Chapter 288 - A Hero’s Return (2/2)

“Ha-ha-ha, you’re too kind. I made a fool of myself before Prime Minister with my coarse skills. They are merely useful in dealing with pests.” Leng Wuchang’s eyes shined.

Zhuge Changfeng nodded, returning to watch the National Elemental Stone, the cheering bunch therein, and sighed, “These kids are quick to celebrate. It won’t matter if this trifling victory has gotten to the heads of the weak ones, but Steward Zhuo, if even you are taken in by it, I’d be dreadfully disappointed…”

Zhuge Changfeng watched him hailed by the crowd as a hero…

The man in question took the Brimming Sacred Pill’s vial from the ring and showed it off to all, “See here? I’ve returned triumphant!”

“We see!”

They all shouted in joy and respect.

With a wicked grin, Zhuo Fan stashed it into his own ring, weirding out the crowd.

The 8th grade pill was a treasure in and of itself that not even the seven houses had one. The least he could do was popping the cork to let them catch a glimpse of it.

Zhuo Fan merely coughed and changed the subject, “Alright, the show is over, break it up. We need to find the other pills and keys. Our goal is to win this Esoteric Debate!”

Ugh!

They all looked at him with dark faces.

“Zhuo Fan, are you planning on hogging the pill?” Xie Tianyang’s face twitched.

Zhuo Fan put on a pained look as he cursed, “Xie Tianyang, is this how my brother, going through thick and thin, should act? Don’t you trust me? Am I one to just hog it to myself? Am I that selfish?”

“Yes!”

The crowd had spoken. Xie Tianyang said coldly, “It’s because of the endless troubles we’ve passed. I know exactly just who you are! Zip it and hand it over. Nothing is safe in your hands, especially that 8th grade pill.”

The others joined in, but only as a joke. With Zhuo Fan as the strongest there, no place was safer than with him.

Zhuo Fan feigned anger, “Since you don’t trust me, then I’ll eat it right in front of you. Besides, I got it back with my own efforts. Try to take it from me if you want it!”

“Tch!”

They all flicked their hands. Xie Tianyang even went a step further, “See that? I know this friggin’ guy’s character better than I know myself. If hustling is a bust, he just switches to daylight robbery. Not to mention anything that ends up in his hands will never see the light of day!”

The others cracked up. Xue Ningxiang was bursting with joy, not caring at all of the value of that bauble.

The mood made them seem like one big happy family, laughing their troubles away. They seemed to have returned to the peaceful and safe days of Allbeast Mountain Range a while back.

This was all thanks to Zhuo Fan. He instilled courage in their hearts while also dispelling the thick dread Huangpu Qingtian cast over them.

It just came to them that even the almighty Huangpu Qingtian wasn’t infallible. At the very least, Zhuo Fan was there to give them a fighting chance.

Once the cheerfulness passed, the three houses’ head disciples began discussing serious matters.

Xie Tianshang began, “Brother Zhuo, you are the strongest here and also brought the Brimming Sacred Pill back. That makes it yours. The stronger you are, the greater our chances!”

The rest nodded.

They were all quite keen on having it for themselves, but with it being Zhuo Fan’s spoil, it belonged to him by right. Moreover, a boosted Zhuo Fan would give them an edge in getting the other pills out there. This was the best outcome for their alliance.

Zhuo Fan shook his head though, “I can’t, brother Xie. Did you really think Huangpu Qingtian waited ten days for me with the 8th grade pill instead of eating it? Just so I could steal it?”

Xie Tianshang frowned.

Zhuo Fan smiled, “Because he won’t dare!”

“What?” came their shocked response while Zhuo Fan explained, “It takes a long time to absorb it completely. If an enemy comes in that time, the slightest distraction would render it wasted, if not incur a heavy wound. So before a clear outcome has come from our conflicts, neither side would be willing to eat it.”

The sudden realization made them look at Zhuo Fan in a new light.

Thanks to his reminder, they could now curb the irresistible lure of the Brimming Sacred Pill the moment they found it. They were grateful for having avoided death if an enemy found them in such a vulnerable moment.

They were clearly overthinking things though. Why would Huangpu Qingtian get rid of such delicious bait and help Zhuo Fan instead?

Not to mention, Huangpu Qingtian was sure to drop by the instant any of them found one, and appropriated it. They’d never get the chance to even swallow it!

These thoughts left Zhuo Fan sighing, [The sooner I send them home the better…]