Chapter 267: Swords Drawn, Bows Taut

Fifteen minutes later.

Li Rui's figure was no longer visible inside the hall.

The men exchanged uneasy glances.

Zhou Ting stared at Li Rui, who had agreed so readily and then left with a smile, and for a moment felt uncertain—he broke the silence:

"Do you think he's stalling for time?"

Such a big piece of meat, just handed over like that.

Truly willing to let it go.

Ask yourself—if this happened to you, even if you'd ultimately have to surrender, you'd still fight back at least a little, not just smile and give in without resistance.

It made him wonder whether Li Rui had other intentions.

Shi Zhou and Bai Jing said nothing, only squinted at Li Rui's retreating back.

Long after.

Shi Zhou finally spoke slowly: "There's no trick here. Even if he delays today, tomorrow will be the same. In this situation, anyone would face the same outcome."

To be fair.

If he were in Li Rui's position, he'd be equally powerless.

What could he do?

The opponent is stronger in both power and background—there's no solution. And this time, they're targeting the beast trade, with no Tie Kuang to back them.

Li Rui's only major backer is Jiang Lin.

Just a Huaqing Sect—they don't even take them seriously.

Shi Zhou thought it over and concluded he could only bow and submit, like Li Rui.

At best, he couldn't be as carefree—this was hard-won business, built with immense effort, now earning silver daily that made even major sects envious, yet he was willing to abandon it all.

'A real man.'

He silently praised him—he'd underestimated Li Rui.

True men know when to bend and when to stand firm.

With Li Rui's temperament, in a chaotic age, he'd be a warlord of his time—but alas, he was born in the peaceful realm of Yu.

Perhaps he was born out of time?

Shi Zhou chuckled at his own odd thought.

'Who cares if he's hero or warlord—today, this business is ours.'

Even if Li Rui has tricks, we'll deal with them as they come.

Can a major sect really be led around by a tiny Tian Di Alliance?

He stood up and bowed to County Magistrate Zhong Zheng: "Magistrate Zhong, the agreed items will be delivered to your residence today. Goodbye."

Saying this,

Shi Zhou strode out the door.

His mood lifted instantly.

He still remembered how Li Rui had beaten his men and humiliated him at Shenbing Mountain Villa.

The humiliation he suffered at Li Rui's hands was now fully repaid.

"Old Brother Li, how'd it go?"

Tan Hu stood outside and rushed over as Li Rui emerged.

He'd seen the men inside the county hall—none of them were easy to deal with—and feared Li Rui had been wronged.

Li Rui chuckled: "All of them are important people—what could happen?"

Reputation is a valuable thing.

Especially for major sects—they value it deeply. Even if they want to seize something, they use influence to pressure, or at worst, do it in secret. They wouldn't dare openly harm someone, let alone a government official—that's too foolish.

Hearing this, Tan Hu finally relaxed.

"Oh, no problem? Good, good."

He followed Li Rui out of the county hall.

Just outside the hall,

Liang He hurried over: "Master, how'd it go?"

Li Rui smiled faintly: "They'll return the goods today."

Liang He exhaled in relief.

"Master's touch—nothing is impossible."

But Li Rui's next words left Liang He stunned: "By the way, for this caravan, take Shenbing Mountain Villa, Daoxuan Sect, and Bai Zhan Men with you—take them to see Pu Da."

Pu Da was the beast trader introduced by Dao Mo.

He was famous in Wu Country.

All the beast trade supplies for the Tian Di Alliance came from Pu Da.

Connecting the three major sects with Pu Da? That's handing the beast trade straight to them.

Liang He's face flushed red: "Master…"

Li Rui looked at Liang He and smiled: "What, feeling bitter?"

Liang He, caught off guard, hesitated, then nodded: "Yes… a little."

He'd poured immense effort into this caravan business.

Now, to give it up so easily—it was hard to accept.

"Good that you feel bitter—we're not imperial relatives. Every bit of profit counts. Anyone running a business must learn to endure humiliation."

Liang He fell silent.

Long after, he spoke: "Master's lesson is right."

Li Rui chuckled: "Alright, go handle it."

Watching Liang He leave,

Tan Hu finally spoke: "Old Brother Li, if you need it, I know some swordsmen—could at least beat up a few of them to vent your anger."

He knew about Li Rui's Tian Di Alliance business.

At first, he thought nothing of it—but now, after just a short time inside, Li Rui had lost a huge chunk of his business.

He'd be heartbroken if it were him.

'No wonder he's my big brother—he's got nerves of steel.'

Li Rui rolled his eyes: "Don't go causing trouble for me."

Do you really think major sects can be provoked at will?

Then he walked off, hands behind his back, toward the Weiheshimao Office.

Today's situation could only be handled this way.

He wasn't born with the surname Long or Ye, nor was he the chosen one of the universe.

He couldn't summon meteorites to crush Shi Zhou and the others, and there weren't endless clever tricks in this world.

Accepting defeat quietly was the normal path. When three major sects unite, admitting defeat isn't shameful.

Though he had the Dragon Court's master backing him, relying on that for every matter would eventually bring disaster.

The key still lies with the Tian Di Alliance itself.

He allowed the three major sects to enter for two reasons: first, to expand the beast trade market; second, to test and strengthen the Tian Di Alliance.

Ever since entering the beast trade, he knew the Tian Di Alliance couldn't monopolize it.

Even with ties to the Emperor, their own strength wasn't sufficient.

They'd held this position so long only because Shenbing Mountain Villa's earlier defeat left other sects uncertain of their true strength.

Look at things from all angles.

Otherwise, fixating only on what's lost leads to daily torment.

And whether it's the Tian Di Alliance or himself, they've already gained far more than they deserve—they should be content.

This was the lesson Li Rui learned over decades as a coachman: simple—find joy in hardship.

It's an essential skill.

More importantly, he had already broken through to the fifth rank—he now had the clout to deal with major sects.

He simply needed the right opportunity to reveal it.

With strength as his foundation, he had no fear—what he lost now, he'd reclaim later.

In the end, strength grows, and so does one's perspective.

That same noon,

County Magistrate Zhong Zheng arranged for the Tian Di Alliance's goods to be returned.

He even ordered his men to publicly visit and apologize.

He gave them every possible face.

Other factions watching the scene abandoned any thoughts of kicking them while down.

If even the county hall couldn't crush the Tian Di Alliance and ended up smiling, how could they?

Zhong Zheng wasn't truly afraid of the Tian Di Alliance.

He wanted Li Rui's Chilin Fish—the incident was his doing, but fundamentally, it was between the three major sects and the Tian Di Alliance, still with room for reconciliation.

"He really wants the Chilin Fish," Li Rui murmured, watching the county official's almost pleading demeanor, a faint smile touching his lips.

Having desires is good.

If he had no desires at all, how could he be controlled?

Not just Assistant County Magistrate Zhong Zheng, but Shi Zhou and the other two were the same.

As long as they weren't reclusive cultivators from hidden sects, there were always other ways to break through; he couldn't touch the major sects, nor did he need to, but he only needed to control the Elder stationed in Qinghe.

How could he not handle a fifth-rank martial artist with a wife, children, relatives and clan, and disciples, when he couldn't touch the major sects?

Li Rui still had some confidence in this.

Business matters don't need to be resolved entirely through fighting and killing.

Too inauspicious.

Li Rui squinted and smiled: "By the way, Xiao He, take some silver from the treasury and go to the Tianji Pavilion to investigate the backgrounds of Elder Bai from Daoxuan Sect and Elder Zhou from Bai Zhan Gate."

"Understood."

Liang He nodded.

Please... Your Majesty... collect _(!)

The Tianji Pavilion was a famed intelligence broker in Yu Kingdom, with networks spanning the entire realm—but its fees were exorbitant.

Li Rui had already purchased intelligence on Shi Zhou before, and he had ties with Tie Kuang, so he wasn't short on methods, but the other two would require more effort.

Just thinking of thousands of taels of silver going out.

He couldn't help but sigh.

In any era, information asymmetry was always the most valuable thing.

The three major sects had indeed entered the scene.

But did they really think this alone could drive the Heaven and Earth Alliance out?

Nightfall. The Assistant Military Commander's Mansion.

"Senior Xu."

Jiang Lin gazed at the candlelight glowing in the western room of the courtyard and knocked on the door.

The door creaked open.

Seeing Xu Xuan behind the door, Jiang Lin's face showed rare resignation: "Senior, you've finally returned."

Xu Xuan stood in the doorway and chuckled: "You're quick to notice."

Jiang Lin: "Senior, didn't we agree I'd send someone to scout? Why did you go yourself?"

If Xu Xuan had been killed by the Nine Souls Dharma King in Mangu City, how would he explain it to Supervisor Gu?

Yet.

Although Xu Xuan had promised not to act recklessly, he'd only stayed in Qinghe for two days before slipping out of town without telling him, and only returned now.

'Could it really be true that old men become childlike?'

Jiang Lin mused.

He remembered how Xu Xuan had once been famed for his steadiness, yet now, in old age, he'd grown impulsive.

"Couldn't sit still, so I went to Mangu City to take a look."

"Come in. I have some things to tell you."

Xu Xuan stepped aside.

Hearing this, Jiang Lin entered.

Xu Xuan gestured for Jiang Lin to sit, then sat opposite him and spoke slowly: "The Nine Souls Dharma King is indeed in Mangu City, but yesterday, I saw him leave the city."

Jiang Lin's eyes narrowed slightly:

"Left the city?"

Xu Xuan nodded: "If nothing unexpected happens, he's already entered Yunzhou, heading straight for Qinghe."

Jiang Lin's heart sank.

The Nine Souls Dharma King—a Land Immortal.

Sacking a city, unleashing a sea of blood—no challenge at all.

Qinghe is in danger!

Yet Xu Xuan looked at Jiang Lin with excitement: "This is the perfect chance to kill him."

Jiang Lin fell silent.

He didn't believe that him, plus a Xu Xuan in the Decline of Heaven, could kill a full-strength Land Immortal.

Xu Xuan chuckled: "Truly, the young generation is formidable. One you, one little Gu—both of you possess celestial talent. It makes an old man feel ashamed, and envious."

Jiang Lin understood.

The "little Gu" Xu Xuan meant was the master of Wenxian Tower, now Supervisor Gu Changsheng of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.

Named "Changsheng," his ambition was clearly immense.

Although he'd only met Gu Changsheng once.

Gu Changsheng's extraordinary talent had left even Jiang Lin awestruck.

Xu Xuan continued: "Little Gu holds you in high regard—he says there are only three and a half people in the world who walk the same path as him, and you're half of one."

Jiang Lin listened quietly.

To be recognized as half by Gu Changsheng was enough to make all the heroes of the realm envious to the point of jealousy.

Because the other three were the top three of the world, the absolute pinnacle of their age.

"Senior—"

Jiang Lin was about to speak, but Xu Xuan raised his hand to stop him:

"The one who will kill the Nine Souls Dharma King is me—and also little Gu."

"When he left the capital, he specifically asked me to do this. That boy even bowed to me."

Just imagining Gu Changsheng bowing to him, Xu Xuan laughed louder.

"He asked me to be his whetstone."

Hearing the word "whetstone,"

Jiang Lin frowned slightly.

Xu Xuan's smile widened, bordering on madness: "I'm unlucky—Wenxian Tower has so many techniques, yet I Pianpian chose the Huangting Xuanjing. I was born to be a whetstone."

"Only I can sharpen your blade."

Jiang Lin's pupils contracted slightly.

He understood instantly.

There was no hidden trump card.

The trump card was Xu Xuan himself—or rather, it was him, Jiang Lin.

Xu Xuan's eyes burned with fervor:

"Time is running out."

"Today, I will help you ascend to Immortality!"

Whether Xu Xuan himself became an Immortal didn't matter—so long as the world had Immortals. Otherwise, why bother flipping through the Huangting?

Wasn't it because he wished all the world's prodigies could ascend to Immortality!

Suddenly, golden light blazed forth, as if dragons and phoenixes sang together.

The Weiheshimao Office, a shop's back courtyard.

Lady Jingluo gazed up at the moon in the sky.

The bright moon had moved eastward.

"The time is nearly here."

She spoke slowly, a thin, sharp smile curling at her lips—as if recalling something amusing.

At that moment,

Yuan Gao walked over: "The Dharma King has reached ten li outside the city. What are you planning to do?"

He stared at the alluring woman before him.

In three days, the Anning Guard would return to camp.

Hearing the Nine Souls Dharma King had arrived in Qinghe, Lady Jingluo's mood improved.

"Elder Yuan, it's time to move out."

Lady Jingluo smiled sweetly as she walked toward the door; the two made their way to the mountains outside the city.

Before Yuan Gao's eyes appeared countless, densely packed demonic beasts.

Demonic aura surged into the heavens!

He stared at the sight and drew in a sharp breath: "What exactly are you planning?"

"What am I planning?"

Lady Jingluo's laughter grew even more seductive, bordering on madness: "Of course, we're attacking the city."

There was no clever strategy—she'd decided from the start to crush them with overwhelming force.

Others dared not.

But she, a rebel from Wu Kingdom, had nothing to fear!

Looking at Lady Jingluo, Yuan Gao muttered:

"She's insane. This woman's gone mad!"

(End of Chapter)