Chapter 3250 — Meeting Wang Xinyan Again

Wei Zhao had wiped out a peak late-stage Heaven-rank expert at the Great Perfection level, all for the sake of a protectee's mother. Was it so unreasonable that he would annihilate a hidden clan for the sake of his underling Wu Chengtian?

There was precedent for it, after all. Was that not exactly how the secular Yu family and the hidden Zhao family had been destroyed?

While the Hidden You family handed over the second-grade pill cauldrons to Wu Chengtian, Kang Jinglong was also dialing Kang Jingming's number.

"Brother? What is it?" Ever since Kang Jingming became the son-in-law of Patriarch Xuanchen, his horizons had widened, and he no longer vied with Kang Jinglong for the position of family head, so relations between the two brothers had eased considerably. Both now worked for the interests of the Kang family.

"Zhaoming, I ran into Wei Zhao at the school just now," Kang Jinglong said bluntly.

"Wei Zhao went to the school? What for?" Kang Jingming was extremely sensitive to the two words "Wei Zhao," and asked at once.

"Seems he was there for the final exams, but he let slip something rather important—he bought more than thirty second-grade pill cauldrons from You Panhu!" Kang Jinglong said.

"Bought second-grade pill cauldrons from You Panhu? What does he need that many for?" Kang Jingming did not quite follow at first.

"I'm not entirely sure either, but my guess is that Wei Zhao has started developing second-grade automatic cauldrons. Why else would he buy so many second-grade pill cauldrons? For pill refining, there's no need for so many—they don't break easily," Kang Jinglong analyzed.

"Brother, you make sense!" Kang Jingming's mind cleared the moment he heard this. "If you hadn't reminded me, I'd have been guessing for a while. So you're saying Wei Zhao has begun researching second-grade automatic cauldrons?"

"It's possible. After all, with your Xuandan Sect competing in the first-grade automatic cauldron market, his profits will only keep shrinking. If he doesn't develop new products, how can he maintain their market advantage?" Kang Jinglong said. "And I suspect they've essentially exhausted the possibilities for upgrading and encrypting first-grade cauldrons, with no new breakthroughs left, so they're probably planning to abandon that market. In a while, they might well slash prices to clear stock!"

"Slash prices to clear stock? Haha, I anticipated that long ago. In fact, I got word today from my mole that Wei Zhao does indeed plan to cut prices on first-grade automatic cauldrons. But he has his schemes, and I have mine—on my side, I've already begun mass-producing first-grade automatic cauldrons!" Kang Jingming laughed. "Don't worry, Brother. I'll cripple Wei Zhao's company, and then we'll see if he still has the heart to fight you over a woman!"

"Oh? Then I'll leave it to you, little brother!" Kang Jinglong breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that Kang Jingming already had a plan.

Wei Zhao entered the classroom and saw Wang Xinyan sitting at her familiar desk, reading. The exams were almost upon them, but this was no last-minute cramming—she was simply a girl who loved to read.

Usually, in the classroom, aside from chatting with Wei Zhao and Han Jingyi, she spent the rest of her time sitting alone at her desk with a book.

Wei Zhao walked over and sat down beside Wang Xinyan. She clearly sensed someone sitting down next to her; her brows knitted slightly, but she did not look over, her gaze remaining fixed on the book.

Wei Zhao smiled faintly. It seemed Kang Jinglong had been pestering Wang Xinyan a good deal lately, though she had paid him no mind. Now she clearly assumed the newcomer was Kang Jinglong.

"Xinyan, how have you been?" Wei Zhao asked.

"Ah?" Wang Xinyan shuddered and turned her head. Her beautiful eyes were filled with incredulous shock and delight. She had never expected Wei Zhao to suddenly appear at school. Truth be told, she had missed Wei Zhao terribly all this time. Han Jingyi used to attend school, so she could glean bits of news about Wei Zhao from her, but lately Han Jingyi had stopped coming too, cutting off Wang Xinyan's only source of information entirely.

She had wanted to call Wei Zhao, or visit his home, but she could never summon the courage. After all, she could no longer help Wei Zhao in any way, and she did not know whether she and Wei Zhao could still be together in the future. The fact that she could not aid his cultivation left her feeling quite guilty. She had helped him only a little, yet Wei Zhao had gone all the way to the Snow Valley to seek rare treasures for her sake, nearly betraying Tang Zhi's feelings—all of which made Wang Xinyan feel she had let Wei Zhao down. So she had not contacted him all this time.

Originally, Wang Xinyan had thought Wei Zhao had forgotten her. As time passed, even the closest two people would drift apart like strangers, and those remembered little flirtations and small warmths would ultimately become nothing more than a beautiful recollection.

But Wei Zhao had appeared, sitting beside her just as he had every day when they used to go to school together! In that moment, Wang Xinyan had the illusion that Wei Zhao had never disappeared at all, that the last time he sat here had been only yesterday.

"Kang Jinglong has been bothering you a lot lately, hasn't he?" Wei Zhao said apologetically. "I've been far too busy these days to come to class. I ran into him at the gate just now and sent him packing..."

"Not really... I ignore him..." Wang Xinyan explained reflexively.

"I know." Wei Zhao nodded. "Next time, don't bother with him. If he shows up, just drive him off. I told him just now that you're my girlfriend, and he didn't dare talk back."

"Ah?" Wang Xinyan's cheeks flushed slightly, and she found it hard to believe. "He... is he afraid of you now?"

"Yes. Right now, the whole ancient faction fears me..." Yet Wei Zhao was not the least bit pleased. He gave a faint sigh. "At least for now, they won't dare do anything to you, nor dare to coerce you. It's just that I don't know how long this situation will last..."

"What do you mean?" Wang Xinyan was slightly taken aback, not quite understanding.

Wei Zhao did not hide anything and recounted to Wang Xinyan everything that had happened during this time. He had arrived very early, and the classroom was still empty front and back, so he was not worried about anyone eavesdropping.

Wang Xinyan listened spellbound. She had never imagined Wei Zhao had been through so many thrilling experiences during this time.