Chapter 369: The Third Button (1/2)
[Volume 5 – A Distance Within Reach]
Nangong Xiaoniao went over to open the door and said, “Please come in. It’s a bit messy here.”
Song Zining entered sideways through the door with a flash of light green origin power. He stood just inside the doorway and didn’t go further in. “Nevermind. I’ll leave after a few words.”
“P-Please speak!” Xiaoniao was apparently somewhat nervous.
Song Zining didn’t beat around the bush and got straight to the point. “I heard there’s an unpleasant feud between you and the Nangong family.”
“We have a deep enmity! Sooner or later, I’ll have that old thief, Nangong Yuanbo, pay with his blood!” Nangong Xiaoniao’s emotions were riled up at the very mention of this.
Song Zining continued with an apathetic nod, “Then why haven’t you taken action?”
A startled Nangong Xiaoniao stammered, “That old thief… t-that old thief is very powerful. I-I’m not his match at the moment.”
“Then why hasn’t he made a move against you?” Song Zining’s expression was indifferent.
Nangong Xiaoniao replied, “Elder Gu, Elder Zhou, and Elder Yin said that the old thief won’t dare do anything to me as long as they’re alive.”
“Then you should know the weight of the three elders, right?”
Nangong Xiaoniao nodded with a bewildered expression. She had no idea why Song Zining was asking these obvious questions.
Song Zining smiled and said, “You’re not afraid of Nangong Yuanbo because you have the three Red Scorpion commanders supporting you. Miss Zhao, as the granddaughter of Duke You, has no need to fear him. I’m from the Song clan and naturally have no qualms either. But what about Qianye? He has nothing. If Nangong Yuanbo can’t do anything to you, he’ll take it out on Qianye. Do you understand?”
“I-I…” Nangong Xiaoniao didn’t know what to say.
“I’ve said all I came to say. Now please excuse me.” With that, Song Zining opened the door and disappeared into the night just as silently.
It was yet another night of the scarlet moon. The Dark Flame headquarters was fairly quiet during the latter part of the night with the exception of occasional patrol squads.
Song Zining’s figure materialized in the shadows behind the dormitory. He looked up at the full, scarlet moon which had almost taken up half the sky, the gauze-like moonlight showering onto his cheerless face.
He suddenly turned around and saw Wei Potian walking over from the other side of the drill grounds.
A passing Dark Flame patrol unit left after greeting them.
Wei Potian watched the soldiers disappear over the other end of the drill grounds before turning back to stare at Song Zining with a cold expression. “Don’t you think you’re meddling too much?”
“Ignorance is not an excuse for being stubborn, and neither is innocence an excuse for recklessness. If Nangong Xiaoniao wants to stay here, she must be clear about the consequences of her action.”
“You underestimate Qianye. He knows what he’s doing.”
“Must I let him bear this burden just because he can?”
Wei Potian was silent. He sized Song Zining up with luminous eyes and said slowly, “In that case, I have something I’ve wanted to ask you for a long time. What is the relation between the Ningyuan Group and the Northern Legion?”
Song Zining chuckled out loud. “Two years ago, the Ningyuan Group provided them with a thousandth of their origin arrays. Presently, we provide one percent of their armaments—all types of them.”
“You’re… Lin Xitang’s man…” An implication of exceptional danger was apparent in Wei Potian’s suppressed voice.
“The Wei clan heir should speak cautiously. It’s not a good habit to make irresponsible remarks.” Song Zining’s voice was similarly soft. “Although the Far East Wei Clan has never taken sides between major clans, it’s a known fact that the second grand elder of the Wei clan is very close to Marshal Zhang. Why then are you so interested in Marshal Lin’s matters?”
The two glares met, the coldness in them cut through the flesh like sharp blades.
Wei Potian said slowly, “Song Seven, you’re a smart person. Don’t play with fire. It’s fine if you burn yourself to death and rid the world of a scourge, but don’t drag Qianye into these waters.”
“Did you think everything Qianye experienced back then has ended? He’s already been in the water for a long time.”
Wei Potian gripped his fist so tight that it started emitting popping sounds. In the end, he relaxed his hands and said, “I know your Three Thousand Flying Leaves Art is quite extraordinary. But, Song Seven, the world is filled with myriad dao and the most important is to maintain one’s conscience. No one has the right to make decisions for Qianye and you’re no exception.”
“That’s your path, not mine.”
“Then we shall see,” Wei Potian replied in simple words. At this point, he had nothing more to say and thus turned around to leave.
However, Song Zining’s voice reached him from behind. “Qianye and I were classmates for five years and partners for two. If you’re interested, you can find out what it means to be partners in Yellow Springs.”