Chapter 285: I’m Too Easy to Talk To
“Peak Master Hua.”
“Lord Xue.”
Xue Xian looked at Hua Changxi, who faced him calmly without any change in her expression, a complex look flashing in his eyes.
Once upon a time, even if one held the rank of First Rank, they would be terrified and tremble when the Imperial Guards came knocking.
But now, with the resurgence of Spiritual Energy, more and more people have become Cultivators. The Imperial Guards, once feared by all, are now increasingly disregarded.
Hua Changxi adhered to the principle of not acting unless provoked; if Xue Xian didn’t speak, she remained silent.
Xue Xian had expected Hua Changxi, being young, to be impatient. He had planned to use his cold demeanor to put psychological pressure on her first, making it easier for him to gain the upper hand in the subsequent conversation. However, Hua Changxi didn’t take the bait and didn’t inquire about his purpose.
Xue Xian paused for a moment and had to break the silence first: “Peak Master Hua has great spirit.”
Hua Changxi didn’t quite understand the meaning of his words. Although confused, she didn’t follow Xue Xian’s lead to ask for the reason: “Thank you for the compliment.”
Xue Xian’s brow furrowed at this response. He looked at Hua Changxi and said meaningfully, “Before coming here, I had already heard of Peak Master Hua’s great name. Now that I’ve met you, I find you are very different from how you are described.”
Hua Changxi looked at him and smiled: “People have many sides. What Lord Xue heard might just be one aspect of me.”
This answer once again exceeded Xue Xian’s expectations.
Before coming, he had gathered intelligence from various sources.
Regarding Hua Changxi, many superiors were not optimistic about her. She was too willful and did as she pleased, completely lacking in social graces, and couldn’t even get along with her own family members and clan.
Such geniuses, possessing exceptional talent in certain areas but lacking the temperance to control their disposition, were mostly solitary individuals.
Throughout history, many such individuals had appeared, most of them like fleeting blossoms, only able to bloom for a moment before quickly withering and disappearing from people’s sight.
But after meeting Hua Changxi today, Xue Xian, who had seen countless people, found himself unable to comprehend this young woman before him.
Knowing that further probing would not yield the results he desired from Hua Changxi, Xue Xian stopped beating around the bush and directly stated his purpose.
“Peak Master Hua’s grand gesture of widely recruiting Apprentices, I truly admire.”
Hearing this, Hua Changxi’s eyes flickered, and she somewhat guessed the reason for the Imperial Guards’ visit: “What, Dan Yuan Peak cannot widely recruit Apprentices?”
Xue Xian smiled: “Of course not. Recruiting Apprentices is Dan Yuan Peak’s prerogative. However, with Cultivators gathering in the Capital City from all over, have you considered what situation the Capital City might face?”
Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi’s brow furrowed.
Seeing her silence, Xue Xian continued: “Peak Master Hua, as a Cultivator, you should know how powerful Cultivators are. With a mere gesture, they can easily kill a group of ordinary civilians.”
“Cultivators are more belligerent and ruthless than Martial Artists were in the past. Even with Cultivators spread across various regions, the Imperial Guards still occasionally receive reports of tragic cases where entire villages and towns were annihilated due to Cultivator disputes.”
“Now, because you are recruiting Apprentices, all the Cultivators are flocking to the Capital City.”
“The Capital City has a large population. With so many Cultivators pouring into the Capital City, if any Cultivator were to act out within the city, do you want the citizens of the Capital City to become the innocent souls under these Cultivators’ hands?”
Xue Xian’s words became more forceful and stern with each sentence, his voice growing louder and stronger.
Department Head Gu, standing nearby, finally understood why Xue Xian insisted on meeting Hua Changxi in the Plaza.
Look, the crowd of onlookers in the Plaza, after hearing Xue Xian’s questioning, many showed expressions of anger and worry. Their gazes towards Hua Changxi also carried dissatisfaction and resentment.
These people’s families were all in the Capital City. If the Capital City were to descend into chaos due to the Cultivators who came to register, their families would be in danger, and they themselves might also be affected.
This was only within the Medical Affairs Department. Once Xue Xian’s questioning of Hua Changxi today spread, Hua Changxi would become an enemy of all the people in the Capital City.
Department Head Gu inwardly lamented the ruthlessness of the Royal Family’s methods. The Royal Family was essentially putting Hua Changxi on the spot!
If Hua Changxi couldn’t handle this matter properly, she might not have a place to stay in the Capital City, and it would also implicate the Hua Family and the Hua clan.
“Peak Master Hua.”
Seeing that Hua Changxi was stunned by his question, Xue Xian immediately pressed his advantage and sternly rebuked her again: “I would like to ask Peak Master Hua, if the Capital City were to erupt into great chaos due to the influx of Cultivators from all regions, resulting in civilian casualties, can you bear that responsibility?”
Hua Changxi had indeed not considered this issue and couldn’t think of a solution for the moment, but she was very unconvinced by Xue Xian’s questioning.
“Lord Xue, you don’t need to be so harsh. Everything you’ve said is merely your speculation.”
“Also, I would like to ask you, from your words, it seems that the arrival of Cultivators from various regions has become my sole responsibility?”
“The recruitment of Apprentices was jointly announced by the Four Great Sacred Lands. Why is it that in your eyes, it has become my personal matter?”
“Have you gone to other Sacred Lands to discuss this matter?”
Xue Xian did not expect Hua Changxi to react so quickly: “Regarding the other Sacred Lands, I will naturally seek an explanation from them as well. Peak Master Hua, do not change the subject. We are currently discussing the responsibility you should bear.”
Hua Changxi let out a cold laugh: “Lord Xue, do not patronize me for my youth. If you truly sincerely wish to resolve the issue of Cultivators coming to the Capital, you should gather me and the people from the other Sacred Lands together to discuss a solution.”
“Instead of coming to me aggressively like this, without saying a word, you want to pin the crime of causing chaos in the Capital City on me.”
“What, you dare not provoke the other Sacred Lands, thinking I am easy to bully, so you want to pick on the softest target?”
Xue Xian’s eyelids twitched. The intelligence had stated that ‘Hua Changxi acted without regard for consequences and dared to confront anyone.’ Her direct confrontational approach was something he, accustomed to ‘not revealing his true moves until several rounds of sparring,’ found somewhat unaccustomed to.
“Peak Master Hua, you jest. No one thinks you are a soft persimmon. What, do you yourself think you are a soft persimmon?”
Hua Changxi narrowed her eyes: “Why don’t you try and see if this persimmon is soft or not?”
Seeing through Xue Xian’s intention to not truly solve the problem but to put her on the spot, Hua Changxi’s gaze deepened, and her Spiritual Pressure erupted.
In an instant, a colossal force, like a mountain, pressed directly down on Xue Xian and all the Imperial Guards he had brought with him.
“Bang~”
“Bang bang~”
“Bang bang bang~”
All the Imperial Guards, except for Xue Xian whose back was bent and legs trembled, all knelt on the ground.
Witnessing this scene, the onlookers were stunned, and the people from Qihuang Pavilion and Spiritual Realm Pavilion were also astonished.
Although Department Head Gu was not enveloped by the Spiritual Pressure, he stood not far from Xue Xian and felt the terrifying Spiritual Might that emanated, making his mouth dry.
Hua Changxi’s Strength was this formidable?!
Department Head Gu swallowed, remembering that the Minister had instructed him to secretly look after Hua Changxi, as she could promote the revival of Dan Sheng Hall. He couldn’t just stand by and watch Hua Changxi clash with the Royal Family.
“Peak Master Hua, let’s talk things through properly.”
Hua Changxi’s face was cold. Not only did she not withdraw her Spiritual Pressure, but she increased it, directly pressing Xue Xian’s legs to the point of bending.
“I was too easy to talk to in the past, which is why people thought I was easy to bully and would always come to trouble me.”
“I just wanted to find some Apprentices for Dan Sheng Hall, so why does it bother you?”
Department Head Gu: “.”
Xue Xian: “.”
The intelligence was inaccurate; it failed to record that Hua Changxi was combative and would resort to physical action at the slightest disagreement!
At the same time, Xue Xian was also greatly shocked. Hua Changxi had suppressed him and over twenty of his subordinates. What was her Strength?
