Chapter 3872 — Cutting Through the Knot
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 3
Setting aside the matter of appearance, in fact, from every angle, Kang Jingming was a far more likely suspect than Wei Zhao.
First, he was a disciple of Chongtian Pavilion, and he had a big shot like Xu Lingchong backing him. In terms of both foundation and strength, he should theoretically outclass Wei Zhao and come far closer to the image of Lin Er. Second, if he was not Lin Er, why would he rack his brains to divert the two men's attention and fling mud at the irrelevant Wei Zhao? If it was purely a private grudge and a frame-up, then why not say that he himself knew the cinnabar-fire bomb technique?
"If you want to know whether that brat Kang Jingming can use the cinnabar-fire bomb, that's easy enough. Just use the same trick you used on Wei Zhao on him, and the truth will come out naturally!" Nantian Guan said with a cold laugh.
"Ah? Martial Uncle, isn't that a bit much?" Yu Jiang was startled on the spot. To be honest, he had already taken a considerable risk when he tested Wei Zhao just now. If Xiao Che and Qiao Hongcai had caught him in the act, he might well have had to turn himself in at the Hall of Law Enforcement!
And now Nantian Guan was actually telling him to test Kang Jingming. Kang Jingming was a new steward, his status far above that of Wei Zhao, a common grassroots newcomer of Qingyun Pavilion, and he had Xu Lingchong, that young master, behind him. Once trouble broke out, it was not something Yu Jiang, a mere inner disciple of Chongtian Pavilion, could withstand!
Nantian Guan frowned in displeasure. "I'll bear all the consequences for you. What are you afraid of? Shrinking and cowering like that, you'll never amount to anything!"
"This..." Yu Jiang could not help but be caught in a dilemma.
Nantian Guan's words were domineering enough, but the other party was, after all, one of Young Master Xu's men. If he truly provoked Young Master Xu and blew the matter up, in Yu Jiang's view, not to mention Nantian Guan, even Nantian Ba, the leader of the Three Heroes of the Nan Clan, might not be able to settle it. And once Nantian Guan could not hold out, the first to suffer would inevitably be Yu Jiang himself.
Yet Yu Jiang now coveted Nantian Guan's Minor Formless Divine Art, and he was still counting on Nantian Guan to find Lin Er for him. So he could not even curry favor with Nantian Guan fast enough - how would he dare defy the man's wishes?
If he went to test Kang Jingming, he would very likely drag himself down with it. But if he defied Nantian Guan's wishes, he would only add to the man's dislike of him. And with a sensitive, clever man like Nantian Guan, once a bad impression was formed, it would be very hard to correct afterward. By then, the Minor Formless Divine Art and all the rest would probably be out of his reach.
At this point, Yu Jiang was truly caught between a rock and a hard place.
Seeing Yu Jiang cowering and shrinking, Nantian Guan was just about to open his mouth to reprimand him when a burst of noise suddenly came from the Welcome Pavilion not far away. From the sound of it, the newcomers' challenge tournament must have begun.
Yu Jiang instantly found his lifeline and hastily said, "Martial Uncle, look. Their newcomers' challenge tournament has started. Even if I wanted to test him, I'd have to wait until it's over. I can't very well make a move on Kang Jingming in front of everyone, can I? Don't you agree?"
If he really made a move on Kang Jingming without authorization at a high-profile occasion like the newcomers' challenge tournament, then forget Yu Jiang - even if it were Nantian Guan, the managing senior disciple of Chongtian Pavilion, who acted, he would absolutely not be able to withstand it. It would be a matter of minutes before the Hall of Law Enforcement struck him down into the dust.