Chapter 3573 — I Must Decline
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"Ha, seems that brat Kang Jingming wasn't lying—you really do know how to put on a fierce front!" Seeing Wei Zhao's flat, unruffled expression, Xu Lingchong was instantly amused. "But let this young master give you a word of warning: Cloud Terrace Island is not that qi-starved mortal realm of yours. Here, Heaven-rank experts are thick as dogs in the street. A man of your pitiful ability had best tuck his tail between his legs and keep his head down, or you'll be dead before you even know what killed you!"
"I accept Senior Brother Xu's instruction," Wei Zhao said, still betraying nothing.
Xu Lingchong gave a contemptuous smile, then said, "I've already heard from Kang Jingming and Zhong Yongliang about your grudges with them in the mortal realm. But now that you've come to Cloud Terrace Island, I, as your senior brother, will settle the matter for you: so long as you vote for Kang Jingming tomorrow, all your old mortal-realm grudges will be wiped clean."
Without waiting for Wei Zhao's reply, Xu Lingchong made to turn and leave. After all, in his view, coming in person to say such a thing was already a great face granted to the other party; as for the other refusing the settlement—well, that was simply impossible. Unless this Wei Zhao had been kicked in the head by a donkey!
Yet Wei Zhao's next words turned his expression abruptly: "Senior Brother Xu's kindness—I must decline."
"What?" Xu Lingchong's step halted. He turned back in disbelief and looked coldly at Wei Zhao. "Brat, say that again!"
"Oh." Wei Zhao wore the picture of obedience. "Since Senior Brother Xu bids me say it, I have no choice but to say it: I said Senior Brother Xu's kindness is something I must decline. I will not vote for Kang Jingming."
At these words the whole hall erupted in an uproar. To snub Young Master Xu so bluntly, so utterly without face—had this Wei Zhao really taken this place for the mortal realm, where he could do as he pleased? Did he not know that the man could flatten him with a single hand, effortlessly?
In that moment, everyone looking at Wei Zhao did so with the eyes one reserves for a dead man!
Even Pavilion Master Hu Yunfeng fawned and flattered this Young Master Xu. Yet here was a mere newcomer up from the mortal realm, daring to defy Young Master Xu in public—if that was not courting death, what was?
"Good! Very good! So you do have some spirit!" Xu Lingchong laughed in sheer fury. Here in paltry Welcome Pavilion, he had never met a newcomer who dared defy him openly. Wei Zhao was the first!
"Seems you still know a rule or two—you know an inner-pavilion disciple like me can't raise a hand against an outer-pavilion disciple like you, and that's why you're so reckless!" Xu Lingchong, convinced he had grasped the source of Wei Zhao's confidence, sneered: "But you've probably forgotten one thing: you can only stay in Welcome Pavilion for a year. After that year—whether you succeed in Foundation Establishment and enter Qingyun Pavilion, or prove a worthless wretch and get banished to hard labor—either way, no one will be able to protect you then... heh heh..."
Faced with such undisguised menace, Wei Zhao's expression remained unchanged; he simply regarded the other with serene indifference. Xu Lingchong felt as though his punch had landed on cotton—thoroughly unpleasant. Any other newcomer threatened like this would by now be scared witless, pissing himself and scrambling to beg forgiveness. When had he ever met anything as impervious as Wei Zhao?
"Hmph, seems you still don't understand your position! You really are a carefree one!" Xu Lingchong looked at Wei Zhao as though at an idiot and sneered on: "Even if I don't lift a finger against you, don't think hiding in Welcome Pavilion for a year will make everything fine. I'll tell you plainly—I have no end of ways to deal with you, and when I do, you'll still cry yourself a nice, rhythmic river of tears!"