Chapter 416: Respect and Worship 1

In the evening, when it was starting to get a little dark, Qi Qingyao was sitting in the side hall while Lu Yan was talking about his plan at the side. When the two were talking, Steward Zhang suddenly knocked on the door and came in to make a report.

“Missus, another person has come.”

“Did they not say who they were?” Qi Qingyao asked as she rubbed between her brows.

“Shang…Shang Li,” Steward Zhang said the name with a little quiver.

Qi Qingyao was a little startled.

Lu Yan tilted his head and asked, “The grand master of Northern Liang?”

“…It seems to be him.” Steward Zhang felt the cold sweat on his forehead beginning to pour down again.

Qi Qingyao was, however, calm. Licking her fairly dry lips, she said, “Invite him in.”

Steward Zhang then hurriedly went to the front door to invite the person in.

Lu Yan frowned. He drank a sip of tea and said in a soft voice, “Why has the grand master of Northern Liang come forward all of a sudden?”

Qi Qingyao was silent for a moment before she said, “He must have learned that Si Jin defeated Pang Juan and so came over to meet him.”

“So, he was already in Qingzhou City before this?” Lu Yan suddenly felt that Qingzhou City was a hornet’s nest.

“Looks that way,” Qi Qingyao said with great interest. “Our Northern Liang grand master had been quietly lurking in Qingzhou City but did not leave a single trace. He only appeared after Si Jin won, which was a good time for him to show up.”

Lu Yan asked, “Do you think he was waiting to take advantage of the situation from a safe position?”

Qi Qingyao thought for a bit and nodded.

“He definitely did not believe in Si Jin’s strength before this. Or, he did not believe that Si Jin was a grand master. That’s why he quietly assessed the situation from Si Jin’s battle with Pang Juan and Gongsun She. I don’t think he expected that Si Jin would unleash a big one and instantly kill Pang Juan.”

After a pause, she continued, “I’m even guessing that he might have saved Gongsun She.”

“Why do you say this?” Was this not too wild of a guess?

Qi Qingyao picked up her cup carelessly. She looked at the tea in the teacup then quietly put the cup down. Her expression was very grave.

“That’s because he is only able to ask Gongsun She about Si Jin’s strength by saving him. That’s why he only appeared now.”

Lu Yan was silent.

She continued, “That said, it’s only because he is a grand master that he was able to locate Gongsun She at the first moment.”

Lu Yan said, “But Gongsun She is someone from an enemy nation.”

“Have you not noticed yet?” Qi Qingyao recalled something that old man Gongsun She said before and said, “These grand masters basically don’t care about whatever country they’re from. They only care about one thing, which is elevating their own strength!”

“…” Lu Yan’s eyes were half-lidded as he inhaled faintly.

“Because it looks like all of them are no longer young, I feel that many of them will soon have one foot in the nether world,” Qi Qingyao said interestedly. “If that’s the case, it’s hard to say if they can break through the limit on their current level and extend their life’s limit. That’s why these people can completely disregard the difference of their origins in pursuit of elevating their strength.” These were, however, just her speculations.

Lu Yan somewhat agreed. He said, “Gongsun She and Pang Juan’s battle with Si Jin could already be considered a close-distance observation and a test of Si Jin’s strength. He could only gain useful information by saving Gongsun She.”

Qi Qingyao’s clear, black eyes had a layer of moisture as she said, “That’s right. So, I’m thinking, Gongsun She has likely already woken up since this guy is here. He also probably informed him of certain things. It’s even possible that Shang Li came to take a look at Si Jin’s condition after fighting two grand masters, for example, to see if he was injured or suffered abrasions or internal injuries…”

Lu Yang immediately said, “Then I’m afraid we’d have to let him down.

“Let him down?” Qi Qingyao furrowed her brows and said softly, “I don’t think so.”

“Do you understand what you’re saying?” Si Jin was not hurt, how could he not be disappointed? Lu Yan could not understand, he felt that her words were somewhat incoherent.

“Little Yan, you’re the one who doesn’t understand.” Qi Qingyao rubbed the spot between her brows and said, “You’re usually so astute, how are you so slow now?!”

“…” Was he slow?! Lu Yan looked at her, dazed.

Qi Qingyao cradled her forehead calmly. “If he sees that Si Jin is fine, completely healthy and without any injury, Shang Li will conclude that Si Jin’s strength is above a grand master’s.”

“This…is there something wrong with this?” This was exactly what he had said. There was nothing wrong with this, surely? Why was she wearing such an expression?

“Of course there is,” Qi Qingyao said seriously. “That Shang Li will be afraid of Si Jin. It’s possible that he will quickly report this to the little empress.” Si Jin would very quickly be summoned the moment the little empress found out about him.

“Even if the little empress were to summon him, I think, going off his strength, the little empress wouldn’t dare use Si Jin.” They might not be able to handle him even if the grand masters were to join forces! The little empress would not have the guts to order around someone above the level of a grand master!

Qi Qingyao nodded. “This is all for later, of course. We still need to meet with this grand master.”

After a moment.

Shang Li was invited into the side hall.

Qi Qingyao remained seated, looking at the extremely strong and healthy—even transcendent—old man in the candlelight. She thought to herself that the temperament of all these grand masters must be somewhat unordinary and detached.

She said calmly as she waved her hand, “Please sit.”

Shang Li observed the little lady’s appearance and expression quietly. He said as he looked around, “Why do I not see that young man?”

He knew who Lu Yan was and, of course, knew that he was not Si Jin.

Qi Qingyao asked calmly, “Are you talking about Si Jin?”

Shang Li did not conceal his intentions either and said blandly, “Lady Qi, the purpose of my visit is just to meet the young grand master.”

Qi Qingyao pretended to be cold and acted not to know him. “This old gentleman, who are you?”

“I am Shang Li, a grand master.” Shang Li was silent for a moment before introducing himself.

This little lady obviously knew who he was, but was behaving neither humble nor haughty. Her attitude was even a little high-profile as she allowed him to introduce himself.

Huh.

Was she not getting acquainted with a grand master?

Why did she need to act like this?

“I’m Qi Qingyao, a nameless junior.” Qi Qingyao also showed him due respect. Since the other had introduced themself, naturally, she got up, cupped her fists, and bowed calmly. Immediately after that, she ordered Steward Zhang, “Go and invite Si Jin over.”

Lu Yan was seated at the side, carrying his cat. He was sitting like a statue.

The white cat lay in his arms.

Flinging its big fluffy tail about.

It narrowed its gold eyes, staring unblinkingly at Shang Li.

Steward Zhang found Si Jin at the pond in the back courtyard. When Si Jin entered the side hall, he immediately rushed to Qi Qingyao’s side. “Sister!~~~”

Qi Qingyao looked at Si Jin’s cute, childlike appearance and lightly coughed. Then, she said steadily, “Si Jin, hurry up and meet our one and only grand master of Northern Liang.”

Si Jin turned around and only then saw the transcendent old man.

Shang Li had not expected that Si Jin would be such a young man—the boy was tall and thin, even graceful, and possessed a girl’s cuteness and innocence reflected in his gaze. It rendered him stunned for a moment before he reacted. “I’m Shang Li. Greetings.” He was a young grand master so he had to show him due respect.

Si Jin, however, did not reciprocate.

He only nodded.

He sat down expressionlessly beside Qi Qingyao.

Shang Li was not angry either. He knew that the young boy had some arrogance given he had become a grand master at such a young age. His power of comprehension must be very high. He said airily, “I wish to fight you for a bit.”

Si Jin looked up and said seriously without concealment at all, “Do you also wish to experience death for a bit?”

Shang Li was surprised. “It’s just a fight, nothing overboard.”

Qi Qingyao detested the old man’s attitude a little. He clearly wanted to test out Si Jin’s skills personally. She guessed that he did not believe that a youth would be able to kill Pang Juan and heavily injured Gongsun She!

“Little cutie.” Qi Qingyao patted Si Jin’s shoulder, smiling as she said, “This old gentleman really seems to want to have a taste of the fear that comes with death. Just let him experience it for a bit then.”

“…My strength is really not that big a deal.” Si Jin scratched his head and muttered softly, “Why does everyone want to pick a fight with me, they’re so dense!”

However, Sister had spoken.

So Si Jin would naturally show her due respect.

He got up.

Then walked toward Shang Li.

Shang Li was about to get up and follow him out together.

Si Jin, however, simply put his hand on Shang Li’s shoulder with just the slightest movement.

Shang Li was stunned. He looked at the boy, not understanding.

Si Jin said, “All you have to do now is resist with all you got. I’ll see how long you can last.”

Saying that…

Qi Qingyao and Lu Yan simultaneously saw a pale blue wall of air enveloping them.

It looked like a barrier?

Inside the barrier, the old gentleman Shang Li’s expression suddenly changed.

His right shoulder that Si Jin was gripping also seemed to have sunken down.

His complexion was becoming paler and paler.

He instantly clenched his drooping fist.

“He is limiting all of the oppressive force to inside that enchantment, probably to prevent destroying the house,” Lu Yan explained to Qi Qingyao.

Qi Qing nodded.

She thought.

It was the same as the previous battle on Cangjing Lake.

It was just that the scope of the restriction had shrunk a little.

Could he already accurately control the battle range? To prevent excessive damage?

If he could do this, the old man would have to endure the entirety of his power by himself!

Lu Yan, who was watching the battle between grand masters at close range, was quite excited.

After all, they only saw the tip of the iceberg of the previous battle on the lake.

This time… it was a completely different situation.

What kind of strength did he have that he could make Shang Li, a veritable grand master, look that bad?

Time trickled by.

It was probably only about five seconds.

Shang Li’s body seemed unable to hold on any longer and he quickly fell down. All of a sudden, he knelt down on the ground and his knee created a hole in the ground in an instant.

A thump resonated from inside the hall.

His complexion was as pale as a piece of paper.

Qi Qingyao, “…”

She could not help but gulp.

Lu Yan was also startled.

The white cat licked its fur as usual.

It also curled the corners of its lips somewhat exasperatedly.

If humans could understand a cat’s expression, they would probably be shocked. This guy was clearly giving a look of disdain.

It was as if it were saying, “Why are you going so far? Using so much of your power just for one person…”

Si Jin saw Shang Li kneeling down and his hand casually left his shoulder. He immediately retracted his power.

The light blue boundary also disappeared.

Si Jin returned to Qi Qingyao’s side indifferently. After taking a seat, he picked up the puffed rice candy on the plate and began nibbling it.

Shang Li crouched there—he was out of it for a long time.

About five minutes passed.

Before Shang Li’s complexion gradually improved.

After regaining his senses, he looked at the floor where his knee had gone through and wiped the sweat from his forehead with an ugly expression.

Shang Li noticed that his back was completely wet.

He could not help but lift his hand and wipe away the sweat from his forehead.

A moment later.

After getting up…

Shang Li walked in front of Si Jin once he was done adjusting the breath and strength in his body and bowed slightly. He spoke with respect and admiration.

“You—this—you’re a great man, how did you ascend to this level?”

“…”

‘Hey hey hey, you’re a grand master.

‘Are you actually showing Si Jin such reverence and respect?’

Qi Qingyao stared at Shang Li, completely stunned!

Lu Yan also looked at Mr. Shang, who was second only to the empress, with an inconceivable expression!

Only Si Jin glanced at Shang Li with a lazy look…

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