Chapter 1606: Show of Force

“Hehe... I knew they hadn’t come in peace.”

A sneer flashed across the Chief Libationist’s face before he raised his voice, “They’re here for me. Don’t worry about it and return to your posts!”

The Chief Libationist wasn’t speaking loudly, but everyone in the entire capital had heard his voice. Not only that, his voice possessed a mysterious power that instantly calmed down the agitated officials and people.

“As you command!” The responders in the sky also let out sighs of relief and flew back where they came from.

“Since you’re here, get down here so we may speak!”

He received no response though. Or rather, the response he received was a sun descending from the sky, purple qi growing thicker, and profound light shining brighter.

“What, do you need me to invite you as well?”

The Chief Libationist’s brow furrowed as his voice erupted like a thunderclap.

It was like a wind stirring up the calm surface of a lake. The sun wobbled like it was unsteady, the purple qi churned like something was stirring it, and the profound light shone erratically like it might go out.

𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Next, the Chief Libationist waved his hand gently. The magnificent, awe-inspiring phenomenon in the sky were slowly rolled up a painting, and the rainy sky behind its cover was once more.

“Is this how you treat your guests, Chief Libationist?” It was at this moment a person stepped out of the sun. A person manifested from the profound light as well.

As soon as they appeared, their lights spread into the world around them and added some color back into the gloomy sky once more.

“I never treat my guests poorly.”

Beard, hair and sleeves flapping in the wind, The Chief Libationist raised his right hand and pushed. “I simply have no patience for intruders, that’s all. Are you intruders?”

It was like a host slamming the door against intruders. The trio’s descending foot abruptly froze in their tracks, unable to progress even an inch further.

“You’re the one who invited us over, Chief Libationist. This is a bit rude, isn’t it?” Yue Hanhai asked with clear displeasure.

“Is it? I’m just copying your example though.”

The Chief Libationist refused to yield even an inch. Ever heard of the idiom ‘a taste of your medicine’?” Haotian Hong asked in a chilly voice, “If I may ask, Chief Libationist, what did we do to deserve such a treatment?”

“I’m sure you know exactly what you did; what you’re trying to do.” The Chief Libationist declared in a domineering tone, “I just want you to know that you do not yet have the right to act like a tiger in front of me.”

The world fell silent after he said this. The tension was growing thicker and thicker as well.

A true tyrant, this one!

Ye Qing gave the Chief Libationist a like inside his heart.

He knew why the Chief Libationist was doing this, of course.

Earlier, Haotian Hong, Xuanyuan Wang and Yue Hanhai were obviously trying to put on a show of force against the Chief Libationist so that they could gain the upper hand during the upcoming negotiation regarding the Earthly Sovereign Bell.

However, the Chief Libationist refused to give an inch.

It was okay to compromise on some things, but only some things. Sometimes, if you gave an inch, the other person would take a mile. Sometimes, if you backed a step, the other person would climb on top of you and step on your face. Even in the best case scenario, you were still going to lose the initiative. Only those who never backed down could truly seize the initiative[1].

In that case, I should help fan the flames!

And so Ye Qing took a step forward, and an aura belonging to a Sage alone shot into the sky.

Not only that, White Robe Demon Master also appeared behind Ye Qing’s back and filled the entire sky with deep, vast energies that resembled the abyss.

You want to show off, do you? You want to flaunt your numbers, do you?

You want to flex your muscles, do you?

Come on then! Like I’m scared of you!

[2]

For a time, all sorts of energies were clashing in the sky. All sorts of gorgeous and grandiose, profound and miraculous phenomena were taking place above the imperial capital.

“Hahaha... calm down, everyone. We are all Dao friends here, aren’t we? There is no need to sour the peace.”

The tension was razor sharp when suddenly, the thick, vast cloud of purple qi slowly took the form of a man. He was wearing coarse garments and carrying an old bronze sword on his back. The ancient sword was vibrating slightly and emanating indescribably profound auras. Ignoring the clashing energies, the man actually stepped in between the two groups and saluted the Chief Libationist.

He said placatingly, “Please don’t misunderstand, Chief Libationist. We have only come to discuss the Earthly Sovereign Bell. We mean no harm whatsoever.”

“Brother Hao, Brother Yue, please withdraw your energies. We do not want the Chief Libationist to misunderstand our intentions, do we?” The two men grunted but did not mouth a retort. They withdrew their energies, and both the unusual sun and the profound light slowly disappeared.

The speaker was none other lord of Xuanyuan Mountain and the wielder of the Xuanyuan Sword, Xuanyuan Wang.

Earlier, they had agreed that Haotian Hong and Yue Hanhai would sound out the Chief Libationist’s stance on this matter. They wanted to know if he was truly determined to intervene in this matter, or if he just wanted to act as a neutral party. They wanted to know if he truly supported Ye Qing in this matter.

Besides that, they also wanted to know if the Chief Libationist was injured. After all, the Chief Libationist had fought against King Taishan and the Six Ghosts and Gods not long ago. It was very possible that he had taken serious injuries. If he had, then it would be much easier for them to gain the upper hand in the upcoming negotiation.

Unfortunately, their wishes were not fulfilled.

First, the Chief Libationist was clearly on Ye Qing’s side. Not only that, he refused to yield even an inch to them.

Second, the Chief Libationist’s aura felt a bit flimsy during their clashes, so he had definitely taken some damage during his war against the remnants of Fengdu. However, they also confirmed that he wasn’t seriously injured.

Third, Ye Qing had become a Sage, and judging from the quantity and density of the energies he displayed earlier, he was not inferior to some veteran Sages who had been accumulating their strength for years. He seriously did not feel like a new Sage.

As if that wasn’t enough, there was another old Sage backing up Ye Qing, and he did not feel inferior to them in the slightest.

The Chief Libationist alone was enough to make them worry, not to mention the Sage whose depths and background were a complete mystery to them. It was only natural that the show of force had backfired on them.

That said, just because they were at a disadvantage didn’t mean that they could afford to lose face, or turn their backs on this negotiation.

That was why someone needed to step up and give everyone an out from this awkward situation; a flight of stairs down the stage they had climbed onto. Right now, the only one who could play that role was him.

“You are a broad-minded man, Chief Libationist. I’m sure you wouldn’t take offense at Brother Haotian and Brother Yue’s actions, right?” Xuanyuan Wang looked at the Chief Libationist as if saying: See? We’re compromising. It’s your turn now.

“Fine... I’ll give you this face.” The Chief Libationist withdrew his aura a few breaths later.

It was the same for Ye Qing and White Robe Demon Master.

Since the trio had backed down first, they no longer had a reason to impose upon them. Besides, this would be a mess if they actually fought each other.

“Thank you, Chief Libationist!” Xuanyuan Wang saluted him.

“I’m sure you don’t want to have our discussion in the rain, so let us go to the Happiness Pavilion already.”

The Chief Libationist waved once before walking toward a distant pavilion.

Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou saluted the trio before following behind the Chief Libationist.

......

“Happiness comes from nowhere, a cup of wine and clear tea may be enough for a lifetime.” It was a poem composed after the Happiness Pavilion.

The Happiness Pavilion was one of the eight major sceneries of the Jixia Academy. It was set on the Happiness Mountain, and the Happiness Mountain was normally covered in peaches and plums. Every time it was spring, flowers would bloom throughout the mountain like a living painting or an exquisite poem.

The Happiness Pavilion was set at the peak of the Happiness Mountain. Here, one could look up and admire a sky of lazy clouds, and look down to find an endless field of flowers. Hence, happiness.

Of course, it was neither spring nor sunny right now. Therefore, there was no field of flowers or lazy clouds to enjoy.

However, the many curtains of fine rain spread across this beautiful, lush mountain was a beautiful scenery in its own right. It wasn’t as bright and vibrant as normal, but it was quite poetic and fantastical.

Of course, no one in the Happiness Pavilion was in the mood of admiring this picturesque, poetic scenery right now. They weren’t in the mood to enjoy tea or wine either.

1. Or die, because they misjudged themselves like so many others in this novel. ☜

2. Or if you’re an Asian, read this in a Singlish accent: Who scare who ah?! ☜