Chapter 3156 — Agreeing Readily

"That's not necessarily so. That cousin of mine has peculiar tastes—the women he likes are different from everyone else's. He's even fond of cripples, let alone the likes of you..." Kang Jingming trailed off as he suddenly realized he had misspoken, and hurried to explain: "Xiao Taohong, of course I don't mean you're not good-looking. You're the kind of talented woman whose beauty lies within, and I'm sure Kang Xiaofeng will come to see that in time. Don't you worry—when the moment comes, so long as you're willing to put your mind to it, you'll surely have him hooked!"

"All right, then I'll give it a try." Xiao Taohong nodded. Had this been before, she would certainly have been angry at Kang Jingming for saying such things; but now, in her eyes, he was no more than a nameless passerby, and there was nothing left to be angry about.

"Remember, no matter what, you must win Kang Xiaofeng over, and then get your hands on the data!" Kang Jingming said. "Only once we have the data can we be together in the future. Otherwise, the Master will never permit me to take a second wife..."

"Mm, I understand." Inwardly, Xiao Taohong was filled with contempt. Even if I get the data, Ancestor Xuanchen would never agree to let me be your concubine.

"In that case, go and get ready. I'll have the Master put in a word with the Young Sect Master—with Ancestor Xuanchen himself making the request, I'm sure the Young Sect Master won't stand in the way over such a trifle," Kang Jingming said.

"Then I'll be going, Brother Kang." Xiao Taohong nodded.

Watching Xiao Taohong's receding figure, a cold smile flickered at the corner of Kang Jingming's mouth. "I didn't know what to do with Xiao Taohong, and now this comes along perfectly—I'll hand her to my little brother who likes picking up discarded shoes. Tsk, tsk, Kang Xiaofeng really is getting a bargain. I've never even touched Xiao Taohong myself. Still, with a face like that, I wouldn't have the appetite even if I had..."

The moment Xiao Taohong left, she went straight to Tianchan's room and told Tianchan everything Kang Jingming had said to her that day.

Tianchan frowned slightly. So Ancestor Xuanchen and Kang Jingming meant to move against Wei Zhao—to obtain from him the manufacturing data for the first-rank automatic medicinal cauldron! So it had not been for nothing that she had Xiao Taohong pretend to play along; she had actually come away with such important intelligence. Should she... give Wei Zhao a warning?

After pondering for a moment, however, Tianchan set the thought aside. For one thing, notifying Wei Zhao at this time would easily expose her; for another, in what capacity would she even approach him?

And most importantly, Xiao Taohong had already betrayed Kang Jingming, so Tianchan need not worry at all that Xiao Taohong would truly sell Wei Zhao out. She nodded and said, "I understand. You may go now. I'll think of something."

"Yes, Young Sect Master." Xiao Taohong knew Tianchan would never harm her, so she left with an easy mind.

Yet no sooner had Xiao Taohong gone than Tianchan suddenly spoke: "Tian Die'er, come in."

A dark figure drifted in through the window—it was none other than Tian Die'er!

"Young Sect Master!" Tian Die'er's face was cold as she addressed Tianchan respectfully.

"Tian Die'er, look into the background of Kang Xiaofeng of Guan Clinic Pharmaceuticals, then report back to me at once!" Tianchan instructed.

"Yes, Young Sect Master!" Tian Die'er answered, and in the blink of an eye she vanished again.

Not long after Tian Die'er departed, footsteps sounded outside Tianchan's door. If Tianchan had not misheard, the visitor was none other than Ancestor Xuanchen! She had not expected him to come in person—no small honor, and a sign of just how determined he was to send Xiao Taohong out on this errand.

Had Ancestor Xuanchen merely sent a casual summons as before, Tianchan might still have found room to refuse. But now that he had come himself, refusing would not only invite suspicion—she could not withstand Ancestor Xuanchen's wrath.

After all, the entire Xuandan Sect owed its standing as the leader among the ancient sects not merely to its pill refinement, but to the backing of the Five Luminaries Sect. Without that support, the Xuandan Sect would have been nothing but a small pill-refining sect, incapable of such rapid rise.

So Tianchan could refuse no longer, whether on public or private grounds.

"Tian Canbian, what are you busy with?" Led in by Xiao Taohong, Ancestor Xuanchen walked into Tianchan's room with a smile, Kang Jingming following behind him.

"Disciple Tian Canbian pays respects to Uncle-Master Xuanchen!" Tianchan made haste to greet him. "I did not know Uncle-Master Xuanchen would come here in person—is there some important matter? If you have any instructions, you need only have summoned me."

"Haha, nothing so important, really." Ancestor Xuanchen shook his head and smiled. "It's my son-in-law here again. You must be aware of the matter between him and your serving girl Xiao Taohong. Though he married my daughter, he still carries a first love for Xiao Taohong in his heart. At first I was against it—naturally I did not want my daughter competing with another woman for a man! But I don't know what bewitching potion Zhaoming fed my daughter; she actually agreed to let him take a concubine and make Xiao Taohong his second wife! Since my daughter has said as much, I as her father can hardly play the villain. Better to let them have their way—my daughter is willing, so what can I say, eh?"

Tianchan did not believe a word of Ancestor Xuanchen's nonsense, but she still had to put on a look of great surprise. "Is that so? So that's how it is... Then what does Uncle-Master mean to do?"

"Well, Zhaoming has had little to do lately, so I thought I'd have him take Xiao Taohong home to visit her family. It may take some time, so I came especially to tell you and ask for leave!" Ancestor Xuanchen said. "You have Tianxi as your serving girl now anyway, so you've no need of Xiao Taohong. There's no problem, I take it?"

"Of course there's no problem. Since Uncle-Master Xuanchen has spoken, and the parties concerned are willing, I could hardly stand in the way!" Tianchan smiled. "We are an ancient sect and still keep the old customs. A man with multiple wives is only natural—to me it's quite ordinary. Why, even I am the same; how could I demand otherwise of my subordinates?"

After all, Tianchan's public image was that of a free-spirited gallant with many women, so these words raised no issue. They were spoken purely for Kang Jingming's benefit.

"Good, then it's settled. Zhaoming, aren't you going to thank Young Sect Master Tian Canbian?" Ancestor Xuanchen was thoroughly pleased with Tianchan's tact, and the dissatisfaction he had harbored against her melted away like smoke. (To be continued.)