The elder acted just in time, blocking Ying's attack. With the young woman in white, he landed steadily amidst the shattered pavilion.
'Zhao Tianhe, a Great Scholar from the Confucius Temple...'
Jiang Lan looked at the newcomer, not at all surprised. In fact, a knowing smile even touched the corners of his lips.
'In the original plot, this is indeed the stage where Lin Fan befriends him.'
'A Great Scholar is an existence who has been immersed in the Confucian Dao for at least a century, possessing incredibly profound insights. Their strength is comparable to a Cultivator at the Seventh Realm, the Dharma Realm.'
'Zhao Tianhe, a Great Scholar from the Confucius Temple, is also Elder Zhao of the Zhao Family in Jingyang City.'
'Though the Zhao Family isn't one of the top aristocratic clans, it could still be considered a prestigious and noble family. It has produced many outstanding figures in Confucianism, and several clan members hold important positions in the imperial court.'
'And Zhao Tianhe himself holds the position of Sacrificial Priest in the Confucius Temple. In the eyes of scholars and Confucians throughout the land, he is a leading authority.'
Jiang Lan recalled the relevant plot points in his mind.
The Confucius Temple, unlike the Martial Temple, boasted an extremely long history, having been personally founded by the first emperor of the Great Xia dynasty.
It was the cradle that nurtured all the Civil Servants and Confucian scholars in the land; nearly every Great Scholar hailed from the Confucius Temple.
The High Priest of the Confucius Temple was granted an incredibly transcendent status, at times even capable of swaying imperial authority.
In the current imperial court, imperial authority had waned, and the Empress's power was diminished.
The only faction that could contend with his father was the Confucius Temple.
The current High Priest of the Confucius Temple was, in fact, the former Grand Tutor. It was only because of his existence that the Empress had any breathing room to consolidate her power in secret.
Since the founding of the Great Xia Dynasty, imperial power and the Chancellor's power had long existed in a state of mutual balance.
When imperial power was strong, policy flowed from the Emperor. When the Chancellor's power was strong, the Emperor merely reigned while the minister ruled.
And while the Grand Tutor could nominally participate in matters of state and war, the position was more of an honorary title meant to recognize merit and bestow a lofty status. Its actual power had long since been eclipsed by that of the Chancellor.
Although the High Priest of the Confucius Temple held a revered status and commanded the respect of all civil officials, he was powerless to change the current political landscape, despite his intentions.
"You are..."
"Elder Zhao?"
Having been rescued, Lin Fan stared in astonishment at the elder who had floated down so gracefully.
Though his face was covered in blood and he was in a wretched state, he stood ramrod straight, his posture like a sharp, unsheathed sword.
Within the Snow Moon Pavilion, dust filled the air, painting a scene of shattered ruins.
With Zhao Tianhe's arrival, a vast and virtuous aura of Confucianism radiated outward, suppressing the rampaging killing intent of the blade light, which slowly began to dissipate.
"Young Master Lin."
The young woman in white beside Zhao Tianhe stepped forward. From a silk pouch embroidered with golden plum blossoms, she took out a white porcelain bottle of Elixir Pills and offered it to him.
Lin Fan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, said, "Thank you," and accepted the bottle.
At that moment, his mind was filled with questions.
'The elder I met in the Fallen Sword Mountain Range... to think he's this powerful. I can't believe I misjudged him back then and thought he was just an ordinary old man...'
'But now isn't the time for questions.' He felt a little more at ease, swallowed a few Elixir Pills, and began to recover from his injuries.
"Young Master, that is a Great Scholar."
Before the pavilion, Ying sheathed his saber and returned to stand before Jiang Lan, his brow furrowed as he spoke in a low voice.
He knew, of course, that the elder before them was a Great Scholar whose strength was unfathomable and far surpassed his own.
If he tried to force the issue and kill Lin Fan, he would undoubtedly be stopped.
He had no idea why a Great Scholar would suddenly appear in a place like Yu Yi City.
Jiang Lan, however, was not at all surprised by Zhao Tianhe's appearance.
A while back in the plot, the protagonist, Lin Fan, had ventured out in search of Celestial and Earthly Treasures to break through to the Physical Body Realm and forge a flawless foundation. He decided to risk a trip to the Fallen Sword Mountain Range.
The Fallen Sword Mountain Range was located in the wastelands to the far east of Yu Yi City.
The region was nothing but treacherous mountains and jagged peaks.
It was teeming with Demons, filled with poisonous miasma, and fraught with danger.
Relying on the vast experience accumulated in his past life, Lin Fan had journeyed deep into the range.
While gathering various rare Medicinal Herbs, he had an unexpected encounter and befriended the elder.
Subsequently, Lin Fan helped his granddaughter—the very same young woman in white, Zhao Dieyi—by finding a several-thousand-year-old Profound Sun Nether Immortal Grass, which neutralized the Absolute Yin Cold Vein within her body.
The pair were, of course, incredibly grateful, but they never revealed their true identities to Lin Fan.
When they parted, they only gave him a Token, telling him that if he ever went to the Great Xia's Imperial Capital, Jingyang City, he could present it at the Zhao Mansion, and the Zhao Family would grant any request he had.
Then, on her way back, his granddaughter, Zhao Dieyi, heard some rumors about a live-in son-in-law at the Su Mansion. Curious about Lin Fan's origins, she came to Yu Yi City to investigate.
That was why Jiang Lan had long suspected that Zhao Tianhe might seize this opportunity to rescue Lin Fan.
Back in the Fallen Sword Mountain Range, Lin Fan had been using a disguise, which is why he looked different. However, wanting to show off a bit, he hadn't bothered to hide his real name.
Which meant the Great Scholar, Zhao Tianhe, knew Lin Fan's true identity.
Before the pavilion, Jiang Lan's guards formed a barrier.
Despite facing a Great Scholar, they showed no fear, their expressions remaining fierce.
"Elder Zhao, you seem quite at leisure, running all the way out to Yu Yi City to meddle in affairs that don't concern you, instead of staying in Jingyang City."
Jiang Lan spoke calmly, unconcerned by Zhao Tianhe's status as a Great Scholar.
Hearing this, Zhao Tianhe gave him a surprised glance.
He certainly recognized Jiang Lan, one of the most infamous scions in the entire Great Xia Dynasty.
But the fact that Jiang Lan recognized him was somewhat surprising.
Although he was the old patriarch of the Zhao Mansion, he had long since retired from the public eye. The number of people from the younger generation who had ever seen him could be counted on one hand.
"And are you not also in Yu Yi City, Young Master Jiang? You seem to have far more leisure time than I," Zhao Tianhe replied coolly.
He held no fondness for Jiang Lan whatsoever.
This was due to both Jiang Lan's own arrogant demeanor and his father, the Powerful Minister.
Practically every Great Scholar in the Confucius Temple had suffered suppression at the hands of the Prime Minister's Mansion, and their circumstances were a far cry from what they once were.
Although the Zhao Family was a prestigious and noble house that had produced many high-ranking Civil Servants, it too was being suppressed by the Prime Minister's Mansion, its situation deteriorating by the day.
In the imperial court today, the only ones who still dared to openly question the Prime Minister were the Great Scholars of the Confucius Temple.
As such, the Confucius Temple had naturally become a thorn in the Prime Minister's side.
Jiang Lan smiled faintly, his gaze suddenly shifting to the young woman in white beside Zhao Tianhe, his eyes filled with a certain appraising admiration.
"It's been years, Sister Dieyi. You've blossomed into an even more captivating beauty. I heard you went to the Chi Yao Sect to cultivate. Since we've had the rare fortune of meeting today, we two should really get... reacquainted."