Jiang Chen and Wei Jie were both delighted when they heard the news. They had originally thought that persuading Elder Zhuo would not be so easy, yet not only had they managed to move Elder Zhuo, but he was even going to personally accompany them to persuade Elder Feng. Wasn't that an unexpected boon?
If they could smoothly bring Elder Feng on board as well, then Wei Tiantong's scheme would collapse entirely—trying to steal the chicken only to lose the rice in the process.
Elder Feng had clearly not expected Elder Zhuo to pay him a visit, let alone with the clan head Wei Tianxiao's son Wei Jie in tow. This sudden arrival caught him somewhat off guard.
It was obvious that Elder Feng found the situation strange. He and Elder Zhuo had chosen to side with Wei Tiantong—a matter that was supposed to be kept strictly confidential. Now here was Elder Zhuo showing up at his doorstep with the clan head's son. Wasn't that just asking for embarrassment?
Fortunately, the relationship between Elder Feng and Elder Zhuo had always been decent. They had originally belonged to the same faction—both members of the neutralist camp. They were neither particularly close to Wei Tianxiao nor especially friendly with Wei Tiantong.
"Brother Zhuo, what's this about?" Elder Feng glanced at Wei Jie standing beside Elder Zhuo, a hint of puzzlement in his eyes.
Elder Zhuo did not answer directly. Instead he said, "Brother Feng, have your direct disciple come out. I have something important to discuss."
"Brother Zhuo, who are you referring to?"
"The one you've been worrying about lately."
Elder Feng fell into thought, unsure what Elder Zhuo was playing at. But he had always held Elder Zhuo in high regard, so he did not delay. He sent one of his subordinates to summon the person.
Before long, Elder Feng's direct disciple, Mu Ge, arrived.
Mu Ge was a clean-cut, refined-looking young man, but between his brows a dark line was deeply etched, giving his forehead an ominous shadow. His entire appearance suggested he was not in good shape.
"Mu Ge, come pay your respects to Elder Zhuo." Elder Feng hurriedly said when his prized disciple arrived.
Mu Ge was clearly familiar with Elder Zhuo. He glanced at the old man, then at Wei Jie, and clasped his fists in a bow. "Mu Ge greets Elder Zhuo. Greetings, Young Master Jie."
Wei Jie smiled. "Mu Ge, it's been a while."
Mu Ge returned the smile with a nod but said nothing more, obediently stepping behind Elder Feng.
Elder Feng sensed the growing awkwardness. He looked at Elder Zhuo and said thoughtfully, "Brother Zhuo, what exactly has happened?"
"Brother Feng, there are no outsiders here, so this old brother of yours will speak frankly." Elder Zhuo's gaze was deep and penetrating as he fixed it on Elder Feng. "Our earlier decision was too hasty. I've thought it over repeatedly, and we two old men must not become sinners against the clan."
Elder Feng started. "Brother, aren't you being a bit dramatic?"
"I'm not trying to alarm you. After carefully considering the matter, combined with some intelligence that Young Master Jie has provided... I've discovered that certain things go beyond what either of us imagined."
"What do you mean?" The more Elder Feng listened, the more confused he became.
"We've been used by Wei Tiantong..." And so Elder Zhuo laid out the full story, from beginning to end, without omission.
By the time he finished, Elder Feng's face had turned grave, a layer of frost settling over his features. "Brother Zhuo, this is ultimately just one side of the story. Can you be certain?"
Elder Zhuo sighed softly. "I may not have ironclad evidence, but when I weigh the two sides, I would far rather believe the clan head's account. You know what kind of person Wei Tiantong is. Even setting aside his character, if we rent our shops on Shennong Street to the Tong family, we would effectively be telling every faction in Glazed King City that the Wei family intends to pledge allegiance to the Royal Court Clan. What would the Coiled Dragon Clan think of that? How would the rest of Glazed King City view our Wei family? Would you have every person in Glazed King City pointing fingers at our backs?"
These were words Elder Zhuo had turned over in his mind countless times. Previously, for the sake of his grandson's future, he had simply been deceiving himself, numbing his own conscience—telling himself it was merely a matter of renting out shops, that it did not concern the Wei family's overall situation.
But such self-deception was ultimately nothing more than willful blindness.
If you handed over such crucial shops on Shennong Street to the Tong family, and the Royal Court Clan's patriarch's own son had personally come to make the pitch—Glazed King City was teeming with eyes and ears. Who wouldn't notice?
Did Elder Feng not understand all this? Of course he did. But Wei Tiantong's silver-tongued words, Wei Tiantong's relentless goading, combined with his deep concern for his direct disciple Mu Ge, had loosened his resolve. In a moment of weakness, he had agreed to Wei Tiantong's demands.
"Brother Zhuo, things have already reached this point. Do we even have another choice? Did the clan head ask you to come and persuade me?" Elder Feng cast a glance at Wei Jie.
"Heh heh heh..." Before Elder Zhuo could answer, Jiang Chen spoke up from the side with a laugh. "How laughable. When it comes to the greater good of the clan, right and wrong should be clear in each person's heart. Why would you need the clan head to tell you?"
Elder Feng's expression darkened. "And who might you be?"
Jiang Chen smiled coolly. "Who I am doesn't matter. All Elder Feng needs to know is that I am the one who can cure your direct disciple—and the one who can save your reputation."
"Fresh-faced brat with quite the big mouth." Elder Feng's temperament was fiery by nature, and having Jiang Chen butt in like this naturally put him in a foul mood.
Elder Zhuo quickly interceded. "Brother Feng, this person is no ordinary individual. The poison afflicting Mu Ge—perhaps you should let him have a try."
Elder Feng's expression was not encouraging. "Brother Zhuo, of all the disciples under my tutelage, Mu Ge is the only one with exceptional talent and aptitude. You know that. I cannot afford to gamble on this."
Jiang Chen smiled lightly. "You can't afford to gamble, so you'd rather bear the infamy and bury the Wei family's entire foundation instead?"
Elder Feng flew into a rage. "Boy, if you speak out of line again, don't blame this old man for being discourteous."
Beside them, Wei Jie kept flashing Jiang Chen signals with his eyes, silently urging him not to provoke Elder Feng further.