The warmth did not last long. Soon, Huang Yan led Ning Fengzhi and the two Titled Douluo, Bone and Sword, into the room.
Leng Xiyue and Qian Renxue had long since returned to the state of a friendship between gentlemen, as bland as water. Though they were still talking, their conversation consisted of rather dry, proper matters such as policy, seeming neither close nor distant.
Seeing Ning Fengzhi enter, Leng Xiyue smiled. "Uncle Ning, long time no see. Four years have passed in the blink of an eye, haven't they?"
Ning Fengzhi hurriedly replied, "You flatter me, Your Majesty. Times have changed. How could I presume to call myself your elder? Please just call me Sect Master Ning."
Public affairs were public affairs, and private affairs were private affairs. It would not be a good thing if people learned he was so close to the emperor of the Jiuzhou Empire. Fortunately, there were no outsiders in the room, only Xue Qinghe.
"Very well, Sect Master Ning. Let's keep this strictly official. Since you've come representing Heaven Dou, this is a negotiation between nations. Why don't you tell me what you hope to achieve on this visit?"
Ning Fengzhi considered it, then quickly replied, "Your Majesty, the Heaven Dou Empire is deeply committed to peace, so we would like to sign a twenty-year non-aggression treaty. The Heaven Dou Empire has always enjoyed an excellent reputation. Unlike the people of the Star Luo Empire, we have never broken a treaty in our two-thousand-year history. Your Majesty should be aware of that."
"Twenty years is no problem. Isn't our Jiuzhou Empire also a nation of pacifists? This oppressive environment has simply forced us to expand our military on a massive scale. After all, our territory is so vast. Without sufficient strength, how could