Chapter 1332: Negotiations Breaking Down
Smiling, Chu Yang replied, âAmong people, be it working together or making friends, the most basic requirement is trust itself. Iâve already laid all my cards on the table; if you still donât trust me, thereâs nothing I can do.â
The look in his eyes changed as he made a haughty show of his abilities. Yet his tone remained dispassionate as he said, âIf worse comes to worst, weâll just fight to the death!â
Chu Yang looked at Li Qinglei mockingly. âI dare do so! But I wonder if the Li Clan dares to!â
Li Qinglei hesitated at once.
If Chu Yang had said this before his narration earlier, Li Qinglei would have just taken it as someone passing hot air and scoffed directly at it! He wouldnât even have deigned to speak a single word more and would have just struck out and smashed this shamelessly boastful kid to bits!
But right now, he was in a bit of a dilemma.
Even though words of distrust came out of his mouth, how could he possibly not have any reservations in his heart? Over there, just ninth-grade peak-level Supreme Martial Artists alone and they already had more than six! Even as he thought back and forth about it, Li Qinglei felt that it was better to be safe than sorry.
If by any chance they provoked such powerful enemies for the clan again at this timing⊠even dying a hundred times wouldnât be enough to atone for their sin. But staying stubborn on the surface, he said, âChu Yang, since this is a negotiation, you shouldnât be so overbearing. Do you really think that the Li Clan doesnât dare to kill you? So what even if you have Supreme Martial Artists backing you up? You need to understand that in a situation where we fight to the bitter end, no one will be able to survive!â
Chu Yang breathed a sigh of relief inwardly as he thought, âIf you really dare to kill me, then what are you still standing around for? Who doesnât know how to flap their lips?â But naturally, he wouldnât really provoke him. He asked, âThen what do you mean by what you said earlier?â
Li Qinglei felt rather repressed. In a tone almost akin to swallowing his pride, he replied, âBut⊠even though I donât trust you, I would like very much to work with you!â
He smiled slightly and gave an excuse for himself. âJust as you said earlier, if we come together, itâs a win-win situation for both parties!â
Chu Yang asked, âOh? Since you donât trust me, yet you still want to work with me, I wonder what kind of collaboration such a partnership would bring?â
Li Qinglei replied, âI have only one condition! As long as you can achieve it, Iâll believe you. Weâll receive all of you with the highest form of respect and even escort you out of the northwest with a grand entourage, all the way back to the south-east!â
Frowning, Chu Yang asked, âCondition? What condition?â
Murderous intent flashed in Li Qingleiâs eyes. âAs long as you hack off the heads of those four officers in front of me! Iâll believe you and also fully agree to the partnership!â
âThis isnât a difficult condition. Moreover, itâs a requirement in order for both of us to work together. That way, even if you spread the news that the Li Clan had killed Lang Yilang, the law-enforcement officers wonât believe you either! Because you would have become their enemy.â
Li Qinglei went on, âWe would be able to set our hearts even more at ease! As for what happens after you leave, no matter whether you work with us or not, thereâs something you said earlier which is very true â Right now, we donât wish to make enemies such as all of you!â
With these words, Li Qinglei could be said to have retreated a thousand steps in compromise!
Even though he claimed to not believe Chu Yangâs golden line of âTwo Souls Connected, One Heart Even in Life And Deathâ, he did hold reservations toward it in his heart. Besides, he also admitted the majority of what Chu Yang had said.
As such, when he took a step back, he retreated straight to his baseline.
In his opinion, this condition could be said to be absolutely sincere and was the same as him laying all his cards on the table. And to Chu Yang, this was also seriously too easy a task. In fact, the smile of coming to an agreement was already on his face.
He could already see the look of relief on the other partyâs face.
Just as he said, he didnât believe that Chu Yang would really keep his promise. However, the Li Clan seriously couldnât afford to make this new group of enemies right now! After Chu Yang left, whether or not they continued to work together in the future, he would have definitely done Chu Yang a huge favor in any case.
Not becoming enemies in the future was the best scenario. Furthermore, it even solved the Li Clanâs biggest problem!
Chu Yang had a very awful expression on his face. He let out a cold laugh. âAre you threatening me? What kind of condition is that?!â
Taking a breath, Li Qinglei replied, âYou have several ninth-grade peak-level Supreme Martial Artists on your side! A mere four first-grade Supreme Martial Artists wonât affect your overall strength at all! Keeping them isnât enough to allow you to go against all odds and change the situation, and killing them isnât enough to affect your overall strength!â
âAs long as you kill them, the Li Clan will even hold responsibility for your safety during the entire journey of 35,000 kilometers!â
âI donât know why youâre hesitating!â
Li Qinglei was rather perplexed indeed.
In his opinion, this was too easy a choice. If he were Chu Yang, he would probably drag those four over immediately and serve them a slash each to show his sincerity.
âWeâll talk again after Iâve secured my life!ââ Even if he had to kill them today and then kill the others tomorrow to avenge themâŠ
âI canât do it!â Chu Yang shook his head lightly. âSince theyâve given me their loyalty, they are now my men! And since they are my men, I must take responsibility for them! Even if they are just powerless scholars instead of first-grade Supreme Martial Artists⊠as long as theyâve given me their loyalty, I am under the obligation and duty to protect them!â
âIf I really cannot protect them, that is an issue of ability. But if I donât even bother to try protecting them⊠then thatâs an issue of attitude!â
âPerhaps you would think that sacrificing a few people to protect a few important people is a very common and simple thing to do. But⊠you are not me, Chu Yang!â
Li Qingleiâs sharp and piercing eyes bore into him like a hawk. He replied calmly, âBut if you donât accept my condition, then it is inevitable that battle will start between the two of us! If you accept it, five out of the nine of you can survive. If you donât, all of you being wiped out is something foreseeable. They would still die regardless, and you will even lose your life along with them. You must understand that once it reaches that point, since weâve already offended you, then it wouldnât hurt to go all the way! Once we no longer hold any reservations, even if you have six great Supreme Martial Artists backing you up, if the Li Clan wants to kill you, itâll still be as easy as ABC!â
âWhy are you being so obstinate!â
Li Qinglei sighed with some emotion and asked somewhat mockingly, âOr could it be⊠that youâre still thinking of being a hero?â
Chu Yang replied dispassionately, âEven if Iâm not a hero⊠even if Iâm just a person of some ability, it doesnât make it right for me to easily use my subordinates in exchange for something⊠They may die in battle but being treated as a commodity to be used in exchange for something is out of the question.â
Li Qinglei was truly stunned.
He had already made such a compromise and he actually still rejected him? In this instant, Li Qinglei even felt like he had been treated unjustly.
Incredibly so!
What more do you want?!
Youâre not even willing to kill four men who didnât originally belong to you! Youâre now in a disadvantageous situation where you could die any moment and youâre still so stubborn! Coming to negotiate with us when youâre not even willing to offer anything at all?
Do you take the Li Clan for idiots?
If I were to agree to it just like that, then wouldnât it be entirely up to you as and when you wish to spread the news? The safety of the entire Li Clan would become dependent on your mood?
âWhat exactly do you want?â asked Li Qinglei rather irritably.
âThis is my only condition!â Chu Yang was completely calm and collected. âStep aside and let us leave! Itâs impossible for me to kill any of our own.â
âWhat guts you haveâŠâ Li Qingleiâs pupils contracted as he let out a strange laugh. âIn the Li Clanâs all-reaching clutches and trapped in a hopeless situation where death is certain, you actually have the guts to patronize me⊠Hurhur, Extraterrestrial Demon Chu, you certainly fill me with admiration toward you.â
The murderous intent in his eyes intensified, gradually approaching a state where it solidified and took shape.
âUpholding brotherhood⊠is something that you must pay a price for!â Li Qinglei said.
âIndeedâŠâ Chu Yang replied with much resignation, âAnd Iâm paying the price right nowâŠâ
He raised his head. âLooks like the Li Clan does not intend to work with me?â
âIt is you who have never once considered working with the Li Clan!â Li Qingleiâs voice turned from one of agitation to one of calmness â This implied that he was about to strike.
âFine, since thatâs the case, thereâs no point in saying more to someone whom I cannot see eye to eye with. Unseal my restrictions and let me go back. Letâs do our respective best and have a final showdown.â
âUnseal your restrictions? Let you go back? HahahaâŠâ Li Qinglei stared at him as though he was staring at an idiot. Then, he suddenly let out a strange laugh. âDo you think that⊠Iâll let go of fresh meat that has delivered itself to my doorstep?â
Chu Yang flew into a rage. âSurely you donât intend to detain me? Even when two kingdoms are at war, they donât execute envoys! How can you be this despicable and shameless?â
âIâve never had the intention to go to war with you nor do I really wish to kill you.â There was some frustration in Li Qingleiâs eyes. âI have to admit that your words earlier were effective! We indeed have reservations about the power behind you.â
Light, as though a bladeâs, gleamed in his eyes. âBut since youâve taken the initiative to send yourself here⊠we canât let you go just like that. Hurhur⊠Chu Yang, I can only ask you to suffer for a few days.â
He turned to the others. âSeize this kid and watch him closely. Feel free to be a little harsher on him. Send a message back immediately and request for the Second Grandmaster to come over and invoke the Soul Control Technique on him, so that we can completely control this unexpected windfall!â
Chu Yangâs complexion and expression changed at once!
The Soul Control Technique!
This was the most vile and cruelest technique. It made use of a Supreme Martial Artistâs cultivation where his soul of origin was already permanently stabilized to completely control someone by enforcing an internal energy seal. In this seal, they would extract the soul of the person being sealed and refine it. From then on, even if the person is a thousand miles away, they need only a thought and they would be able to give the person being controlled a taste of living hell!
In other words, once someone fell victim to the Soul Control Technique, they would completely become someoneâs slave!
Such a vile and cruel technique was usually only used in the taming of high-grade spiritual beasts. As for it being used on humans, firstly, there had never been a need for it; secondly, a personâs mind was filled with varied and complex thoughts. Thus, a human was difficult to control and the technique user could easily suffer a power backlash. Very few people would do this; after all, if the person refused to follow orders, they could just kill him.
Since they could use the Soul Control Technique on him, why would they be unable to kill him?
At present, only a few Supreme Martial Artists were at a level capable of using the Soul Control Technique. Other than the Elder Master and the guards by his side, there was only the Second Grandmaster â Li Xiangsi! That was the reason why Li Qinglei had given such an order.
With a sinister smile, the two Supreme Martial Artists stepped forward. Panic finally showed on Chu Yangâs face. Taking several steps back, he shouted, âDo you really intend to use such an inhumane and evil technique? Arenât you afraid of being condemned by the world?â
âCondemned by the world?â Li Qinglei laughed cruelly. âOnce Iâve gained control of you, that would be the same as having gained control of the forces behind you. The Li Clan cares only about success and failure when it comes to something as beneficial as this; what does the world have to do with me!â
Snickering, the two Supreme Martial Artists reached out. With one from the left and one from the right, they grabbed Chu Yangâs shoulders!
A furious Chu Yang replied, âSince thatâs the case, I wonât hold back anymore!â
Li Qinglei burst into raucous laughter. This kid had already landed in their hands. Even his cultivation had been sealed and yet he could still boast and say that he wasnât going to hold back anymore?
Amidst laughter, a jolt went through Chu Yangâs body. Suddenly, a ray of swift and forceful sword light shone intensely!
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