Neither servile nor overbearing, Li Qingxian continued, "You are both heroes of our age. Now that upheaval has struck the Southern Kingdoms and foreign threats are swarming, as subjects of Great Qi, you ought to serve your sovereign loyally, quell unrest for your country, show compassion for its people, and uphold justice for your sects. I believe this so-called dispute over Crouching Ox Mountain must have been stirred up by petty villains and malicious schemers. Otherwise, with your insight, how could you cast aside great benevolence and righteousness for profits no bigger than a fly's head? Moreover, both sects are leaders under heaven. If you fight with all your strength, both sides will suffer grievously. Rather than let someone else reap the fisherman's reward, why not negotiate openly and honestly? You must fear that the negotiations will be unfair, but with the Night Guard and the imperial court as guarantors, neither side will be allowed to suffer a loss. I hope you will both think thrice before acting."
Li Qingxian cupped his hands and turned back toward the Night Guard.
The Night Guards stood dumbstruck, as though watching the next Jian Yuancang.
Yet in the next instant, Zhou Xuanshan sighed. "A mountain full of heroes, yet none can match a young lad. I agree to peace talks."
"The Southern Star Sect also agrees to peace talks."
The two sect leaders nodded slightly, then turned and returned to their respective command tents.
The Night Guards and the disciples of both sects gaped. What had happened?
Apart from his somewhat forceful tone, everything Li Qingxian had said was old, familiar rhetoric, without a single fresh idea. The Night Guard and the others had probably repeated those appeals dozens of times.
How had Li Qingxian managed to make two first-rank sect leaders stand