Chapter 1857 — A Fall into the Pit, a Gain in Your Wit

However, Yu Huoxing was too far away to make out the details; he merely recounted what had happened according to his own understanding.

"What! One move?" A look of shock appeared at once on the old master Zhao's face; he seemed to think his ears were playing tricks on him. "That Wei Zhao—did he not suffer qi deviation? How could he wipe out three Earth-rank experts in a single move? And Zhao Guang'er was a late Earth-rank expert..."

"How would I know?" Yu Huoxing said with a bitter smile. "Old Ancestor Zhao, Wei Zhao is a master of playing the pig to eat the tiger, of fighting above his level—that is no secret anymore. In the past he often feigned injury to lure his enemies in and then take his revenge, and every time they came away badly battered. From what I observed, Wei Zhao must have learned some formidable martial technique, or... his strength has already reached the peak of late Earth-rank..."

The old master Zhao stared wide-eyed, feeling his mind could no longer keep up. He looked at Zhao Qibing and Kang Zhaoming. "You two were nearby as well? Is everything Yu Huoxing says the truth?"

The question was unbearably rude, but the old master Zhao was now a Heaven-rank expert, so even if Yu Huoxing was displeased, he did not dare voice it.

"Grandfather, your grandson was not far off at the time. Every word Mr. Yu Huoxing spoke is true—it really was a single move, and Wei Zhao wiped out the three Earth-rank experts..." Here a flicker of terror passed through Zhao Qibing's eyes; clearly the scene had left a deep impression on him and sent a chill down his spine. "If Grandfather does not believe it, the dashcam in the business van recorded the whole thing from a distance..."

Hearing Zhao Qibing's confirmation, the old master Zhao knew there was no room left for illusion—Wei Zhao really had killed three Earth-rank experts! The old master's heart bled. He did not care about the others, but Zhao Guang'er had been a late Earth-rank expert, a pillar of the Zhao family—and now he was dead, just like that?

In the old master's eyes, the future Heaven-rank experts of the Zhao family had included, besides Elder Bi and Zhao Guangyin, a place for Zhao Guang'er. But now... had he known Wei Zhao was this formidable, why would he ever have offended him?

"Grandfather, I said as much at the time—Wei Zhao's greatest skill is playing the pig to eat the tiger... but..." Zhao Qitan felt a secret glee. That Wei Zhao was unharmed and had displayed such might delighted him most of all. True, the Zhao family had lost an expert, but no matter—so long as he rose to power and took control of the Zhao family, with Wei Zhao as his backing, the Zhao family could still stand among the foremost of the hidden families.

The old master Zhao glanced at Zhao Qitan, a sharp light flashing in his eyes, which made Zhao Qitan's heart turn cold; still, he put on an air of perfect righteousness and did not flinch in the least.

After a long while, the old master Zhao nodded and said, "Qitan speaks the truth. Among us all, only Qitan dealt with Wei Zhao during the trials at the Ice Palace and knows his methods well. Had we listened to Qitan sooner, we would not have suffered such grievous losses!"

Zhao Qibing was somewhat dejected. He had hoped to borrow the Zhao family's strength for revenge, but now it seemed Wei Zhao had quietly become the foremost expert below Heaven-rank. To annihilate three Earth-rank experts in one move—one of them a late Earth-rank expert at that—was something even an expert at the peak of late Earth-rank would not dare claim he could do, yet Wei Zhao had done it. If that did not make him the foremost below Heaven-rank, what did?

As things stood, unless Grandfather acted himself, who could shake Wei Zhao? Yet although the Hidden Family Arbitration Association now existed in name only and could no longer bind the hidden families, above the hidden families there were still the ancient sects!

The ancient sects would never permit Heaven-rank experts to meddle at will in the affairs of the mundane world—that was the covenant among the great ancient sects! The hidden families were not ancient sects, but if even the ancient sects abided by it, what were the hidden families?

"Enough. A fall into the pit, a gain in your wit. Wei Zhao likes to play the pig to eat the tiger; for now, we will simply not provoke him." Though the old master Zhao said this, it was a choice forced by circumstance. If he could, he would have come out of seclusion and finished Wei Zhao himself—but that was impossible.

"Qibing, for a time, go home to the family and cultivate in earnest. Do not meddle in the matter of Wei Zhao!" Elder Bi concurred. Since Wei Zhao had annihilated three Earth-rank experts in one move, even Elder Bi, an expert at the peak of late Earth-rank, would not dare claim he could kill Wei Zhao.

"Yes..." Zhao Qibing was likewise somewhat helpless.

"Yu Huoxing, Kang Zhaoming, the Zhao family will take no part in the matter of Wei Zhao for the time being. Whether your families continue to make an enemy of him is your own affair..." the old master Zhao said decisively.

"Very well, Old Ancestor Zhao. I too must return and report to my family head..." Yu Huoxing said with a bitter smile. At this moment he knew that revenge against Wei Zhao was all but hopeless. To kill three Earth-rank experts in one move—Yu Shuixing had not died unjustly!

"I will be going too... Old Ancestor Zhao, farewell..." Kang Zhaoming was even more dejected. The Zhao family would not take part; the Yu family, it seemed, was also beating the retreat. What virtue or ability did the Kang family have to dare stand against Wei Zhao?

While the Zhao family was cautiously studying Wei Zhao, Wei Zhao had already brought Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu to Songshan City First People's Hospital.

"Xiaoyi!" Uncle Qing, who had been weighed down with worry, sprang to his feet the moment he saw Wei Zhao, excited as if he had been injected with a stimulant. "You... you are well?"

"I am well!" Wei Zhao nodded heavily and said to Uncle Qing, "These past days, I have put you to great trouble..."

Uncle Qing was slightly taken aback, then understood at once: Wei Zhao meant that after Gu Pengzhan went bankrupt, Uncle Qing had stayed resolutely by Gu Pengzhan's side despite drawing no wages and risking the vengeance of enemies. Such kindness Wei Zhao would naturally be grateful for.

But Uncle Qing felt both amused and exasperated. "Xiaoyi, I have shared more than ten years of friendship with Mr. Gu. Talk like that is far too distant."

"Heh... true enough." Wei Zhao nodded. He had known the young lady for only half a year or so, while Uncle Qing's time with them was far longer. So Wei Zhao said no more. "I will go see Uncle Chu."

"Of course!" Uncle Qing hurriedly stepped aside and invited Wei Zhao into the intensive care ward.

"How is it, Wei Zhao? Can you save Daddy..." Though Gu Mengyao knew there was a ninety percent chance Wei Zhao had a way, her father's life was at stake, and she was still anxious.

"Not a big problem." Wei Zhao glanced at Gu Pengzhan's condition and said, "So long as he has not breathed his last, it is nothing serious..."

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