Chapter 1698: Smart Man

“Why do you say that, husband?”

Yu Shuanglu was caught off guard by Wei Nandou’s answer.

“Why do I say that?” Wei Nandou’s smile abruptly vanished, leaving behind only the cold and venom of a viper. “Do I have to do all your thinking for you? Those two are Sages. Who can find them if they do not wish to reveal themselves? Even if they are willing to act as our blades, how can they take out someone they can’t find in the first place?”

“Besides, the reason Sages are Sages is because they have transcended mortality. They have grasped the power of heaven and earth and become unfettered from all things. Do you think killing a Sage is easy? The only one who can kill a Sage is another Sage. To send anyone below that level no matter the amount is just a complete waste of time and energy.”

“Besides, those two are not ordinary Sages.”

Yu Shuanglu turned pale. “Are they... really that strong?”

Wei Nandou sighed. “Indeed, they are. In fact, one of them might be in the second level of the Sage-stage.”

“The second level? You mean Abode level?” Yu Shuanglu subconsciously blurted out, “Doesn’t that mean that they’re—”

She realized her mistake and cut herself off at the last moment, but Wei Nandou did not mind. He finished her sentence for her, “Yes, he is stronger than me.”

He was only in the first level of the Sage-stage. Although he had one foot in the second level already, he ultimately wasn’t an Aboder.

Each level of the Sage-stage was a heaven in its own right. In a one-on-one fight, there was no way he, an Ascender, could defeat an Aboder.

It would be a different story if he was empowered by a military formation, but he could hardly live the rest of his life in a military formation, could he? Besides, he wouldn’t be up against one Sage. He would be fighting two of them.

Long story short, they had no way of killing them through another’s hand or playing the oriole.

On the other hand, it was all too easy for the two Sages to kill them.

“With all that said...”

Wei Nandou looked at Yu Shuanglu, “Do you think that you and your foolish son will live if you attack them again? Even I may not escape retribution.”

“Ah... I...”

Yu Shuanglu turned as white as a sheet and looked beside herself. She could not say anything for a very long time.

“Relax. As long as you don’t go crazy and commit suicide, you won’t die.”

Wei Nandou shot her a disdainful look. “After all, those two do not wish to tackle us just yet.”

Yu Shuanglu looked confused.

𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

“Stupid woman.” Wei Nandou said coldly, “The reason they sent Tong Nian to convey their message and bring Blood Plum’s head to us is to threaten us and to warn us. They’re saying that they can be gracious and let this matter slide once and for all so long as we don’t act like ingrates and spurn their generosity.”

“If they really wanted to kill us, they would not have sent Tong Nian. They would have shown up in person.”

Yu Shuanglu let out a sigh of relief, but a worrying thought occurred to her. “What if they’re just buying time to prepare?”

“That is why I said ‘just yet’.”

Wei Nandou continued, “But whether or not they’re telling the truth, we have no choice but to believe them and do as they say.”

“Why? Because we cannot afford to challenge them.”

If you can’t challenge someone, then the best thing to do is to submit to them.

Wei Nandou added, “Oh right, prepare a big gift. Tomorrow, you will accompany me to offer Xiahou Zun a formal apology.”

Yu Shuanglu looked puzzled, “Why should we offer Xiahou Zun a formal apology?”

Wei Nandou replied, “Because those two are Xiahou Zun’s friends, and we are in the wrong. Naturally, we should apologize. This would be an expression of goodwill as well.”

Submission without substance was meaningless.

Yu Shuanglu nodded. “I understand. I will see it done immediately.”

“Haha...”

It was at this moment Blood Plum’s head let out a laugh. “As expected of the Pingshun King. You are so much smarter than the woman you lie in bed with.”

“Hmm?” Wei Nandou shook a little. “Greetings, Dao Friend. I did not know that you were here.”

Although he looked calm and unperturbed on the outside, he was really shocked on the inside. The wisp of intent had been eavesdropping on their conversation right under his nose all this time, and he hadn’t noticed anything. He even forgot about the existence of Blood Plum’s head until it started speaking.

No, that wasn’t entirely accurate. He hadn’t forgotten; some sort of power had influenced him and made him neglect its existence. However, he never felt like he was influenced in any way.

This all pointed toward one thing: He was right. The man was definitely stronger than him.

Despite being caught off guard and feeling quite anxious right now, Wei Nandou’s mask was impeccable. From the outside, it looked like everything was under his control.

“You’re a smart man, so I will be frank.”

It was at this moment a figure walked out of Blood Plum’s head. The figure was unreal, invisible, and ever-changing, but it appeared grand and powerful to Wei Nandou and Yu Shuanglu’s eyes. A halo of yin and yang shone behind its head, profound light surrounded its body, and demonic shadows lurked underneath its feet. The image automatically inflicted a sense of reverence and fear.

“I don’t like trouble, but I’m not afraid of trouble. I have killed many Sages like you. I have killed Sages stronger than you as well. You amount little to me, so if you are blind enough to miss Mount Tai, then I do not mind killing you.”

The figure’s tone was indifferent, but his words were overflowing with scorn and disdain.

Wei Nandou did not feel humiliated or angry in the slightest though.

It was because he could tell that the figure was speaking the truth.

He truly amounted little in the figure’s eyes.

“Luckily for you, you made the right choice.”

“Yes. I apologize for not knowing your identity and offending you as a result. I humbly beg for your understanding and forgiveness.”

Wei Nandou bowed deeper and spoke humbler.

“You are wise, but someone is beyond foolish.” The figure looked at Yu Shuanglu next. “Worse, she is unaware of how foolish she truly is.”

Boom!

Yu Shuanglu felt like an ant meeting a god. An explosion took place in her headspace, and her mind collapsed.

It only lasted an instant though. The figure withdrew their gaze and said indifferently, “If I do not owe your ancestor a favor, I would have killed you where you stand.”

“Thank you for not killing me, senior... thank you...”

Yu Shuanglu panted heavily after she recovered her senses. She hurriedly bowed to the figure and thanked them profusely.

“That is all I have to say. I expect the best behavior from you both.”

The figure disappeared abruptly after that. The next moment, Blood Plum’s head crumbled into ash.

“Until another day, Dao Brother.” Wei Nandou clasped his hands together in salute.

“Ah?! My power!”

It was at this moment Yu Shuanglu let out a cry of shock. When Wei Nandou looked, he saw Yu Shuanglu losing her cultivation at a rapid pace.

Half-Sage... Great Trueman... Trueman... Spirit Master... in just the blink of an eye, Yu Shuanglu had turned from a Half-Sage to an Invoker.

“Husband... my power...”

Yu Shuanglu’s face was filled with pain and grief as she felt her weak and powerless body.