Chapter 381: The One Who Shields His Own

"This brat, where on earth did he get the guts? How could he dare to act like this?" Huo Yun was so shocked that his eyeballs were practically popping out of their sockets.

One had to know, the person on the other end of the phone was the President of the Headquarters!

That was the number one figure of the Nanshan Branch Martial Arts Association; even if one counted all the other associations, he was still a top-tier existence among the many powerhouses.

Yet, the sentence Lu Yu had just spoken not only lacked the slightest bit of respect for the President, it even carried a faint undertone of threat.

Did he think that just because they were separated by the network, the President couldn't do anything to him?

Song Tian stared at Lu Yu, pondering to himself; he knew that this matter would absolutely not end so easily.

It was just that with Brother Lu being so serious, the relationship with the Headquarters would likely become exceptionally tense in the future.

After all, the person on the other end of the phone was the President of the Headquarters!

"Hmm, is it little Brother Lu speaking with me?"

To everyone's surprise, Zhou Yu's tone sounded exceptionally calm, as if he hadn't been offended in the slightest, with not a single sign of anger.

"Yes, President, it is little Brother Lu." Kong Ming hurriedly interjected, "President, I truly feel it would be better if you listened to what Huo Yun has to say."

Kong Ming knew clearly that the President was someone who tended to shield his own, especially when it came to Xiao Zhan; he had always been grooming him as his successor, and although the two had no blood relation, they were closer than father and son.

He had a strong premonition that the President likely already knew the inside story of the matter, which was why he didn't want to pursue it any further.

However, it was clear that little Brother Lu intended to get to the bottom of this, and blindly avoiding it would not solve the problem at all.

Furthermore, by always indulging and favoring Xiao Zhan like this, could one really cultivate a martial arts powerhouse capable of turning the tide and saving the human race from the depths of misery?

If possible, he hoped to use this incident to give Xiao Zhan a profound lesson, to make him understand that the world did not revolve around him.

Huo Yun's heart, which had finally settled, jumped back into his throat.

A full three seconds passed before Zhou Yu slowly spat out a single word: "Fine."

Kong Ming immediately cast his gaze toward Huo Yun, his tone as stern as frost: "Repeat what you told me earlier to the President, word for word, without any concealment. Do you hear me clearly?"

"I... I hear you clearly." Huo Yun was like an eggplant hit by frost, completely wilted.

Thus, he took a deep breath and spoke again, narrating the cause and effect of the matter in full detail, without holding anything back.

"President, I know I was dead wrong in this matter, and I admit it. But if Xiao Zhan hadn't found me and used flowery words to deceive me, I would never have committed such a serious error, President." After finishing, Huo Yun was already streaming with tears.

For a moment, the surroundings fell into a deathly silence. Everyone waited quietly for the response from the other end of the phone.

"Fine, I will go talk to him and call you back later." After saying this, Zhou Yu hung up the phone decisively.

"Beep, beep, beep..." The busy signal coming from the phone gave Kong Ming a headache, but he still forced a smile and looked at Lu Yu, saying: "Little Brother Lu, you heard what the President said just now; please wait a moment. Rest assured, the Headquarters will definitely give you a satisfactory answer."

"Is that so?" Lu Yu's expression remained indifferent, without the slightest ripple.

"Yes, don't worry, little Brother Lu," Kong Ming hurriedly replied.

In truth, Kong Ming himself had no confidence.

Because if the President truly wanted to give Lu Yu a satisfactory explanation, he could have simply turned on the phone's speakerphone; after all, Xiao Zhan was right by his side, so why not just let Xiao Zhan and Huo Yun confront each other on the spot?

But the President did not do that, choosing instead to hang up the phone first.

Because of this, no one knew what would happen over there.

Huo Yun couldn't help but lick his lips, feeling endless regret in his heart.

This feeling of being at the mercy of others, with no power to fight back, was absolutely terrible.

Inside the Quiet Room.

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Yu slowly turned around, his gaze like a torch, staring straight at the Xiao Zhan before him.

Xiao Zhan sat on a meditation cushion, feigning composure, and managed to squeeze out a smile, saying: "Master, why are you looking at me like that? Was that Uncle Kong who called you? What did he say on the phone?"

"Do you really want to know?" Zhou Yu asked in a deep voice.

Xiao Zhan's heart trembled violently. In his impression, whenever his master wore this expression, it was usually followed by a severe lesson.

Could it be that something really went wrong with Huo Yun, that not only was the mission uncompleted, but Uncle Kong had found out about it and called Master to hold him accountable?

Good for you, Huo Yun, you gave me up so easily after being caught?

Do you even acknowledge me as your master anymore! A nameless rage surged in his heart, but on the surface, he still forced a smile and said:

"I... I am a little curious, but if this is confidential, then I'd better not know."

Zhou Yu stared at him and asked straightforwardly: "Huo Yun, you sent him, didn't you?"

"Ma... Master, what are you talking about? I don't understand at all."

Xiao Zhan tried his best to put on an ignorant expression, but his body trembled uncontrollably, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead, covering it in dense beads.

"With your acting skills, you still want to deceive me?" Zhou Yu narrowed his eyes, a trace of majesty revealing itself in his gaze.

Xiao Zhan seemed to have suffered a heavy blow; the next second, with a "thud," he knelt directly on the ground, choking with sobs as he said:

"Master, this disciple knows he was wrong. This disciple shouldn't have set his sights on that Alchemist, and even less should I have sent Huo Yun. But this disciple truly had good intentions!"

"Good intentions?" Zhou Yu sneered, his tone full of disdain.

"Yes, Master." Xiao Zhan raised his head, his eyes full of tears, "This disciple did this entirely for you, Master.

You are now at the True Essence Realm Third Stage; if you could have enough Superior True Qi Pills to consume, you would definitely be able to break through to the fourth stage. By then, you would certainly be able to condense a First-Grade Martial Dao True Pill.

At that time, even if a Beast King-Grade Fierce Beast stood before you, it wouldn't be able to stir up much trouble.

That's right, if we give Yao Lao and the others enough time, they can indeed refine a large quantity of Superior True Qi Pills, but the key is time!"

Xiao Zhan wept as he spoke, "No one knows how long they will need; perhaps tomorrow, perhaps a week, or even a month.

So this disciple thought, if we could bring that Lu Yu here and have him refine Superior True Qi Pills specifically for you, Master, wouldn't you be able to break through to the True Essence Realm Fourth Stage very quickly?"

"Nonsense!" Zhou Yu was so angry he flew into a rage, "What exactly did you say to Huo Yun? Do I need to remind you again?"

"Master, I said that on purpose," Xiao Zhan explained desperately, "People's hearts are hard to read; if Huo Yun knew this matter involved you, who could guarantee what he might do next? But if it were in my name, the situation would be different, wouldn't it?"

Zhou Yu was stunned upon hearing this.

"Master, I really am thinking only of you!" Seeing this, Xiao Zhan hurriedly struck while the iron was hot, "You are the hope of our Nanshan Branch Martial Arts Association; only when your strength increases can our Association grow stronger day by day, right?

Lu Yu can refine so many Superior True Qi Pills, how could he possibly use them all up by himself?"

"Even if he could use them all, wouldn't it be more effective to use these True Qi Pills on you, Master?"

"Silence!" Zhou Yu shouted, but anyone with a discerning eye could tell that the anger in his tone had dissipated quite a bit.