Chapter 3300 — Proposing Marriage at the Dark Night Palace

"What is it? Has something happened?" Zhao Qibing asked, somewhat puzzled, sensing the irritation in Kang Jingming's tone.

"Nothing much. But Qibing, I have a task for you. If you handle it well this time, I can recommend you to our Xuandan Sect. I dare not promise you an elder's seat, but a deacon's post is certainly within reach!" Kang Jingming said.

"What? Truly? That is wonderful!" Zhao Qibing was overjoyed. "Elder Kang, tell me—what must I do? Rest assured, I will do my utmost to complete the task!"

"It is nothing really. In a few days, something may happen within your Dark Night Palace. When it does, all you need to do is report to me faithfully how the Grand Elder and Gu Mengyao react. As for the rest, you need not do anything, nor ask anything," Kang Jingming said.

"I see. Very well, I understand!" Zhao Qibing nodded hurriedly in assent.

After hanging up, Kang Jingming went to report to the Ancestor Xuanchen, recounting everything Zhao Qibing had said, word for word.

"To think that Gu Mengyao holds such a high position in the Dark Night Palace. Even Ye Rou'er was never this troublesome!" Ancestor Xuanchen could not help but frown. Back then, when Ye Rou'er was betrothed to Tian Canbian's father, Tianjixing, the Dark Night Palace's Grand Elder had approved wholeheartedly and would never have consulted Ye Rou'er's opinion. But now, if Gu Mengyao refused, this matter might well take an unexpected turn!

And if the Grand Elder too opposed it vehemently and rejected the proposal outright, could the Xuandan Sect truly go to war with the Dark Night Palace? Not that the Xuandan Sect feared the Dark Night Palace, of course—but Tian Canbian, though a force close to the Five Luminaries Sect, was, when all was said and done, not about to target the Dark Night Palace without cause. That would not serve the Xuandan Sect's interests, and Tian Canbian would never agree to it.

But to send Ancestor Xuanchen's own people—that certainly would not do either. If Wei Zhao then brought Chief Bai into the matter, he himself would have to show consideration, and that was a genuine headache!

"Indeed. Without a word, Gu Mengyao has taken the whole of the Dark Night Palace's authority into her hands. Now I fear that old crone of a Grand Elder will simply reject the proposal outright, and then we shall have no way to force Wei Zhao out!" Kang Jingming shook his head.

"It seems that if tomorrow's marriage proposal fails, we shall have no choice but to find a way to force the Grand Elder into submission!" said Ancestor Xuanchen.

"Wait—I have an excellent idea!" Kang Jingming suddenly slapped his thigh. "We can play a game of coercion!"

"Coercion? How would that work?" Ancestor Xuanchen asked, taken aback.

"It is like this: we first go to propose the marriage and promise that henceforth our two sects shall be friendly allies, and that should anything befall the Dark Night Palace in the future, we shall lend our aid!" Kang Jingming explained. "If they refuse, then it is a rupture, and we simply leave. No need to say more."

"I understand. You mean to find a group of men to stir up trouble for the Dark Night Palace, and when the Dark Night Palace cannot hold them off, they will remember our earlier promise and come to us for help—and then they will have no choice but to make their choice!" Ancestor Xuanchen nodded. He was as full of wicked schemes as Kang Jingming, and so grasped his meaning at once.

"Precisely. In this way, whether they seek our help or not, our goal is achieved!" Kang Jingming said. "If they come to us, Gu Mengyao will be forced to marry Tian Canbian—something she will surely be unwilling to do, and she will inevitably contact Wei Zhao to stand up for her, and so Wei Zhao will return! And if she does not come to us, then to resolve the trouble before the Dark Night Palace, she may well turn to Wei Zhao for help—and so Wei Zhao will return as well. Different paths, the same result. Both roads lead to an outcome we wish to see."

"Very good. Then do as you say. Tomorrow, you shall represent the Xuandan Sect and go to the Dark Night Palace to propose the marriage. Lay out our meaning plainly and let them choose. There is no need to clash with them—no coercion, no inducements. Just keep it ordinary," Ancestor Xuanchen instructed.

"I understand. Whether they agree or not, our plan remains the same," Kang Jingming nodded. "By the way, when the time comes, that Zhao Qibing will have earned some merit. I promised him a deacon's post. What do you think, Father-in-law?"

"A deacon's post is not out of the question. The main problem is that his father and that Mian fellow have now been transformed by Miss Lan's people into biochemical cultivators. If Zhao Qibing learns of this, I fear new complications may arise," Ancestor Xuanchen said after some thought.

"I see... No matter. Why not string him along and have him transformed as well? I know this lad—he has always craved power and longed to take revenge on Wei Zhao. In any case, we took in the Zhao clan in secret and never formally registered them in the Xuandan Sect's rolls. Who knows—these three may yet prove to be a hidden piece on our board, to be used against Wei Zhao in the future!

"Haha, you rascal!" Ancestor Xuanchen burst into laughter at Zhao Qibing's words. Kang Jingming was wicked indeed—having used the man, he now meant to string him along, and in the end, however capable Zhao Qibing became, he would still be at Kang Jingming's disposal!

Still, Zhao Qibing had spent his whole life wanting to settle scores with Wei Zhao, which coincided with their own purpose—so it could hardly be called cheating him.

"Hehe, I learned it all from you, Father-in-law. Otherwise I would never have been this devious!" Kang Jingming flattered.

"What business have you two here? This is the sacred ground of the ancient sect, the Dark Night Palace. Idlers and strangers, begone at once!" A gatekeeping disciple of the Dark Night Palace caught sight of Kang Jingming and Little One, who had accompanied him, and shouted at them.

Ancestor Xuanchen had indeed treated Kang Jingming well and looked after him closely. Whenever Kang Jingming went out, he had Little One serve as his guard, lest anything should happen to him.

"I am Kang Jingming, elder of the Xuandan Sect. Go at once and announce me to your Grand Elder and your Palace Master!" Kang Jingming gave a cold snort and ordered the gatekeeping disciple with contempt.