Chapter 2775 — Mother Tang Returns

"True enough, but they have lost men. Perhaps they will think twice about you and come at you from another angle—by going after your family, for instance!" the Supreme Elder said. "I can act once, but not a second time. Ordinarily, their reprisals follow a long cycle; it usually takes them half a year to a year before they reach a decision, and they strike in desolate wilds far from any habitation. But I cannot rule out some mishap born of their fury. So you had best hurry back and make ready!"

"Uh..." Wei Zhao had not expected to have provoked such a plague of a sect. He gave a bitter laugh. "Don't they only kill cultivators? My family are not cultivators. Would they really go that far?"

"The fact that they only take contracts to assassinate cultivators does not mean they will not kill ordinary folk. Avenging themselves and taking contracts are two different matters," the Supreme Elder said flatly. "What our ancient summit agreed upon was merely that they may not take contracts to assassinate non-cultivators. Nothing else was bound. So you had best go back!"

Three sentences running, and the Supreme Elder could speak of nothing but hurrying Wei Zhao on his way. Seeing that he would not leave, and unable to drive him out by force, she could only frighten him. Otherwise, if Wei Zhao grew suspicious, matters would become awkward.

"Truly, no professional ethics at all..." Wei Zhao was somewhat resigned. But they were killers; killing was their purpose, and there was no reasoning with them over rules. So Wei Zhao could only sigh and hope that the Blood Robe Yellow Springs Sect had been cowed and would beat the drum no further.

The Supreme Elder turned and saw that more and more disciples had gathered. She instructed several of them: "Carry this corpse away first. But pull the shoes off his feet—and mind you do not damage them!"

"Yes!" several Snow Valley disciples answered at once. Though they could not fathom what use the Supreme Elder had for a corpse's shoes, they obeyed all the same...

"These shoes?" Wei Zhao glanced at the black-robed man's feet, puzzled, then looked to the Supreme Elder in confusion.

Hearing Wei Zhao's question, the Supreme Elder would rather not have explained at all. She wanted only to send Wei Zhao out of Snow Valley—at once, this instant! Because this place was far too close to where Tang Yun was cultivating. She truly feared that Tang Yun would emerge and something would happen that she could not forestall!

Yet if she meant to send Wei Zhao packing outright, she had to have her way. Seeing his curious look, and fearing he would keep digging and probing without end, she suppressed her impatience and explained quickly: "These shoes are, in fact, his Heaven Rank divine weapon!"

"What? Shoes are his divine weapon?" Wei Zhao started, then gave the shoes in the disciple's hands a curious glance.

"Just so. These shoes are called the Gale-Chasing Lightning Boots, and the martial art this man cultivated is called the Gale-Chasing Lightning Art—a profound lightness skill made to match them. Once mastered, one can run as if flying. It has no offensive power, to be sure, but for pursuit and escape it is a divine weapon without equal!" the Supreme Elder explained. She spoke the truth because she did not believe Wei Zhao could claim the shoes for himself. After all, the black-robed man had been killed by her own hand, and had died in Snow Valley. She had helped Wei Zhao dispose of an enemy; surely Wei Zhao could not also demand the Gale-Chasing Lightning Boots.

"Oh. I see," Wei Zhao said. He eyed the Gale-Chasing Lightning Boots in the disciple's hands with some envy, but had no thought of pocketing them. He only said, "In that case, I will trouble the Supreme Elder no further. Thank you for today's business!"

"Mm..." The Supreme Elder's heart leapt with joy, and inwardly she burst into song: Go on, go on, our meeting was like a passing breeze...

But just as Wei Zhao meant to leave, a great shout rang out: "Wait!"

Then the Snow Valley disciples who had been surrounding Wei Zhao and the Supreme Elder all parted to make way. Wei Zhao turned his head and gaped—who should it be but that same Snow Valley patrol inspector from before?

"You little brat, what is that you're holding? Why do you mean to leave without showing it to me first?" Mother Tang jabbed a finger at the Snow Valley disciple holding the Gale-Chasing Lightning Boots and raged, "Did I not say it? When fine things are brought to Snow Valley, I am to be told at once! I see you have taken my words for nothing!"

"Uh... this... Auntie Wang..." The disciple held the Gale-Chasing Lightning Boots—a thing that ought to have been an honor. To serve the Supreme Elder was a task all the other Snow Valley disciples envied. But in the blink of an eye, no one envied him any longer; all were shaken with lingering fear, thanking their stars their hands had been slow. Otherwise the one Mother Tang cursed out would have been themselves.

"Ahem... these Gale-Chasing Lightning Boots are the property of this black-robed man, not of Snow Valley!" the Supreme Elder cursed inwardly: what must come had come. Fortunately, it was not Tang Yun. She wanted only to send Mother Tang away quickly and see Wei Zhao off, so she put in a word to explain on the black-robed man's behalf.

"Oh, no need to say it—I heard it all just now!" Mother Tang waved a hand. She had heard the Supreme Elder's words from a distance, so she waved and said, "These Gale-Chasing Lightning Boots are a fine thing indeed. Since they do not belong to Snow Valley, then give them to you!"

With that, Mother Tang snatched the boots from the Snow Valley disciple's hands and thrust them at Wei Zhao. The disciple dared not say a word; he only cast a fearful glance at the Supreme Elder.

The Supreme Elder was so furious she nearly ascended to the heavens, her face black as could be.

"This... I couldn't. This man was killed by the Supreme Elder, and besides, the Supreme Elder acted out of righteousness—I am already deeply grateful. How could I take these boots?" Wei Zhao waved his hand. "Senior, thank you for your kindness! Better that you keep them yourself, Senior. Should danger come, you can still flee and save your life!"

Wei Zhao thought Mother Tang a good and kind soul, always looking out for others, but her strength seemed rather lacking—so he meant for her to keep the boots.

"Oh, no one here dares kill me. You take them," Mother Tang said carelessly. "Did you not provoke that Blood Robe Yellow Springs Sect? When they come for you again, you will be able to flee for your life!"

"Just so. These were taken from one of the Blood Robe Yellow Springs Sect. If their people were to see them, it would bring needless trouble. So it is safer for the thing to remain in Snow Valley!" the Supreme Elder hastily added, following Wei Zhao's lead.

"Even if they do not see them, would they not guess that Mr. Lin killed the man?" Mother Tang cast a contemptuous glance at the Supreme Elder. "Your wits are slower than a chicken's!" (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.) to cast recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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