Chapter 285

"Peak Master Hua."

"Official Xue."

Xue Xian looked at Hua Changxi, who faced him with composure and an unchanging expression, and a trace of complexity flashed through his eyes.

There was a time when a visit from the Embroidered Uniform Guard would strike fear and chill the bones, even in those ranked as First Grade officials.

But now, with the resurgence of spiritual energy and the growing number of cultivators, the once-terrifying Embroidered Uniform Guard are increasingly disregarded.

Adhering to the principle of not moving unless the enemy moves, Hua Changxi remained silent since Xue Xian had not yet spoken.

Xue Xian had assumed Hua Changxi, being young, would lack patience; he intended to use his coldness to exert psychological pressure first, thereby securing the initiative in the conversation. Yet Hua Changxi neither took the bait nor asked about his purpose.

After a moment of silence, Xue Xian was forced to break it first: "Peak Master Hua possesses great audacity."

Hua Changxi did not quite understand his meaning; though puzzled, she did not follow Xue Xian's lead by asking for clarification: "Thank you for the compliment."

This response made Xue Xian frown; he looked at Hua Changxi and said meaningfully, "Before coming here, I had long heard of Peak Master Hua's reputation. Now that I see you, I find you very different from how others describe you."

Hua Changxi looked back and smiled: "People have many facets; what you heard, Official Xue, may be just one of mine."

This answer once again exceeded Xue Xian's expectations.

Before arriving, he had gathered intelligence from all quarters.

Regarding Hua Changxi, many superiors held little optimism; she was too willful and headstrong, completely ignorant of social niceties, and even failed to get along with her own family and clan.

Geniuses with exceptional talent in certain areas but lacking temperance usually end up as solitary loners.

Throughout history, many such individuals have appeared; most bloomed briefly like the broad-leaved epiphyllum, quickly withered, and then vanished entirely from public view.

Yet today, seeing Hua Changxi, Xue Xian, who had observed countless people, found he could not quite comprehend this young lady before him.

Realizing that further probing would not make Hua Changxi comply with his wishes, Xue Xian stopped beating around the bush and stated his purpose directly.

"Peak Master Hua's grand gesture of widely recruiting apprentices truly commands my admiration."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi's eyes flickered; she somewhat guessed why the Embroidered Uniform Guard had come: "What, is Danyuan Peak not allowed to recruit apprentices widely?"

Xue Xian smiled: "Of course not; recruiting apprentices is Danyuan Peak's prerogative. However... with cultivators from all regions gathering in Jingcheng, has Peak Master Hua considered what situation Jingcheng will face?"

At these words, Hua Changxi furrowed her brows.

Seeing her silence, Xue Xian continued: "As a cultivator, Peak Master Hua should know how powerful cultivators are; with a mere gesture, they can easily annihilate a group of ordinary commoners."

"Cultivators are even more combative and ruthless than martial artists of the past; even with cultivators distributed across various regions, the Embroidered Uniform Guard frequently receives reports of horrific cases where entire villages and towns were wiped out due to cultivator fights."

"Now, because you are recruiting apprentices, all these cultivators are flocking to Jingcheng."

"Jingcheng has a vast population; with so many cultivators flooding in, once a cultivator takes action within the city, do you intend for the people of Jingcheng to become the unjust spirits under their hands?"

Xue Xian's words grew increasingly forceful and severe, each sentence louder and more imposing than the last.

Director Gu, standing aside, finally understood why Xue Xian insisted on meeting Hua Changxi in the square.

Look; upon hearing Xue Xian's accusations, many among the crowd watching in the square displayed expressions of anger and worry, and the looks they cast upon Hua Changxi were filled with dissatisfaction and resentment.

Their families were all in Jingcheng; if Jingcheng truly fell into chaos due to the cultivators coming to register, their families would be in danger, and they themselves might suffer collateral damage.

This was merely within the Medical Bureau; once Xue Xian's accusations against Hua Changxi spread today, she would become the public enemy of everyone in Jingcheng.

Director Gu sighed inwardly at the ruthlessness of the Imperial House's tactics; they were intent on roasting Hua Changxi over an open fire!

If Hua Changxi mishandled this matter, there might be no place for her in Jingcheng, and it would implicate the Hua family and the entire Hua clan.

"Peak Master Hua."

Seeing Hua Changxi stunned by his questioning, Xue Xian immediately pressed his advantage, scolding harshly again: "I wish to ask Peak Master Hua: if Jingcheng truly erupts into great chaos due to the influx of cultivators from all regions, causing casualties among the commoners, can you bear this responsibility?"

Hua Changxi indeed had not considered this issue and momentarily could think of no solution, yet she felt deeply unconvinced by Xue Xian's accusation.

"Official Xue, there is no need for such harsh words; everything you say is merely your speculation."

"Furthermore, I also wish to ask you: judging by your tone, the arrival of cultivators from all regions to the capital seems to have become my sole responsibility?"

"The recruitment of apprentices was jointly announced by the Four Great Sacred Lands; how did it become solely my affair in your eyes?"

"Have you approached the other Sacred Lands to explain this matter?"

Xue Xian had not expected Hua Changxi to react so quickly: "I will naturally seek an explanation from the other Sacred Lands as well. Peak Master Hua, do not change the subject; we are discussing the responsibility you must bear."

Hua Changian laughed coldly: "Official Xue, do not bully me for being young; if you truly intended to resolve the matter of cultivators coming to the capital, you should have summoned me together with representatives from the other Sacred Lands to discuss a solution."

"Instead, like now, you come aggressively to find me, and without a second word, attempt to pin the crime of disrupting Jingcheng on me."

"What, do you dare not provoke the other Sacred Lands, deem me easy to bully, and thus choose to squeeze the softest persimmon?"

Xue Xian's eyelids twitched; the intelligence stating 'Hua Changxi acts without regard for consequences and dares to confront anyone' was true. Her approach of tearing off all pretenses made him, accustomed to 'not revealing true moves until after several exchanges,' somewhat unaccustomed.

"Peak Master Hua jokes; no one considers you a soft persimmon. What, do you consider yourself one?"

Hua Changxi narrowed her eyes: "Why don't you try, and see whether this persimmon of mine is soft or not?"

Seeing through the fact that Xue Xian was not truly here to solve problems but rather to roast her over an open fire, Hua Changxi's gaze darkened, and her spiritual pressure erupted.

In an instant, a mountain-like immense force pressed straight down upon Xue Xian and all the Embroidered Uniform Guards he had brought.

"Thud~"

"Thud thud~"

"Thud thud thud~"

All the Embroidered Uniform Guards, except for Xue Xian whose spine bent and legs trembled, fell to their knees on the ground.

Witnessing this scene, the onlookers were stunned, and the people from Qihuang Pavilion and Lingjing Pavilion were also shocked.

Although Director Gu was not enveloped by the spiritual pressure, standing not far from Xue Xian, he felt the terrifying spiritual might radiating out and could not help but feel his mouth go dry.

Hua Changxi... was her strength actually this great?!

Director Gu swallowed hard; the Minister had instructed that since Hua Changxi could promote the resurgence of the Dansheng Hall, he should secretly look after her more. He could not simply stand by and watch Hua Changxi clash with the Imperial House.

"Peak Master Hua, let us speak calmly."

With a cold face, Hua Changxi not only did not withdraw her spiritual pressure but increased it, pressing Xue Xian until his legs buckled completely.

"It is precisely because I was too agreeable in the past that people deemed me easy to bully, jumping out to make things difficult for me at every turn."

"I merely wished to find some apprentices for the Alchemy Saint Hall; how did this offend you?"

Director Gu: "..."

Xue Xian: "..."

The intelligence was inaccurate; it failed to record that Hua Changxi was combative and would resort to physical violence at the slightest disagreement!

At the same time, Xue Xian was deeply shocked in his heart; Hua Changxi had actually suppressed him and more than twenty subordinates. What exactly was her level of strength?