Chapter 3511 — A Helper Wanted

With an old-timer like Gui Dongxi as his trump card, Wei Zhao was, by and large, in no great danger!

"Just me alone?" Wei Zhao glanced at Kang Zhaoming and asked flatly.

"That's right. We all sat down and talked it over just now and unanimously decided that you're the only suitable one. It was a show of hands, all of us. Of course, you can refuse, and we'll pick someone else—but if you won't follow orders and accept deployment, then I'll have no choice but to bar you from the heaven-tier trial!" So said Kang Zhaoming.

"Do you think saying that is even interesting? Unanimously decided? Who decided? You? You? Or you?" Wei Zhao casually pointed at a few trial participants fawning around Kang Zhaoming and asked mildly.

But every one of them lowered his head; not a single one dared meet Wei Zhao's eyes. After all, Wei Zhao's ferocious reputation had been made in the ancient era—anyone who offended him was killed on the spot. These people wanted to lick Kang Zhaoming's boots, but none dared offend Wei Zhao.

After all, if Wei Zhao really took a disliking to them and beat them to death, Kang Zhaoming could not bring them back to life.

"Wei Zhao, never mind all that—are you going to obey or not?" A flicker of shame and anger crossed Kang Zhaoming's eyes. What he had said before had been meant to sound grand and noble, but he had never expected Wei Zhao to refuse him any face and expose him outright, leaving him unable to save his dignity. "If you won't go, then please leave. The trial does not welcome you!"

"Who says I refused?" Wei Zhao asked coolly in return. "Which ear of yours heard that? I was merely raising a question."

"You—" Kang Zhaoming was furious. If you agreed, then say so earlier, damn you! All that nonsense, and you leave me with egg on my face! He gave a cold humph and said, "You see that? In this trial, I am the authority. Those who follow me prosper; those who defy me perish. This Wei Zhao, the foremost lone cultivator under the heavenly dao, doesn't dare defy me either. All that crap he spouted, and in the end he still has to submit obediently!"

Kang Zhaoming was no fool either. In an instant he had turned the bad into the good, and he said so outright.

"Oh. Then I won't submit. I'm leaving." With that, Wei Zhao turned to go.

"Gah!?" Kang Zhaoming froze on the spot. He had not expected Wei Zhao to leave so decisively, and for a moment he did not know what to do or how to respond! That wretched mouth of mine—Wei Zhao had already agreed, and I still had to put on a show for the sake of face! Now look: Wei Zhao's leaving, and all the plans I drew up are wasted for nothing? He was at a loss, hesitated a moment, then hurriedly said, "Don't be like that! I was only joking, haha. Wei Zhao, don't get excited—you've come all this way, it'd be such a pity not to take part!"

"Oh, since you're begging me so earnestly, I suppose I'll take part, reluctantly. But I've changed my mind—assign me a helper, someone to lure out the Five-Kill Dragon together with me. I think this one's quite good. What do you say?" As he spoke, Wei Zhao pointed at Lou Taixie.

Wei Zhao had nothing but contempt for two-faced creatures like that. Earlier, the man had chosen to submit the moment he heard Wei Zhao's name, only to turn right around and throw in his lot with Zhong Yongliang. If Wei Zhao let him off easily, that would be a wonder.

"I think..." Kang Zhaoming was somewhat troubled. This man was plainly one of Zhong Yongliang's subordinates; if he made the decision himself, he would be offending Zhong Yongliang. And just now Zhong Yongliang had made a show of shielding the others—now to hand one of them over for Wei Zhao's sake, that simply wouldn't do!

"Oh, if Wei Zhao has need of him, then let Lou Taixie go. It's all for the trial, after all! I think it's only natural that he make a small sacrifice." Zhong Yongliang meant to stir up trouble in the trial too; if Wei Zhao left now, whom would he have left to deal with?

And a Lou Taixie—an insignificant nobody—giving him up was no great loss.

Lou Taixie's expression changed at once. He had never imagined that after throwing in his lot with Zhong Yongliang, he would be the first to be handed over. He was profoundly bitter. Had he known, he might as well have thrown in with Wei Zhao—true, he might also have ended up luring out the Five-Kill Dragon with Wei Zhao, but at least Wei Zhao would have protected him. Now he had become nothing but cannon fodder!

"Uh, Brother Liang, I can't do it—I don't have enough experience. What if I ruin everything?" Lou Taixie was panicking. He did not want to go to his death. He had gone through so much to get here and join the trial in order to advance to the heavenly dao, not to throw his life away.

"Since Wei Zhao thinks so highly of you, you must have something extraordinary about you." Hearing that Zhong Yongliang had agreed, Kang Zhaoming naturally would not let Lou Taixie slip away. He cut the man off at once: "I say you shouldn't belittle yourself. This matter is settled, just like that!"

Kang Zhaoming brought down the hammer, and Lou Taixie had no way out. He knew he was certain to die. He gave Kang Zhaoming a bitter look and said, "I withdraw from the trial. Cancel my registration. I'm not going!"

"Oh?" Kang Zhaoming was taken aback. He had not expected Lou Taixie to play that trick too! But to tell the truth, whether Lou Taixie went to the trial or not was nothing to Kang Zhaoming. What he feared was that once Lou Taixie left, Wei Zhao would be displeased and withdraw as well—and then the fun would really be over.

Zhong Yongliang's expression changed too, but Wei Zhao simply raised a hand and drove a punch straight at Lou Taixie!

The twentieth stance of the Frenzied Fire Fist—the strongest move in Wei Zhao's ordinary martial repertoire. But even an ordinary martial art, this twentieth stance far surpassed anyone else's, and was already the equal of a twenty-first stance. Even if it did not kill Lou Taixie, it would leave him half crippled!

"Boom—" With a tremendous crash, Lou Taixie, caught completely off guard, was blasted away by Wei Zhao and slammed into the ground not far off, gouging out a human-shaped crater. He spat out a mouthful of blood; clearly his internal injuries were severe.

"Since he's no longer a trial participant, I may as well settle him right here and save myself the trouble of bringing him along to the trial." Wei Zhao spoke mildly: "Originally, if he had done his part in the trial, I could have spared his life. Since he doesn't want to go, then he needn't go."

Wei Zhao's words were mild, but they left everyone present shivering and silent. Wei Zhao was simply too domineering—striking without the slightest warning. He truly was not someone to provoke! Kang Zhaoming, however, felt a weight lift from his chest. Who told Lou Taixie to defy orders?

"Haha, indeed! Since he's not taking part, his life and death have nothing to do with our Five Luminaries Sect!" Kang Zhaoming said lightly. "So then, Wei Zhao, whom do you want to help you now?"

"No need. I'll do it myself." Wei Zhao waved a hand. He glanced at Xiao Ran not far away, standing at the very back of the trial participants, and saw that Xiao Ran looked excited at seeing Lou Taixie beaten.

But Wei Zhao plainly had no intention of asking for his help, because it was no good assignment, and Wei Zhao did not want to harm him. In truth, he could face the Five-Kill Dragon alone. (To be continued)