"Was Dragon King Meng interested in the Tiantian Tribe?"
Zhao Rulíng asked another question, one that cut straight to Meng Zhao's thoughts. Who did good deeds for no reason?
Meng Zhao had no intention of concealing it. "More or less. Lord Zhao also knows that my sphere of influence now encompasses the Three Northern Provinces. Sooner or later, I will bring them under my control. When that time comes, the Hundred Clans of these Arctic Ice Plains will become my grave concern, and must be checked and dealt with.
"The Tiantian Clan's fortunes are flourishing, and its strength is formidable. They even have hopes of competing for a place among the ten strongest clans. If I can befriend—or even support—a powerful and influential figure within the Tiantian Tribe, it will bring me nothing but benefits.
"That little girl Feng Susu comes from no ordinary background and possesses decent talent and gifts. She can serve as an idle chess piece, a cold stone. Who knows when she might come in handy?"
With that explanation, Zhao Rulíng understood. Meng Zhao was simply casting out a pole, whether there were dates on the tree or not.
Yet Meng Zhao's next words truly piqued his interest.
"Last night, you gleaned some of the essence of the Heavenly Wind Divine Art. You also ventured out at night to eavesdrop on Feng Ling speaking with his clansmen, and learned some important news?"
Zhao Rulíng was greatly astonished. What he had learned yesterday seemed no different from what Meng Zhao knew. How had Meng Zhao become so exceptional that he could conjure from nothing an understanding of the Martial Dao essence of the Heavenly Wind Divine Art, an art only the Tiantian Clan could cultivate?
"I gained a little something, I suppose. In truth, that little girl