Along with the gradually appearing figures of a man and a woman, Ito Sei and Shi Feixuan, these two people, appeared at the foot of a huge stronghold built on the mountainside.
"This is the place, right?" Sei Itō, who had his arm around Shi Feixuan's waist, asked.
"Yes." Shi Feixuan's eyes flickered as she said.
"I really didn't expect Your Majesty to have such great power. Don't tell me you're really the one who came down from the heavens to save the common people?" Then, Shi Feixuan turned her head to look at Sei Itō beside her and said in disbelief.
"Yes. Otherwise, why would the Jade Annulus of He Clan fly in front of me?" Sei Itō winked at Shi Feixuan and teased.
"Your Majesty." Shi Feixuan's voice contained a hint of anger.
"Alright, let's stop joking around. Let's go up." Sei Itō shook his head and said with a smile. Then, he walked step by step toward the mountain stronghold's entrance with Shi Feixuan in his arms.
"Who is it?" Just as the two were about to reach the stronghold's entrance, a stern voice came from inside the mountain stronghold.
"Great Hua's Emperor, Chen Xicheng, has come with Ci Hang Jing Zhai's successor, Shi Feixuan, to have a chat with Song Clan's Lord." Sei Itō raised his head and looked at the tall and sturdy middle-aged man with an indifferent gaze.
Although his tone was indifferent, the content of his words was frightening. It shocked the middle-aged man so much that his expression changed slightly.
"Please come in. I will send someone to inform Clan Lord." That middle-aged man promptly cupped his fist and apologized to Sei Itō and Shi Feixuan.
As for doubting the authenticity of Sei Itō's words? Let alone the fact that the two people were wearing clothes that revealed their noble status, how could anyone dare to impersonate the two people mentioned in their conversation? It must be known that although Ci Hang Jing Zhai's performance this time was not as eye-catching as in the past, its successor was the successor. However, the identity of her successor was the next Leader Bai Dao. Who would want to die and impersonate her for no reason, and even come to the Song Clan's mountain city to swindle and swindle? Wasn't he afraid of the Clan Head's heavenly blade?
Not to mention the fact that he was the Emperor of the Great Hua Empire, which was about to unify the world. Was he not afraid of being discovered and exterminated?
Sei Itō nodded slightly. Then, under the middle-aged man's guidance, he and Shi Feixuan walked into the Song Family's mountain city. They walked towards the innermost room where the Song Family's main members, including Song Que, lived.
However, before they had even walked halfway, a man with a thin face and a beard appeared. His eyes were filled with wisdom. A middle-aged man, who appeared to be around forty years old, was leading two youngsters, a young man and a young woman, as well as a large group of tall and sturdy soldiers with solemn expressions. Finally, he stopped in front of Sei Itō and Shi Feixuan. Without saying anything, he smiled and cupped his fist in salute.
"I am Song Zhi. I have come under the orders of my brother to welcome Your Majesty and Fairy Shi. "
Song Zhi. The second-in-command of the Song Family. He was good at using the sword. In the martial world, he was known as the Earth Sword. However, he was most praised for his intelligence. He was in charge of the entire affairs of the Song Family, and so on. It could be said that in the Song Family, Song Que did not understand the Song Family as well as Song Zhi.
As for the young man and woman who were led by Song Zhi in this kind of situation, there was no need to guess who they were. They had to be the next Family Head of the Song Family, Song Shidao, and his younger sister, Song Yuzhi. Of course, there were other reasons for these three people to personally welcome Sei Itō and Shi Feixuan.
In this regard, Sei Itō was well aware. It was nothing more than a formality, a sudden solemnity, and a way out for the future.
This was the so-called formality. In the current situation, Song Que was still the leader of a force. It wouldn't be bad to say that he was a different kind of emperor. In terms of status, it could be said that he was equal to Sei Itō. The only difference was the size of the territory and the number of military forces. Therefore, it was reasonable for him to not show himself to welcome them. That would directly weaken the Song Family's momentum. This was not in line with Song Que's usual character.
However, even if he didn't show himself, he couldn't neglect Sei Itō. That would make the Song Family seem rude. Therefore, Song Zhi and Song Shidao, the current second-in-command and the future Family Head, came out to show how much importance they attached to Sei Itō. As for Song Yuzhi, she came to welcome Shi Feixuan. After all, the other party was a woman. As a woman, Song Yuzhi was the most suitable.
As for leaving a way out … it would depend on Song Shidao's performance. If Song Shidao's performance wasn't bad, perhaps Sei Itō would treat the Song Family well after they surrendered or after Song Que died and was defeated. This way, the Song Family wouldn't end up like the Li Family, which was completely destroyed. It could be said that he had put in a lot of effort.
Sei Itō nodded with the air of an emperor and followed Song Zhi to the main residence.
However, after a short moment, Song Zhi and his party didn't lead Sei Itō and Shi Feixuan into the reception hall used for receiving guests. Instead, they led them to a two-story pavilion in the shape of a quadrangular pagoda. Wisps of biting-cold blade qi filled the air inside and outside the pavilion.
On the door frame of the 'Blade Grinding Hall' pavilion, three words carved on a pitch-black signboard like a blade entered Sei Itō and the others' eyes.
"My elder brother is waiting for Your Majesty inside," Song Zhi said with an apologetic expression.
"Is this a test for me?" Sei Itō, who had entered the role of an emperor, sneered.
"That's not it. It's just that my elder brother usually stays in the Blade Grinding Hall the whole day apart from eating and sleeping to hone his blade intent and imposing manner. In the past, when he meets with guests, he also stays here. Please forgive him, Your Majesty," Song Zhi explained with a wry smile.
"Oh …" Sei Itō nodded noncommittally and then walked toward the entrance of the Blade Grinding Hall.
"Fairy Shi, please wait. My elder brother will only meet Your Majesty this time. Please stay outside for the time being." Just as Shi Feixuan was about to follow in and witness the shattering of the void that might happen soon, Song Zhi suddenly reached out his hand to block in front of Shi Feixuan and stopped her.
Shi Feixuan frowned when she heard this, but she still obeyed and stopped.
Sei Itō stopped and turned to look at Song Zhi. The latter had a wry smile on his face and secretly complained in his heart about why his elder brother was acting so strangely. Wasn't he trying to offend people?
"Hmph," Sei Itō coldly snorted when he saw this, and then walked into the Blade Grinding Hall again.
"Feixuan, you wait outside for a while." Sei Itō's voice sounded in the ears of Shi Feixuan and the others before his figure entered the Blade Grinding Hall.
The Sharpening Hall was very spacious, covering an area of 60 to 70 square meters. There were no furnishings inside, except for a dozen long swords of different shapes hanging on the walls on both sides. A huge gray rock with the words "Sharpening Stone" written on its surface in red cinnabar and dozens of smaller words was standing in the innermost part of the Sharpening Hall. A tall and straight man in a blue robe with his hands behind his back and his back facing the door came into Ito Sei's sight. He walked into the Sharpening Hall with his hands behind his back. His whole body was exuding a vigorous and steady aura like a mountain.
Hearing the sound of footsteps, the man slowly turned around.
In an instant, a handsome face without the slightest blemish appeared. Under his thick eyebrows, there was a pair of eyes that sparkled like gemstones. They were in high spirits, and his broad forehead showed wisdom that surpassed ordinary people. There was a melancholy expression hidden in his calmness that could move anyone, but it also made people feel that his emotions were hard to fathom. In Sei Itō's eyes, Song Zhi's hair was white.
However, he didn't look old at all. On the contrary, it gave him the air of an aristocrat from a powerful family. He had the demeanor of a Confucian scholar, which made people feel intimidated and unable to reach him. Coupled with his well-proportioned and graceful figure and his stature, he indeed had the intoxicating demeanor of an insufferably arrogant top-notch expert.
Just like that, Song Que and Sei Itō looked at each other. Neither of them spoke, but faintly, a heavy and oppressive aura began to pervade the Knife Sharpening Hall. It stimulated the various long blades hanging on the walls to emit a low hum.
"This Song believes that I have seen through the world's situation, but I never expected that there would be such a sudden emergence of a new force like Your Majesty. Moreover, Your Majesty is someone who can silently establish a heaven-overturning momentum in such a short period of time. This Song admires your methods." This was the first time Song Que had spoken since their meeting.
"And with Your Majesty's current situation, the general trend has already been established. Everyone else is like a burden to them. As such, this Song doesn't have extravagant hopes that the Song clan will be able to obtain any benefits from this. So, this Song's purpose in meeting Your Majesty is very simple. I want to know how Your Majesty plans to treat our Song clan."
"Your daughter Yuzhi will enter the palace and be conferred the title of imperial concubine. Half of your Song clan's people will head north and help me clear out the foreign races. We will help you shatter the void." Sei Itō looked back at Song Que with a calm expression.
Song Yuzhi entering the palace was part of the reason. Otherwise, the surrendered Song clan wouldn't be at ease. Half of the family members heading north was to reduce the enemy's momentum, but this matter couldn't be taken to the extreme lest Song Que fly into a rage. Hence, half of the family members were left behind. Of course, the chances for the dispatched clansmen were equally split. Perhaps some of them would be so fortunate as to make outstanding military contributions that they might be able to establish another Song clan. As for helping the other party shatter the void, in addition to destroying the Song clan's spiritual leader, it was also to use the scene of him breaking through the void to investigate this world. It was killing two birds with one stone.
Song Que's expression shifted slightly after hearing the words "shatter the void." He stared fixedly at Sei Itō, confirming whether the latter was joking or serious. Unfortunately, no matter how sharp Song Que's gaze was, it couldn't penetrate Sei Itō's thin but thicker skin. Naturally, he couldn't see anything.
"Your Majesty is considerate." Song Que slowly retracted his external aura and said meaningfully. Apparently, he had understood the hidden meaning behind Sei Itō's three arrangements.
"It's all thanks to Clan Head Song's good management." Sei Itō, who had also retracted his aura, said with a faint smile. Then, he turned his head and his gaze landed on the whetstone filled with names. He locked onto the position where his name was written and asked softly, "But Clan Head Song, are you not going to exchange blows with me anymore?"
"This Song still has concerns in my heart right now. It's not time to shatter the void yet. When this Song is done dealing with worldly matters, I will come and witness Your Majesty's cultivation, "Song Que said indifferently.
"As Clan Head Song says," Sei Itō said with an indifferent nod.
Then, the two actually didn't say anything. They silently walked out of the whetstone hall and met up with Song Zhi, Song Shidao, Song Yuzhi, Shi Feixuan, and the others who were anxiously waiting outside. They went to the main hall and began the banquet …
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