If Your Highness Had Shown Me This Spear Manual Sooner, Why Would I Have Pretended to Be Reserved?

"Your Highness, I am a straightforward man. My words may not sound pleasant, but I do not lie."

Yang Wudi picked up the tea cup on the table, long since gone cold, but did not drink from it. He merely turned it in his palm.

"Though the Breaking Clan has fallen on hard times, we have not fallen so low as to sell ourselves for a generous gift."

He did not make Dai Mobai wait, directly and decisively stating his reason for refusal.

The reception hall fell silent for a moment.

Dai Mobai did not rush to speak.

He picked up the cup of tea that had gone half-cold and took an unhurried sip.

Only after setting it down did he look at Yang Wudi again, that composed smile still resting on his lips.

"Clan Head Yang's integrity is indeed as steadfast as his martial soul."

He offered the praise first, his tone sincere and without a trace of mockery.

Then he gently changed the subject.

"However, gifts come in pairs. Clan Head Yang, would you care to look at my second gift?"

"I can look."

Yang Wudi nodded, but immediately pulled a stern face, his tone even more solemn than before.

"But let me make this clear first—after seeing it, I ask that Your Highness take everything back with you."

He paused, seemingly feeling that this was not clear enough, and added,

"In the future, if Your Highness visits the Breaking Clan, our entire clan will welcome you. Of all the royals I have met, Your Highness is the most to my liking. I am willing to call Your Highness a friend, but please do not bring up recruitment again."

With matters put this plainly, he had practically blocked off every possible retreat.

"I can guarantee you this."

Dai Mobai met Yang Wudi's gaze, a confident smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.

"If Clan Head Yang remains unmoved even after seeing my second gift—then I will drop the matter of recruitment entirely."

Yang Wudi's brow rose slightly.

At his age, he had met far too many shrewd old hands.

He could tell whether someone was merely putting up a front or truly had confidence.

When Dai Mobai said those words, he did not look forcibly calm. He had the certainty of someone who had already calculated the outcome.

"Fine."

Yang Wudi nodded crisply.

He wanted to see just what treasure this Crown Prince still had tucked away.

"Li Yue."

Dai Mobai called out.

Li Yue understood at once.

Her palm swept over the Soul Tool at her waist again. A flash of white light appeared, and a roll of plain white paper landed in her hand—the very Spear Manual she had copied stroke by stroke at the inn.

Yang Wudi's gaze shifted slightly when he noticed the paper in Li Yue's hand.

Not a jade box, not some rare treasure, but merely a roll of paper?

A few traces of curiosity could not help rising in his heart—

He truly wanted to know what sort of gift could make Dai Mobai so confident.

Li Yue strolled to the Eight Immortals Table and set the paper down. Her slender fingers pressed its edge, then gave it a gentle push as the paper slowly unfurled.

Dense, elegant small script spread out before Yang Wudi. The ink had long dried, glinting with a gentle sheen in the light streaming through the window lattice.

Before stepping back, she even turned her head and gave Yang Wudi a soft snort.

It was not loud, but it was just enough for Yang Wudi to hear.

She was getting back at him for his earlier disrespect toward Dai Mobai.

But Yang Wudi had no mind to spare for her anymore.

His eyes fell upon the unfolded paper, and his entire body seemed to have been rooted in place.

"The Pear Blossom Spear uses circles as its foundation, followed by sealing, closing, and seizing; Pear Blossom Head Sway for rescue and protection; inner eight gates, outer eight gates; flashing and blooming to wield the flower spear, named—King Qin Grinds the Flag..."

He stared fixedly at the words on the paper, his lips moving as he unconsciously murmured them aloud.

His voice was quiet at first, as though speaking to himself, but the more he recited, the faster he became.

"First Harmony, Pear Blossom Head Sway..."

His finger unconsciously traced a motion across the tabletop, as though he were gripping an invisible spear.

"Second Harmony, Phoenix Nods..."

His wrist turned lightly, his fingertips drawing a brief arc—the opening stance of Phoenix Nods.

"Third Harmony, Three Harmonies White Snake Plays with Wind..."

His breathing grew rapid, the rise and fall of his lean chest visibly intensifying.

Those eyes, usually half-lidded, were now wide open. A few bloodshot streaks had even appeared in their whites, yet he noticed none of it.

"Fourth Harmony, Four Harmonies Cloud Dragon Coils the Pole..."

His body leaned forward slightly, his head drawing closer and closer to the Spear Manual until it was nearly pressed against the paper.

Both hands braced against the edge of the Eight Immortals Table, his ten fingers clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

"Fifth Harmony, Five Harmonies Parting Grass to Seek Snake..."

His murmur had become a low roar, his hoarse voice reverberating through the reception hall.

The two Yang Clan members outside were startled by the commotion. They exchanged looks, wanting to peer inside but not daring to.

"Sixth Harmony—first, cut; second, advance; third, block; fourth, coil; fifth, seize; sixth, thrust!"

Yang Wudi suddenly let out a roar and slammed his palm onto the Eight Immortals Table.

The tea cups jumped, though fortunately there was no tea left inside them.

His old face had turned bright red—

Not from anger, but excitement.

It was the tremor of someone who had practiced the spear all his life and suddenly beheld a loftier peak.

"Six Harmonies Great Spear! What an extraordinary Six Harmonies Great Spear!"

He shouted it twice in succession, his voice ringing like a great bell and shaking dust down from the ceiling.

Li Yue, standing beside Dai Mobai, looked utterly pleased.

She raised her chin slightly, an undisguised curve lifting her lips, her eyes brimming with pride.

Now you know how capable His Highness is, don't you? Now you know what real skill is, don't you? You still dared to disrespect His Highness earlier!

Dai Mobai remained seated, holding that half-cold cup of tea, his posture as composed as ever.

Yet the smile at his lips had deepened a little further.

He was not surprised in the slightest.

Yang Wudi had only two great passions in life: practicing the spear and refining medicine.

He had only just managed to suppress the temptation of that hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor seed through the self-control he had cultivated over most of his life, yet he had not expected to fall to a Spear Manual instead.

It could not be helped. This Spear Manual was simply too exquisite.

From its foundations to its structure, from methods of circulating energy to techniques of exerting force, the entire system formed a seamless whole, so profound it made one's scalp tingle.

It was like someone who had practiced the sword all his life suddenly seeing the true essence of the sword path.

He could not resist it in the slightest.

"What do you think, Clan Head Yang?"

Dai Mobai's smiling voice reached Yang Wudi's ears, neither too loud nor too soft, pulling him from his excited trance at precisely the right moment.

"Does this meeting gift suit your taste?"

Yang Wudi turned his head.

The flush of his earlier excitement still lingered on his face.

But when he met Dai Mobai's smiling eyes, an indescribable embarrassment quietly crept into his heart.

He remembered everything he had said earlier—

Things like, "Please take the gifts back," "Do not bring up recruitment again," and "I will not sell myself for a generous gift."

Every sentence had been firm and resolute, every word ringing with conviction.

Now those words had become slaps, striking him across his own face one after another.

He remained silent for quite a while.

The reception hall was so quiet that the rustling of wind through the locust leaves in the courtyard outside could be heard.

Li Yue stood beside Dai Mobai with her arms folded, calmly waiting to see how this stubborn old man would find a way down.

Then Yang Wudi sighed.

There was no unwillingness or anger in that sigh, only the frankness and relief of someone completely won over.

He raised a hand and adjusted his collar, then lifted his eyes to Dai Mobai.

"If Your Highness had brought out this Spear Manual sooner—"

He paused and shook his head, as though mocking his own stubbornness from moments ago.

"Why would I have pretended to be reserved?"