Chapter 2752 — A Pact of Three Terms
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"Uh... I'm just the messenger here, Leader Wei Zhao. Don't take it out on me. I've said everything I was supposed to say—whether you agree or not is up to you." Kang Jingming spread his hands helplessly. "Much as I'd love to close this deal, the young sect master won't budge, so there's nothing I can do."
Kang Jingming was telling the truth. During his phone call with Tian Canbian, he had tried to negotiate a few more flexible items to trade, but apparently the other side had refused—and Wei Zhao had heard every word.
"Very well. I accept the Xuan Dan Sect's terms—but you must agree to one more thing," Wei Zhao said. He could tell Kang Jingming was desperate to see this deal go through, which was hardly surprising; having just joined the Xuan Dan Sect, the man naturally wanted to earn some merit.
Still, a map of the Xuan Dan Sect's trial grounds was a fine thing indeed. Wei Zhao had not expected Tian Canbian to offer such an item in exchange, but it suited him well—it would quietly reduce the danger he faced during the trial. He could enter it alongside Zhao Qilei with greater confidence, without worrying that something might happen to Zhao Qilei. One copy of the map would be enough.
"What condition?" Kang Jingming asked hurriedly.
"Have your brother call off his engagement to Wang Xinyan." Wei Zhao named the condition he had settled on long ago. Truth be told, everything else had been a smokescreen—a windfall he had never seriously expected.
"No! Wei Zhao, don't push your luck! This is the Xuan Dan Sect's business—leave our Kang family out of it!" Before Kang Jingming could speak, Kang Jinglong was already in a fury. He sprang forward, his voice hoarse with rage. "Calling off the engagement is out of the question! I will never agree!"
"This..." Kang Jingming had meant to talk his brother around. Women were fleeting things—once he had secured his footing in the Xuan Dan Sect and the Kang family had risen, what kind of woman would be out of reach? But he had not expected such a violent reaction from Kang Jinglong. There was no helping it. "Indeed, Leader Wei Zhao. I am here to trade with you on behalf of the Xuan Dan Sect. Asking me to make a personal sacrifice is hardly reasonable. You've seen my brother's attitude—my hands are tied..."
Wei Zhao was somewhat taken aback by Kang Jinglong's reaction. He had planned everything out: pressure Kang Jingming into persuading his brother to break the engagement. Who would have thought Kang Jinglong would leap out and ruin it? Still, Wei Zhao had underestimated the state of Kang Jinglong's mind over these past months.
Kang Jinglong had once regarded Wang Xinyan as dispensable, but ever since he had been placed in the same class as Wang Xinyan and Wei Zhao, his psyche had grown warped and resentful. Day after day, the two of them needled him, driving him into a dead end: if he could not have Wang Xinyan, his mind would collapse.
It was a fixation bordering on madness, incomprehensible to ordinary people. Only the man himself could understand such tangled feelings.
"Then how about this: before graduation, make sure your brother stops harassing Xinyan." Wei Zhao thought it over and settled for the next best thing.
"This..." Kang Jingming glanced at Kang Jinglong, but seeing that his brother still seemed unwilling, he had no choice but to pull him out of the room and into another one.
"Zhaoming, Wei Zhao is going too far! We cannot agree to this! If we do, where is the Kang family's face?" Kang Jinglong said furiously. "Aren't you the Eighth Elder of the Xuan Dan Sect? How can you be such a coward?"