Chapter 1483 — A Slap in the Face

"Then come on, little one!" Wei Zhao scooped up the Thunder Pig and once again entered the jade pendant space.

He could sense that the Thunder Pig practiced no cultivation method at all; the energy within its body had been piled up from heavenly treasures and earthly wonders, much like Wei Zhao's own all-purpose energy. And once Wei Zhao's energy entered the Thunder Pig's body, it merged perfectly with the energy already there.

It seemed the true qi inside a spirit beast was of the same nature as his own energy — no wonder General Weiwu could be upgraded. The so-called healing-type spirit beasts were probably much like any other spirit beast; the only difference was that a healing-type beast was born with the gift of converting all-purpose energy and passing it on to another. General Weiwu happened to possess that very gift, and so Elder Yu had taken it for a healing-type spirit beast.

Other spirit beasts had different gifts, but the all-purpose energy within them was the same. The only difference was that they could not convert it, and though that energy was all-purpose, until it was converted it could never be used by another — being all-purpose availed them nothing.

Thus only one like Wei Zhao, whose very cultivation was all-purpose energy, could draw upon it. This, too, was one of the spirit beasts' flaws.

By the time the Thunder Pig broke through to the early stage of the Xuan Rank, the sky had turned fully bright. Wei Zhao patted the little creature before him and smiled faintly. "All right, little one, go hide somewhere and amuse yourself. I'm off to see an old friend of mine!"

Yu Bing had surely fretted the whole night through and slept poorly. At the thought, a swell of warmth rose in Wei Zhao's heart. Though he and the worldly Yu family — and certain people among the Hidden Yu family — were at odds, this bond with Yu Bing was genuine. Whether or not it came of Yu Ning, Yu Bing truly counted him a friend, and for that Wei Zhao was deeply grateful.

If ever the chance came, Wei Zhao would surely repay him; for the moment, though, Yu Bing wanted for nothing.

Fresh from its breakthrough, the Thunder Pig darted joyously about the room. At Wei Zhao's words it hid itself away somewhere, somewhat unwillingly. Before the trial began, Wei Zhao had no intention of letting more people learn of the Thunder Pig's existence, lest needless trouble arise.

And once the trial did begin, they were all fated to be enemies in any case, so Wei Zhao was not afraid of anyone coming to seize it — a fight was the worst that could come of it. Still, he was confident that so long as these people could not see through the Thunder Pig's secret and took it merely for an ordinary Xuan Rank pet with no attacking power, no one would trouble to snatch it; such a thing would be of no use to them. In the ancient sects, too, many kept spirit beasts as pets, but those beasts, for all the strength they held, were wretched in combat and could scarcely do a man any real harm.

Wei Zhao pushed the door open and stepped out of the bedroom, only to be met head-on by Zhao Qitan, Zhao Qijiu, and two people he did not know. One of them bore a slight resemblance to Yu Bing, and must be the Yu family's Yu Shan; the other Wei Zhao had never laid eyes on, yet there was something oddly familiar about him, though he could not say whom the man resembled.

"Isn't this Brother Ling? How are you faring? Yesterday I heard you had been injured. Zhao wished to visit you, but feared to disturb your rest. Nothing serious, I hope?" Zhao Qitan greeted Wei Zhao with feigned concern.

Zhao Qitan was plainly deeper in scheming than Yu Shan. Though he already knew that Wei Zhao could never be won over, and that Wei Zhao was now crippled besides, they had after all drunk together once, and so he still offered up a few hollow words of comfort.

"Ha, I thank Brother Zhao for his concern. I'm quite all right." Wei Zhao smiled and nodded to him. Toward this Zhao Qitan he bore no great ill will; the man was slippery, true enough, but easier to get along with than Zhao Qibing, and by instinct he judged that Zhao Qitan and Zhao Qibing stood as rivals — much as Yu Bing and Yu Shan did.

"Quite all right? Crippled, more like, and about to take his leave of my big brother, I'd say." Yu Shan spoke in that sneering, insidious way. "Though my big brother's luck is foul enough — he has no sooner found himself an ally than the man turns into a good-for-nothing. How tragic, how tragic!"

Yu Shan had once been rather restrained; but having suddenly taken Feng Nitian as his leader, he had swollen with self-importance, and had begun to do a few heaven-defying things himself.

With a click, the door beside Wei Zhao was pushed open, and Yu Bing glared furiously at Yu Shan. "Yu Shan, what did you say! Say it again!"

"Oh? What? Am I wrong? Did I tread on your sore spot, big brother? Couldn't help but leap out, could you?" Yu Shan said, curling his lip and eyeing Yu Bing with mockery.

"Yu Shan, you grow more ill-mannered by the day." Yu Bing was beside himself with rage, glaring at Yu Shan. "You set yourself against me at every turn, and I have endured it. But you should not make a joke of another man's suffering!"

"And what the hell are you?" Hearing Yu Bing prattle on, Feng Nitian at once grew impatient. He had been on his way out to eat and was being held up here, which naturally put him in a foul mood.

"And who are you? This is a matter of the Yu family — it is not for you to cut in!" Yu Bing had not expected that Yu Shan would have someone to speak up for him.

"Not for me?" Feng Nitian suddenly raised both hands, in an instant forming a strange hand seal in the air, then gave a cold laugh. "Ignorant little trash. If I wished to kill you, it would be easier than turning my palm."

With that, Feng Nitian stretched out his right hand and swung it hard. With a crisp crack, a ringing slap landed on Yu Bing's face; then, backhanding it again, crack — another slap landed on the other side of Yu Bing's face.

And Yu Bing stood there without moving, taking the blows from Feng Nitian as though waiting to be struck, offering not the slightest resistance.

Though Wei Zhao stood some distance off, he could still see Yu Bing's expression clearly. It was filled with fury, yet he did not stir and did not strike back, which astonished Wei Zhao greatly.

Yu Bing was in no way a coward. Yesterday, when Zhang Naipao had been so fearsome, Yu Bing had been ready to stand up for him in his wrath, and had been stopped only by a look from Wei Zhao. Today, with someone slapping his face in public, he showed no reaction at all. What on earth was going on?

After the two slaps, Feng Nitian patted his hands indifferently and said to Zhao Qitan, Zhao Qijiu and Yu Shan beside him, "Let's go. I'm starving. Listening to this trash drone on and on is truly tiresome."

Wei Zhao hesitated, and did not step in to stop him, for he could not be certain of Yu Bing's intent. Why had Yu Bing chosen to swallow it? Was there something in this that he did not know? Since even Yu Bing had held himself back, Wei Zhao would certainly not act rashly.

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