Chapter 4153 — The Stratagem of Borrowing a Knife
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
"Heh heh, as it happens, no proof is needed at all. With anyone else, there might indeed be the chance of a shared name—but that Xueli, I happen to know, was Wei Zhao's woman back in the mortal world!" Ancestor Xuanchen declared with absolute certainty. "Dean Nantian, have you forgotten? When the Cloud Terrace Island was opened in the mortal world, Wei Zhao's whole harem of women included this very Xueli!"
"Ha! Of course!" Nantian Jiguang's face cleared in sudden understanding. A man of his station would never trouble himself over such trifles, but with Ancestor Xuanchen's reminder it all came back to him—vaguely, to be sure, yet there did seem to have been such a business.
"So that means this Ling Yi must certainly be Wei Zhao in disguise?" Si Haitao pressed.
"Beyond all doubt—the brute Ling Yi and Wei Zhao are one and the same, one hundred percent. On that I stake my head!" Ancestor Xuanchen vowed.
"Splendid, splendid! This being so, the Snow Sword Sect cannot refuse to serve as our free blades even if it wishes to. Come, let us go to the Snow Sword Sect at once!" Nantian Jiguang slapped the table in his excitement.
Once this stratagem of borrowing a knife succeeded, then even if the Heavenly Execution Way came investigating afterward, the hatred would fall solely upon the Snow Sword Sect—and the three of them would bear not the slightest risk. It was simply perfect.
Nantian Jiguang at once took Si Haitao and Ancestor Xuanchen with him and hurried to the Snow Sword Sect. With his rank and standing as Vice Dean of the Cultivators' Academy, the high command of the Snow Sword Sect turned out in person to welcome him before he had even crossed the threshold.
Though he had lost the contest for Deputy Island Lord of Middle Island and been publicly humiliated to his face by the Heavenly Execution Way, Nantian Jiguang was, after all, one of the few early Mystic Ascension experts on Middle Island, and his connections were vast. Wherever he went, among any power at all, he was a sought-after guest of honor.
"It has been some days, Elder Situ. I trust you have been well." Nantian Jiguang greeted him with a genial smile. As it happened, the high elder of the Snow Sword Sect who came out to welcome them was none other than Situ Qian's own grandfather, Situ Guangzong.
"Dean Nantian is a guest one could not summon even if one wished. Your coming from afar today brings great honor to our humble Snow Sword Sect. Do come in, quickly!" Situ Guangzong said, cupping his hands in salute with a face full of smiles.
Yet inwardly, Situ Guangzong could not help but wonder and be alarmed: on the day Nantian Jiguang was struck down from Mount Zhongding by the Heavenly Execution Way, he had been present and witnessed it with his own eyes.
Like the vast majority of people, Situ Guangzong had assumed that even if Nantian Jiguang survived, he would be a cripple ever after. To think that after only a few days he should be restored to such high spirits—how very strange! After all, a top-grade fourth-tier Great Returning Pill had already lost much of its efficacy for an expert of the Mystic Ascension stage!
Amid banter and pleasantries, Nantian Jiguang and his two companions were presently invited to the seats of honor in the reception hall, where Situ Guangzong had specially ordered the finest spirit tea prepared for their attentive entertainment.
"One does not call at the Three Treasures Hall for nothing. My visit to your esteemed sect today is because there is an important piece of news which I felt it necessary to relay to you," Nantian Jiguang said, coming straight to the point.
"Important news?" Situ Guangzong was slightly taken aback. Then: "Pray speak, Dean Nantian. This old man is all ears."
"I hear that your sect's gifted disciple Wei Shenjin was beaten into a cripple by a certain martial brute some time ago?" Nantian Jiguang asked, sipping his tea.