Ji Xuan’s eyes snapped open, a flicker of disbelief warring with stark reality. In this modern age, in his twilight years, Song Hengjiang dared to utter such words, dared to propose such demands!

Song Hengjiang’s tyrannical nature was, of course, known to him.

Rumors of Song Hengjiang’s power he had also once pondered.

But to this extent?

Dared to humiliate him, Ji Xuan?

Even the State Chancellor, the Grand General, had never addressed him with such a demeanor.

For a moment, he could not grasp if this was real.

But then, he looked into Song Hengjiang’s eyes.

Those previously murky and dim orbs, now alight with a sharp, piercing gleam.

He had to believe. This was real.

This was Song Hengjiang’s condition.

Because he was Song Hengjiang!

…

Within the borders of Zhuang Country, Zhuang Chengqian commanded the land, while Song Hengjiang held sway over the waters. This was the foundational pact of Zhuang Country!

Theoretically speaking, the Qingjiang Water Lord held a station equivalent to the Zhuang Country’s monarch.

The entire eight hundred li of Qingjiang lay under Song Hengjiang’s jurisdiction. Both banks of the Qingjiang were under Song Hengjiang’s control.

Song Hengjiang had seized upon this instance of overstepping, thus rendering any killing of him justifiable.

Ji Xuan understood. The Qinghe County Governor would not intervene. The Lords of the nearby Wangjiang City and Fenglin City would not intervene. Even from the side of the Zhuang Court, no one would step in.

Because once they did, the nature of the matter would transform. As it stood now, it could be said that Ji Xuan had personally overstepped. At that time, it would be seen as the Zhuang Court bullying with power. A great war between the human and water races within the borders of Zhuang Country would become unavoidable.

Zhuang Country absolutely could not bear such a cost. And it was not merely the immense losses brought on by internal conflict, but also the potential for the contradictions between all water races and human races in the present world to spread, or even explode forth from this event.

Zhuang Country could not shoulder this responsibility.

Was Song Hengjiang willing to kill him?

Evidently not. Otherwise, he would have had no need for such discourse, and could have directly struck. No matter how Ji Xuan was, he was still a high-ranking official of the Zhuang Court. Once he was killed, it would signify that the contradiction between the Qingjiang Water Race and the Zhuang Court was irreconcilable.

Qingjiang Water Manor was particularly unwilling to be the one to ignite war, for Qingjiang Water Manor remained the weaker party.

But did Song Hengjiang dare to kill him?

This question also required no contemplation.

No need to weigh pros and cons, no need to consider cause and effect.

The crimson hue of the Lan River had not faded even now; that was Song Hengjiang’s answer to all opponents.

Therefore, could Song Hengjiang still kill him?

He, Ji Xuan, had five inner mansions completed, at his peak, and was only one step away from the Fourth Grade Outer Building realm.

Hundreds of years ago, Song Hengjiang’s power was undoubtedly formidable. But hundreds of years later, it was known to all that his lifespan was drawing to a close. How much fighting strength did he have left?

After a silence that was agonizingly long.

“Pa!”

“Pa!”

“Pa! Pa! Pa! Pa! Pa! Pa! Pa! Pa!”

Precisely ten sounds, not one less.

Ji Xuan held nothing back. Since he had already resolved to accept such a humiliating act, he would no longer hesitate, to avoid the futility of becoming a laughingstock.

He would not do something so foolish as to slap his own face, yet still leave people dissatisfied.

As the sounds of slapping ceased, Ji Xuan’s thin face swelled at a speed visible to the naked eye.

He simply gazed silently at Song Hengjiang, awaiting his response.

Song Hengjiang lowered his eyelids. As if he had returned to the state of a flickering candle in the wind.

He seemed to speak with some effort, merely lifting his hand slightly.

“Go.”

Then, he turned away.

He, Song Hengjiang, was not a verbose man. Since Ji Xuan had relented and accepted the punishment, he would not further humiliate him.

With tonight’s action, his attitude was already clear enough. Next, it would depend on how the high-seated lord of Zhuang Country would react.

The waves bore him back into the Qingjiang, and the water surface closed over him.

Thus, the surging waves subsided, the monstrous swells vanished, and the entire Qingjiang returned to tranquility.

Moonlight sprinkled upon the water’s surface, as if nothing had ever transpired.

The evening wind blew, and the water rippled like broken snow.

…

From beginning to end, Ji Xuan dared not mention the Jinxing Division cultivator who had been stabbed to death by Jiang Wang, and Song Hengjiang also did not speak of that Bei female who was captured and then escaped back.

Though Ji Xuan had come because of that subordinate, and Song Hengjiang had come for that Bei female under his dominion.

But in this eight hundred li Qingjiang of surging waves, both of them tacitly maintained a certain balance beneath the surface.

That was the unspoken red line between the Zhuang Court and Qingjiang Water Manor for hundreds of years.

When the storm dispersed, Ji Xuan remained in place.

No one appeared at the scene, for no one was willing to directly face Ji Xuan’s wrath. But Ji Xuan knew that the humiliation he suffered today had inevitably entered certain gazes.

Among those great figures of the same rank as him, his embarrassment was as if exposed under the broad daylight. There was no way to conceal it.

But he did not show much distress. Instead, he discerned the direction and continued towards the area where the white lotus had been blasted away moments before.

The matter had already transpired, and face was irretrievable. What he had to do was not let his gains escape. That strange white flame, that woman of considerable strength, once captured alive, would undoubtedly bring enough satisfactory rewards.

And he was certain that under tonight’s circumstances, with the tension between the Zhuang Court he represented and the Qingjiang Water Race represented by Song Hengjiang on the verge of erupting, whatever force was behind that woman, they definitely would not dare to show their heads.

So he still held hope of finding that woman clinging to her last breath.

But after flying back and forth for a hundred li, the result was, naturally, nothing gained.

…

Yet, it is said that the white lotus was blasted away by a single punch, her entire being flung backward through the air, the white flames around her body extinguished, and all protective Dao techniques collapsing.

She understood she had no more chances and was about to expend her last bit of strength to end her own life.

But suddenly, she felt a warmth.

Her backward-flying body was enveloped by a warm embrace.

Someone caught her.

But this person was truly too weak, unexpectedly unable to withstand even the residual force that Ji Xuan had blasted onto her. Not only was he carried flying backward together with her the moment he caught her, but he also immediately sprayed a mouthful of fresh blood onto her neck.

That blood was scalding hot.

In a blur, White Lotus felt the two people fall to the ground and continuously roll for many circles. But that person was always below, so she always had a fleshy cushion.

Otherwise, this old lady would truly fall apart, she thought.

This person was truly very weak.

White Lotus felt that she was quickly picked up again, and then this person was probably running. From his breathing frequency and the intense heartbeat in his chest that she touched, it could be known that he had already given his utmost.

But the whistling wind told White Lotus that the speed was truly slow.

Continuing on like this, they would die, right? It’s impossible to escape at all?

Nothing more than one more person to die…

Who is this person?

How could I have such a foolish subordinate?

No, no. There wouldn’t be any subordinate appearing here.

They, those people, are all very intelligent. Very rational.

So who is this person?

Her eyelids seemed to weigh a thousand pounds; White Lotus discovered that opening her eyes was such a difficult thing.

But she held onto one breath; she must do what she wanted to do.

So, open her eyes.

White Lotus barely opened her eyes, her vision shaking blurredly.

That was due to the jolts from running.

She barely concentrated her spirit and focused her line of sight. From the angle of her chin, she finally saw this person’s face clearly.

Jaw slightly rounded, not pointed. Lips overflowing with fresh blood tightly pursed, nose bridge quite straight, a pair of clear, bright eyes, looking straight ahead.

It was Jiang Wang, ah. She thought.

And then fell into a complete coma.