Chapter 498: Etiquette Should Be Used for Those Who Understand Etiquette

Under the guidance of a Soldier, Sixia boarded this Large Ship that left him feeling stunned for the first time. Standing on the deck, his first reaction was not to look at the people, but to look at the river surface. He had never viewed the river from this perspective before, and the various unique sensations left him somewhat intoxicated.

At this moment, Liangji also came over from another ship. Upon boarding, he walked very enthusiastically toward the still-dazed Sixia. After all, this was a reaction almost everyone who had seen the interior of Huaxia or a Large Ship would have; they were already long accustomed to it.

After being called, Sixia turned his head in a flustered manner, and then he saw a man who was groomed extremely cleanly. Although his physique did not look like that of a particularly valiant Soldier—of course, this qualifier could only apply within Huaxia; Liangji's physical condition would absolutely be among the top warriors if placed in other tribes. After all, Huaxia's food was not eaten in vain, and one's flesh did not grow for nothing.

Although he did not look like a warrior, Sixia always felt that Liangji carried a very peculiar feeling. He could not describe it, but at a glance, he felt he was not an ordinary person. The ordinary Soldiers of Huaxia gave them the feeling of being a cut above; even he, a Tribal Chief, felt he was inferior to a common Huaxia Soldier.

Yet, when Sixia saw this man, he did not have the sense of superiority that came directly from ordinary Soldiers, nor the feeling in their tone and behavior that they looked down on you. However, that feeling was behind him, not floating on the surface, and it was even more oppressive. So, even though the person he was facing was smiling and very polite, Sixia still felt pressure and fear.

Liangji began to introduce himself: "I am here this time to discuss an alliance with your Sixia Tribe. My name is Liangji, and I currently serve as a Minister of the Household in Huaxia City."

Afterwards, he pointed to Yishang: "This is Yishang, a warrior of our Huaxia and an Attendant of the Secretariat."

Sixia did not understand any of Huaxia's "Ministers" or "Attendants" at all. He only knew that the status of these two people was not simple, so he hurriedly said: "Greetings, two Leaders."

Because Liangji was the lead in the negotiations, he played the role of a host, inviting Sixia and Yishang to sit together at the reception table on the deck. According to custom, tea and Dry Rations of steamed buns were already placed on the table.

Looking at the white steamed buns, Sixia's saliva could not help but secrete wildly. While on the road, he had seen those Huaxia Soldiers eating this stuff. Unfortunately, he had to go ashore to eat with his tribesmen and did not have the luck to get a share.

Seeing that Sixia's eyes were almost fixed, Liangji smiled and said: "Tribal Chief Sixia, try our Huaxia's white flour steamed buns and see how they are."

Seeing that Sixia was a bit timid, Liangji directly took one and handed it to Sixia. Sixia took the bun with a speed difficult for ordinary people to comprehend, then opened his mouth full of yellow teeth and bit directly into the bun. A bun larger than a palm was instantly half gone. However, when Liangji saw the color change at the bite mark on the bun, he controlled himself from looking at Sixia eating, then silently moved his body away from Sixia.

Yishang was not yet clear on the situation until Sixia choked a bit because the bun was too dry and he was forcing it down, causing a mouthful of bun crumbs to spray out. Liangji, who had already moved away, basically avoided it, but Yishang was sprayed all over. Then he felt the strange smell of the crumbs; his brows wrinkled involuntarily, and he wanted to brush them off but could not bring himself to do so.

The other Soldiers on the deck who saw this scene suddenly could not hold it together, and then they turned away one after another, trying hard to control themselves, especially the Soldiers who were on the same ship as Sixia at the time; they knew Sixia's power well.

When they first invited Sixia onto the ship, they had given a few instructions and then turned away, pretending to be on guard or busy with their own affairs, or even running to the other end of the ship to sit, just to avoid being with Sixia.

After the bun crumbs sprayed out, Sixia could not care about anything else and hurriedly picked up the crumbs on the table to put into his mouth, and then those on Yishang's body, completely unaware of the snot that had flowed down because of his choking.

Yishang closed his eyes in increasing agony, as if he had lost a comrade-in-arms. Liangji used his professional training to control his expression until Yishang could no longer stand it, slapped Sixia's hand away, pulled his chair away in disgust, and then asked Liangji with some anger: "Are you doing this on purpose? Is it necessary for us to be like this? Who are you imitating? He is not Baoxi or Xuanyuan; how many tribes like this have we wiped out? Hurry up and get to the point."

Sixia seemed to realize he had caused trouble, so he could not care about anything else, chewing the bun in his mouth frantically, wanting to swallow it quickly, and the half-bun in his hand was also placed under the table.

Liangji also felt that it was indeed unnecessary to be too polite to the Sixia Tribe, because they did not understand politeness at all and had no cultivation. Unlike Baifeng, who faced Tribal Chiefs of large tribes who could at least maintain their behavior, allowing for some elegant exchanges between them. His own imitation not only failed but also caused trouble.

After Sixia finally swallowed that mouthful of bun, Liangji raised his hand to stop Sixia, who wanted to continue eating: "That's enough. Eat slowly when you return to your tribe. I'll pack up what's on the table for you. Let's talk about the main business first."

Sixia, with some panic, savored the soft, sweet food that had no strange taste at all, except for being a bit dry. But hearing Liangji speak again, he hurriedly turned his gaze to Liangji. Now, the future of the tribe and his own life were indeed more important than this bite of food.

Liangji spoke without ceremony: "We, Huaxia, have decided to form an alliance with your Sixia Tribe, but you are also very clear about the gap between you and us. Therefore, this alliance is actually just us giving you a little support on top of fixed trade, since you cannot provide any help to our Huaxia anyway.

We will provide you with enough food to ensure you don't have to hunt to have food to eat, but you must guarantee us a sufficient supply of Sulfur. We will come here very frequently in the future; it cannot be just once or twice a year, five or six times is absolutely certain. Therefore, every time we come, you must have the Sulfur for trade ready. I know where there is enough Sulfur for you to collect quickly; I will tell you later.

Then, we will provide you with some Weapons. We brought some this time, and there are better ones. Depending on your performance, perhaps we will give them to you next time.

As for the Suiren Clan, you don't need to worry. They are having a hard time themselves now and shouldn't come to attack you this year. If they do come to attack you, we have ways to help you, so you don't need to worry about that. But never think about returning to the Suiren Clan; you have no chance. Baoxi will only sell you to Huaxia in exchange for food. Understand?"