The moment Zhang Yu spoke those words, the Grand Counselor was the first to turn toward him, a stern gleam flashing in his eyes as he shouted, "Insolence! Our Sacred Virtue Immortal Dynasty extends benevolence to all things, its virtue spreads across the four quarters; the common people raise mountains of praise, and the immortals revere it ever more highly.
"You are but a cultivator from beyond the heavens, yet you dare slander the Sacred Dynasty before His Majesty—and malign our sovereign besides! Your crimes are truly unforgivable; even ten thousand deaths would not suffice to atone for them!"
After rebuking him, he turned around and bowed to the Sacred Virtue Immortal Emperor. "This minister has erred. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."
The Sacred Virtue Immortal Emperor said, "What error has the Grand Counselor committed?"
The Grand Counselor said, "This minister had believed that those who came from beyond the heavens were, after all, of the same immortal lineage, and would share some common understanding with our Immortal Dynasty. Thus, I harbored goodwill and wished to show mercy to a foreign realm. Yet what I witnessed today was only vile stubbornness. As Grand Counselor, I aid my sovereign above and soothe the affairs of court below, yet I have allowed Your Majesty to suffer insult to your face. This is truly this minister's fault!
"As they say, 'When the lord is insulted, his ministers must die.' I beg Your Majesty to issue a decree and send down heavenly punishment upon this cultivator from beyond the heavens!"
The Sacred Virtue Immortal Emperor said nothing.
Zhi Pingzhang, the Left Chancellor, immediately stepped forward to smooth things over. He said to Zhang Yu in a low voice, "Exalted Zhang, how could you say such things? For His Majesty to receive you