity, but for now the situation allowed only private friendship with these disciples of ancient sects. To make the sect or clan behind them regard him with even a modicum of respect would be rather difficult.

"Go... go to your room for what?" Yang Qiqi looked at Wei Zhao warily. She had been distracted by other thoughts and had not caught all of what Wei Zhao said; she assumed he meant only her, and so grew tense at once.

Wei Zhao stared at her, dumbfounded, and the others were equally baffled, not knowing what had suddenly set Yang Qiqi off.

"You are all coming to my room, naturally to discuss the matter of the trial. But if you are unwilling to come, then never mind," Wei Zhao said, glancing at Yang Qiqi.

"Ah—the trial! Then I'll go." Yang Qiqi flushed slightly. She had been lost in her own thoughts and had misheard, making a ridiculous fool of herself—so everyone was going after all!

Wei Zhao shook his head and paid her no further mind. Together the group came to his room, where he simply took from his pack the trial map he had long since prepared. These people were inclined to elect him their captain, and Wei Zhao for his part meant to win them over; the trial map was the finest gift for that purpose.

Luckily Wei Zhao had printed many copies, or there would not have been enough to go around.

Wei Zhao handed out one map to each of them, and everyone was bewildered.

"Leader, what is this thing?" Zhao Qilei asked, somewhat puzzled.

"This is the map for this trial. I obtained it in advance," Wei Zhao said.