Chapter 84: A Talent Scout Comes Knocking (1/2)

At the Nie clan’s main gate, all the clansmen, led by Nie Beichuan, were looking at Nie Donghai and Nie Qian with all kinds of expressions.

Nie Beichuan’s face was cold and expressionless. A hint of a cold smile could be seen at the corner of clan elder Nie Feiyun’s mouth, as if he was secretly pleased.

Some of the other clan elders, however, had complicated looks in their eyes, as if they felt guilty inside, but still couldn’t say anything.

Most of the clansmen were here to see them off, after learning that Nie Donghai and Nie Qian were about to go and beg for forgiveness from the Cloudsoaring sect. Their gaze was somewhat indignant and helpless as they looked towards the father and daughter.

Having realized that the result was certain, Nie Donghai behaved very calmly, and didn’t start a fight with Nie Beichuan and his flunkies in front of all the clansmen.

The oldest clan elder Nie Yaozu pondered for a bit and said, “Donghai, don’t you worry too much about this trip to the Cloudsoaring sect. You’ve done a good job working for the Cloudsoaring sect for all these years. They… may not necessarily punish you for the accident at the mine.”

Nie Yaozu believed that the vanishing of all the Flamecloud gems in the mine could have just been an accident and probably had nothing to do with Nie Qian.

However, since someone had to atone for the accident to the Cloudsoaring sect, he had also deemed Nie Donghai to be the most suitable man to take the blame, considering that he was no longer the clanmaster, and probably wouldn’t be able to make any more contributions to the Nie clan with his degrading health.

But actually, deep down, he felt somewhat sorry towards Nie Donghai and Nie Qian. Only because of that did he say a few words of consolation.

“I understand,” Nie Donghai nodded briefly and said. “I’ll go to the Cloudsoaring sect to beg for their forgiveness. But Nie Tian is still young. If I were to receive punishments and can’t return, I hope you can take care of him for me, considering what I’m doing for the clan today.”

“You can be assured of that.” Nie Yaozu promised.

With nothing more to say, Nie Donghai turned around, and was about to set off with Nie Qian.

At this very moment, Nie Tian bolted out of the clan gate, yelling.

“Grandfather!”

Under the clansmen’s gazes, he stopped in front of Nie Donghai and Nie Qian, blocking their way, and said, “I’ll take full responsibility of the accident at the Flamecloud gem mine and go beg for forgiveness from the Cloudsoaring sect!”

“Little Tian!” Nie Qian snapped. “What are you doing? You’re not helping. Go back, now!”

Nie Donghai gave him a hard look and berated, “The reason I didn’t go to see you was that I didn’t want you to be distracted. Don’t behave so immaturely!”

Nie Tian didn’t back down because of their words. Instead, he stood straight like a mountain, raised his chin towards Nie Beichuan, and said, “Clanmaster, my grandfather is in his old years, and won’t be able to withstand the anger of the Cloudsoaring sect. Moreover, I happened to be there when the mining accident occurred. If the clan needs to find a scapegoat for it, I’ll go!”

“How impudent!” Nie Beichuan let out a cold harrumph. “What do you mean ‘find a scapegoat’? Sure, you were there with Nie Qian when the changes occurred in the mine, however, on what account do you think that you caused the changes? Plus, what are you? How old are you? Wouldn’t it be a humiliation to the Nie clan if we give you to the Cloudsoaring sect? Wouldn’t the Cloudsoaring sect think that we’re taking them as fools?”

A few clan elders joined Nie Beichuan, and berated Nie Tian harshly.

“Nie Tian! Cut the nonsense! You shouldn’t be here!”

“Exactly! It’s a joke to send a child to the Cloudsoaring sect!”

“Get out of here, now!”

They had just gone to great lengths to persuade Nie Donghai and Nie Qian to take the blame. How could they allow Nie Tian to tamper with their plan?

The way they saw it, Nie Tian’s words were merely a joke.

Only Nie Tian himself knew that the changes that had occurred in the mine were indeed caused by him.

He could never tell them that it was his dragon bone that had drained every wisp of the flame power of every Flamecloud gem in the mine, reducing them to rubble.

Yet, there was no way that he could sit back and watch his grandfather and aunt bear the Cloudsoaring sect’s anger because of something he had caused.

Nie Donghai’s third brother, Nie Nanshan looked incensed as he ordered his son to take Nie Tian back inside. “Nie Qiu! Take Nie Tian back! Don’t let people laugh at our clan!”

At that time, a lot of commoners of Black Cloud City had heard the disturbance, and quietly converged on the main gate of the Nie clan.

In just a few moments, dozens of people were gathered by the gate.

“Nie Tian! Get back inside!” Nie Donghai said with a stern face.

“NO!” Nie Tian shook his head and blurted. “I’ll take the blame from the Cloudsoaring sect!”

With these words, he strode outward before Nie Qiu could grab him.

At that time, Pan Tao’s voice echoed out from behind the crowd of people.

“Nie Tian! What the hell are you doing? I’ve come all this way from the Spiritual Treasure sect. You won’t leave just like that without even greeting me, will you?”

Nie Tian was taken aback, and looked in confusion in the direction that Pan Tao’s voice had come from, searching for him.

“Give way!” An explosive shout echoed out from behind the crowd.

All of a sudden, the crowd burst into clamor. At the source of Pan Tao’s voice, many onlookers stepped back, clearing out a wide path.