"Miss Furina, you jest."
Bi Ji, who had been standing quietly to one side, suddenly spoke.
The Emerald Swan's human form was gentle and graceful, and her emerald-green dress accentuated her vibrant aura.
But now, her tone was unusually stiff, with unmistakable hostility.
Bi Ji's emerald eyes swept over Qian Renxue before she inclined her head slightly to Neuvillette.
"We reached an agreement with Mr. Neuvillette long ago."
"The Soul Beast Clan respects the strong, but we also know the difference between friend and foe."
"The blood feud between Star Dou Forest and Spirit Hall has piled up like a mountain."
"Hunting Soul Beasts and stripping them of their Soul Rings and Soul Bones—that greed is ingrained in human Soul Masters."
Bi Ji's voice was not loud, but every word struck home, like a soft knife driven straight into the "alliance" Qian Renxue had just proposed.
"Since the young lady of Spirit Hall is here,"
"then I'll make our lord's position clear."
"With us here, there is no chance that those under Star Dou will coexist with Spirit Hall, let alone form an alliance under the same roof."
"Since Skywater City already has the friendship of our Soul Beast Clan, why would it need human factions that only stab others in the back?"
Her words were brutally frank, leaving no room for courtesy.
Qian Renxue froze in place, her beautiful face turning pale and then red.
She was bewildered.
She had thought that with Spirit Hall's resources and her own talent, along with the sincere appeal she had just made, she could at least get Neuvillette to nod.
But she had forgotten that Neuvillette wasn't the only one here.
There was also an envoy sent by Gu Yuena.
They got here first.
This wasn't just a matter of who had