Chapter 1740 — The Two Families Join Hands (Part Two)
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"Oh? Guan Xuewen has a friend who is an early-stage Earth-rank cultivator?" You Zhentian was struck dumb by Kang Jingming's words. He had not expected Guan Xuewen to be so formidable as to have a friend of that caliber. Then again, the Hidden Right Family was a clan of physicians and alchemists, and well aware of how much those two arts mattered among the Hidden Aristocratic Families — his own family had recruited any number of skilled hands for exactly that reason.
But the crux of the matter was this: Guan Xuewen was nothing but an ordinary doctor. That he had a few Yellow-rank friends about him was no surprise; even a Mystic-rank would be a stretch — to say nothing of an Earth-rank!
"Exactly. That is why we dared not act rashly," Kang Jingming said with a nod.
"An Earth-rank expert..." You Zhentian furrowed his brow. Since when had an Earth-rank expert appeared in the mundane world? And a friend of Guan Xuewen's, no less? Could it be someone from another Hidden Aristocratic Family? If so, matters would become difficult. Should he truly make an enemy of such a person and end up offending another Hidden Aristocratic Family, would he not be creating an enemy for nothing?
Kang Jingming seemed to read You Zhentian's misgivings, for he hastened to say, "That Earth-rank expert is called Wei Zhao — a lone cultivator with no backing whatsoever. Young Master You need not worry..."
"What? Wei Zhao?" You Zhentian started. Why did that name sound so familiar? The very next moment, he realized who it was — was this not the man who had injured You Panhu, crippled the family's blue-haired expert, and then kicked up a storm in the Hidden Tang family?
Had Kang Jingming not mentioned that name, You Zhentian might well have backed off. But at the sound of "Wei Zhao," a spark of fury kindled in his eyes. Were it not for Wei Zhao, the envoy of the Mystic Elixir Sect would never have been made to eat crow. True, the Right family had not been censured by the Mystic Elixir Sect on that account — the envoy was too embarrassed to go back and admit he had been humiliated — but to placate that envoy, the Hidden Right Family had paid a hefty price, secretly slipping him no small sum of money and a quantity of rare alchemical ingredients.
And this Wei Zhao was a sworn enemy of the Right family besides. When You Zhentian heard that Guan Xuewen's backing was none other than Wei Zhao, his resolve to deal with Guan Xuewen only hardened!
"What — does Young Master You know this man?" Kang Jingming asked, puzzled by You Zhentian's reaction.
"Heh heh... Of course I know him. He is an enemy of ours..." You Zhentian gave a cold laugh, then said, "As for this business, our Hidden Right Family may act — but you must keep it secret for us. Word must not get out. If trouble arises, you will say it was the Kang family's doing. Do you agree?"
You Zhentian was thinking of several things at once. For one, he feared censure from the Hidden Aristocratic Families Arbitration Association. For another, Wei Zhao had certain ties to the Ice Palace. The Hidden Right Family had backers of its own, to be sure, but it was best to avoid trouble where one could.
"Naturally, no problem at all!" Kang Jingming agreed without a moment's thought. The Kang family had already torn all pretense of civility with Wei Zhao — what did the rest matter? This was the perfect opportunity to let Wei Zhao see the Kang family's strength, to show him that the Kangs had experts of their own. That was precisely Kang Jingming's intent; he would have been glad to see the Kang family standing at the crest of the wave!
For only thus — the more forceful they were, the more decisively they defeated Wei Zhao — could the other members of the Cultivators Association see just how formidable and capable the Kang family was!
"And Old Master Kang?" You Zhentian turned to look at Divine Doctor Kang.