Chapter 116: The Barbarian King’s Olive Branch

Jiang Pingchuan watched Old Master Gong, who lay unconscious in Feng Wuliang’s arms. With a sudden motion, he flung the Buddhist prayer beads from his hand, striking the old man squarely in the face. They landed perfectly, hooked across the tip of his nose and blocking his nostrils.

Old Master Gong’s mustache twitched slightly. Feng Wuliang’s mournful expression instantly stiffened, and a cold, malicious smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as he looked down at the man in his arms.

"Achoo! Cough, cough! Such a wicked prank—it must be that stinking beggar!"

Ignoring the fist Feng Wuliang had once again raised, Old Master Gong stood up, pressed a palm against Feng Wuliang’s face to shove him aside, and marched toward Jiang Pingchuan, fuming with indignation.

Feng Wuliang looked at the others with an awkward expression. Seeing no one was paying him any mind, he quietly retracted his fist, feeling a twinge of disappointment, though he still turned to face the irate Old Master Gong.

"Is what he said true?"

When Old Master Gong reached Jiang Pingchuan, he stopped before the masked man and reached out to slowly peel the mask away.

Jiang Pingchuan smiled, making no move to stop him. When Old Master Gong saw the charred, ruined half of Jiang Pingchuan’s face, he murmured softly to himself, his eyes flickering with disappointment and rage.

"What’s wrong? Are you unhappy because I’ve become ugly?" Jiang Pingchuan took the mask back from the old man, put it back on, and chuckled. Old Master Gong glared at him and let out a long sigh.

"Why would I be happy? I’m just lamenting how unpredictable the world is. Even you have fallen into the hands of the Barbarian King."

Old Master Gong put his prayer beads back on and rubbed them gently as he spoke. The others watched the two in silence, while Jun Moyan’s eyes swept over Old Master Gong, as if searching for something.

"Who were you talking about when you said it was true?" Jiang Pingchuan found it strange to speak to the old man in such a tone; they had never been this formal with each other before.

"The Barbarian King. He said you had been branded with a mark that could never be erased. I didn't want to believe it, but it’s true," Old Master Gong said with a smile. It was a weary smile, one of self-mockery and forced compliance; no one here knew what he had truly endured.

"Let’s go inside to talk." Feng Wuliang heard the mention of the Barbarian King and realized that, at this moment, the name had likely become a taboo. Old Master Gong looked at Jiang Pingchuan, and upon receiving a nod, the group followed Feng Wuliang into the manor.

Only Jun Moyan, walking at the back, looked at Jiang Pingchuan with a mysterious smile. The man before him was truly enviable; no matter where he went, he was the center of attention. Everyone waited for his stance, which stirred a flicker of jealousy in Jun Moyan, a man who had always been respected and adored. This was the person his master claimed could end his life, yet also the one his master urged him to befriend at all costs.

Jun Moyan’s heart was in turmoil. Jiang Pingchuan was merely a commoner, so what if he had a mysterious background and great power? Everything Jun Moyan possessed had been earned through his own two hands, bit by bit, through tireless effort. Why was Jiang Pingchuan so radiant? To Jun Moyan, Jiang Pingchuan’s light was so blinding that anyone near him, no matter how exceptional, would appear dull and lusterless in his shadow.

Lost in these thoughts, Jun Moyan followed the others into the City Lord’s Mansion. He disliked this feeling; he did not like being a mere supporting character.

***

Old Master Gong sat in the main hall and reached out to stroke the small fox in Jiang Pingchuan’s arms. Perhaps his hands were too dirty, as the fox’s pristine white fur turned somewhat soot-black where he touched it. He gave an awkward laugh and sat up straight.

"Old man, just say what you need to say." Jiang Pingchuan used his internal energy to slowly groom the fox’s fur, restoring its whiteness before stopping.

Old Master Gong scanned the people present. When his eyes met Jun Moyan’s, they exchanged a brief look, but he didn't linger and turned his attention back to Jiang Pingchuan.

"The Barbarian King asked me to bring you a message. He says that the trend is clear, and the world is destined to be under his rule. If you are willing to serve him, once he unifies the Changfeng Continent, he will grant you half the empire and crown you King."

The group was stunned. The Barbarian King’s promise was massive—half of the Changfeng Continent. Being crowned King meant being on equal footing with the Barbarian King himself; such a temptation was truly stirring.

"Get to the next part." Jiang Pingchuan’s expression was calm, his voice devoid of ripples, as if they were discussing something entirely unrelated to him. Old Master Gong, who had been nervous, chuckled in relief, but his expression immediately turned grave again.

"I knew you wouldn't agree. The Barbarian brat said that if you refused, the terms would change: whoever kills you and brings him your head will be granted the status of co-ruler of the Changfeng Continent alongside him once he unifies the land."

Old Master Gong spoke with indignation; it was clear he loathed the Barbarian King’s tactics, yet he was helpless. It was war, after all. Everything now hinged on Jiang Pingchuan’s decision. He didn't know when Jiang Pingchuan had become such a pivotal figure in the Barbarian King’s eyes, but he had inexplicably become the deciding factor of this war.

It was something Old Master Gong liked to see—his sworn brother being so highly valued—even if he didn't consider the Barbarian King a good person. But it was also his greatest fear. The Changfeng Continent was full of cultivators; if Jiang Pingchuan rejected the Barbarian King’s goodwill, it would undoubtedly bring him endless trouble.

"The Barbarian King certainly has his ways," Feng Wuliang said with a cold sneer, keeping a close eye on Jiang Pingchuan. If Jiang Pingchuan showed any sign of being swayed, he would strike immediately.

Jiang Pingchuan smiled at the group. Except for Old Master Gong, Feng Xiaoge, Feng Li, and Jun Moyan, everyone else was circulating their internal energy, on guard against him. Jiang Pingchuan wasn't angry; he knew their caution was natural. If he truly accepted the Barbarian King’s offer, he would be the enemy of everyone in the room.

"Old man, what do you think I should choose?" Jiang Pingchuan ignored the others and asked the melancholy Old Master Gong. The old man curled his lip and looked at the crowd.

"To be honest, I go wherever you go. I’m an old bag of bones; who rules this Changfeng Continent is none of my business. How many more years do I have left, anyway? Heh heh."

Old Master Gong winked at Jiang Pingchuan, laughing. The others looked at him with fury; Feng Wuliang’s gaze clearly told him, *What nonsense are you spouting? Obviously, it would be better for the Lan Dynasty to rule! If you can’t speak properly, shut up!* Old Master Gong glared at him, ignoring his intense stare.

"What should I do if I am constantly being hunted and besieged?" Jiang Pingchuan asked, his face solemn. Old Master Gong frowned. Jiang Pingchuan was right; no matter what he chose, he would be relentlessly hunted. That was the Barbarian King’s strategy.

He was forcing Jiang Pingchuan to fight. Whether it was for the Barbarian King or the Lan Dynasty, Jiang Pingchuan would face attacks from cultivators across every corner of the continent. Perhaps before the Barbarian King ever had to fulfill his promise, Jiang Pingchuan would already be dead on the battlefield. In that case, the Barbarian King’s grand offer would vanish like a fart in the wind.

"The best defense is a good offense." A light sparked in Old Master Gong’s eyes. He had said these very words when he and Jiang Pingchuan invaded the East Continent City Lord’s Mansion to kill Han Zhen. Only by constant slaughter, by staining his own hands with blood, and by letting his arrogance and madness terrorize every corner could he truly be safe.

"Then I shall kill." Jiang Pingchuan took a sip of tea and spoke softly. The moment his words fell, Feng Wuliang’s hand jerked, and a massive surge of energy transformed into a fist, blasting toward Jiang Pingchuan.

Jun Moyan moved with lightning speed, redirecting Feng Wuliang’s attack into the air, where it slowly dissipated. Feng Wuliang looked at him in confusion.

"Marquis Qingyuan, why stop me? He is our enemy now!" Feng Wuliang pointed angrily at Jiang Pingchuan behind Jun Moyan. Jiang Pingchuan and Old Master Gong clinked their teacups together and drank as if no one else were there, completely unbothered by the attack, as if they knew Jun Moyan would intervene.

"Pingchuan will not follow the Barbarian King. City Lord Feng, you are being overly sensitive," Jun Moyan said with a chuckle. He turned and smiled at Jiang Pingchuan, who returned the gesture. Feng Wuliang was baffled, but he dared not strike again rashly.

"Old man, where have you been all this time?" Jiang Pingchuan asked. Old Master Gong sighed, his expression suggesting he had lived through a living hell.

"That day in East Continent City, the winds changed. Something like a giant foot kept attacking the city. While I was fighting Han Liang, the Marquis of Wu’s forces suddenly attacked and snatched him away. I was severely wounded. To save Han Liang, I trailed the Marquis, only for Han Liang and several of the Dragon-Walking Thirteen Guards to be handed over to the Barbarian King in the Northwest. When I entered the Northwest, if I weren't so sturdy and quick on my feet, I would have been ground into dust by the Barbarian King."

Old Master Gong took a sip of tea to calm his nerves. It seemed his journey had been treacherous. He had been discovered by the Barbarian King the moment he entered the Northwest—Jiang Pingchuan concluded that the Barbarian King was no simple character.

"If you ran away, how did the Barbarian King have you deliver the message?" Feng Wuliang asked curiously. Old Master Gong glared at him, his eyes filled with the same infinite information as Feng Wuliang’s earlier. Feng Wuliang pouted, looking aggrieved.

"It makes me angry just thinking about it! I don’t know how far I’d run when a black-feathered arrow flew from behind me. Before I could react, it pierced my rear end. Luckily, his archery was poor, or I’d have been shot through."

Old Master Gong lifted his robe to point at his backside. Jiang Pingchuan looked and saw a hole in his clothing. Judging by the position, if the Barbarian King had moved his hand even slightly, he would have shot Old Master Gong right in the chrysanthemum.