Chapter 395 - When One Method Fails, Try Another (1/2)

”Hah! You are asking us if there is something wrong?” Elder Cuixiong scoffed as he repeated Young Master Xuan Hao's words. ”I don't understand how you can be the heir candidate and still not be able to see what's wrong here!”

”If a junior doesn't understand something, a senior like you should be enlightening him, not mocking him. Just listen to yourself. Are you words even fitting of your position as an elder?” Taomie Lianhe berated immediately.

”Hmph! I am just saying the truth!” Elder Cuixiong sneered.

”Enough,” Xuan Qinshang said, silencing the two. ”Hao, let me ask you something. Why did you bring your friends back to the Timeless Flame Sect this time?”

”I wanted to introduce them to the seniors here,” Young Master Xuan Hao answered frankly. ”I believe that be it Sister Ruan Ling, Brother Tianzi, or Sister Qianxue, they are all excellent talents and will certainly become exceptional characters in the future! It will only be beneficial for us to build a good relationship with them.”

”Your eyes are pretty sharp,” Xuan Qinshang nodded. ”We have looked into your friends, and they are indeed quite talented, especially this Brother Tianzi of yours. His background is rather lackl.u.s.tre, but his individual talent more than makes up for it. Bringing them back is a good move.”

”Thank you for the kind words, Faction Leader,” Young Master Xuan Hao said.

”However, you need to be careful not to have your own plans turned against you,” Xuan Qinshang continued. ”Right now, others will see your Brother Tianzi as a part of your connections, which will in turn help you in your endeavour to be the heir. But what do you think will happen if he decides to go under Grandmaster Xiqin as a student?”

”This...” Young Master Xuan Hao hesitated.

Now that Xuan Qinshang had put it that way, Young Master Xuan Hao finally realised what he had failed to understand before.

”That's right,” Xuan Qinshang nodded. ”Grandmaster Xiqin is the Head Inscription Master of the Yellow Spark faction, and it is no secret that he has always wanted to join Wen's camp in this bid for the heir position. Any student of his cannot escape this connection to Wen.”

Young Master Xuan Hao frowned.

Was this the real reason why Grandmaster Xiqin wanted to accept Lu Tianzi as his student?

In that case, was this part of Xuan Wen's plan yet again?

”If you understand this, then I believe you don't need us to tell you what to do next,” Xuan Qinshang said. ”Go and do what you must.”

”Understood, Faction Leader,” Young Master Xuan Hao said before leaving the Grand Ember Hall, his heart now slightly heavier as compared to when he first entered.

***

At the True Fire Tavern, Xuan Wen was seated in his usual room, sipping wine as he patiently waited for his guest to arrive.

It did not take long before the door slid open, and a suave looking young man entered.

”You are finally here, Junwei,” Xuan Wen gestured towards one of the chairs. ”Come, take a seat.”

”May I know the reason why Senior Apprentice Brother Wen is looking for me?” Xuan Junwei sat down nervously.

Xuan Junwei might be a proud character himself, but he still felt a certain amount of pressure when facing Xuan Wen.

If Xuan Junwei was largely considered the leader of the younger generation within the Blue Ember faction, then Xuan Wen was the leader of the younger generation throughout the entire Timeless Flame Sect!

Perhaps only the genius Linye Caixia herself could compare favourably in terms of prestige, but she had never cared about the administration of the sect.

In fact, many already see Xuan Wen as someone on the same level of the elders, which was why most people believed that he would be the eventual victor in this fight for the heir position.

Compared to him, Xuan Junwei was definitely lacking in comparison!

”I heard that the Blue Ember faction has decided to seriously push for Hao as the heir candidate?” Xuan Wen asked.

”Junior Apprentice Brother Hao has always been our heir candidate,” Xuan Junwei answered carefully.

”But he has never been serious about the role, and there are many people who feel that he doesn't deserve this role too. Is that not the case?” Xuan Wen asked in between sips of his wine.

”I have indeed heard of such rumours,” Xuan Junwei replied. ”But we can't possibly stop others from thinking what they want.”

”To tell you the truth, I kind of feel that way too,” Xuan Wen said nonchalantly. ”Even though Hao is my younger brother, I honestly believe that you are far more deserving to be the heir candidate of the Blue Ember faction.”

”Hmm?” Xuan Junwei looked up at Xuan Wen in surprise. ”Does Senior Apprentice Brother Wen really think so?”

”Haha, is that really a surprise?” Xuan Wen laughed. ”As I said, I am not the only one who thinks this way. Be it influence, talent, or cultivation level, you are far above Hao. It is only right for you to be the heir candidate, so why don't you do something about it?”

Xuan Junwei forced a smile. ”What can I do? The elders have already decided. There's only so much that we of the younger generation can do.”

”That I do not agree,” Xuan Wen shook his head. ”The elders have lived for a long time and are indeed experienced, but sometimes this experience serve as a double edged sword, hindering them from understanding the contemporary ways of this world. If they are confused, it is our job as part of the younger generation to help them see the light.”

Xuan Junwei did not reply, instead smiling bitterly as he reached for the wine cup to down a mouthful.

”I heard about Hao's altercation with the servants earlier,” Xuan Wen continued. ”Going after the servant girl was the right move from your end, but it was executed wrongly.”

”I don't quite understand what Senior Apprentice Brother Wen mean,” Xuan Junwei narrowed his eyes.

Did Xuan Wen already find out that he was the one behind the servants' ill treatment towards Bo'er?

No, Xuan Wen had to be bluffing!

Xuan Wen probably made a wild guess, and was trying to bait him into admitting it!

”I think we both know what I am talking about,” Xuan Wen sounded as confident as ever. ”But you need to remember that the servant girl is just a side character. Hao is still the main issue here, so any plan you make has to consider him as the end point.”