novelraw Chapter 539 - 528: Long Jiu’s Provocation and Countermeasure
Chapter 539 - 528: Long Jiu’s Provocation and Countermeasure
"Oh, isn’t this our esteemed Mr. Qin from the Evil Extermination Bureau? How brave of you to come to this domain of demons, aren’t you afraid of being a laughingstock?"
The voice carried a hint of mockery and jest, as if rather displeased with Qin An.
Upon hearing this voice, Long Tianxing was the first to react.
Long Tianxing turned his head to look behind him, a trace of wariness emerging in his eyes.
As Long Tianxing turned, Qin An also turned around, seeing a man in white standing behind.
The man’s white attire did not bring any aura of purity but rather a sense of reckless abandon.
Coupled with the man’s playful expression at present, it left an extremely uncomfortable feeling.
Long Tianxing reacted swiftly, stepping ahead before Qin An could, his eyes now filled with deep apprehension,
"Ninth Prince, you wish to stir trouble at the Old Dragon King’s birthday celebration?"
Upon these words, the man known as Ninth Prince slightly lifted the corner of his lips, radiating the powerful aura of the Element Transformation Realm.
"You’re just a dog beside Long San," Long Jiu said indifferently. "If a dog howls furiously at its master, I’ll kill it, and Long San wouldn’t do anything about it."
"Oh, have you forgotten the beating I gave you not long ago?"
Upon these words, Long Tianxing’s expression turned very unpleasant, seemingly reminded of past misfortunes.
Qin An heard this and noticed Long Tianxing’s current expression, his face showing sudden realization.
He remembered.
Previously, when Long Tianxing came to discuss alchemy matters with him, he was covered in injuries.
He asked then, and Long Tianxing confirmed it was indeed Long Jiu’s doing.
Seeing Long Tianxing’s aggrieved demeanor now, Qin An fell into contemplation.
He abruptly turned aside, heading back to his position, unwilling to engage further with Long Jiu.
Yet, his movement and expression were marked by deep disdain.
Once Qin An made this action, Long Tianxing hesitated momentarily.
But he still followed behind Qin An, sitting down together.
This scene instantly made Long Jiu clench his fists, a flash of anger in his eyes.
"You’re disrespecting me, you dare disrespect me, who are you to behave so impudently to me, you don’t know the meaning of death."
Long Jiu quickly moved towards Qin An, placing his hands on the table, his white attire swaying despite no wind, carrying boundless fury across the surroundings.
Qin An observed Long Jiu’s expression, calmly picked up the nearby wine cup and took a sip.
Long Tianxing, on the other hand, was sweating, looking at Long Jiu with a bit of fear.
He was from a collateral line, and a very distant one at that.
Honestly speaking, if he weren’t a dragon demon, he might have no connection to the Dragon Palace whatsoever.
As the most direct prince in the Dragon Palace, towards these distant collateral lines, he indeed wielded life-and-death authority.
Therefore, when Long Jiu carried overwhelming pressure and advanced, Long Tianxing felt greatly distressed.
Qin An gently put down the teacup, glanced at Long Tianxing, abruptly saying, "If you wish to develop your collateral line, mere character alone isn’t enough."
Long Tianxing paused briefly, then understood, straightening his back.
Even with cold sweat on his forehead, he didn’t seem to notice.
Qin An’s words jolted him awake.
He aspired to strengthen his collateral line.
If he suffered damage in character due to this, not only would developing the collateral line be impossible, but even future cultivation might face mental barriers.
Making personal advancement impossible.
At this moment, when Long Tianxing looked at Qin An, his gaze carried gratitude and contemplation.
Gratitude for Qin An’s timely reminder, preventing any heart turmoil.
Contemplation recalling the days at Xunyang Prefecture.
Back then, when Qin An came to him, he seemed like an ant that could be crushed at a whim.
Yet today, just a few years have passed, and Qin An is now superior to him.
He could decide life and death with just a word.
This reversal in roles made Long Tianxing feel as though in a dream.
Unconsciously, a sliver of awe towards Qin An grew.
Long Jiu, seeing Qin An remain unperturbed, his forehead veins throbbed: "You amusing fool, are you truly unafraid to die?"
At this point, guests nearby also noticed the situation here, all gazing over.
Some felt puzzled, some showed schadenfreude, while others simply watched the commotion.
These people, reckoning Qin An, with such identity, offending the Ninth Prince of the Dragon Palace, feared facing a miserable outcome.
Whispers gradually arose.
"It’s over, it’s over. It’s said Ninth Prince is the most ill-tempered and arrogant among the nine Dragon Princes. Offending him, this man is bound for trouble."
"It’s not just trouble, I think he’ll be greatly humiliated soon. Once out of the Dragon Palace, he might die instantly."
"Indeed, perhaps during this birthday celebration, Ninth Prince might not act, but once out of the Dragon Palace, his life is in grave danger."
The voice of discussion slowly spread.
Yet Qin An remained composed.
As Qin An placed his hand on the handle of Cold Star at his waist, a sudden sound of footsteps emerged.
Princess Long San walked over, her face sullen, placing her hand on the table: "Long Jiu, what are you doing? Are you showing disrespect to my esteemed guest? Who taught you such manners!"
Long Jiu, seeing Princess Long San step forward, sneered: "Sister, under normal circumstances, I naturally respect you, but today this person was disrespectful to me, thus I must regain my standing, or where lies the Dragon Palace’s dignity?"
Upon hearing this, Princess Long San’s anger on her face intensified.
Today, Qin An was her invited guest, officially informed to the King.
The King also gladly agreed.
Yet now, Long Jiu wished to make Qin An lose face.
This equated to giving her a slap.
Just as Princess Long San was about to speak, the sound of weapons being drawn filled the air.
She quickly turned her head and saw that Qin An had already drawn Cold Star.
At this moment, the expressions of those present were varied.
Long Tianxing looked astonished, secretly thinking something had gone wrong.
The surrounding guests gathered around, their expressions clearly showing they were eager to watch the spectacle.
As for Long Jiu, he looked delighted.
Forcing Qin An earlier had finally led him to draw his sword.
Perhaps this was his opportunity to make a move.
The expression on Princess Long San’s face was identical to Long Tianxing’s.
She thought the same as Long Tianxing did.
If Qin An drew his sword, Long Jiu, with his Element Transformation Realm cultivation, would certainly strike fiercely.
At that time, Qin An would likely face a tragic end.
Princess Long San took two steps forward, about to placate Qin An.
But at that moment, Qin An let out a mocking laugh, stunning everyone present in place.
The laughter carried hints of ridicule.
In the midst of this laughter, Qin An reversed Cold Star and placed it on the table, pushing it toward Long Jiu.
Long Jiu was stunned, looking at Cold Star on the table, frowned, and said, "You filthy creature, what do you mean by this?"
Qin An said calmly, "Can’t you see?"
He stood up, came before Long Jiu, grabbed Long Jiu’s wrist, made him hold Cold Star, and then placed it against his own neck.
"Cut me."
Long Jiu was taken aback, momentarily dazed by Qin An’s actions.
Qin An continued, "I said cut me, don’t you understand?"
Long Jiu snapped back, gritting his teeth, "Do you really think I dare not touch you?"
"No more nonsense," Qin An interrupted, "Just draw it across my neck, and I’ll join the departed. At that point, who can say if Your Highness’s position will remain secure?"
Long Jiu frowned, "You’re trying to scare me."
Qin An folded his hands behind his back, "Scare you? I’m not trying to scare you, I’m engaging with you in a life-and-death gamble. Think carefully; I’m a distinguished guest of the Dragon Palace. The medicinal pills of the Dragon Palace, including those of the surrounding powers, rely entirely on my supply."
"Frankly, if I were to die here today, the Dragon Palace’s loss would be greater than you imagine. Why don’t you ask your father if he’d want me to die here?"
"Moreover, if I don’t die today, and after leaving, I sever ties with the Dragon Palace and instead align with the Phoenix Demon clan, you see how they would then treat me as an esteemed guest."
"If today you want me to lose face, just deliver this cut."
As these words were spoken, Long Jiu’s face turned alternately pale and flushed.
He suddenly understood all the implications.
Especially now, Qin An’s words seemed to enlighten him instantly.
His hand holding the knife trembled slightly, while Qin An stepped forward, causing Long Jiu to quickly retreat, even moving Cold Star away for fear of injuring Qin An.
Qin An said calmly, "You are quite uninteresting for a young dragon, not demonstrating the dignity of a prince of the Dragon Palace. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, the Dragon Palace is on good terms with the Evil Extermination Bureau. I am a Tong Daoshuai of the Bureau, and above me, I have Mr. Li Moyun as my backing. Can the Dragon Palace withstand Mr. Li Moyun’s wrath?"
On hearing this, Long Jiu’s face turned ashen.
He hadn’t expected that Qin An would have Li Moyun behind him.
If it were only Li Moyun, it might still be manageable, but behind Li Moyun stands the Third Prince, a prince of the Daqian Kingdom, completely different from a small prince of the Dragon Palace like himself.
If this were true, the entire Dragon Palace might be turned upside down.
Qin An advanced once more, "Lift the knife, hurry up, don’t waste time, everyone’s watching."
Long Jiu, feeling the eyes around him, trembled with the knife in his hand.
As he watched Qin An approach step by step, he felt his own mental resolve about to shatter.
A moment later, Long Jiu suddenly cried out, flung Cold Star onto the table, and turned to flee.
Feeling the gazes around him, especially those full of ridicule, he felt as if his face was scalded with fire.
Qin An picked up Cold Star, sheathed the sword, and said indifferently, "Everyone, there’s nothing to see if the person has no guts."
With that, he returned to his seat, sipping tea on the table, as if he were a different person from moments ago.
At this moment, a buzz of private conversation erupted, echoing throughout the banquet.
"It turns out he’s a master from the Evil Extermination Bureau, with Mr. Li as his backing. With such status, how could Long Jiu dare to offend?"
"Exactly, this Long Jiu is just too foolish, and I hear the Dragon Palace’s medicinal pills rely entirely on this gentleman’s supply."
"By the way, doesn’t your faction also receive pills from the Dragon Palace?"
"Right, I never would have thought they came from the hands of this gentleman. If Long Jiu had acted just now, the Dragon Palace might instantly lose its supply and have to buy high-priced products from the Alchemy Master Alliance."
"It seems this man is quite formidable, not only with an immense background but also adept in intrigues, thoroughly outmaneuvering Long Jiu."
The whispers gradually spread, and at this moment, Long Tianxing’s gaze toward Qin An grew more complex.
"Mr. Qin, be it strength or tactics, including this kind of courage, I am far inferior to you. If I were you just now, even with a background, I wouldn’t dare place a blade on my neck."
Qin An shook his head, "You don’t understand."
Long Tianxing looked perplexed.
Qin An did not continue to explain.
He clearly didn’t understand.
The reason he dared to act this way is due to having a death-substitute needle, completely unafraid of Long Jiu’s impulse.
Princess Long San sighed.
"When we first met by chance, I never imagined picking up a true treasure."
Qin An smiled softly, saying nothing,
Princess Long San was about to speak again.
But just then, the sound of rapid footsteps came from the main hall entrance, interrupting Princess Long San.