Qing Chen sat upright on the stone chair, his posture straight.
The words "offensive and defensive alliance" from Tie Ming's mouth sent ripples through his heart.
"Cooperation?"
A perfectly measured trace of puzzlement appeared on his face, his voice betraying no fluctuation. "You give me too much weight, Army Supervisor.
"I am merely a deputy general of the Central Army Second Division, while you are the army supervisor and chief instructor. We both serve under Chan Master Wuxiang and Chan Master Xuanshan, working for the Immortal Dynasty. We should already be striving together with one heart.
"Where does this talk of an offensive and defensive alliance come from? Could it be that you still harbor doubts about the Second Division's officers and soldiers?"
His words were watertight.
He had both pointed out their superior-subordinate relationship and invoked the two towering mountains that were Chan Master Wuxiang and Chan Master Xuanshan.
Beneath his faceplate, Tie Ming's eyes burned like torches as he stared fixedly at Qing Chen's face.
After a moment of silence, Tie Ming slowly spoke. "As a show of sincerity, I have some information. If you remain ignorant of it now, you may find yourself surrounded by danger in the future, unable to protect yourself."
Qing Chen's gaze sharpened, and he inwardly grew wary.
"The Gouwu Sea," Tie Ming said, his voice low and clear, "was subjected to another draft of two hundred thousand cultivators over four years ago."
Qing Chen's brows lifted! Two hundred thousand!
That was no small number-another enormous army of cannon fodder!
A draft like that was sucking the marrow from the Gouwu Sea's bones.
"These people..." Tie Ming continued, speaking slowly, yet every word fell like a hammer,
"are not in Gouyu Prefecture now. They have been transferred to the Mysterious Prefecture above, to