Chapter 406: Si Jin’s Return 1
Lu Yan had a vague sense of antic.i.p.ation. His initial intention was to have Pang Juan and Gongsun She fight one another, a life and death battle if possible. After all, if the two grand masters were to fight till they were half dead, then Li Ruoxuan could send out a few rank nines and eights to promptly take them out and they would be able to get rid of both of them. However, who would have thought that Gongsun She would be so insistent on Pang Juan not finding out about Qi Qingyao’s use? It was a good thing that the old man finally realized something.
So, were they going to fight each other now?
Li Ruoxuan suddenly called out, “Hold on!”
Everyone’s gazes were directed toward him.
Pang Juan did not recognize Li Ruoxuan, so he asked, “What’s your opinion?”
Li Ruoxuan stood up and instinctively stroked the eye patch over his right eye, then said, “First of all, I’m the State Preceptor of Northern Liang. The one beside me is the Head Grand Secretariat of Northern Liang and the one beside Qi Qingyao is the young master of the Lu family, number one chamber of commerce of Northern Liang.”
Lu Yan felt a little bit shocked by his introduction of him.
Li Ruoxuan’s expression was indifferent. “Right before Mr. Pang came, Mr. Gongsun had decided to ally himself with Northern Liang just to remain by Qi Qingyao’s side.”
“…”
Pang Juan turned his head to look at Gongsun She in disbelief. An innocent expression on his face, Gongsun She began to whistle without any intention of admitting that he had just decided to renounce his nationality.
“But we have also expressed our intentions very clear.” Li Ruoxuan’s expression was restrained, his face so calm that one could not find any loopholes within it. He continued, “The power of the several major nations is currently very balanced. They all have two grand masters and everyone can restrain each other to balance things. But you, all of you, want to break through beyond the rank of grand master by staying by the side of a little lady in Northern Liang. Do you really think we of Northern Liang would agree? Be it taking her away or remaining in Qingzhou City, both are out of the question.”
Pang Juan looked toward Li Ruoxuan, smiling yet not quite. “State Preceptor, your life is at stake when you say this.”
“I know.” Li Ruoxuan nodded noncommittally.
Pang Juan asked, “And you still dare spout streams of empty rhetoric here?”
“I’m just judging the case as it stands.” Li Ruoxuan’s eyes were half-lidded and he looked quite serious. “You and I are both clear that we cannot possibly allow a grand master to break through, no matter who that grand master is.”
Pang Juan’s gaze concealed a sharp edge. “And if we want to take this little lady away no matter what?”
Gongsun She gave a start. He raised eyelids suddenly and he said seriously, “We? Pang Juan, who’s we?”
Pang Juan’s old face was filled with solemnity. “You won’t be able to take this little lady away on your own but if you and I were to join forces, the young grand master wouldn’t be able to stop us even if he were to show up. By that time, we could have made use of the little lady. Don’t you think it’ll be nice to break through together?”
“That’s true.” Gongsun thought about it and found the suggestion reasonable.
Jiang Yeqian and Li Ruoxuan’s expressions simultaneously changed.
Lu Yan’s expression was even more stiff.
They had never considered the possibility that these two grand masters from different nations would join forces.
In the end, they really did decide to work together.
For a moment, the atmosphere in the side hall was terrifyingly quiet.
One could probably even hear a needle dropping on the ground.
Qi Qingyao’s eyes were covered with frost and snow and her eyebrows drooped as she said, “Have you never considered that you might not win against our Si Jin even if you were to join forces?”
Pang Juan rubbed the white beard on his chin and said, “Whether or not we can beat him would only be clear once we battled.”
Gongsun She had spoken with Qi Qingyao longer before this and so, he was more sensitive to her antics. After thinking for a bit, he asked, “Little lady, why do I feel that you’re making an empty show of strength?”