812 Negotiations Do Not Have to Mean War (1/2)

Nightfall Mao Ni 50570K 2022-07-20

Negotiation was a battle and to raise conditions first was tantamount to being the first to draw one's sword.

Ning Que and Ye Hongyu were both well-versed in battling. They both knew that the person who raised conditions first would get the upper hand in this battle. As such, they both felt that they should be the first to put conditions forward.

”This is Chang'an, I should have home advantage,” Ning Que said.

Ye Hongyu looked at him quietly and said, ”The Tang Empire is in a dangerous situation right now. The Golden Palace's cavalry and the Divine Hall's Coalition Army are both still on your land.”

Ning Que answered, ”This might be a little troublesome, but is not the crux of the matter. Both the Abbey Dean and the Hierarch are crippled, and I heard that your brother is in a similar condition. I don't understand how you can feel so emboldened.”

Ye Hongyu answered, ”The Academy is in an even worse position. Mr. Second has lost his sword-wielding arm. I heard that Mr. First and the Twenty-Three-year Cicada Cultivation are both still in wheelchairs. As for your peers, I saw how they were injured in the Verdant Canyon; I'm certain they will not recover in a short period of time.”

Ning Que looked at her and said in a serious manner, ”You've forgotten about me.”

Ye Hongyu looked at him and said calmly, ”The problem is that you can't leave Chang'an. You might not have enemies here, but once you leave Chang'an, there would be many people from Haotian Taoism who can kill you.”

Indeed, Ning Que had not left Chang'an since the New Year. It was because he could channel the power of the God-stunning Array through the array eye pestle here. Once he left Chang'an, he would not be able to affect the entire mortal world even though he was a powerhouse in the Knowing Destiny State.

Ye Hongyu continued, ”Haotian Taoism has existed for millennia, and is as wide as the sea. Even though its waves are not as strong as before, I can find ten powerhouses in the Knowing Destiny State if you wish to meet them.”

If she was not exaggerating, her statement could shock most people in the world. One had to be aware that some small countries did not have a single cultivator in the Knowing Destiny State.

But this was not sufficient to scare Ning Que. He said, ”It's pointless even if there are many in the Knowing Destiny State and Haotian Initiation in the world one day. If they dare to enter Chang'an, I'll kill them. I'll kill them all, and if they are not of the Abbey Dean's caliber, they are all just courting death.”

Ye Hongyu said, ”Will you protect Chang'an for your entire life?”

Ning Que listened to her statement that sounded like a wedding vow and smiled, ”I will do it if it is really necessary. Fortunately, there are wine, meat and beauties in Chang'an City, so it will not be too boring.”

It seemed as if they were fighting over who would make the first offer, but actually, they had both placed all their chips on the table. Ning Que did not wait for Ye Hongyu to speak, and he suggested, ”Or maybe we can play a finger-guessing game. That's fair and simple.”

Ye Hongyu frowned slightly.

Ning Que said, ”You are the Tao Addict, and people say that you are well-versed in many skills. Do you not know how to play the finger-guessing game? You either win or lose when you play this game, and it hinges on your spirit and calculation skills...”

Without waiting for him to complete his statement, Ye Hongyu asked, ”Which finger-guessing game?”

Ning Que answered, ”The lewd finger-guessing game.”

Ye Hongyu asked, ”What kind of game is that?”

Ning Que said, ”You want to learn it? I can teach you.”

Ye Hongyu lost the game as expected. She might be the Tao Addict who was versed in many areas, but she was no match for Ning Que in gambling.

Ning Que had been gambling since he was a child and had gambled from the City of Wei to Chang'an. He had experienced hardships and even escaped from death before he could cultivate, and the first thing he had done right after was to win money at a gambling den.

Ye Hongyu was enraged. She did not like to lose, and most importantly, she finally understood why the lewd finger-guessing game had such a name. It was indeed lewd.

Ning Que explained, ”This is a culture that has been passed on for many years, I did not intend to take advantage of you.”

Ye Hongyu breathed in the cold air deeply, the spring rain moistening her lungs, and she finally got a grip on her emotions. She thought to herself that she indeed could not find a second man who was as shameless as Ning Que.

”The Divine Hall Coalition Army has left Qinghe County, we have to get the county back.”

Ning Que's expression turned solemn and he said, ”There is nothing else to discuss regarding this matter.”

Ye Hongyu's expression remained the same, one could not guess what she was thinking. She asked, ”The families?”

Ning Que said, ”Of course we have to kill all of them.”

Ye Hongyu remained noncommittal and said, ”Go on.”

Ning Que said, ”The Yan Kingdom has returned the remains of the soldiers of the Northeast Border Military. Crown Prince Chong Ming came to Chang'an and pled guilty, kneeling before the altar for an entire night. We do not have any other demands.”

”Do continue.”

”In order to express the Tang Empire's sincerity and amicability, we are willing to withdraw from the Yuelun Kingdom. But you have to give us the Pamir Mountains and the Great River Kingdom has to be neutral forever.”

”Is there anything else?”

”No.”

”Do you want to hear the Divine Hall's conditions?”

”To be honest, I don't really want to because the Academy and the imperial court cannot possibly agree to them.”

”But you still have to listen to them.”