Chapter 1740 — The Two Families Join Hands (Part Two)

"Oh? Guan Xuemin has a friend who is an early-stage Earth-rank cultivator?" You Zhentian was struck dumb by Kang Zhaoming's words. He had not expected Guan Xuemin to be so formidable as to have a friend of that caliber. Then again, the Hidden Right Family was a clan of physicians and alchemists, and well aware of how much those two arts mattered among the Hidden Aristocratic Families — his own family had recruited any number of skilled hands for exactly that reason.

But the crux of the matter was this: Guan Xuemin was nothing but an ordinary doctor. That he had a few Yellow-rank friends about him was no surprise; even a Mystic-rank would be a stretch — to say nothing of an Earth-rank!

"Exactly. That is why we dared not act rashly," Kang Zhaoming said with a nod.

"An Earth-rank expert..." You Zhentian furrowed his brow. Since when had an Earth-rank expert appeared in the mundane world? And a friend of Guan Xuemin's, no less? Could it be someone from another Hidden Aristocratic Family? If so, matters would become difficult. Should he truly make an enemy of such a person and end up offending another Hidden Aristocratic Family, would he not be creating an enemy for nothing?

Kang Zhaoming seemed to read You Zhentian's misgivings, for he hastened to say, "That Earth-rank expert is called Wei Zhao — a lone cultivator with no backing whatsoever. Young Master You need not worry..."

"What? Wei Zhao?" You Zhentian started. Why did that name sound so familiar? The very next moment, he realized who it was — was this not the man who had injured You Panhu, crippled the family's blue-haired expert, and then kicked up a storm in the Hidden Tang family?

Had Kang Zhaoming not mentioned that name, You Zhentian might well have backed off. But at the sound of "Wei Zhao," a spark of fury kindled in his eyes. Were it not for Wei Zhao, the envoy of the Mystic Elixir Sect would never have been made to eat crow. True, the Right family had not been censured by the Mystic Elixir Sect on that account — the envoy was too embarrassed to go back and admit he had been humiliated — but to placate that envoy, the Hidden Right Family had paid a hefty price, secretly slipping him no small sum of money and a quantity of rare alchemical ingredients.

And this Wei Zhao was a sworn enemy of the Right family besides. When You Zhentian heard that Guan Xuemin's backing was none other than Wei Zhao, his resolve to deal with Guan Xuemin only hardened!

"What — does Young Master You know this man?" Kang Zhaoming asked, puzzled by You Zhentian's reaction.

"Heh heh... Of course I know him. He is an enemy of ours..." You Zhentian gave a cold laugh, then said, "As for this business, our Hidden Right Family may act — but you must keep it secret for us. Word must not get out. If trouble arises, you will say it was the Kang family's doing. Do you agree?"

You Zhentian was thinking of several things at once. For one, he feared censure from the Hidden Aristocratic Families Arbitration Association. For another, Wei Zhao had certain ties to the Ice Palace. The Hidden Right Family had backers of its own, to be sure, but it was best to avoid trouble where one could.

"Naturally, no problem at all!" Kang Zhaoming agreed without a moment's thought. The Kang family had already torn all pretense of civility with Wei Zhao — what did the rest matter? This was the perfect opportunity to let Wei Zhao see the Kang family's strength, to show him that the Kangs had experts of their own. That was precisely Kang Zhaoming's intent; he would have been glad to see the Kang family standing at the crest of the wave!

For only thus — the more forceful they were, the more decisively they defeated Wei Zhao — could the other members of the Cultivators Association see just how formidable and capable the Kang family was!

"And Old Master Kang?" You Zhentian turned to look at Divine Doctor Kang.

"Naturally, no problem at all! Zhaoming's meaning is the Kang family's meaning!" Divine Doctor Kang was of the same mind as Kang Zhaoming at that moment; he was only too eager to let everyone believe the affair was the Kang family's doing, for only so could they establish their authority!

"Good. In that case, our Right family will send experts to handle it!" You Zhentian nodded. "However, I myself cannot appear."

"That is no problem. But the experts Young Master You sends must take my orders — otherwise, it will be very hard for me to get anything done..." Kang Zhaoming said.

"Fine. Our people may be placed entirely under your command. I want only results!" You Zhentian cared nothing for such details. Let Kang Zhaoming make his mischief for now, so long as the Right family was not dragged into it.

"Then — could you send a Heaven-rank expert? That way we could crush Wei Zhao beyond any doubt!" Kang Zhaoming said.

"I am afraid that will not do!" You Zhentian rejected the proposal outright. "Heaven-rank experts at the level of the Hidden Aristocratic Families are few in number — only a handful exist. If something goes wrong, anyone could guess who was behind it. Besides, given the Kang family's present strength, do you think it plausible that you possess a Heaven-rank expert? Even if you claimed it, no one would believe you; they would be certain there was some hidden scheme behind it."

"Then..." Kang Zhaoming was somewhat disappointed. He had rather fancied commanding a Heaven-rank expert.

"Wei Zhao is an early-stage Earth-rank expert... Alas, this is a little difficult," You Zhentian mused, then said, "Earth-rank experts are already very scarce in the mundane world — all but nonexistent. That the Kang family could possess even one is a highly suspicious affair, and the higher the rank, the more suspicious it becomes! Let it be so: we will send an mid-stage Earth-rank expert to assist you. That puts him two grades above Wei Zhao, enough to defeat him utterly!"

"That will do!" Though Kang Zhaoming had not gotten what he had hoped for, You Zhentian was right. If the Kang family claimed to have a Heaven-rank expert, who on earth would believe it?

"As for why you have an Earth-rank expert — that is for you to invent a reason for. Do not drag our Hidden Right Family into it!" You Zhentian said.

"Naturally!" Kang Zhaoming said with a nod.

"Good. Then the matter is settled for now. I will go back and find a suitable candidate to send over!" With that, You Zhentian made to take his leave.

"Wait a moment..." Kang Zhaoming spoke up once more to stop him.

"Young Master Kang, is there something else?" You Zhentian's attitude toward Kang Zhaoming had improved considerably. He had discovered that the young man had no small store of cunning ideas, and so he gave him some face.

"Young Master You, now that this business is settled... ought we not discuss whether the Kang family is to receive some benefit for doing the Hidden Right Family such a great service?" Kang Zhaoming had lately read a few books on the art of scheming. A wastrel he remained, but he handled people and affairs far better than before.

"Oh? Our Right family is helping you in secret, and when the formula is obtained, we shall both have a share — what is unfair about that?" You Zhentian countered. "The formula is not some other kind of treasure; we need only make another copy of it, do we not?"

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