Chapter 3194 — Is the Silkworm Turn Friend or Foe?

"That is indeed the case." Kang Xiaofeng truly could not think of any reason why a young master of the Xuandan Sect would lie to him. Although he could not rule out the possibility that the Silkworm Turn and Xiao Taohong were in league together, Kang Xiaofeng knew one thing for certain: the Silkworm Turn was the Silkworm Turn, and Kang Jingming was Kang Jingming!

Kang Jingming wanted to make trouble for Wei Zhao and himself, but the Silkworm Turn had helped Wei Zhao a great deal—not only had he gone searching for Wei Zhao during the trial, he had also lent a hand during the attack on the Night Palace. All of this made the Silkworm Turn's stance abundantly clear.

If the Silkworm Turn, in the guise of a benefactor, had pressured Wei Zhao into handing over the manufacturing data for the first-grade automatic medicinal cauldron, Wei Zhao's character being what it was, he would certainly have complied—Wei Zhao was a man who treasured favors owed and given. If the Silkworm Turn wanted such things, he had no need to go to all this trouble at all; it was a matter that one phone call could settle. Why bother putting on a play with Xiao Taohong?

As for Kang Jingming, Kang Xiaofeng also knew that he had always wanted to bring down Wei Zhao and himself, so what Xiao Taohong said made perfect sense! As for why Kang Jingming, an elder of the Xuandan Sect, would not heed the Silkworm Turn's commands—the reason was simple. A great sect could never contain only one faction. Xiao Taohong had said as much just now: the one backing Kang Jingming was the Silkworm Turn's own martial uncle, himself a man of formidable power. So it was only natural that the Silkworm Turn could not afford to clash with him head-on.

"Since the young master of the Tian Sect has said so himself, of course I believe you. After all, you have helped our leader so many times—there would be no point in deceiving me," Kang Xiaofeng said. "However, in this matter, would the young master of the Tian Sect mind if I pass it on to Leader Wei Zhao?"

"You may tell him. It makes no difference," Tian Chan said.

"Very well. Thank you for understanding." Kang Xiaofeng breathed a sigh of relief. To ask him to keep this from Wei Zhao would have been impossible; had the Silkworm Turn insisted on secrecy, he would have been in a genuine bind. Now, at least, there was no problem.

After hanging up, all that remained in Kang Xiaofeng's heart for Xiao Taohong was sympathy. He had not expected her to be so pitiful, and he heaved a sigh: "Xiao Taohong, you are a pitiful soul too—and so is my girlfriend. When the time comes, I'll introduce the two of you. I expect you'll find plenty of common ground."

In truth, Xiao Taohong and Lan Zhi belonged to the same company and saw each other every day, so they were already acquainted—only they had never associated closely. After all, Xiao Taohong was merely Kang Xiaofeng's secretary, and for her to go befriending the boss's girlfriend would have been a little odd.

But with Kang Xiaofeng making the suggestion, it was different. In fact, Xiao Taohong had long wanted to have a word with Lan Zhi. She had read Kang Xiaofeng's files and knew of Lan Zhi's past; that girl's history was even more wretched than her own. By comparison, her own troubles amounted to nothing.

Xiao Taohong had merely been deceived in love by Kang Jingming, but Lan Zhi had been defiled, then deliberately run down in a car crash arranged by Kang Jingming, and in the end had even jumped from a building. She was left with mental scars and ruined legs. Had she not met Wei Zhao and Kang Xiaofeng, Lan Zhi's life would have been finished.

The two women were fellow sufferers, and since Xiao Taohong also held Kang Xiaofeng in high regard, she was naturally eager to pay a visit to Lan Zhi, the senior wife.

"Thank you, Director Kang. Actually, I had already read the files before and knew that Miss Lan was also hurt by Kang Jingming. If you can introduce us, so that I may pour out the bitterness in my heart, I will feel much lighter." Xiao Taohong made no secret of the fact that she knew about Lan Zhi.

"Oh?" Kang Xiaofeng was slightly taken aback. He had not expected Xiao Taohong to already know about Lan Zhi. But then he reflected: since she had been sent by Kang Jingming and the matter had alerted the Silkworm Turn, the Silkworm Turn must surely have investigated his own background beforehand before sending Xiao Taohong. That being so, Kang Jingming's reaction became understandable. He nodded: "Then I'll give Xiao Fen a call right now."

With that, Kang Xiaofeng picked up the telephone on his desk and dialed Xiao Fen's internal line.

"It's me, Xiao Fen," Kang Xiaofeng said bluntly.

"Xiaobo? Why are you calling me?" Xiao Fen was a little surprised. At work, Kang Xiaofeng always kept business strictly business and would not speak to her directly. Even for work matters, he would have his assistant contact her rather than call this line himself.

"Do you have anything on your hands at the moment?" Kang Xiaofeng asked.

"Nothing for the time being. Why? Is something the matter?" Xiao Fen asked, puzzled.

"It's like this: my secretary, Tao Xiaohong—you know her. Before she came to the company, there was a story in her past. I hope you can talk her through it," Kang Xiaofeng said.

"Me? Talk her through it?" Xiao Fen was slightly startled, not quite understanding what Kang Xiaofeng meant. "How would I talk her through it?"

"Just now, she was abandoned by that bastard Kang Jingming…" Kang Xiaofeng said with a bitter smile.

"What?!" Xiao Fen was instantly stunned. She had never expected Kang Xiaofeng to say such a thing—that this Tao Xiaohong actually had ties to Kang Jingming? Was that not a little too much of a coincidence?

"Well, the thing is like this…" Kang Xiaofeng briefly and concisely recounted to Xiao Fen the affair between Xiao Taohong and Kang Jingming, then added: "The young master of the Xuandan Sect has already given me his assurance on this, so there is certainly nothing wrong with Xiao Taohong as a person."

"I understand. Send her over," Xiao Fen said with a sigh. Looking at Xiao Taohong now reminded her of her former self—except that her own wounds had cut deeper than Xiao Taohong's; Xiao Taohong had only just stumbled in.

"All right, I'll have her come to you right away," Kang Xiaofeng nodded.

Kang Xiaofeng sent Xiao Taohong off to find Xiao Fen, while he himself dialed Wei Zhao's number. "Leader!"

"Xiaobo, is something the matter?" Wei Zhao picked up quickly.

"Leader, it's like this…" Kang Xiaofeng told Wei Zhao about Xiao Taohong's situation and about his conversation with the Silkworm Turn.

When Wei Zhao heard Kang Xiaofeng's words, he was greatly astonished. He had not expected Kang Jingming to reach out again, and even less expected the Silkworm Turn to be on his side. In truth, Wei Zhao had always been somewhat puzzled by the Silkworm Turn's attitude: probing for news of him during the Xuandan Sect trial, then stepping forward with righteous aid when the Night Palace made trouble—all of it showed that the Silkworm Turn should not be his enemy!

Yet Wei Zhao and the Xuandan Sect were plainly still enemies—especially this time, over the matter of the first-grade automatic medicinal cauldron, where Wei Zhao had made Kang Jingming pay through the nose!