Chapter 331 - 203: The Delegation

Chapter 331: Chapter 203: The Delegation

Xu Chongyuan cursed.

Su Mu frowned as well. ’Peace talks with the Demon Court?’

’What genius came up with this idea?’

Xu Chongyuan was right.

This was like asking a tiger for its own hide!

The tiger wasn’t a figure of speech; it was a noun!

And the Demon Court was far more terrifying than any tiger.

"I heard that a Demon Investigator from the Demon Court made it all the way to the Capital City. After our great victory at Hujue Pass, that investigator presented a state letter to the court proposing peace talks. And then, the higher-ups agreed to send an envoy mission to negotiate the matter."

Xu Chongyuan continued.

As Xu Chongyuan vividly recounted the events, Su Mu gradually began to understand the whole story.

The Demon Court had a series of plans in motion all along.

The Demon Court army’s attack on Hujue Pass was definitely not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

If they had actually managed to take Hujue Pass, these so-called "peace talks" would have been a treaty forced upon us at our own gates.

But now that they’ve failed to take Hujue Pass, they’re at a disadvantage in the negotiations.

The Demon Court sent the Demon Investigator in advance. Whether or not they took Hujue Pass, they were always going to negotiate with the Da Xuan Dynasty.

"How could the Marquises agree to this?"

Su Mu asked with a frown.

The Taiping Bureau risks life and limb fighting them. How could they agree to peace talks with the Demon Court?

"They had no choice. Rumor has it the Marquises argued with those civil servants for a full day and night."

Xu Chongyuan sighed. "I couldn’t find out the exact details, but in the end, the Marquises had to agree."

"Yes, the Marquises agreed."

Just then, Li Tingkui walked in from outside, a long spear slung over his shoulder.

"The Marquises had no choice either."

Li Tingkui sighed and said, "The situation in Da Xuan isn’t as good as you think. Between natural disasters and man-made calamities, the court is under immense pressure. In its current state, Da Xuan can hardly sustain an all-out war with the Demon Court.

War means death.

And the Marquises don’t want to see any more members of the Taiping Bureau die."

Compromise, in the end, was the only option.

"Lads, if you were a bit stronger, the Taiping Bureau wouldn’t have to eat this humiliation,"

Li Tingkui said.

Su Mu and Xu Chongyuan fell silent.

’He’s right. We’re still not strong enough.’

’If the Taiping Bureau had a few more Marquises, would we need to fear the Demon Court?’

"Lord Li, why was I appointed as the Deputy Envoy of the mission?"

Su Mu asked slowly.

This was a question that had been nagging him.

He was only a Fifth-Grade Taiping Captain. Though he had made a bit of a name for himself, it made no sense for him to be involved in a matter of this magnitude between two powers.

The Taiping Bureau had plenty of Governors, and the Headquarters was teeming with talent.

In the grand scheme of the Da Xuan Dynasty, a Fifth-Grade Taiping Captain was truly insignificant.

"Because you are the strongest Taiping Captain below the True Essence Realm."

Li Tingkui said grimly.

Su Mu was speechless.

"Lord Li, don’t set me up for a fall with such high praise,"

Su Mu said.

"I’m merely stating a fact."

Li Tingkui said. "This mission to the Demon Court will take you deep into the Untamed Wilds. The Wilds are saturated with demonic energy. The higher one’s Cultivation, the more severe the effects.

The Taiping Bureau possesses Profound Weapons that can resist this demonic energy, but they are only effective for Martial Artists below the True Essence Realm.

Therefore, no one at or above the True Essence Realm can join this mission.

And below the True Essence Realm, you are the strongest in the Taiping Bureau."

Su Mu finally understood why he had been chosen as the Deputy Envoy.

"Then who is the Chief Envoy?"

Su Mu asked.

"The Chief Envoy is Zhu Jiuyuan, the head of Bailu Academy. He’s also the current Imperial Tutor and a Grand Scholar of the Dragon Painting Pavilion."

Li Tingkui said. "He is the leader of the civil servants."

In the Da Xuan Dynasty, the Taiping Bureau belongs to the war faction, while the civil servants largely make up the peace faction.

"Your mission on this trip is to protect Zhu Jiuyuan."

Li Tingkui said grimly. "As for the actual negotiations, you are not to interfere."

"Understood."

Su Mu nodded. ’So, Deputy Envoy is just a glorified head of security.’

He didn’t mind.

All he knew was that a new identity had appeared on his system panel: Deputy Envoy (Temp).

This identity, just like his previous one as the temporary Commander-in-Chief of Wuling City, offered no base Points, only performance-based Points—with no upper limit!

For the sake of those Points, he would definitely complete this mission perfectly.

"As long as I’m alive, I guarantee Zhu Jiuyuan won’t die."

Su Mu said with conviction.

’It wouldn’t be so easy to kill me. First, they’d have to get through Ao Qing.’

Over the past several days, Ao Qing had been continuously feeding on his blood and had now become a Tier Five Peak demon.

In a little while longer, it might even break through to Tier Six.

This was Su Mu’s greatest trump card.

It was hard to say whether the Taiping Bureau had also considered Ao Qing when they agreed to make Su Mu the Deputy Envoy.

In any case, Su Mu was quite satisfied with this arrangement.

If things went smoothly, he might just earn enough Points on this trip to raise all four of his realms to the Realm of Perfection.

"By the way, Lord Li, was there something you needed me for?"

Su Mu asked, looking up.

’Li Tingkui was a busy man; he couldn’t have come all this way just to tell me this.’

"From now until the envoy mission arrives."

Li Tingkui nodded, his expression turning grave as he said in a low voice, "I will personally guide your Cultivation."

"Guide my Cultivation?"

Astonishment crossed Su Mu’s face.

Li Tingkui’s gaze fell on the Mental Realm Map in Su Mu’s hands. "A Mental Realm Map is a dead thing," he said. "My own Manifestation was born from the realms of Zhen Thunder and Li Fire.

You can put away that Li Fire Realm Map. I will personally demonstrate the Li Fire Realm for you."

"Before the mission begins, I will do my best to help you raise your Li Fire Realm to the Realm of Perfection.

Having a Perfect Realm in your arsenal will make your journey beyond the pass much safer."

Xu Chongyuan’s face was filled with envy.

’To be personally taught by an expert who had comprehended a Manifestation... what an incredible opportunity! Countless Martial Artists would kill for something like this.’

"If you’re free, you can watch too."

Li Tingkui said, glancing at Xu Chongyuan with an air of indifference.

It was all the same to him; teaching one was no different from teaching a group.

"Thank you, Lord Li!"

Xu Chongyuan exclaimed, overjoyed.

Before Su Mu could even agree, Li Tingkui had already strode into the courtyard.

"Watch closely! This is the Li Fire Realm at the Perfection Realm!"

Li Tingkui flicked the long spear in his hand.

BOOM!

In an instant, several Fire Dragons erupted into existence, and the entire courtyard was engulfed in flames.

The flames seemed alive, yet they miraculously didn’t harm a single object in the courtyard.

Under Li Tingkui’s control, they continuously shifted into various shapes.

Both Su Mu and Xu Chongyuan cleared their minds of all distractions, watching with rapt attention.

...

WHOOSH.

Like a whirlwind scattering clouds, the flames vanished into the palm of Li Tingkui’s hand.

He looked at Su Mu, his eyes asking the question.

Su Mu slowly shook his head.

A look of confusion crossed Li Tingkui’s face. He was starting to doubt himself.

"This shouldn’t be happening. Is it my teaching? Am I not good enough?"

Li Tingkui muttered to himself.

For days on end, he had been demonstrating the Li Fire Realm for Su Mu.

He felt like he’d given it his all, using every last ounce of his strength. He wasn’t even this exhausted after a major battle with demons.

While he wasn’t as eloquent as those civil servants, he had explained his entire understanding of the Li Fire Realm to Su Mu.

With Su Mu’s aptitude, he should have logically been able to comprehend the Li Fire Realm at the Perfection Realm by now.

Even that Taiping Captain, Xu Chongyuan, had already managed to grasp the basics of the Li Fire Realm.

"What is it that you still don’t understand?"

Li Tingkui couldn’t help but ask.

"It’s not that I don’t understand."

Su Mu said with a shrug.

"Then why hasn’t your Li Fire Realm reached Perfection?"

Li Tingkui asked, perplexed.

Su Mu was at a loss for words.

’How could he explain this?’

’That he didn’t have enough Points?’

’Could he admit that his aptitude was actually worse than Xu Chongyuan’s?’

’But no one would believe him even if he did.’

"How about you demonstrate it one more time, Lord Li? I feel like I’m on the verge of a breakthrough,"

Su Mu said.

"No more demonstrations for today. We’ll pick this up tomorrow."

Li Tingkui waved his hand dismissively. He was out of energy. Besides, he needed to seriously think about what was wrong with his teaching. Why couldn’t he get through to someone with Su Mu’s supposed aptitude?