Chapter 2307 — Backup Plan
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
"But I think it should not be him. After all, if he truly were that Zhang Naipao of the Tomorrow Upon Tomorrow Sect, then his mastery of the Bee-Devouring Divine Art would not have left him unable to strike back before the five guardians, all Earth-Rank experts like himself, nor would he have ended up saved by the Great Fire Lion..." The sixth disciple hesitated before speaking.
"There is sense in what little Six says." Old Ancestor Xuanchen waved a hand. "Fortunately, I still have a backup plan. Activate Backup Plan Number Two now. Little One, you see to the arrangements. And of course, the medicine to heal Tagan Long must not be neglected—find it as quickly as possible!"
"Yes, Master!" The eldest senior brother nodded and answered hastily.
But the sixth and twelfth disciples had no notion of what the backup plan was; they had not yet come into contact with such core secrets. Yet they dared not ask at will, and only stood silently to one side, waiting quietly.
The eldest senior brother withdrew. Old Ancestor Xuanchen waved a hand at the sixth and twelfth disciples. "You may go down as well. I must carefully consider our plans for the future..."
"Yes, Master!" The sixth and twelfth disciples likewise cupped their fists and cautiously withdrew.
Old Ancestor Xuanchen's mood at this moment was far from good. Though there was a backup plan, it had a flaw that could not be remedied—unless those inheritors likewise turned up some heaven-defying circumstance, that flaw could not be made good!
With Tagan Long, no such problem existed. But there was no help for it: until Tagan Long's injuries healed, Old Ancestor Xuanchen had no choice but to set the backup plan in motion. Even a flawed backup plan was, in the end, better than losing everything!
The arrow once loosed cannot return. Old Ancestor Xuanchen had waited so many years, and at last the time had come when the inheritors appeared one after another. He did not wish to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Old Ancestor Xuanchen stood in the great hall throughout, from day until night, never stirring the whole while. Come evening, the eldest senior brother returned once more.
"Master, the Tomorrow Upon Tomorrow Sect has sent word back saying that Zhang Naipao has been at the sect all this time, visiting friends, and has never left." The eldest senior brother held out the letter sent by the Tomorrow Upon Tomorrow Sect and presented it before his master.
"I will not read it. The Tomorrow Upon Tomorrow Sect would not lie; their strength is no trifling thing, and there is no need for them to deceive us." Old Ancestor Xuanchen sighed. "This Zhang Naipao is most likely a case of a shared name—or else someone is framing the Tomorrow Upon Tomorrow Sect! Or perhaps he is simply a descendant of that sect on the mountain, framing the Tomorrow Upon Tomorrow Sect to set us at each other's throats while he sits on the mountain and watches the tigers fight."
"That must be it." The eldest senior brother nodded, thinking the same.
"Well then—have you notified that sleeper agent, telling them to make ready to take Mingzi's place?" asked Old Ancestor Xuanchen.
"Word has already been sent by swift bird. But... though the sleeper's strength is high, to have them do that thing now—the odds of success are probably rather small. And if it fails, what then?" The eldest senior brother hesitated before speaking.
"There is no retreat now. By my reckoning, that moment draws nearer and nearer. If we miss it, who knows how long we must wait again. I cannot wait, nor can I afford to. All we can do is have the sleeper take extra care..." said Old Ancestor Xuanchen.
"Alas—can we not go and lend a hand?" asked the eldest senior brother.
"No!" Old Ancestor Xuanchen shook his head. "You cannot help—unless Tagan Long..."