After both Zhao Wei and Zhao Yufei demonstrated their skills to Ye Lingyun's satisfaction, he decided it was time to leave.
And before leaving, he once again reminded them that their meeting point would be outside the Main Hall.
The movements of a Ninth Rank Martial Master were so fast to be perceived by those weaker than them, and it was shown perfectly through the shocked expressions of Zhao Tiancang and the elders.
Yufei was slightly surprised, just a little bit even though she could barely keep up with Ye Lingyun's speed. After training with Zhao Wei in several mock battles, Zhao Yufei realized the perceptive abilities of her eyes had received some significant improvement. Though not exaggerated, she could now at least follow and anticipate the movements of those who pursued speed. Her eye muscles had been inadvertently trained in her futile attempts to deal with Zhao Wei.
'Ye Lingyun, his overall exposition hadn't been much in the novel but I now have a basic profile of his personality.' Zhao Wei contemplated deeply within a nanosecond.
'He's truly connected with the Guanjun Corps. If he had not been truly connected with the Guanjun Corps and was just someone masquerading as Ye Lingyun, well, things would have really been messy which is in itself an understatement.'
The first thing he did the moment he entered the Main Hall was to analyze his environment and those who were in it.
Ye Lingyun had been his prime target since he was the one going to help him turn another page of his life's journey.
Using his x-ray vision and deep analytical skills, Zhao Wei had extensively gone through the authenticity of the guest from afar.
One thing he had an understanding of from reading the novel was that the Guanjun Corps and Lord Guanjun weren't without their enemies and who could predict if their enemies or unstable elements would mess around with him.
Zhao Wei had been super careful since he was entrusting a little bit of his future progression to someone completely unknown to him.
"Ahem, Zhao Wei and Zhao Yufei, congratulations on getting the recognition of Master Ye." Zhao Tiancang cleared his stuffy throat in embarrassment before praising the two outstanding geniuses of his clan with a forced smile on his face.
His dignity and face had just been thrown onto the ground and stepped on while being dirtied like a rag. He was feeling bitter and sorry for his own stepson whose presence and identity had been synonymized with trash.
Zhao Wei's attention immediately shifted to the supposed leader of the Zhao Clan.
"It's nothing. If it were not for the Clan's ardent nurturing and resources, I wouldn't have reached my current state. The clan deserves all the credit. Without you all, I wouldn't have made it." Zhao Wei's mouth had a thin smile that didn't reach his nearly closing eyes but his words and tone sounded almost sincere.
"Good! Good! Very good! We didn't raise this young one in vain!" The elders immediately beamed with proud smiles on their faces as they gazed at both Zhao Wei and Zhao Yufei in admiration.
"Not forgetting the roots after being exposed to the first signs of guaranteed prominence and prosperity, now that's what I call being loyal!"
"Even though he now has a bright future ahead of him, he didn't forget to give credit to the Clan's upbringing."
"The youngster truly knows the importance of kinship!"
The elders also started offering their own praises as they happily laughed amongst themselves.
Zhao Yufei who was standing near Zhao Wei almost felt her legs lose balance when she heard Zhao Wei's words, saw his facial expression, and then finally witnessed the elders' reactions.
'The audacity of this guy. How can you lie like that? I even almost believed that you were one with the clan and took filial piety seriously?! Ah, just what sort of craziness usually runs in your mind?' Zhao Yufei asked herself, more like trying to question and understand Zhao Wei in her mind.
'Ha, you can't just lie to the old fogies like that with such a deceptive smile on your face, stinky Zhao Wei.' Zhao Yufei curbed her shock and chose to remain silent. She decided it was best to leave the fun to Zhao Wei.
"Elders, you are making me uncomfortable. There is no need to overpraise me with such grand words. I am part of the clan, there is no need to treat me like an outsider." Zhao Wei showed a hurt expression as he dismissed the elders' praises as being too much.
"Such humility and politeness!" Zhao Tiancang threw his previous negative feelings to the side and decided to focus on the present.
Zhao Linglong, his stepson, wasn't the ultimate hope of the Zhao Clan but those two - Zhao Wei and Zhao Yufei.
Their statuses were now above even the three clans as a whole. Them serving under Lord Guanjun was ultimately a golden opportunity for the Zhao Clan to rise above the masses. If things went well, they would soon be the crowned sole rulers of Sun Feather City.
In the face of such opportunities, one has to look at the bigger picture. Although Zhao Tiancang loved Zhao Linglong it didn't mean that his eyes were blinded.
Those two were soon going to be powerhouses and as the Clan Leader he wanted them to also 'care' about the clan - to have that sense of belonging.
Seeing Zhao Wei's consideration of the clan's welfare, Zhao Tiancang couldn't be more happy. He didn't care about their identity as side-branch family disciples.
"Clan Leader, Elders, I am feeling mentally overwhelmed right now and want to settle my thoughts. I had previously been practicing my martial arts techniques and the fatigue is now coming to me." Zhao Wei cupped his hands in respect, his face gradually showing signs of tiredness and lethargy.
Zhao Tiancang could easily get the memo. Zhao Wei was most certainly in need of some space after being given such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"I understand. You two may now enter and leave the Main Hall at your own leisure. Your current status isn't just that of a mere disciple, elder, or Clan Leader but something much more." Zhao Tiancang smiled amiably.
"If you will excuse me…" Zhao Wei nodded and when he was passing by Zhao Yufei, one end of his lips tugged slightly.
"Clan Leader, elders…" Not wanting to be left alone with the old men, Zhao Yufei also began excusing herself and followed Zhao Wei.
A few distances away from the Main Hall, Zhao Yufei couldn't help but laugh while reminiscing about what had happened in the Main Hall.
"Your acting skills are sick. Do you find joy in playing with others' expectations and hopes? Too brutal!"
"Watch your words, Yufei. I have the Clan's best interests at heart and nothing more." Zhao Wei responded with a cheeky smile as they walked side by side.
"You are too evil. Immoral." Zhao Yufei nudged at his sides with her elbow.
Zhao Wei had a queer look on his face for a brief moment.
"Immoral, you say? Meat Jelly would have been pleased."
"Who's Meat Jelly?"
"It's just Meat Jelly. Nothing more nothing less."
"Wei'er…"
Tick.
"Okay, I will tell you. It's just meat that has jelly and a mouth that can really talk. And, it is eternal friends with a perverted, immoral immortal parrot."
"Bastard!"
"..."
"..."
"But I was telling the truth."
***
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