Chapter 3855 — Lan'er Has a Point
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 3
Though what had happened today at the Hong Clan Chamber of Commerce had caught him entirely off guard—that old bastard Hong Zhong had actually paid not the slightest heed to a personally written letter from the Four-Way Inspector of the Shadow Ward—in Nan Tianguan's view, no matter how formidable or stiff-necked Hong Zhong might be, so long as Shangguan Tianxia was willing to step forward and say a single word, Hong Zhong would have no choice but to kneel and lick his boots.
Even a mighty dragon does not crush a local snake—and before a top-tier magnate of the Northern Isle like Shangguan Tianxia, Hong Zhong, for all that he was the steward of one branch of the Hong Clan Chamber of Commerce, was nowhere near worthy of the title of dragon. He did not even qualify as a snake; at best he was a worm.
"You say Hong Zhong was fanning the flames behind this? Do you have solid proof?" Shangguan Tianxia asked, his brows knitting slightly.
Truth be told, the two of them—one the foremost top-tier magnate of the Northern Isle, the other the spokesman of the Hong Clan Chamber of Commerce's foothold on the Northern Isle—had not only collaborated extensively in official matters, but also enjoyed a rather good personal friendship.
Yet in Shangguan Tianxia's understanding, Hong Zhong had always dealt with others with courtesy and generosity, enjoying a spotless reputation. How could such a man possibly fan the flames of a thing like this?
"To report to the Pavilion Master: before my third junior brother met his end, he was thrown from the second floor of the Hong Clan Chamber of Commerce into the street by men Hong Zhong sent over the matter of Lin Er. And on the very day my third brother crossed blows with Lin Er, it was plainly arranged for Lin Er to hide inside the Hong Clan Chamber of Commerce for a full hour. A mere peak early-stage Foundation Establishment, yet the moment he stepped out of the Hong Clan Chamber of Commerce he could kill my third brother—a peak late-stage Foundation Establishment—in a single strike. If the Hong Clan Chamber of Commerce had not been pulling strings in the shadows, who would believe it? There were many witnesses to these things; this disciple would never dare report a single word falsely or conceal anything. I beg the Pavilion Master to look into it clearly!" Nan Tianguan knelt once more, knocking his head against the ground.
Wei Zhao's one-strike kill of Nan Tianyong had nothing whatsoever to do with Hong Zhong, but from anyone else's vantage, pouring this basin of filth over Hong Zhong's head was the most natural thing in the world. Otherwise, for a mere peak early-stage Foundation Establishment to kill a peak late-stage Foundation Establishment in a single strike—who would believe such an absurd, laughable tale?
The only party capable of such a thing was likely the Hong Clan Chamber of Commerce, which had gathered countless precious treasures into its coffers. Perhaps they possessed some manner of one-use consumable treasure whose might could slay a peak late-stage Foundation Establishment expert in an instant?
What was more, before all this, Wei Zhao had indeed deliberately lingered inside the Hong Clan Chamber of Commerce for a full hour. Such a stretch of time was more than enough to arrange any manner of trickery—it would be harder not to grow suspicious!
Shangguan Tianxia gazed deeply at Nan Tianguan, still kneeling prostrate on the ground, and his expression grew several degrees more grave. This was the sort of matter that would be clear at a single question; Nan Tianguan would never dare deceive him. And by this account, in the death of Nan Tianyong, the Hong Clan Chamber of Commerce—and Hong Zhong above all—could indeed not escape involvement.
After pondering in silence for a moment, Shangguan Tianxia finally spoke: "Very well. This matter—I shall question Hong Zhong about it."