Chapter 3867 — Kang Jingming Leads the Way

If this Lin Er really was one of the Welcoming Pavilion's people, then no matter how deep the grudge between him and Nantian Guan and Yu Jiang might run, Hu Yunfeng, as Pavilion Master of the Welcoming Pavilion, could not simply stand by and look the other way—only if the Law Enforcement Hall stepped in could the man be taken away.

"Rest assured, Pavilion Master Hu. As for what may be done and what may not, this seat knows full well, clear as a mirror in my heart," Nantian Guan said with a nod.

"Very well, then. This Pavilion Master has a few matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave first. If either of you has any questions, you may ask Steward Kang." Before departing, Hu Yunfeng deliberately summoned Kang Jingming over to attend to the two in his stead.

Thanks to the patronage of that young master Xu Lingchong, Kang Jingming was doing rather well for himself in the Welcoming Pavilion these days. Even in the newcomers' challenge tournament—the very event an alchemist was least suited for—he was able to handle matters with ease, owing to the fact that his rank stood head and shoulders above the other newcomers.

Among all the newcomers of the Chongtian Pavilion at present, only Zhong Yongliang could steadily hold his strength above Kang Jingming's; and Zhong Yongliang, under Xu Lingchong's orders, could not make things difficult for Kang Jingming. So these days Kang Jingming was riding high, the wind at his back and the waters parting before him.

Perhaps after some time had passed, the other newcomers of the Chongtian Pavilion would all obtain pills through their own channels and soon be able to make their own attempts at Foundation Establishment. By then, even with Young Master Xu's patronage, Kang Jingming might not be able to stand out so uniquely as he did now—but at least for the moment, his word was still the law.

After hearing out Nantian Guan and Yu Jiang's purpose in coming, Kang Jingming suddenly stroked his chin and said, as if lost in thought, "Brother Yu, are you truly certain that Wei Zhao is not the Lin Er you seek?"

"Of course I am certain. Why does Steward Kang ask?" Yu Jiang said, puzzled.

Kang Jingming put on an air of profundity. "As a matter of fact, this junior has heard a thing or two about the matter of Senior Nantian Yong. In truth, the technique that Lin Er used bears a great resemblance to one this junior knows of. I wonder, have either of you ever heard of the cinnabar-fire bomb—a move only an alchemist can perform? And as it happens, Wei Zhao is precisely an alchemist."

"A cinnabar-fire bomb?" Nantian Guan and Yu Jiang were both taken aback. Though they had never witnessed such a martial technique with their own eyes, the name said it all—it must be a move that made use of cinnabar fire, and it was no wonder only an alchemist could use it.

Only, alchemists were notoriously feeble in actual combat. Could a single cinnabar-fire bomb really be so monstrous as to instantly kill a formidable expert at the peak of late Foundation Establishment like Nantian Yong?

Seeing the two still hesitating, Kang Jingming hurried on. "Do not doubt me, you two. The cinnabar-fire bomb is of little use in real combat, but its destructive power is truly startling. If one has charged it long enough beforehand, there is nothing strange about it snuffing out anyone at all."

"Is this true?" Nantian Guan and Yu Jiang exchanged a glance. The traits Kang Jingming described fit rather well with Lin Er's conduct that day. After all, before coming out to deal with Nantian Yong, the fellow had deliberately lingered at the Hong Merchant Guild for a full hour. Very likely he had been holding back this so-called cinnabar-fire bomb all the while.

"If this junior utters a single false word, may heaven and earth destroy me!" Kang Jingming swore with every appearance of sincerity. His zealous eagerness had an intent that needed no explaining—it was all to splash filth upon Wei Zhao.

Whether Wei Zhao truly was the Lin Er these two sought, he did not know. But even if Wei Zhao was not, Kang Jingming would still scheme by every means to pin it on him.

To him, it made no difference. Even if he failed, he would lose nothing; and if by chance these two believed his words and, without distinguishing right from wrong, slew Wei Zhao with a single palm strike—would that not be a windfall?

Since Kang Jingming had sworn such an oath, it would be somewhat unreasonable for Nantian Guan and Yu Jiang to disbelieve him any further. Besides, what he said did carry a certain logic. Even though Yu Jiang had earlier confirmed that Wei Zhao's appearance did not match Lin Er's in the slightest, they still had to find some way to make certain, just in case.

There was still a little time before the challenge tournament. Nantian Guan and Yu Jiang decided to go test Wei Zhao right then—after all, if they waited until the tournament began and all the newcomers gathered together, then under the eyes of the crowd it would be far from easy to probe Wei Zhao again.

When the two raised this idea, Kang Jingming could not have asked for more. He promptly led them to the foot of the mountain, to Cave Dwelling No. 1, where Wei Zhao now resided, and then, before the two made their move, took himself out of the picture of his own accord.

Given the value the Sandie Pavilion placed on its newcomers, anyone who laid hands on a newcomer without permission would face severe punishment. And besides, Kang Jingming did not know just how heavy a hand Nantian Guan and Yu Jiang might use. If by mishap they struck Wei Zhao dead outright, it might well cause a sensation.

That outcome, though delightful to Kang Jingming, might also drag him into the affair and make him share the blame if he were present. Better to withdraw early. In any case, he had already succeeded in redirecting the disaster onto Wei Zhao's head; whether the man got off with a beating or was killed outright would depend on his own luck.

In any case, this silent loss today was one that Wei Zhao, that posturing fraud, was bound to swallow!

"You do it," Nantian Guan said, jerking his chin at Yu Jiang to signal that he should make the move.

Yu Jiang's face at once filled with hesitation. Striking at a newcomer of the Welcoming Pavilion without authorization—if this truly blew up, the charge would be no light matter. And as yet they only suspected Wei Zhao; they were far from certain. To act so rashly and probe him by force—was the price not a little too steep?

Nantian Guan saw Yu Jiang's difficulty and said at once, "Whatever consequences come of it, this seat will bear them for you. Be quick about it, and waste no more time."

As it happened, there was no one about just then. But if they waited a while longer, until the newcomers' challenge tournament was about to begin, the other newcomers would likely come out of their cave dwellings and gather. By then there would be no chance to probe him.

With no way out, Yu Jiang could only steel himself and trigger the restriction on Cave Dwelling No. 1 at the foot of the mountain. A moment later, Wei Zhao opened the door of the cave dwelling, and seeing Yu Jiang standing before him, could not help but freeze.

Could his identity have been exposed? Wei Zhao's heart gave a lurch—that was his first reaction. But the next moment he found it rather absurd. Even if the fellow had recognized him as that Lin Er, could a man of his meager strength dare so brazenly to come knocking at his door and make trouble?

To say nothing of a mere inner disciple of the Chongtian Pavilion in the middle Foundation Establishment stage—even if Nantian Guan himself came in person, he would not dare lay hands on him in broad daylight, would he? To trespass into a newcomer's cave dwelling in the Welcoming Pavilion and slay a newcomer of the Welcoming Pavilion without authorization—the Law Enforcement Hall would be the first to let it go unpunished!