Strength was the prerequisite for negotiation. It might not make your opponent surrender outright, but most of the time, it could make an opponent brimming with arrogance and prejudice calmly communicate with you.
Language was a bridge for communication? True, but in Lu PingAn's view, violence was the permit that allowed that "bridge" to be built.
Without sufficient strength to back you up, no matter how brilliantly you spoke, the other side would treat it as idle chatter. If you wanted some idiot to sit down and listen to you, you first needed the strength to drag that idiot out and beat them into pulp.
Half a year ago, or even a month ago, if Lu PingAn had said he wanted to negotiate with the Maiden of the Forest, the other side would only have taken it as a joke, then casually sent assassins after him.
Then they would have killed each other. If one died, an even fiercer one would come. Once Lu PingAn's threat rating rose, they would simply send their strongest forces to settle the score.
That was reality. If there truly were casualties, then as the larger faction, they could not possibly stop on their own initiative. Face and dignity were the confidence they relied on to preserve unity and interests. If they truly resolved to eliminate Lu PingAn as an enemy, he might have had no choice but to flee to another realm and wait until he reached Tier 8 or Tier 9 before returning for revenge.
Now, the only real grudge between the two sides was Liu Zibei from back then—small company disputes did not count—and he had already effectively betrayed the Maiden of the Forest.
So, this was actually the only time they could negotiate. Lu PingAn had demonstrated his capability and confidence,