Chapter 4096 — Tricked Into Falling For It
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
As for the marriage he had already announced, if it came to it, he would just have to make Situ Qian the scapegoat—the woman would be only too happy to oblige, anyway!
Wei Zhao's eyes narrowed slightly at the sight. Wei Shenjin was an early-stage Golden Core expert; even a casual strike from him was no small matter. If it were only Wei Zhao himself, there would be nothing to worry about—with his present strength, he could just barely fight a mid-stage Golden Core expert to mutual ruin, let alone one who was merely early-stage Golden Core.
Yet the crux of the matter was that Xue Li was still in his arms—a Heaven-rank great-perfection cultivator who would be gravely wounded, even killed, by the merest graze from a Foundation Establishment expert, let alone from one as powerful as an early-stage Golden Core.
If he truly broke into open battle here, Wei Zhao could not guarantee Xue Li's safety at all. If something really happened to her, then even if he killed the man afterward to vent his fury, it would leave him with a lifelong regret.
Moreover, this was the Snow Sword Sect's territory. If he truly rose up and killed here, he would inevitably be wanted by the Snow Sword Sect, and from then on his every step on the Middle Island would be difficult—he might even have nowhere left to hide.
Retreat first! In an instant Wei Zhao made up his mind. Facing Wei Shenjin's ferocious assault, he showed not the slightest intention of meeting it head-on; with a flicker of his body he made as if to charge at Situ Qian, who stood to one side.
"Hm? This wild man is quite fast—but he still has to die!" Wei Shenjin paused at the sight, then shifted his attack; with a flicker of movement he reached out and planted himself in front of Situ Qian.
Though Situ Qian was also a Foundation Establishment great-perfection expert and not so easily taken by surprise, the woman was bound to be lacking in real combat. One careless moment and it was entirely possible for a weaker foe to get the better of her. She was, after all, the granddaughter of an elder—if she were seized as a hostage, Wei Shenjin would be caught in a bind.
But in the next instant, Wei Shenjin's expression turned drastically ugly. Wei Zhao's lunge toward Situ Qian had been a feint, premeditated from the very start—its sole purpose to trick him, Wei Shenjin, into falling for it.
Seizing that one subtle opening, Wei Zhao instantly changed direction, driving his Butterfly Microstep to its utmost, swept Xue Li onto his back, and bolted out through the door—just grazing past Wei Shenjin, who was busy guarding Situ Qian.
"Aiya, aiya, aiya! I'm going to die of rage!" Watching helplessly as Wei Zhao and Xue Li burst out the door, the feeling of having his intelligence utterly outmatched to his face made Wei Shenjin nearly faint with shame and fury.
Relying on his formidable early-stage Golden Core strength, he had been somewhat careless and arrogant, never imagining that Wei Zhao could explode with such astonishing speed in a single instant—so fast that even he had failed to react.
"Despicable, shameless scum! You think you can escape my palm like this? Let's see where you can run!" Wei Shenjin gave chase at once. He had said he would kill the two to silence them, and die they must—no matter where they fled, they would not be allowed to live.
Lying on Wei Zhao's back, watching the scenery on either side fly past in reverse, Xue Li's mind was still somewhat dazed even now—still caught in the shock of seeing Wei Shenjin moments before. By the time she finally came to her senses, Wei Zhao had already carried her out of the residence and dashed into a deserted back alley. (To be continued) R861