Chapter 5164 — Discovered
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
"They went too? Did Qin Yuanming tell you?" Only now did the spectacle doctor feel a shock of alarm. Bing Wushuang alone would have been nothing—after all, his explanation was perfectly sound, and there was nothing much to suspect. But now so many people had gone to the Northern Island Cangwu Sect, and all within the same span of time. That was cause for vigilance.
"You misunderstand, Chief. Qin Yuanming may be an insider I developed, but I, Xue Jianming, am at least somebody in the Primordial Alliance. Now that my strength has been restored, and every sect and faction has familiar faces, it's no difficult thing to learn a bit of gossip," Xue Jianming said, deliberately showing off.
"Really? Then why didn't you show it before? If your connections are so wide, why, in all this time, did you develop only one Qin Yuanming?" the spectacle doctor said, frowning.
"Ah, you misunderstand, Chief. One thing is one thing, another is another. Wide as my connections may be, I can exchange greetings with people and pass along word, but I'm hardly close to any of them. How would I dare develop them recklessly? If one of them proved unreliable and something went wrong, wouldn't that ruin everything?" Xue Jianming explained.
"That's true enough. Then what about Bing Wushuang's connections?" the spectacle doctor asked. Compared with Xue Jianming, he clearly appreciated Bing Wushuang more—and that was plain for all to see.
Xue Jianming's expression froze. He had not come here specifically just to tattle. His main purpose was himself. His current strength was far inferior to Bing Wushuang's, but he was not content to remain forever beneath the man. Yet if the spectacle doctor kept developing things the way he was now, Xue Jianming might never in his life overtake Bing Wushuang.
"Heh, there are things you don't know, Chief. Bing Wushuang may be stronger than I am, but in the little world of the Primordial Alliance, strength alone won't get you far. You have to look at background, at connections. Not many of those sect disciples in the Primordial Alliance will buy what he's selling, because there's nothing in it for them. At most they keep a respectful distance. But I'm different." Xue Jianming smiled smugly.
"How are you different?" the spectacle doctor asked in surprise.
"The reason is simple. My old man is the vice sect master of the Snow Sword Sect, and one step further up and he'll be the sect's top man. You may know that the Snow Sword Sect is one of the ten minor sects and clans of the Primordial Alliance. Its influence is no small thing. Naturally, they'll buy what I'm selling," Xue Jianming boasted.
"That's true enough." The spectacle doctor nodded. He knew Xue Jianming's background well, of course. He had never thought much of it before, but now, hearing it, his eyes suddenly lit up. In that case, this boy Xue Jianming's value was not one bit less than Bing Wushuang's—and judged strictly from the overall picture, it was in fact far above Bing Wushuang's!
Though he could not see the spectacle doctor's expression, Xue Jianming sensed the shift in his attitude and was overjoyed. So his trip today had not been in vain after all. He hurried to declare, "Chief, my old man has always done exactly as I say. In the future, if our Center truly expands into the little world of the Primordial Alliance, I can help win people over—do my bit for the Center."
"Very good. I'm gratified that you have that in mind," the spectacle doctor said approvingly. "But we mustn't be hasty. We have to proceed step by step. First, let's settle the business on this island!" (To be continued.)