Chapter 3151 — The Matter of Those Years
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
A flicker of doubt crossed Xiao Taohong's eyes, but she said all the same, "Elder Kang, you are already betrothed to another. Please conduct yourself with some dignity, and do not come teasing... Xiao Taohong again..."
"Ha ha, Xiao Taohong, there is no one else here!" At this point Kang Jingming's expression changed, and he heaved a sigh. "Xiao Taohong, you know as well as I do that above the Xuandan Sect there stands the Five Luminaries Sect. You count yourself among the Tian Can Bian young sect master's closest people, so you understand how things stand in there! Your Brother Kang here has no say in the matter!"
"Wh... what do you mean..." Though Xiao Taohong had already given up all hope in Kang Jingming, hearing him say this now stirred a measure of pity in her, and curiosity as well, so she said, "Brother Kang, why are you telling me this..."
"Xiao Taohong, I tell you this only to make you understand—Ancestor Xuanchen's daughter, Little Eleven, has taken a fancy to me and insists that I marry her. You know how formidable Ancestor Xuanchen is; even the young sect master Tian dares not defy his orders. What am I, a mere elder, to dare defy him?" Kang Jingming said with a helpless, bitter face. "There was no help for it. I could only say those cruel things to you before, but they were never what I truly meant!"
"Is... is that so?" Xiao Taohong was a simple soul, with little guile in her. Though she had already despaired of Kang Jingming, had even hated him to the bone, hearing his explanation now left her at a loss. Could it be that Kang Jingming truly had no choice?
As for what Kang Jingming had said, Xiao Taohong understood it well enough. Ancestor Xuanchen was a domineering old man whose word was law; within the Xuandan Sect his say was absolute. So if matters truly stood thus, then Kang Jingming would never dare defy Ancestor Xuanchen's words.
But was any of it true?
"Of course!" Kang Jingming nodded. "I had no choice either! Xiao Taohong, you know the saying—a man in the jianghu has no say over his own fate. That is exactly the case here. If I did not wish to die, did not wish to bring harm upon you, I could only agree to this match!"
"I... I understand." Xiao Taohong nodded. "Brother Kang, Xiao Taohong does not blame you. I can only blame Xiao Taohong for not having the fortune. I wish you and Sister Eleven happiness."
"Xiao Taohong, do not say such things!" Seeing that Xiao Taohong had misread his meaning, Kang Jingming hastened to say, "In truth, you and I can still carry on in private just as before—so long as Ancestor Xuanchen does not catch us!"
"Brother Kang, that will not do. Xiao Taohong cannot bring harm upon you! If that were known, you would surely come to grief!" Xiao Taohong shook her head at once.
"Xiao Taohong, I say this because I am sure of it. That is only the worst-case plan. But there is one thing—if you do it well, then we can be together openly and honorably. You may not be able to be my principal wife, but you can still be my lesser wife!" Kang Jingming said. "If you do this thing well, then when the time comes I will have Ancestor Xuanchen on my side—he will surely agree, and even act as matchmaker for you himself!"
"Truly... truly?" Xiao Taohong had grown up in an ancient sect, so the notion of one husband to one wife had never taken root in her mind. In her eyes, so long as she could be with Kang Jingming, principal wife or lesser wife made no difference at all.
"Of course it is true," Kang Jingming said with a nod. "But this matter is rather difficult, and it may require letting a man take a small liberty. Though I care for you and can overlook such things, I fear it is you who will mind."