A quarter of an hour later, Qing Chen personally sought out Xu Xiake to discuss their battle plans.
"Junior Brother Xu." He put on an amiable smile, sincerity gleaming in his eyes. "We're all on the same side. There's no need for formalities aboard this warship."
"Hall Master Xu specifically instructed us to cooperate wholeheartedly. Once we've crushed the Wang Household of Yellow Peace Island, I, Qing Chen, will certainly remember your contribution and request a generous award of merit for you!"
Xu Xiake's expression was stern, an unyielding air gathered between his brows.
He cupped his hands slightly, his tone stiff but courteous. "Captain, we are at war. Please address me by my post! This is no time to use our sect's senior and junior brother titles. Please set them aside for now.
"I believe that merit should be rewarded and wrongdoing punished, as determined by the sect's laws. There is no need for you to grant me additional merit, Captain. That would be against the rules.
"Furthermore, if the Wang Household of Yellow Peace Island recognizes the tide of events, surrenders its entire lineage, and sincerely repents, we need only eliminate the core members who colluded with the Xu Household. Why implicate the innocent and needlessly add to our karmic killing?"
At these words, Qing Chen could not help muttering inwardly.
Had Xu Xiake really cultivated himself so far down the path of immortality that his mind could no longer turn a corner?
Was this man muddleheaded? Had he not understood what I was saying?
You don't even want a generous award of merit? You don't even want spirit stones! Has your brain gone haywire?
Such an obvious gesture of goodwill and promise had met with such a stiff rejection from Xu Xiake. Qing Chen truly could not