Chapter 2884 — The Questioning
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"I see. But giving Wei Zhao a third-grade pill still sticks in my craw. Last time we only traded him a pill formula and it cost us so much..." Kang Jingming said with feigned regret. "How about this: we give him the pill openly, but secretly send men to take it back? That way the Young Sect Master loses no face, our Xuandan Sect suffers no loss, and my master gets his revenge!"
"What is this, Zhaoming? You think becoming my junior brother gives you the right to meddle in the affairs of the Xuandan Sect? Or are you scheming for my position?" Tianchan's gaze turned sharp and fierce as she watched Kang Jingming coldly, her voice dropping to an icy chill.
Beneath the cliffs of the Five Baleful Wilds, she had carried two third-grade Great Return Pills, and Wei Zhao had not secretly taken a single one. That Tianchan had now let Wei Zhao pass the trial was no more than what he deserved. How could she bring herself to rob him now?
"No... I..." Cold sweat broke out all over Kang Jingming at once. He realized he had indeed grown a little too pleased with himself, too eager for revenge, and had forgotten the strict rules of the Xuandan Sect. He might be Elder Ancestor Xuanchen's disciple, but how could that compare to Tiancan Bian?
"Elder Kang, I know you mean well for the Xuandan Sect—of course I do. But when our sect holds a trial and invites participants, we earn money and gain spirit herbs. Having reaped such benefits, if we then stooped to shady dealings behind the scenes, who would ever come to our trials again?" Tianchan's tone softened. "You may go for now. I will make the decision myself."
"Yes. Thank you for your understanding, Young Sect Master!" Kang Jingming wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said cautiously.
Kang Jingming withdrew from Tiancan Bian's room with care, his heart full of resentment. True, Wei Zhao had indeed obtained the trial's spirit herbs, but he had overrun the trial's time limit, and disqualifying him would have been perfectly normal—no one could have objected. So why would Tiancan Bian simply refuse?
At this thought, Kang Jingming resolved to go find Elder Ancestor Xuanchen again. Xuanchen loathed Wei Zhao; surely if Kang Jingming explained the reasoning, the Elder Ancestor would agree. Once Xuanchen spoke, Tiancan Bian would have no way out.
Arriving once more at the room where Elder Ancestor Xuanchen resided, Kang Jingming knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" asked Elder Ancestor Xuanchen.
"It is I, your disciple, Master!" Kang Jingming said cautiously.
"Kang Jingming? Why have you come back?" Hearing Kang Jingming's voice, Elder Ancestor Xuanchen was puzzled, wondering why he had returned after leaving.
"Master, there is a matter I wish to report to you. Do you have the time?" Kang Jingming stepped inside and asked, full of trepidation.
"Oh, out with it. You and I are master and disciple—if there is something to report, report it directly. No need to ask permission." Elder Ancestor Xuanchen waved a hand.
"Yes!" Kang Jingming nodded, startled and delighted at once. "It is like this: in this trial's results, Wei Zhao also passed. But I believe that since he came out last, he exceeded the twenty-day limit. Should we not disqualify him from the trial..."
"That matter you should raise with Young Sect Master Tiancan Bian, not with me. I may be your master, and Tiancan Bian's martial uncle, but I will not interfere in the affairs of another's sect," Elder Ancestor Xuanchen said with a wave of his hand. "For this, simply make the suggestion to Tiancan Bian directly. There is no need to seek my instructions."
"Master, I did seek instructions—but for some reason the Young Sect Master simply refused. With no other recourse, I came to you..." Kang Jingming gave a bitter smile. "Wei Zhao is our enemy. I was thinking of the sect's interests, but the Young Sect Master had his reasons too. He said..."