A Great Scholar Comes to the Rescue, Just as Expected

The old man acted in time, blocking Uncle Ying's strike. At the same time, he took the white-robed girl with him and landed steadily amid the shattered pavilion.

"Zhao Tianhe, a Great Scholar of the Confucian Temple..."

Jiang Lan looked at the newcomer without the slightest surprise. A meaningful smile even curved his lips.

In the original plot, Lin Fan had indeed met this man at this stage.

A Great Scholar was an existence who had immersed himself in the Confucian Path for at least a century, with profoundly deep insights. Their strength was comparable to a cultivator at the Seventh Realm, the Dharma Aspect Realm.

"Zhao Tianhe, a Great Scholar of the Confucian Temple, and also the old master of the Zhao Family in Jingyang City."

"Though the Zhao Family is not among the foremost aristocratic clans, it can still be called a renowned and distinguished house. It has produced many outstanding figures of the Confucian School, and several members of the family hold important positions at court."

"And Zhao Tianhe himself serves as a ritual official in the present-day Confucian Temple. In the eyes of scholars and Confucianists throughout the realm, he is a towering figure, like Mount Tai and the Northern Dipper."

Jiang Lan recalled the relevant plot in his mind.

The Confucian Temple differed from the Martial Temple. Its history was incomparably ancient, having been personally founded by the Founding Emperor of Great Xia.

It could be called the cradle that nurtured civil officials and Confucian scholars across the realm. Nearly all Great Scholars came from the Confucian Temple.

The Grand Sacrificial Official of the Confucian Temple was granted an exceedingly lofty and detached status. At certain times, he could even sway Imperial Power.

In the current imperial court, Imperial Power had fallen by the wayside, and the Empress was weak.

The only force capable of contending with his father was the Confucian Temple.

The current Grand Sacrificial Official of the Confucian Temple was actually the previous Grand Tutor. It was precisely because of his presence that the Empress could catch her breath and quietly build up her strength.

Since the founding of the Great Xia Dynasty, Imperial Power and Chancellor's Power had in fact kept each other in check for a long time.

When Imperial Power was strong, all governance came from the emperor; when Chancellor's Power was strong, the emperor ruled with folded hands.

Though the Grand Tutor could nominally participate in military and state affairs, it was more of an honorary title, meant to display merit and confer lofty status. His actual authority had long since fallen far behind that of the Prime Minister.

Though the Grand Sacrificial Official of the Confucian Temple held an exalted position and commanded the civil officials of the realm, he was still powerless to change the current situation at court.

"You are..."

"Old Master Zhao?"

Having been saved, Lin Fan stared at the old man who had drifted down before him, utterly astonished.

Though his face was covered in blood and he looked terribly bedraggled, he still stood straight as a sword, his edge fully revealed.

Inside Snow Moon Pavilion, dust filled the air, and shattered ruins lay everywhere.

With Zhao Tianhe's arrival, a vast and mellow righteous aura of the Confucian School spread out, suppressing the blade radiance and killing intent raging between heaven and earth until they gradually dissipated.

"Young Master Lin."

The white-robed girl beside Zhao Tianhe stepped forward. From a silk sachet embroidered with golden plum blossoms, she took out a bottle of white porcelain pills and handed it to him.

Lin Fan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, thanked her, and accepted it.

At this moment, countless questions filled his mind.

That old man he had encountered in the Meteor Sword Mountain Range was actually so powerful. He had never expected that he had misjudged him back then, treating him as an ordinary old man...

But now was not the time to ask. Feeling somewhat reassured, he swallowed several pills and began recovering from his injuries.

"Young Master, he is a Great Scholar."

Before the pavilion, Uncle Ying sheathed his blade and returned to stand before Jiang Lan. His brow was tightly furrowed as he spoke in a low voice.

He naturally knew that the old man before them was a Great Scholar, whose strength was unfathomable and far beyond his own.

If he forcibly made a move to kill Lin Fan, Zhao Tianhe would certainly stop him.

He also could not understand how a Great Scholar had appeared in a place like Yuyi City.

Naturally, Jiang Lan was not surprised in the slightest by Zhao Tianhe's appearance.

Some time earlier in the plot, the Protagonist Lin Fan had gone out in search of heavenly treasures that could help him break through the Body Refinement Realm and forge a flawless foundation. He had decided to risk entering the Meteor Sword Mountain Range.

The Meteor Sword Mountain Range lay in the wilderness east of Yuyi City.

That region was filled with towering mountains and steep ridges.

Demons and monsters were everywhere, poisonous gas hung thick in the air, and dangers lurked at every turn.

Relying on the accumulated experience of his previous life, Lin Fan had ventured deeper and deeper inside.

While gathering all kinds of rare herbs there, he had accidentally met this old man.

Later, Lin Fan helped the old man's granddaughter, the white-robed girl before him, Zhao Dieyi, find a several-thousand-year-old Mysterious Sun Ghost Immortal Grass, resolving the Absolute Yin Cold Meridian within her body.

Grandfather and granddaughter had naturally been immensely grateful, but they had not revealed their true origins to Lin Fan.

Only when they parted had they given him a token, telling him that when he later went to Jingyang City, the Imperial Capital of Great Xia, he could use it to visit the Zhao Family, who would fulfill any request he made.

On the return journey, Zhao Dieyi had heard some news about the son-in-law of the Su Manor. Curious about Lin Fan's background, she had come to Yuyi City to investigate.

That was why Jiang Lan had long guessed that Zhao Tianhe might seize the chance to save him.

Back in the Meteor Sword Mountain Range, Lin Fan had changed his appearance and shown himself in this guise. However, in order to show off a little, he had not concealed his real name.

In other words, the Great Scholar Zhao Tianhe before him knew Lin Fan's true identity.

Before the pavilion, Jiang Lan's guards stood in formation, blocking the way.

Though they faced a Great Scholar, there was no fear on their faces. Their expressions remained savage.

"Old Master Zhao, instead of staying in Jingyang City, you came all the way to Yuyi City to meddle in other people's business. You certainly have plenty of leisure."

Jiang Lan spoke calmly, showing little concern for Zhao Tianhe's status as a Great Scholar.

Hearing this, Zhao Tianhe gave him a surprised look.

Naturally, he recognized Jiang Lan, the infamous Second Generation Scion of the entire Great Xia Dynasty.

Still, Jiang Lan recognizing him came as something of a surprise.

Though he was the old master of the Zhao Manor, he had long since withdrawn behind the scenes. Among the younger generation, there were only a handful who had ever seen him.

"Young Master Jiang, aren't you also in Yuyi City? Compared to this old man, you seem far more leisurely," Zhao Tianhe replied blandly.

He had no favorable impression of Jiang Lan whatsoever.

Whether it was because of Jiang Lan's conduct and temperament, or because of his Power Chancellor father.

Nearly every Great Scholar in the Confucian Temple had suffered suppression from the Prime Minister's Manor, and their circumstances had long declined drastically.

Though the Zhao Manor was a renowned and distinguished house that had produced many civil officials in high positions, it too suffered suppression from the Prime Minister's Manor and was declining with each passing day.

In the current imperial court, the only people who still dared question the Prime Minister were the Great Scholars of the Confucian Temple.

Thus, the Confucian Temple had naturally become a thorn in the Prime Minister's eye, a barb in his flesh.

Jiang Lan smiled faintly, but his gaze suddenly fell upon the white-robed girl beside Zhao Tianhe, carrying an air of appraisal and appreciation.

"It has been many years, Sister Dieyi. You have grown ever more lovely and beautiful. I heard you went to cultivate at the Chi Yao Sect. Now that we have finally met, the two of us should properly grow closer."