Chapter 127: Diplomacy Before Violence

As soon as the words fell, Liu Yuanqing’s blood boiled with excitement.

Su Qinian’s 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, I’ll 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 Huai’an 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 won’t know it was us. Then you can go all out!"

Chen Huai’an: "…."

【Get lost—!】

Also on board were Li Qingran and Yue Qianchi.

Bringing Li Qingran was a necessity; without him, Chen Huai’an wouldn’t 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 entertainment—to keep Li Qingran from feeling awkward or bored with two old men for company.

"Patriarch, Luoyan Manor is just ahead. What’s the plan?" Liu Yuanqing turned back, looking toward the empty space above Li Qingran’s head.

He couldn’t see the patriarch, but it didn’t matter—wherever 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 wouldn’t 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 didn’t 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 twice—was provoking the Sword Pavilion worth inviting a disaster upon their sect?

【Bullshit! 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 violence—do you understand? We need to show the grandeur and sincerity of the Sword Pavilion!】

Su Qinian shrank his neck and nodded hastily.

In the next moment, the voice from the void continued:

【There are plenty of outer disciples outside the manor. Kidnap a few as a gift for Zhou Xuanzi.】

Su Qinian: "???"

Liu Yuanqing: "…."

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, it’s only natural that he’d have a bit of the Sword Pavilion’s style."

"Hey! Junior Sister, that’s a bit of a loaded statement!" Yue Qianchi slung an arm around Li Qingran’s 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: Isn’t that obvious?

If the Sword Pavilion didn’t 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 isn’t 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 hadn’t 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 wasn’t a force to be trifled with, and she wasn’t 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 this—I’ll personally gift you one hundred vats of genuine Ninefold Spring. In return, could you release our disciples?"

"No deal." Su Qinian’s expression remained stony. "You people look down on the Sword Pavilion!"

"I am the Sword Pavilion’s sect master. Your disciples recognized me, and they still served me fake wine. This isn’t just an insult to me; it’s an insult to the entire Sword Pavilion!"

His voice rang loud and clear, carrying across Luoyan Manor’s surroundings. The cultivators in the area turned their gazes skyward, eager to watch the commotion.

"What’s going on?"

"Seems like the Sword Pavilion’s sect master drank fake wine here."

"Ah, no wonder he’s pissed. But honestly, the Pill Sect is pretty shady. They’re rich enough, yet they still dilute their wine…"

"So what? You dare go against the Pill Sect?"

"Even the Sword Pavilion’s sect master only kidnapped a few disciples to make a statement. He wouldn’t 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 sword—regardless of rank—began to tremble violently.

【They must be cut down!】

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.

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