Chapter 2187 — Taken as a Disciple
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"Young Master Tian, may I ask—is there anything I must give in return?" Kang Jingming asked cautiously.
"Give in return? All you need do is devote yourself to learning pill refinement. Nothing else need concern you," Tian Canbian said lightly. "Of course, if you have the talent, your future standing in the Xuandan Sect will be beyond imagining. If you have none—well, then I'm sorry, but you'll go back to wherever it was you came from."
"I will do my utmost!" Kang Jingming's heart tightened, and he answered at once.
"Fine words come cheap. What comes next depends on you alone," Tian Canbian said.
"Then... shall I call home now and tell them the good news?" Kang Jingming asked.
"There's no need to tell them yet. I will have Elder You inform the Kang family that you are helping the You family with a certain matter," Tian Canbian said. "This matter must remain secret for now! Of course, if you achieve something, if you truly become a pill refiner who satisfies me, I will send you home in silks and glory and guarantee that the Kang family becomes a hidden clan standing equal to the You family! But if you prove to be mud that no wall can hold, then you need say nothing to anyone."
"Yes..." Kang Jingming had meant to go home and show off a little, but hearing Tian Canbian's words, he realized this was likely some secret affair. If he did well and became a pill refiner, he could return home in glory as a pill refiner—but he must never breathe a word of what he was to do!
So if it worked out, everything would be fine; if it did not, he would be sent packing, and he must not talk too much besides.
"Good. Since you've agreed, come back to the Xuandan Sect with me tonight," Tian Canbian said. "Remember: once there, say little. What you are asked to do is absolutely confidential. In the hidden You family, only Old Master You knows of it."
"Yes. Rest assured, Young Master Tian—I, Zhaoming, will gladly dash my brains out and smear the ground with my liver to repay your kindness in recognizing my worth!" Kang Jingming said hurriedly.
"Fifth Uncle, take him down first," Tian Canbian instructed the Fifth Elder.
"Yes, Young Master." The Fifth Elder led Kang Jingming away to rest, and now only Old Master You and Tian Canbian remained in the room.
"Elder You, at this Hidden Clan Summit, your hidden You family seemed to perform rather poorly," Tian Canbian said.
"Indeed. We failed to live up to Young Master Tian's expectations," Old Master You said with a bitter smile. "Who could have foreseen that a dark horse like Wei Zhao would come charging out..."
"Wei Zhao?" At the name, Tian Canbian gave a noncommittal nod. It was not the first time he had heard it—the Xuandan Sect had its own intelligence network, and he knew a fair amount about Wei Zhao. The boyfriend of Feng Xiaoxiao, inheritor of the Ice Palace!
"That Wei Zhao is simply too formidable. And at the ancient level, private action is not permitted at the Hidden Clan Summit, so..." Old Master You watched Tian Canbian's expression carefully.
"Mm. Although our Xuandan Sect and..." Tian Canbian paused there, did not continue, and switched topics outright: "But at the ancient level, things are not for us alone to decide. In any case, before the Heaven-Tier Assembly, the fewer complications the better. That day draws nearer and nearer. If we can seize it, the entire strength of the ancient level will undergo a qualitative breakthrough..."
"Yes..." Old Master You thought to himself that it was fortunate they had not made a move at the Hidden Clan Summit.
"From what I know, that Wei Zhao is merely an Earth-Tier expert. Can you truly do nothing against him?" Tian Canbian asked, somewhat curious.
"It's true that Wei Zhao is only a mid Earth-Tier expert, but he possesses certain trump cards and killing moves. He can fight opponents above his level—several levels above, and several opponents at once. That makes us rather wary of acting rashly..." Old Master You said.