Chapter 3855 — Lan'er Has a Point

Though what had happened today at the Hong Clan Chamber of Commerce had caught him entirely off guard—that old bastard Hong Zhong had actually paid not the slightest heed to a personally written letter from the Four-Way Inspector of the Shadow Ward—in Nan Tianguan's view, no matter how formidable or stiff-necked Hong Zhong might be, so long as Shangguan Tianxia was willing to step forward and say a single word, Hong Zhong would have no choice but to kneel and lick his boots.

Even a mighty dragon does not crush a local snake—and before a top-tier magnate of the Northern Isle like Shangguan Tianxia, Hong Zhong, for all that he was the steward of one branch of the Hong Clan Chamber of Commerce, was nowhere near worthy of the title of dragon. He did not even qualify as a snake; at best he was a worm.

"You say Hong Zhong was fanning the flames behind this? Do you have solid proof?" Shangguan Tianxia asked, his brows knitting slightly.

Truth be told, the two of them—one the foremost top-tier magnate of the Northern Isle, the other the spokesman of the Hong Clan Chamber of Commerce's foothold on the Northern Isle—had not only collaborated extensively in official matters, but also enjoyed a rather good personal friendship.

Yet in Shangguan Tianxia's understanding, Hong Zhong had always dealt with others with courtesy and generosity, enjoying a spotless reputation. How could such a man possibly fan the flames of a thing like this?

"To report to the Pavilion Master: before my third junior brother met his end, he was thrown from the second floor of the Hong Clan Chamber of Commerce into the street by men Hong Zhong sent over the matter of Lin Er. And on the very day my third brother crossed blows with Lin Er, it was plainly arranged for Lin Er to hide inside the Hong Clan Chamber of Commerce for a full hour. A mere peak early-stage Foundation Establishment, yet the moment he stepped out of the Hong Clan Chamber of Commerce he could kill my third brother—a peak late-stage Foundation Establishment—in a single strike. If the Hong Clan Chamber of Commerce had not been pulling strings in the shadows, who would believe it? There were many witnesses to these things; this disciple would never dare report a single word falsely or conceal anything. I beg the Pavilion Master to look into it clearly!" Nan Tianguan knelt once more, knocking his head against the ground.

Wei Zhao's one-strike kill of Nan Tianyong had nothing whatsoever to do with Hong Zhong, but from anyone else's vantage, pouring this basin of filth over Hong Zhong's head was the most natural thing in the world. Otherwise, for a mere peak early-stage Foundation Establishment to kill a peak late-stage Foundation Establishment in a single strike—who would believe such an absurd, laughable tale?

The only party capable of such a thing was likely the Hong Clan Chamber of Commerce, which had gathered countless precious treasures into its coffers. Perhaps they possessed some manner of one-use consumable treasure whose might could slay a peak late-stage Foundation Establishment expert in an instant?

What was more, before all this, Wei Zhao had indeed deliberately lingered inside the Hong Clan Chamber of Commerce for a full hour. Such a stretch of time was more than enough to arrange any manner of trickery—it would be harder not to grow suspicious!

Shangguan Tianxia gazed deeply at Nan Tianguan, still kneeling prostrate on the ground, and his expression grew several degrees more grave. This was the sort of matter that would be clear at a single question; Nan Tianguan would never dare deceive him. And by this account, in the death of Nan Tianyong, the Hong Clan Chamber of Commerce—and Hong Zhong above all—could indeed not escape involvement.

After pondering in silence for a moment, Shangguan Tianxia finally spoke: "Very well. This matter—I shall question Hong Zhong about it."

Though his personal friendship with Hong Zhong was good, Shangguan Tianxia had always kept public and private matters distinct. Since Hong Zhong did indeed stand suspected of fanning the flames, then as master of the Tri-Stack Pavilion, he must step forward and look into it.

At these words, joy surged in Nan Tianguan's heart. So long as Shangguan Tianxia was willing to step forward and inquire, his purpose today was as good as achieved!

With Shangguan Tianxia stepping forward, Hong Zhong would never dare conceal anything further about Lin Er's true identity—unless he no longer wished to make his way on the Northern Isle.

Just as Nan Tianguan was secretly exulting, Shangguan Lan'er suddenly spoke up from the side: "Grandfather, it would not be proper for you to do this."

Not proper, my arse! The master of the Tri-Stack Pavilion stepping forward to look into a matter on behalf of a disciple beneath him—this was only right and natural. Not proper your sister!

Nan Tianguan nearly cursed aloud, but once he saw clearly that it was Shangguan Lan'er who had spoken, he could only force the profanity back down his throat. Not only could he show no displeasure—he had to plaster on an awkward, fawning smile.

"Oh? What is not proper about it? Little Lan'er, tell me." Shangguan Tianxia asked with keen interest.

Before this granddaughter of his, he was utterly an ordinary, kindly elder. And though Shangguan Lan'er had no love for cultivation, she had been clever since childhood, often holding clear and singular views on many matters—unlike those of his own station and power, whose eyes were sometimes clouded by considerations of interest.

Shangguan Lan'er said, all solemnity: "Grandfather, you once taught me a saying: the gentleman who lacks ability blames himself and cultivates his own worth. Nan Tianyong could not beat that Lin Er and threw away his life, yet he insists on pinning the blame on Grandpa Hong, who is plainly an outsider—and would even trouble you, Grandfather, to take up his cause in person. Is that not ridiculous? If you set such a precedent, then must you hereafter take up the cause of any Tri-Stack Pavilion disciple who loses a fight out in the world?"

"Er—Eldest Young Lady, Hong Zhong cannot really be counted an outsider. He does stand suspected of fanning the flames..." Nan Tianguan hurriedly craned his neck and argued.

"Fanning the flames? Do you have proof?" Shangguan Lan'er shot him a contemptuous glance. "Every word you have just spoken—from beginning to end, not one line proves that Grandpa Hong actually intervened, does it? Or are you able to stake your life on it, that the great killing move with which Lin Er slew Nan Tianyong was specially provided to him by Grandpa Hong, free of charge?"

"That..." Nan Tianguan was instantly left speechless.

How could he possibly have proof of such a thing? It was nothing more than pouring filth over Hong Zhong by the logic of ordinary men. Were he truly made to stake his life on it, he had neither the guts nor the nerve!

And even if it could truly be proven that Lin Er's great killing weapon came from Hong Zhong, how could that in turn prove that Hong Zhong had specially provided it free of charge? When all was said and done, it came down to a single word from Hong Zhong himself—an insoluble problem from the very start!

Helpless, Nan Tianguan could only turn his head to look at Shangguan Tianxia. Against Shangguan Lan'er's words he had no rebuttal—and even if he had one, he would not dare voice it. What if he thereby earned the resentment of this Eldest Young Lady?

If this Eldest Young Lady whispered a few bad words in her grandfather's ear, then Nan Tianguan's prospects would be utterly black. So what if he was the managing senior brother of the Tri-Stack Pavilion? A single idle thought from Shangguan Tianxia could easily cast him down into the dust!