Qing Chen's sudden cold joke sent the two men's hearts, which had eased slightly, leaping back into their throats.
The smile froze on Tie Ming's face, while Wei Ting clenched both hands.
Almost simultaneously, they sprang from their seats.
This matched none of the possibilities they had envisioned beforehand-reminiscing about old ties, sounding him out, maneuvering indirectly, exchanging benefits.
-None of them at all!
Qing Chen's unconventional opening threw all their preparations and pacing into disarray.
Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Tie Ming tried to pick up the conversation. "Ha... haha, Brother Qing, you certainly have a sense of humor..."
"A sense of humor?"
Qing Chen interrupted him, his voice flat. "My secluded cultivation had reached a critical juncture. Ordinarily, I should not have received visitors."
He leaned forward slightly.
"With my current cultivation, the strength of the Demon Lotus Sect under my command, and my standing in the Origin-Initial Devil Sect, let me put this bluntly-even if Southeastern Circuit Commissioner Yue Hanshan personally presented a Command Token at my gates, if I did not wish to see him, he could only wait outside the island."
"Even if someone came bearing Xiao Governor-General's Command Token, I could simply ignore them if I was in a poor mood."
Seeing their faces pale somewhat, Qing Chen paused. "But since you two came, I did, in the end, leave seclusion and sit here."
Tie Ming and Wei Ting had barely begun to relax, not yet fully releasing their held breath.
Qing Chen's next words poured down their spines like ice water, making their scalps prickle:
"So whatever you say next had better be something I can bear to hear, something I find valuable. If what you tell me makes me feel that leaving seclusion was a waste of time, or even displeases me..."
He