Chapter 4574 — The Newcomer King Ma Dangfeng
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Who cares about that damned Mountain-Opening stage—there's no way Leader Wei Zhao would die at the hands of some devil cultivator!" Qiao Hongcai's eyes were red as he snarled in a low voice.
"I believe it too—there's no way Junior Brother Lin would die at the hands of this West Mountain Old Sect. In fact, although the West Mountain Old Sect hates him to the bone and would love nothing more than to kill him on the spot, Junior Brother Lin did not die in the old sect's hands there and then. From what we could see at the assembly, at least, he made a clean escape," Lu Bianren said with a nod to the others.
"Escaped?" Everyone started at the words, then let out a collective breath of relief and turned to Lu Bianren with a hint of reproach. "Senior Brother Lu, next time could you finish what you have to say in one go? You had our hearts in our throats—we can't take that kind of strain!"
"Haha, all right." Lu Bianren smiled apologetically, then went on. "He did escape at the time, but Junior Brother Lin's situation still isn't what you'd call good. With a devil-cultivator titan of the Mountain-Opening stage like the West Mountain Old Sect hunting him, frankly the odds are still grim. If he really had gotten away cleanly, he should have been back long ago. Yet there's still no word of him at all. Alas..."
"With Leader Wei Zhao's strength and resourcefulness, I'm certain he isn't dead. The reason he hasn't come back is simply that he's lying low somewhere, biding his time. Certain of it!" Qiao Hongcai declared with great conviction.
"Exactly. Leader Wei Zhao has always had heaven's favor. That West Mountain Old Sect couldn't kill him then, and it won't find it so easy to kill him later," Xiao Che agreed with a nod.
"I feel the same. From what you just told us, Senior Brother Lu, it's clear Leader Wei Zhao must already be a household name around the South Continent seas. If he really had died at the hands of the West Mountain Old Sect, the news would have spread like wildfire—there's no way it would be dead silence like this. So no news, as far as we're concerned, isn't bad news at all. It's good news!" Li Zhengming reasoned along his own line.
"Right, right. Hearing you juniors put it that way, I feel a good deal steadier," Miserable Senior Brother said, nodding again and again. After a pause he turned to Lu Bianren. "By the way, Senior Brother Lu, the mission deadline has passed. Let's think of a way to cancel Junior Brother Lin's and Junior Sister Huang's missions first, so we don't have trouble waiting for us when he comes back."
"Mm. That's a good idea. I've met the inner-sect steward, Senior Brother Jia Mufan, a few times. I'll go talk to him tomorrow. Given Junior Brother Lin's standing, it shouldn't be much of a problem," Lu Bianren said with a nod. Wei Zhao was, after all, the disciple Shangguan Tianxia had named publicly. Even with no word of him now, a smooth operator like Jia Mufan surely wouldn't make things difficult over such a trifle.
As they were talking, the courtyard gate was suddenly kicked open. Everyone's expression changed at once, and they glared toward the gate and shouted in unison, "Who's there?!"
"Well, well. Didn't expect things to be so lively here. What are you lot scheming about, sneaking around in here? Why not tell me and let me have a listen?" The newcomer swept a glance over the group, then tilted his nose to the sky and sneered with open contempt.
The man was born with a sallow golden complexion, and his eyes habitually narrowed into a thin slit, with a savage glint drifting now and then from their corners. Whether he meant to or not, he gave off a faint, dread-inspiring killing intent at all times, so that few dared meet his gaze, and wherever he passed, heads turned. Those of weaker nerve might even be frightened off on the spot, let alone stand their ground before him.