Chapter 127: Diplomacy Before Violence
As soon as the words fell, Liu Yuanqingâs blood boiled with excitement.
Su Qinianâs nostrils spurted out twin streams of blood. It was just a result of his excitement causing the capillaries in his nose to burst, but he didn't care in the slightest. He cupped his hands toward the void and bowed deeply. "Senior, Iâll prepare immediately!"
Those tumors from the Pill Sect strutted around all day, flaunting their arrogance. Now that a senior was willing to step in, how could they not beat them until they were searching the ground for their teeth!?
Chen Huaiâan originally thought Su Qinian was going to prepare by gathering some magical artifacts or equipment. But five minutes later, the guy returned, pulling out three masks and a set of night-walking clothes from his storage pouch.
"Senior, as long as we wear these, those Pill Sect tumors wonât know it was us. Then you can go all out!"
Chen Huaiâan: "âŠ."
ăGet lostâ!ă
The Pill Sect wasn't far from the Sword Pavilion, at least much closer than Lingxi Valley. Three hours later, Liu Yuanqing and Su Qinian arrived within the Pill Sectâs territory aboard a flying boatâspecifically at Luoyan Manor.
Also on board were Li Qingran and Yue Qianchi.
Bringing Li Qingran was a necessity; without him, Chen Huaiâan wouldnât be able to maintain his vision on Su Qinian and Liu Yuanqing. Li Qingran essentially served as his planted eye.
As for Yue Qianchi? He was just brought along for entertainmentâto keep Li Qingran from feeling awkward or bored with two old men for company.
"Patriarch, Luoyan Manor is just ahead. Whatâs the plan?" Liu Yuanqing turned back, looking toward the empty space above Li Qingranâs head.
He couldn't see the patriarch, but it didnât matterâwherever Li Qingran was, the patriarch was too.
"The patriarch is obviously going to slice that bastard Zhou Xuanzi out of his hole with a single sword strike!" Su Qinian rocked his head smugly as he looked toward Luoyan Manor.
Truthfully, even if it came to a direct conflict, the Sword Pavilion wouldnât fear them. After all, sword cultivators had an undeniable combat edge. What he really feared was that their reckless actions might drag innocent Sword Pavilion disciples into trouble.
But now, with the patriarch backing them up, everything was different.
It didnât matter if the patriarch could watch over the Sword Pavilion at all times. The other sects didn't know that. As long as they established their dominance, their disciples would have an easier time when out on missions.
Any troublemakers would have to think twiceâwas provoking the Sword Pavilion worth inviting a disaster upon their sect?
ăBullshit! The Sword Pavilion is a righteous sect. If we start cutting down people's gates the moment we arrive, how are we any different from the demonic sects? Diplomacy before violenceâdo you understand? We need to show the grandeur and sincerity of the Sword Pavilion!ă
Su Qinian shrank his neck and nodded hastily.
In the next moment, the voice from the void continued:
ăThere are plenty of outer disciples outside the manor. Kidnap a few as a gift for Zhou Xuanzi.ă
Su Qinian: "???"
Liu Yuanqing: "âŠ."
Oh, so
this
was what he meant by "diplomacy before violence."
In the back of the flying boat, Yue Qianchi, who had been watching the drama unfold while munching on snacks, was utterly dumbfounded. He turned to Li Qingran and asked, "Qingran, was your master always like this?"
Li Qingran blushed slightly, bit his pink lips, and lowered his head as he muttered softly, "Master is actually very reasonable⊠But since Master was once from the Sword Pavilion⊠well, itâs only natural that heâd have a bit of the Sword Pavilionâs style."
"Hey! Junior Sister, thatâs a bit of a loaded statement!" Yue Qianchi slung an arm around Li Qingranâs waist, his mischievous fingers pinching the soft curve of her slender waist as he grinned. "Are you saying the Sword Pavilion has a certain⊠reputation?"
Li Qingran blinked at him.
As if to say:
Isnât that obvious?
If the Sword Pavilion didnât have that kind of reputation, would she have even joined?
They seriously had no self-awareness!
For Su Qinian, kidnapping a few people was hardly a technical challenge.
The Pill Sect had industries scattered all around, and Luoyan Manor was surrounded by them. He casually walked into a tavern, pretending to be drinking, and easily approached a few disciples of the Pill Sect. Within moments, they were knocked out and dragged away.
The Pill Sect reacted swiftly. Not even half an hour later, before the flying boat could get far, one of their elders arrived.
"Who are you people? Why did you kidnap our disciples? Do you intend to make an enemy of the Pill Sect?"
The elder was a woman. Upon seeing the battered, swollen faces of the captured disciples, her expression darkened.
"Well, if it isnât Elder Fei. Do you still recognize this old man?" Liu Yuanqing removed his mask and stroked his graying beard.
"You?!" Of course, she recognized him. Liu Yuanqing had just visited the sect a few days ago. She had personally led him to meet the sect leader. However, the discussion clearly hadnât gone well, and Liu Yuanqing had left fuming.
"What does the Sword Pavilion want now? And why did you kidnap our disciples?"
At this point, she was almost certain that the Sword Pavilion was here to cause trouble.
But the Sword Pavilion wasnât a force to be trifled with, and she wasnât foolish enough to lash out rashly. Even if she did, she wouldn't win.
"I came to your tavern for a drink, but your disciples served me watered-down fake wine. Are you deliberately looking down on the Sword Pavilion?" Su Qinian took off his hat, then viciously smashed a wine jug on the ground.
Elder Fei twitched at the sight of the broken jug.
The businesses around Luoyan Manor catered to rogue cultivators and even mortals.
Everyone in the entire Cangyun Realm knew that all the alcohol sold there was diluted.
If someone wanted genuine medicinal wine from the Pill Sect, they had to go
inside
Luoyan Manor.
Trying to find high-quality medicinal wine in the public-facing businesses? That was just asking for trouble.
Then again, sword cultivators who spent all day in their sects refining their swords might not have known this.
Elder Fei lifted her chin slightly, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes, though her words remained polite. "If Sect Master Su wanted good wine, our Pill Sect would gladly have sent a few fine jugs your way. There was no need for you to come all this way yourself. How about thisâIâll personally gift you one hundred vats of genuine
Ninefold Spring
. In return, could you release our disciples?"
"No deal." Su Qinianâs expression remained stony. "You people look down on the Sword Pavilion!"
"I am the Sword Pavilionâs sect master. Your disciples recognized me, and they still served me fake wine. This isnât just an insult to me; itâs an insult to the entire Sword Pavilion!"
His voice rang loud and clear, carrying across Luoyan Manorâs surroundings. The cultivators in the area turned their gazes skyward, eager to watch the commotion.
"Whatâs going on?"
"Seems like the Sword Pavilionâs sect master drank fake wine here."
"Ah, no wonder heâs pissed. But honestly, the Pill Sect is pretty shady. Theyâre rich enough, yet they still dilute their wineâŠ"
"So what? You dare go against the Pill Sect?"
"Even the Sword Pavilionâs sect master only kidnapped a few disciples to make a statement. He wouldnât actually dare strike the Pill Sect directly, would he?"
As murmurs filled the air, a sudden
clang
rang from the flying boat.
The cultivators collectively froze.
Then, from the flying boat, Su Qinian bellowed:
"Patriarch! The Pill Sect has insulted the Sword Pavilion! How should they be dealt with?"
Dark clouds churned in the sky, sword intent rising.
All around Luoyan Manor, every swordâregardless of rankâbegan to tremble violently.
ăThey must be cut down!ă
A thunderous voice erupted from the void.
The sky above the flying boat darkened as the gathering sword energy condensed into a massive sword, poised to descend upon Luoyan Manor.