Novel Full Chapter 1524: 1622: Hidden Sharpness
Chapter 1524: Chapter 1622: Hidden Sharpness
Dragon Haotian only brought two people with him, one was Long Zhiming and the other was Long Zhixin.
The reason why he brought these siblings along was because Dragon Haotian had his own ideas. He already knew about Fang Lin’s relationship with the Sky Swallowing Palace, and the Long siblings had a decent relationship with Fang Lin. Bringing them along might make the negotiations with the Sky Swallowing Palace a bit easier.
“Hall Master of the Dragon Family, please come in for a discussion,” said the person in the golden monkey mask respectfully outside the grand hall.
Dragon Haotian looked at the person wearing the golden monkey mask, unable to gauge his depth. However, he did not pay much attention. The masked people of the Sky Swallowing Palace were all very mysterious, and only two or three were known to the outside world so far.
Seven years had passed and the Long siblings, who followed behind Dragon Haotian, hadn’t changed much. Only Long Zhixin’s appearance had matured a bit compared to seven years ago.
Upon entering the grand hall, Dragon Haotian and the Long siblings saw Dugu Nian sitting on the throne, unmasked and showing her true face.
Dragon Haotian was alright, showing no surprise, but the Long siblings were astonished to see Dugu Nian, finding it somewhat unbelievable.
In the minds of the Long siblings, they thought the Master of the Sky Swallowing Palace should be some unimaginably important figure; they never expected it to be Dugu Nian.
The expressions of the Long siblings were a bit strange; they even doubted if this was really the Master of the Sky Swallowing Palace.
“Chief of the Dragon Family, you’ve come from afar, and I did not greet you outside. I hope you can forgive me,” Dugu Nian said calmly, her attitude neither cold nor warm.
Dragon Haotian clasped his fists and said, “I’ve long heard of the great name of the Master of the Sky Swallowing Palace. My sudden visit is unexpected, and I hope the Master will not take offense.”
Dugu Nian revealed a faint smile: “You are too courteous, Hall Master of the Dragon Family. Let’s dispense with the formalities and discuss the purpose of your visit.”
Right then, Dragon Haotian said, “Aside from paying a visit to the Master of the Sky Swallowing Palace, I came to discuss the possibility of our two families joining forces.”
Dugu Nian looked at Dragon Haotian and said, “Our two families joining forces? Why does the Chief of the Dragon Family think that my Sky Swallowing Palace would want to ally with the Dragon Family?”
Dragon Haotian laughed: “If the Sky Swallowing Palace had no intention of allying with my Dragon Family, then was the previous visit by your people to my Dragon Family meaningless?”
What Dragon Haotian was referring to was the visit by a person in a White Fox mask to the Dragon Family, during which they conveyed the goodwill of the Sky Swallowing Palace, ensuring that they would not be enemies with the Dragon Family, and also warning the Dragon Family not to hinder the steps of the Sky Swallowing Palace.
Dugu Nian played with her long hair and said, “Then, what kind of alliance does the Chief of the Dragon Family envision with my Sky Swallowing Palace?”
“That depends on how much sincerity the Sky Swallowing Palace can show towards my Dragon Family,” said Dragon Haotian, narrowing his eyes slightly. He was unhurried, and although he had revealed his purpose for the visit to Dugu Nian, he hadn’t fully opened up, leaving some words unsaid on both sides.
“It’s no secret that the current unrest in the Upper Three Countries is the doing of my Sky Swallowing Palace. The decline of the Pill Alliance is also linked to us. Among the various powers, only your Dragon Family and those Alchemy Tao noble families have been untouched by my Sky Swallowing Palace. Does this not count as sincerity?” Dugu Nian said in a light tone.
Hearing this, the Long siblings were secretly shocked in their hearts. The current turmoil in the Upper Three Countries and the Pill Alliance was actually orchestrated by the Sky Swallowing Palace? Their capability seemed too formidable.
Dragon Haotian was hardly surprised; he had long guessed that the events in the Upper Three Countries might be closely connected to the Sky Swallowing Palace.
“Dragon would like to ask, what exactly does the Sky Swallowing Palace intend to do? By plunging the Upper Three Countries and the Pill Alliance into chaos, what is the meaning behind it?” Dragon Haotian asked with a frown.
Dugu Nian responded with a faint smile: “Naturally, it is to change the current situation and also to get some retribution.”
After a pause, the smile on Dugu Nian’s face faded, replaced by a chilly grimness.
“Chief of the Dragon Family must be aware of the fierce battle that took place here not long ago, where this Hall Master was besieged by numerous formidable figures from the Upper Three Countries, the Pill Alliance, and the Hidden Kill Hall, barely escaping death. This Hall Master holds grudges, and since these three parties have come against me, I will not be polite with them. Some people only by trampling them harshly underfoot, preventing them from turning over, can you stop them from suddenly biting you—Chief of the Dragon Family, wouldn’t you agree?” said Dugu Nian with a very cold tone, even carrying hints of threat.
Dragon Haotian, also a formidable leader himself, remained silent as he deeply understood Dugu Nian’s current thoughts.
If it were him, Dragon Haotian, surrounded by various powerful enemies, he would certainly bear a grudge and try all means to deal with those forces, ideally ensuring they could never recover.
The Long siblings felt somewhat alienated observing Dugu Nian. They had known Dugu Nian from the past, but the Dugu Nian at this moment made them feel strangely unfamiliar, nothing like the young girl from those days.
What exactly had happened to cause such a drastic change in Dugu Nian?
“Dragon has another question,” said Dragon Haotian.
“Feel free to ask,” Dugu Nian responded, looking at him.
“Regarding the Pill Alliance, what exactly are the Sky Swallowing Palace’s intentions? Are you planning to completely overturn it, or is there some room for mercy?” Dragon Haotian asked.
Dugu Nian laughed heartily, looking at Dragon Haotian playfully, “Why? Has the Chief of the Dragon Family, who has already severed ties with the Pill Alliance, still got some concern for the Pill Alliance?”
Dragon Haotian laughed: “How can I not be concerned? Although it’s said that ties to the Pill Alliance have been severed, the Pill Alliance was once supported and raised by my Long Family, with the efforts of my Long Family’s ancestors in it. If I, Dragon Haotian, were to watch it collapse without doing anything, I would be dishonoring my ancestors of the Long Family.”
Dugu Nian’s playful look intensified: “Such words from Chief of the Dragon Family make it difficult for this Hall Master to discern how much truth and how much falsehood they hold.”
Dragon Haotian shook his head: “Whether it’s true or not isn’t important, my unwillingness to see the Pill Alliance fall is factual. Therefore, I hope the Sky Swallowing Palace spares some mercy in dealing with the Pill Alliance and refrains from completely obliterating them.”
Dugu Nian tapped her fingers lightly on the armrest of the throne, speaking: “This Hall Master also understands, once the Pill Alliance falls, the Long Family and those Alchemy Tao aristocratic families will become the next Pill Alliance, becoming targets of envy and the focal point of many hostilities, hence why Chief of the Dragon Family does not wish for the Pill Alliance to fall. Having the Pill Alliance will divert some of the fire away, bringing many benefits to your Long Family.”
Dragon Haotian sighed and bowed again to Dugu Nian: “The vision of the Master of the Sky Swallowing Palace is profound; Dragon admires it greatly.”
The Long siblings stood behind Dragon Haotian, feeling bewildered as the two figures, each a formidable leader in their own right, exchanged hidden barbs and tactics in just a few sentences.
Fang Lin stood at the back of the great hall, listening to the conversation inside, his expression like an ancient well undisturbed, unknowable what he was thinking.
ps: The third update arrives, continuing to write, will eat after the fourth update ends.