As Si Yao's calm yet provocative words fell, the already tense atmosphere in the living room froze completely.
Even Pan Zhen, with the composure he had cultivated over tens of thousands of years, couldn't stop the muscles in his face from twitching slightly. A flicker of disbelief and offended anger flashed deep in his eyes.
He had imagined many possible openings. He had even prepared for the other party to dodge the issue, make excuses, or propose conditions.
But he had never expected them to be so... overbearing! So utterly unreasonable!
This wasn't the attitude of someone negotiating! It was blatant provocation and contempt!
He, Pan Zhen, Guardian God of the Lieyang Civilization, had personally humbled himself to come here. His words had already offered them plenty of room to save face, and he had even subtly indicated that he wouldn't pursue the matter. All he wanted was a way for both sides to step back with dignity.
And what did he get in return? A casual, "He made me unhappy"?
This was no different from rubbing Lieyang's dignity into the dirt!
He Xi, sitting to one side, couldn't help pressing a hand to her forehead. She felt a headache coming on.
She had been so focused on guarding against Pan Zhen making a move that she'd forgotten Si Yao was basically a "mule who went whichever way you stroked it." He responded to gentleness, not force, and especially hated any kind of threat or pressure.
Although Pan Zhen had come in a humble posture, the implication in his words—that "an explanation was needed"—probably sounded to Si Yao little different from Xuan Tian Ji's threat.
After all, Xuan Tian Ji had been Pan Zhen's foremost general, immensely powerful and highly respected among Lieyang's gods.
Countless eyes within Lieyang were surely