Chapter 2881 — Tianchan's Lie
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"He came to see me alone, but all he asked about was Zhang Naipao..." With that, Zhao Qilei gave Wei Zhao a rough account of Tiancan Bian's visit.
"The Xuandan Sect is taking an interest in Zhang Naipao?" Wei Zhao frowned. For a moment he did not connect any of this with Tianchan—after all, Tiancan Bian's questions had been discreet, and to Zhao Qilei's mind he had simply come to ask about Zhang Naipao. That subjective impression of his had colored Wei Zhao's thinking as well.
Yet after a brief start of surprise, Wei Zhao at once recalled what Tianchan had said: Zhang Naipao was the man her sect had sent her to find. Could there be some unspeakable connection between the Xuandan Sect and the Five Luminaries Sect?
The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Tianchan was unquestionably one of the Five Luminaries Sect. And since the Xuandan Sect had come to question Zhao Qilei about Zhang Naipao, and Tianchan had afterward returned to the Five Baleful Wilds, the whole sequence fell neatly into place.
Only, in Wei Zhao's eyes, Tianchan's volunteering to go back to the Five Baleful Wilds must have been chiefly for his sake—and that moved him deeply, for it was only after she had found Wei Zhao that she began to concern herself with the matter of Zhang Naipao.
"Yes, why do you ask?" Zhao Qilei noticed the shift in Wei Zhao's expression and asked, somewhat puzzled.
"Nothing. By the way, have the rewards for the Xuandan Sect's trial been announced yet?" Wei Zhao asked.
"Not yet. The registration was done earlier. Chief, you have spirit herbs on you too, don't you? You'd better go register with the Xuandan Sect people soon—don't let yours get left out," Zhao Qilei reminded him.
"Mm, I'll ask the innkeeper downstairs about it in a bit," Wei Zhao said with a nod.
Zhang Naipao's safe return was good news for both the Xuandan Sect and the Five Luminaries Sect—but that Wei Zhao had also returned safe and sound was anything but good news.
"Tianchan, why did Wei Zhao come out together with Zhang Naipao?" Elder Ancestor Xuanchen had assumed Wei Zhao would die in the Five Baleful Wilds. That way, without lifting a finger himself, Tagan Long's death would be avenged, and even Chief Bai could not have found a single word to object to.
What he had never expected was that Wei Zhao and Zhang Naipao would return to the inn together. This was something he would have to ask Tianchan about.
"Uncle-Master Xuanchen, when I found Zhang Naipao, he was with Wei Zhao. They seemed to have reached some kind of agreement," Tianchan said. "I didn't ask any questions. I simply brought the two of them out together."
Tianchan's lie was artfully vague. Even if Zhang Naipao said something afterward, it would not matter—he had indeed struck an agreement with Wei Zhao.
"Wei Zhao's safe return is a good thing too. Otherwise, it would be rather awkward to explain to our senior brother," Elder Ancestor Xuanzhen said, genuinely pleased. If anything had really happened to Wei Zhao, he would have had no way to answer to Chief Bai.
"That's true enough." Elder Ancestor Xuanchen could hardly argue further. He waved a hand and said, "Tianchan, you've worked hard this time. You may go back—and send Kang Jingming to me. Tell him I'm asking for him!"
"Yes, sir!" Tianchan clasped his fists, rose, and withdrew from the room. That Elder Ancestor Xuanchen had not questioned him in detail came as a relief.
After Tianchan had gone, Elder Ancestor Xuanzhen also rose to take his leave. He did not much care for this Kang Jingming; Elder Ancestor Xuanchen's summoning of the man could only be about taking him on as a nominal disciple, and Xuanzhen had no wish to be part of it.
A while later, Kang Jingming, led by Xiaotaohong, walked respectfully into Elder Ancestor Xuanchen's room.