Chapter 1348 — Temporary Forbearance

But Wei Zhao's body was terribly weak just now. Though he put on a swaggering front, a man knows his own business best. Old Yu had no such gift as his — no way to see through another's true strength at a glance — and so long as he did not circulate his true qi, the old man could not gauge his power; thus Wei Zhao had no fear that he would see through the bluff of fierceness that masked his inner cowardice. Yet once the two of them truly came to blows, his weakness would be plain at a glance.

So even with murder in his heart, Wei Zhao could only choose to endure for the moment! Since he had forced out Old Yu's true aim, it was enough to keep a wary eye on him, and once his strength recovered, he would find a chance in the tomb to wound him badly in one stroke — or even do away with him outright.

"So that is what it was. It is indeed useless — but useless or not, I still mean to copy it down. And I am interested in your Qi-Gathering Pills. If there are two, might you spare me one?" Wei Zhao's purpose in this was purely to divert Old Yu's attention. Had he simply let the matter drop, even Old Yu would have grown suspicious — after all that bluster, was it to come to nothing?

Old Yu pondered a moment, and at last nodded. For the sake of that notebook of an alchemist's insights, he could only agree to Wei Zhao's terms for now. Wei Zhao might be only a Mystic-rank adept, but he was the most troublesome unstable factor of all.

"Agreed. But only if there are two will you get one; if there is only one, then this old man alone will take it," Old Yu said. "As for the physician's notes, copy them if you like — only you had best not spread them about. Spreading them will do you no good either."

"Done." Wei Zhao nodded in assent.

Old Hei and James looked on with envy as Wei Zhao bargained terms with Old Yu, yet there was nothing they could do. Wei Zhao had the strength and the capital for it; they did not.

"In that case, this old man will go tomb-robbing with you first thing tomorrow morning!" Having got Wei Zhao's firm answer, Old Yu finally let out a breath of relief and left the tent well satisfied. He needed to find a place to cultivate and heal as quickly as he could; his right hand, crippled by Wei Zhao's blast, had cost him no small share of his fighting strength, and he must recover it fast.

And once Old Yu had gone, Wei Zhao rose to his feet as well. "Nothing more to discuss. I will be on my way too."

"Now that there are so many fewer of us, the division of the spoils in that ancient tomb..." Old Hei hesitated, but asked anyway.

"Fifty-fifty." Wei Zhao glanced at Old Hei and spoke coolly. "Any objection?"

"Fifty-fifty?" Old Hei gave a bitter smile. After a fifty-fifty split, would there be anything left for him and James but the remainder? At most he would keep thirty percent, same as before — and yet he had killed two men and gained not a scrap of advantage!

"What, you do not agree?" Wei Zhao looked at Old Hei coldly.

"I agree... I agree!" Old Hei nodded. He dared not disagree. In his eyes, the male bandit and that Earth-rank adept both had the capital to haggle — so what was there that he, Old Hei, could not do? And so Old Hei had no choice but to bow his head! This tomb raid had already gone far beyond his expectations; had he known there would be so many dangers, he would never have come.

Wei Zhao said no more, and went out of the tent with Qiu Lingshan and Shen Yushu. The instant he stepped outside, the color drained from his face of all its former brilliance, turning a frightening shade of pale! Wei Zhao had been weak all along — he had not even recovered his physical strength, and had only made a crude treatment of his internal injuries; until now he had been forcing himself to smile and keep up appearances.

"Lin... Male Bandit, what is wrong?" Catching sight of Wei Zhao's face, Qiu Lingshan was startled, and hurried to steady him. Fearing that walls had ears, she did not call him by name.

"It is nothing... I was badly hurt just now!" Wei Zhao smiled wryly. "To survive under the hand of an Earth-rank adept is no small feat..."

True enough! Qiu Lingshan and Chen Yutian both felt a chill at heart. This was Wei Zhao alone — any other man, even one at the peak of late Mystic-rank, would be a weakling in the eyes of an Earth-rank adept. How could he have escaped? Let alone threaten the adept and bargain with him!

Seeing Wei Zhao's performance, Qiu Lingshan and Chen Yutian could not but feel admiration. Apart from Wei Zhao, there truly was no one who could do such a thing on Mystic-rank strength alone.

"Will you still be able to go tomb-robbing tomorrow, then?" Qiu Lingshan asked with some concern.

"It is fine. A night's rest and I will be about right." Wei Zhao smiled. "Let us go. Hold me up and hurry me back — do not let anyone see."

"Mm." Qiu Lingshan nodded, and she and Chen Yutian supported Wei Zhao on either side, walking him swiftly toward their own tent.

As for Old Yu, he too was eager to find a place to heal, and had no mind to linger and observe Wei Zhao. He found a dark corner, sat down cross-legged, and began to cultivate...

But he had scarcely sat down before his phone rang. He had thought it would be the hidden Yu family calling, but the number displayed was that of the mundane Yu family.

"Hello?" Old Yu answered without hesitation. "Shuixing, is that you?"

"Elder brother, it is me!" Yu Shuixing said hurriedly. "Brother, you have come out of the Yu family by now, haven't you? How goes it — the mission went fairly smoothly, I hope..."

"Not very smoothly. There is a junior, a Mystic-rank adept, but a most uncanny one — he actually wounded me!" Old Yu said. "Shuixing, did I not tell you not to call me at random? This mission is confidential, and I disclosed it only to you. Even so, the less we contact one another the better. If the Arbitration Association learns of it, the hidden Yu family will be punished."

"I see. Then, brother, once you have finished your business there, you still cannot come lend our Yu family your support?" Yu Shuixing sounded disappointed. "Our mundane Yu family has gone from bad to worse ever since you left. If you do not return to overawe those petty scoundrels, I fear our standing at the Great Clan Gathering will not be preserved."

"No. I have told you already — I slipped out in secret this time. If the Arbitration Association learns of it, it will mean great trouble, and I cannot show myself openly outside." Old Yu said. "It would implicate not only the hidden Yu family, but myself as well..."

"But... our Yu family truly is in peril right now..." Yu Shuixing said, unwilling to let it go.

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