Chapter 949: Has Bai Yanqing come yet? (1/2)

A little more than two hours remained before noon. Long Feiye and Han Yunxi had joined hands to challenge Bia Yanqing. Logically speaking, they should have long shown up at Hundred Poisons Sect by now. Unfortunately, they were now the only ones missing from the party.

Bai Yanqing had ordered the sect to put out tables and chairs and invite guests to a feast. He even had a stage built for the big battle. No matter what he was planning, his methods were even more sublime than Emperor Kangcheng. This sort of setting meant that every minute of the face-off, including each and every word he, Long Feiye, or Han Yunxi said, would be publicized to all eyes and ears. Everyone here could act as witnesses--not just to victory or defeat, but the origins of the civil war in the Great Qin Empire. The intelligent in the crowd could tell that Bai Yanqing was not only building a stage for the fight, but the interrogation, too. Both sides of the stage were lined with seats filled to capacity by witnesses.

Of course, everyone was afraid that Hundred Poisons Sect might seize the chance to do something untoward, but they couldn’t very well refuse invitation letters from the sect. Otherwise, they’d be seen as a joke. Moreover, Hundred Poisons Sect wouldn’t resort to foul play in such a grand setting unless it wanted to earn the enmity of the entire world.

Western Zhou and Tianan’s two sovereigns sent representatives in their place. Emperor Kangcheng had delegated the head commander of his imperial guards--the man who was his personal bodyguard, named Wang Yong (王镛);[1] Long Tianmo had sent out none other than Mu Qingwu. Cloud Realm Trade Consortium’s Council of Elders, Baili Army’s Young General Baili Qiyu, Medical and Medicine City representatives, and a few factions from the jianghu, prominent old families, and noblemen were all in attendance. Currently, everyone was discussing with each other over the proceedings.

“What’s going on? Is the East Qin crown prince and West Qin princess playing a trick on us all?”

“They wouldn’t not show up, right? Heheh, that’d be a huge joke! I was just saying, how could East and West Qin ever agree to cooperate?”

“They’re treating us all like monkeys!”

“As I see it, this can’t be a sham. Hundred Poisons Sect even built a stage! I’d say it’s an 80 percent chance that Long Feiye and Han Yunxi are scared!”

Naturally, it was the jianghu faction sending out such sneers. Meanwhile, the prominent old families, noblemen, and members of the East and West Qin factions appeared calm on the surface, but were on the verge of falling apart inside! They had been trying to contact Long Feiye and Han Yunxi all night yesterday, but couldn’t find hide nor hair of either. After worrying overnight, they were now starting to doubt whether the pair would show up at all. Long Feiye and Han Yunxi wasn’t just toying with the world, but their own allies as well!

As time drew closer with no sign of the pair, many began to sweat from anxiety despite the cold weather.

“There hasn’t been any news from Xu Donglin, either?” Baili Qiyu asked his subordinates.

“None. We’ve already sent men to search the surroundings. Young General, could something...have happened to His Highness?”the subordinate asked in worry.

“What could ever happen to His Highness?” Baili Qiyu replied unhappily. Right now, he was worried that Han Yunxi had poisoned or bewitched His Highness to toss aside this plan and run away with her to the ends of the world. Only he and his father knew the truth of the relationship between the pair in their army.

It went without saying that Han Yunxi was innocent. Over on the Cloud Realm Trade Consortium side, a few elders were also suspecting her.

“It was the princess’s idea to form an alliance, but why has she left us unattended? What does that count for?”

“Myriad Merchant Hall is too sloppy. Alright, so the princess was stubborn, but they insist on following along? If Master Ning was here, nothing like this would have happened!”

“Just where is the princess? Will she really not show?”

“Yesterday that East Qin crown prince humiliated Qi Zonglin like a cur and even said it was revenge for the sake of the princess. There’s all sorts of rumors about that spreading now. Could the East Qin crown prince have stolen the princess away?”

As the deadline drew closer, everyone grew more and more impatient. Discussions turned heated until complaints soon filled the air.

“Heheh, the East-West Qin Alliance truly is one of a kind to fool us all!”

“Isn’t that right! Han Yunxi’s the Poison Sect heir, isn’t she? Is she hiding away as soon as the Hundred Poisons Sect accepted the challenge?”

“Aiya, this isn’t a trick! They’re teaming up to shrink in their shells like turtles!”

The world was so vast that inevitably, some amongst the rabble had no concept of the difference between Heaven and Earth. For some reason, the two men who’d voiced those comments had exceptionally loud voices.

Baili Qiyu instantly rose to his feet. “East Qin’s crown prince had already arrived at Great Central County yesterday and is on his way here! As for the West Qin princess…” He trailed off with a look towards Cloud Realm Trade Consortium. Despite his impulsiveness, he had a bit of scheming in mind. These words told the crowd that the East Qin crown prince was already here and didn’t cower while pushing the blame to the West Qin princess. Moreover, it was probing West Qin to see if they knew any clues of the princess’s current whereabouts and whether she was coming.

However, circumstances proved that Baili Qiyu had overestimated his own intelligence. How could a mere military man outwit the elders of Cloud Realm Trade Consortium, who had grown seasoned with years of doing business?

Second Elder smiled coldly and replied, “Didn’t the Young General already know? The West Qin princess came together with Your Highness?”