"Let's talk first."
Chen Changan wasn't in a hurry to fight his opponent. After all, this was a Life and Death Battle. Once they started fighting, Chen Changan would do everything in his power to kill him.
He wouldn't wait until after defeating his opponent to give him another chance to speak—or even catch his breath.
Since that was the case, it was better to talk things through first, before they ran out of time.
"Hahaha, good. Let's talk."
"I'm just as interested in you."
"I planned and schemed in secret, thinking I had everything under control."
"But the moment you appeared, everything began to slip beyond my control."
"You have a wondrous ability. You can change the fortunes of everyone around you—even alter their destinies."
"Because of you, one after another, they slipped from my grasp."
"You truly are the most extraordinary being I've ever encountered."
His words surprised Chen Changan. He hadn't expected his opponent to open by showering him with praise.
What was he getting at?
"You're not still thinking of recruiting me, are you?"
"Do you think that's possible?"
"Humans and swords could have coexisted peacefully. So why did you insist on taking another path? Such an extreme one?" Chen Changan asked with a frown.
"Coexisted peacefully?"
"What makes you say that?"
"What are swords? What are we to you humans?"
"We're nothing but handy tools, weapons for you to wield."
"Is that equality? Is that truly peaceful coexistence?"
"Why should you humans get to own us, use us, and be our masters?"
"Why can't we become the masters of you humans?"
"Are we really weaker than you?"
"What bullshit rules? They've always been made by the strong."
"As long as I'm strong enough, then I should be the one to rewrite them."
"I want to