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Yuan Linning was stunned.
She suppressed her bellyful of fire, but before she could vent it, Lu Changming harshly rebuked her. The look on her beautiful face grew increasingly unsightly.
But before she could respond, Lu Changming snorted coldly. “Fortunately, this didn’t lead to conflict. If it did, I wouldn’t let you off!”
Yuan Linning was so stifled that her face flushed red.
She was an Emperor! Since proving her Dao, almost no one had ever dared be rude to her. Even sectmates of greater seniority were as polite as could be.
It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from bit.ly/3iBfjkV.
She’d never have imagined that Lu Changming would rebuke her without the slightest politeness at a time like this!
When the old blind man and the Ninth Libationer, they were stunned. They almost dared not believe their eyes.
Lu Changming was furious, and his tone was harsh. He pelted Yuan Linning right in the face with rebukes. They hadn’t anticipated this at all.
Su Yi watched coolly from the sidelines. He could already tell that Lu Changming was doing all this so he’d see it.
The way Su Yi saw it, Cui Jingyan alone wasn’t enough to make the third high elder respond so strongly.
In that case, there was no doubt about it: the “problem” was that master and apprentice.
When this occurred to him, Su Yi couldn’t help but look at the old man in Daoist robes, who smiled warmly and inclined his head in response.
Yuan Linning took a deep breath, then said, “Martial Uncle, you don’t know what happened here today. I don’t know why you’ve come, but it seems to me you’d best not get involved.
“After all, the palace master isn’t present, and he left all the sect’s affairs to the Grand Libationer in his absence. It would be inappropriate for you to intervene.”
Although she was polite, her attitude was forceful too.
The atmosphere was instantly tense.
Lu Changming’s expression darkened, and he shouted, “Nonsense! As an Empress of Meng Po Palace, you’d do something this dishonorable within our territory? Were you to get away with it, you’d bring shame upon us all!”
Here, he paused, then spoke slowly, emphasizing each and every word. “I’ll say this now: so long as I’m here, I shall not permit such a thing to occur!”
Yuan Linning’s expression filled with uncertainty.
It was obvious to all of them that the Iceflame Netherworld Emperor, the Third Libationer, was inwardly as furious as could be.
“Martial Uncle, please, don’t be angry. This isn’t the Third Libationer’s fault,” a deep voice suddenly interjected.
Gu Zhongxun, the Grand Libationer of Meng Po Palace, appeared out of nowhere. His wide sleeves fluttered around him, and he had the air of an immortal. When he arrived, he clasped his fist, greeting everyone in turn.
Then, he turned to face Lu Changming, looking ashamed. “If you must blame someone, blame me for not speaking clearly, resulting in the Third Libationer’s brusqueness.”
Everyone’s expression was different.
None of them were stupid. They could naturally tell that the Grand Libationer’s words were a mere pretext.
He was apologizing simply because he didn’t want to offend Lu Changming. That’s all there was to it.
However, Lu Changming only snorted coldly, “‘Brusque?’ If I hadn’t come just in the nick of time, she would have already gotten away with it!”
Yuan Linning’s expression was increasingly unsightly. She was just about to argue when the Grand Libationer grimaced. “Martial Uncle, you’re right to chastise us. My original plan was to do business with our Young Friend Su. So long as he offers up the Seed of the Azure, we’ll naturally compensate him generously. I’m sure the Third Libationer discussed this with our young friend.”
He then looked at Su Yi, who smiled. “She mentioned it, yes.”
Lu Changming’s expression instantly mellowed, and he said to the Third Libationer, “Although this was a misunderstanding, you were in the wrong, and you naturally ought to apologize.”
The Grand Libationer’s brow furrowed, while Yuan Linning’s beautiful face was ashen. It seemed she dared not believe her ears. “Martial Uncle, you want me to… apologize? To him!?”
Her voice was rife with fury.
She was an Empress! Lu Changming’s suggestion wouldn’t hurt her, but it was extremely humiliating.
“You’ve made a mistake, and I want you to apologize. How is that at all inappropriate?” rebuked Lu Changming.
Yuan Linning was so angry that her hands and feet quivered. She felt that Lu Changming suddenly didn’t seem like the third high elder of Meng Po Palace. No, it seemed as if he were on Su Yi’s side!
It was then that the Grand Libationer said solemnly, “Third Libationer, Martial Uncle is right. We really were in the wrong, so it’s only right that we apologize.”
Yuan Linning fell silent.
After a while, she turned with great difficulty, looked at the floor, and said woodenly, “Earlier, I was rude, but I hope you won’t pursue this any further.”
When the onlookers saw this, their hearts churned.
The Profound Realm was like the heavens, while Emperors were like Gods!
And Yuan Linning was an Empress as well as a libationer of Meng Po Palace. In the hearts of the Netherworld’s cultivators, she was like a deity. They could only awe and revere here; none would dare slander her.
Yet now, perhaps due to the circumstances, perhaps due to external pressure, she’d been forced to lower her head to Su Yi!
This was unquestionably shocking!
The Grand Libationer’s expression was complicated, while Lu Changming’s eyes flashed.
The Daoist-robed elder frowned slightly, while his white-robed apprentice looked stunned.
The old blind man’s heart thudded. It might have looked as if Su Yi had seized the upper hand, but after this, Yuan Linning would hate Su Yi to the bone!
The Ninth Libationer sighed to himself. At least this conflict has yet to erupt. That’s enough for now.
Cui Jingyan was stunned too.
She hadn’t anticipated that Lu Changming’s attitude would be this forceful and unreasonable. He’d actually forced Third Libationer Yuan Linning to lower her head!
But her apology gave Su Yi no sense of accomplishment whatsoever.
In his past life, an Empress like Yuan Linning would have been entirely unworthy of his notice. Besides, her apology wasn’t sincere; she’d been forced to do it.
Su Yi hated little more than relying on external prestige to bully others.
Lu Changming smiled, then clasped his fist at Su Yi. “What happened earlier was indeed just a misunderstanding. I hope you won’t take offense, Fellow Daoist.”
He was the third high elder of Meng Po Palace, as well as a Profound Serenity Emperor.
Yet now, he took the initiative to address Su Yi. Furthermore, he called Su Yi—a Spiritual Incarnation Realm youth—”Fellow Daoist”!
This was an enormous show of respect.
Any ordinary Spirit Dao cultivator would have been shocked, flattered, and even panicked. They would surely have returned the courtesy.
However, Su Yi paid it no heed. Instead, he looked at Yuan Linning. “I know you’re not convinced. To tell the truth, I’m not pleased either. When I leave Meng Po Palace, you’re welcome to come looking for me.”
He paused, then said, “It’s just as I said earlier. When the time comes, I’ll teach you how to conduct yourself.”
The group was dumbstruck.
Lu Changming, the Grand Libationer, and the Ninth Libationer looked as if they couldn’t believe their ears. How brazen is this kid to proclaim he’ll teach an Empress how to behave!?
The old man in Daoist robes had a strange look on his face, while Cui Jingyan looked dazed. She muttered to herself, What, have reinforcements made him haughty? Why not quit while he’s ahead? Why would my grandfather take an interest in someone so wildly arrogant?
Yuan Linning’s extreme anger turned to laughter, leaving her unable to speak.
She’d been cultivating for one thousand, three hundred years, but she’d never been provoked or insulted like this.
Nor had she ever been on the verge of going mad with anger!
She was an Imperial expert in her own territory, yet she hadn’t just been forced to apologize to a Spiritual Incarnation Realm youth. No, he’d even gone and declared his intention to teach her to behave herself!
Without experiencing it for oneself, it was impossible to understand just how humiliating and infuriating this was.
After a while, Yuan Linning said icily, “Fine! When the time comes, I’ll be sure to come looking for you!”
Then, with one last swoosh of her sleeves, she left. She was unwilling to stay here any longer.
She didn’t want to see Su Yi’s face any longer; if she did, she was worried she’d set her reservations aside and obliterate him!
“Farewell, Martial Uncle!” The Grand Libationer seemed angry too. He turned and left coldly.
The old blind man took all of this in, and his heart sank. This was equivalent to falling out with them completely!
He could already picture it. When he and Su Yi left, the Third Libationer and her cohort were sure to seek revenge.
“Agh, how did things turn out like this…?” The Ninth Libationer let out a long sigh.
The look on Cui Jingyan’s beautiful face shifted erratically. She’d invited the Third High Elder here to resolve this dilemma. Who’d have thought it would end like this….?
“Fellow Daoist Su, that was too impulsive of you.” After a moment, Lu Changming couldn’t help but furrow his brow and sigh.
Su Yi laughed. “Wasn’t that exactly the result you wanted to see?”
Lu Changming was stunned, but then, he frowned even deeper. “Fellow Daoist, what… what do you mean by that?”
Su Yi’s gaze was distant and profound. “Must I expose you? Had you sincerely tried to help me, it wouldn’t have backfired like this.”
The listeners’ hearts shook, and their expressions shifted.
Lu Changming’s frown deepened, and he said in displeasure, “Fellow Daoist Su, do you think that I stirred up trouble on purpose?”
Su Yi said coolly, “You know the answer to that better than me. Were you truly trying to resolve this conflict, there would have been no need to provoke that woman, Yuan Linning. You surely know that doing so would make her view me with enmity. Even if I hadn’t said that to her earlier, there’s no way she would have let this go.”
A moment later, he laughed. “Of course, I can’t be bothered to wonder why you’d do this, nor do I mind being viewed with enmity.”
The group paused to think it over. Su Yi’s words had a rather different flavor, and their expressions shifted in response.
Cui Jingyan’s expression flickered back and forth. If it really was as Su Yi said, Lu Changming had deliberately fanned the flames!
Lu Changming’s expression darkened; he was obviously infuriated. “Great! I came here to help with nothing but good intentions, only for you to turn around and treat me like a small-minded schemer. Had I known this would happen, I wouldn’t have gotten involved!”
He then faced the elderly man in Daoist robes. “Daoist Brother, I’ll take my leave first.”
Just like that, the third high elder of Meng Po Palace left in a huff.
The Ninth Libationer let out a long sigh, then turned and left too.
He truly didn’t want to get mixed up in this.
“Young lord Su, are you sure… you aren’t overthinking this?” Cui Jingyan couldn’t help but ask. It seemed she still didn’t believe it.
She’d called the third high elder here as reinforcements. If he truly had ulterior motives, she wouldn’t escape her share of the blame.
Su Yi didn’t explain. He merely smiled and said, “I actually rather hope I’m overthinking this.”
He’d experienced too many attempts at deception to count in his past life. How could he fail to realize what Lu Changming was up to?
“It’s my fault for not considering the big picture,” the old man in Daoist robes suddenly interjected, sounding a bit apologetic. “Lu Changming initially didn’t want to get involved, but I foolishly urged him to make an appearance. This gave him a pretext to stir up trouble, leading to the current situation. Fellow Daoist, I humbly request your forgiveness.”
Cui Jingyan felt a chill course through her heart.
She finally dared to believe that Su Yi’s earlier theory wasn’t just him letting his imagination get the best of him; there really was a problem with the third high elder!