Chapter 3969 — Brotherly Friendship
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
He was no fool. He could clearly feel that Li Zhengming had pulled his punches just now; otherwise he would at the very least be gravely injured at this moment, and could never be standing here as though nothing had happened.
Besides, Qiao Hongcai might look carefree and guileless, but he had his own method of judging people: judging them through fists and feet. A person's fighting style revealed much of his true nature—it was something close to instinct, entirely different from words, which could be honeyed and false. It could not be faked.
And from that duel just now, he could distinctly sense that although Li Zhengming was extremely forbearing, when it came to a true clash of strength, this man's spirit was second to none. Clearly, Li Zhengming had a powerful pride born in his very bones.
Such a person would not be the sort to enjoy playing schemes, nor could a mere Meng Jueming ever truly subdue him—not while alive, and even less so now that he was dead. Otherwise, with Li Zhengming's strength, he would have stepped forward long ago to summon the wind and call the rain, rather than keeping so low a profile as to be virtually invisible.
"Thank you!" Li Zhengming nodded heavily. Qiao Hongcai's simple words actually made the tip of his nose sting, and a grown man like him nearly shed tears.
Having served so long as an inside man under Meng Jueming, doomed by necessity never to see the light, he had gradually grown accustomed to solitude, to facing everything around him alone. Now, suddenly acknowledged by others, that feeling of being taken back into the light was something ordinary people could never understand.
The others did not know the reason, but Wei Zhao could not have been clearer. He walked over at once and patted him lightly on the shoulder, saying with a gentle smile, "You've worked hard. Welcome back."
Hearing this, Li Zhengming grinned—an unnatural grin, ugly, one might even say. It was not that he had anything on his mind; it was a smile from the bottom of his heart. It was simply that he had not smiled for so long that he had forgotten how.
Looking back, during these past six months or so in the Yingxin Pavilion, he had not only borne the heavy duty of acting as Wei Zhao's inside man, but also had to face the endless bullying of Meng Jueming and Meng Zhou every day, able only to endure and never to resist. Naturally, he could not smile.
What was more, the entire Qiushui Manor had been wiped out, and bearing such a blood-deep vengeance, every time he closed his eyes he would see deep in his mind the shadow of his enemy, so powerful as to be insufferably arrogant. How could he possibly smile?
"That smile's really ugly. Looks like you'll have to practice more from now on—otherwise, when you smile it's like you're crying. It's way too creepy." Qiao Hongcai, knowing nothing of all this, blurted out a sharp-tongued comment.
Li Zhengming was caught between laughter and tears, yet warmth welled up in his heart all the more. Having a brother in this simple-hearted fellow didn't feel bad at all.
Just then, Xiao Che came over and said to Li Zhengming with a smile, "Brother Zhengming, in a few days, once you've rested up, how about a match with me?"
For a moment, silence fell all around. Qiao Hongcai was a brawler by nature, so his challenging Li Zhengming was within everyone's expectations. But Xiao Che was not that sort of person; under normal circumstances, he would not casually take action.
Earlier, Qiao Hongcai had repeatedly wanted to spar with him, and he had refused every time. Now he had taken the initiative to challenge Li Zhengming—was it the thrill of the hunt, or did he have some deeper meaning?
Li Zhengming was slightly taken aback. After exchanging a glance with Xiao Che, he promptly nodded in agreement: "Very well. Then I'll ask Brother Xiao Che for his generous guidance when the time comes." R1152