The meeting hall fell completely silent. Like Sali, the young wizard from the Papagana Tribe, many people were still reeling from the clear message Li Bai had just delivered.
This was a display of strength!
It would firmly establish the title of Great Wizard of the China Tribe, bestowed on him by the indigenous Great Wizard Zog, and save him the trouble of dealing with one brainless, uncivilized black wizard after another coming to provoke him.
Did they really think he was HelloKitty just because the tiger hadn't shown its claws?
After a few seconds of silence, everyone finally came to their senses, and an uproar broke out.
Until now, it had all been rumors. Hearing wasn't believing; seeing was believing. But now, those rumors seemed to have been confirmed once and for all.
The only two Chinese people in the room, standing out from the crowd, didn't seem like the sort to swindle their way into things.
Even the wizards probably knew full well that there were plenty of smooth-talking wizards among them. They were good at bluffing and, at most, could perform a few little tricks or read people's minds. Only a handful could truly wield magic.
From the very beginning, they had assumed Li Bai and his interpreter, Xiao Lin, were there to freeload.
And, in fact, that wasn't entirely wrong!
Li Bai had come on an assignment, hoping to make himself known first.
Once people recognized him, it would be easier to talk to them. If something happened, or an unexpected situation arose, his identity as a Great Wizard of the "China Tribe" would give him an opening to approach them. It would help him avoid being shut out as an outsider and make it easier to strike up a conversation.
The hubbub of whispered conversations