Over here, just as the four of them, Elder Wu included, had taken their seats, three more people were led up to Bright Peak by the attendants in charge of receiving guests. At the sight of them, Elder Wu, Xu Fengwei, and Wang Jingsong all darkened in the face.
Xu Yi sent a thought to Elder Wu. "What is it? Have those fellows got a score to settle with you, Brother Wu?"
Elder Wu replied telepathically, "A score to settle would be too strong a way to put it. There's been some misunderstanding. If they say anything unpleasant later, Brother Xue, please be generous and let it pass."
Xu Yi nodded and said no more.
The three newcomers had initially been guided by the attendants toward the A section. But the old man in hemp clothes among them suddenly spotted Elder Wu and the others. He tugged at the sleeve of the burly man leading the group. The next moment, the burly man dismissed the attendant with a few words, then changed direction and headed straight for Elder Wu.
"Old Wu, it's been nearly half a year. What, has your Turtle-Shelling Technique improved again? Congratulations!" The burly man stopped in front of them, gave Elder Wu a mocking once-over, and chuckled.
By now, Xu Fengwei and Wang Jingsong had already sent Xu Yi a telepathic message explaining how the feud had begun. It was simply that Elder Wu had refused to join the burly man, whose name was Tong Tian, in ambushing the caravan of a major merchant house. That had planted the seed of discord.
Tong Tian had often slandered Elder Wu behind his back, but Elder Wu had acted as though nothing had happened.
Elder Wu smiled. "It's been a long time, Brother Tong. You look even more