Chapter 1635 — Zhao Qitan's Phone Call

After hearing her mother's analysis, Tang Yun hardly knew whether to rejoice or to fret. All this time she had felt a little inferior before Wei Zhao—able to help him with nothing, forever bringing trouble down on him—while the eldest Miss and Xiao Shu both came from formidable lineages, and even Feng Xiaoxiao had gone off to cultivate at the Ice Palace, certain to be of use to Wei Zhao in days to come.

She alone had been born to poverty and could do nothing for him... And now, learning that she was in fact a member of a Hidden Family, Tang Yun wondered—might she be able to help Wei Zhao after all? Yet on second thought, that Hidden Tang family had not so much as contacted her own household in all these years; how could she possibly bask in any of their glory?

Besides, her mother's analysis did make a good deal of sense—had they taken a fancy to Wei Zhao's strength and decided to court him? In that case, if she went, might she not end up causing him trouble? And she knew very well that Wei Zhao's strength had not yet recovered, so this was a matter on which she had best not rashly give her word.

"Mother, let me discuss it with Wei Zhao first," Tang Yun said, without agreeing outright. "But my feeling is that it would be wiser not to go at all."

"You foolish girl—you finally have a chance to put on a show before the Tang family, and you want to stay home?" Mother Tang was rather displeased. Back when she had married and when Tang Yun had been born, they had gone to the Tang family to register and have their names entered in the genealogy, and the Tangs had not once looked at her straight in the face. She had brooded over that for years.

So now that they had some standing, of course she meant to go show off a little.

"Mother, you don't understand! The Hidden Tang family's power is enormous—it isn't as simple as you think. They are cultivators. Do you understand what a cultivator is? We're ordinary people; we have nothing to do with their kind at all!" Tang Yun frowned as she explained. "If we go, and it ends up making trouble for Wei Zhao, what then?"

"Cultivators? What's that?" Mother Tang had never heard of such a thing.

"I've heard a little about it, though I can't say I understand it well. They say it's like martial training. The Tang family is indeed a great house in the martial world, and Yunyun is right—this must be weighed carefully. We mustn't bring trouble down on Wei Zhao!" Tang Jucheng nodded, thoroughly convinced.

"The pair of you!" Mother Tang was rather put out. "Yun'er, go and ask Wei Zhao, then—see whether he agrees. Best of all, have him come with us!"

"I'm not going. He's busy these days." Tang Yun knew what Wei Zhao's situation was; how could she disturb him at a time like this?

"He's living in that house with those two little fox spirits, and you're not the least bit anxious! I tell you, girl, how can you be so foolish? You haven't a clue in that head of yours—one of these days they'll snatch Wei Zhao away from you, and then you can cry all you like!" Mother Tang snorted. "I ask you plainly: are you going or not?"

"Yaoyao and Xiao Shu are not fox spirits—they're my good sisters. Mother, don't call them that. And Wei Zhao won't be snatched away. I know my own affairs." Tang Yun shook her head with a frown.

"I'm asking you—are you going to make the call or not?" said Mother Tang. "If you won't, then I will!"

"I'll go! I'll go, all right?" Tang Yun stamped her foot in exasperation, pushed the door open, and left the house.

"That child—with such a fine opportunity, and she won't even go put on a show. I truly can't fathom what goes through her head," Mother Tang grumbled.

Yet one could hardly blame Mother Tang for being so snobbish; the Tang family had been far more snobbish still, and it was precisely why she longed to settle that old score.

Once out of the house, Tang Yun went to Wei Zhao's villa. She did not disturb him, but simply settled in to stay there. She knew he was working at recovering his strength, and so she kept out of his way.

Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu were, of course, all in favor.

This was already Wei Zhao's one hundred and eighty-sixth attempt. The energy spheres that had burst apart were beyond counting, and still he had not met his own requirement. Now he was condensing the one hundred and eighty-seventh.

Only a little more—just a little—and Wei Zhao would be able to condense an energy sphere that could carry him through to the Earth Rank in a single stroke. Yet for that mere sliver, he had already tried more than a hundred times!

Fortunately, Wei Zhao was a patient man. Anyone else, in his place, would most likely have flown into a rage long ago.

"Bang!" The energy sphere exploded once more at the final, crucial moment, and Wei Zhao was left with not a shred of temper to lose. He could only begin condensing anew...

Word that Wei Zhao had been struck by the Five-Step Power-Dispersing Powder had already reached the Hidden Zhao family. But Old Master Zhao was still in secluded cultivation, and the only ones in the household capable of taking charge were Old Bi and Zhao Guangyin. It was no secret, and Zhao Qitan had naturally heard the news as well; inwardly he was anxious on Wei Zhao's behalf.

He knew that Wei Zhao could recover his strength swiftly, but he also knew the potency of the Five-Step Power-Dispersing Powder—it was viciously overbearing. Even if Wei Zhao recovered, without an antidote his restored power would swiftly dissipate again, and he would be reduced to an ordinary man.

So Zhao Qitan placed a call to Wei Zhao, to offer a word of comfort to his Leader.

Wei Zhao's phone was always left on. Hearing the ringtone, he withdrew from his cultivation and answered. His present task was chiefly the condensing of energy spheres; taking a call would do no harm.

"Hello?" Wei Zhao picked up, somewhat surprised. This was the number Zhao Qitan had left him—what could he want at such a time? "Zhao Qitan?"

"Leader, it's me!" Zhao Qitan said, lowering his voice. "Leader, I heard you were hit with the Five-Step Power-Dispersing Powder. Have you recovered?"

"What, are you sounding me out?" Wei Zhao asked mildly.

"That—" Zhao Qitan's voice caught, and he hurried on: "How could you think that? Leader, I'm genuinely worried about you! I know this Five-Step Power-Dispersing Powder isn't easily cured. Whether you've recovered or not, just tell me—the Zhao family is about to sit down and discuss how to move against you! I have to know your condition, or I won't be able to find a way to speak up at the meeting!"

"I haven't," Wei Zhao said mildly. He had not lied to Zhao Qitan: on the one hand, he judged the man to be reasonably dependable and unlikely to betray him; on the other, it was a test of sorts, to see just how loyal he truly was. Even if the Zhao family came looking for trouble, Wei Zhao was not afraid—his skill at compressing energy spheres had improved enormously, and now even a sphere compressed at the peak of the late Yellow Rank was enough to cripple a first-rate Earth Rank expert.

So long as he did not meet them head-on, catching troublemakers off guard and crippling them was an easy matter for Wei Zhao.

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