After Ye Tianyi and Chen Lou left, Ye Jiarong hurriedly closed the door.
"Senior, you actually know my grandaunt?"
Ye Jiarong had witnessed everything that happened just now. He saw Qin Xiao greet his grandaunt, which indicated they knew each other, so he curiously asked.
"We've met a few times. Your grandaunt also suffered a small loss at my hands."
Qin Xiao said indifferently. That auction did cause Ye Tianyi to return empty-handed.
"Uh, Senior, are you friend or foe with my grandaunt?"
Ye Jiarong became a bit panicked. If there was a grudge with his grandaunt, and he was still entertaining the other party, wouldn't that be deliberately adding trouble for his grandaunt? Wouldn't he be dead then?
"I have no enmity with her. It was just that auction where she didn't outbid me."
Qin Xiao looked at Ye Jiarong's worried expression and explained.
"Oh, that's good, that's good."
After hearing this explanation, Ye Jiarong finally breathed a sigh of relief.
If they were truly enemies, his grandaunt would have definitely mentioned it earlier. Senior also wouldn't have greeted her so confidently. It was good they weren't enemies.
They didn't chat for long before the dishes Qin Xiao ordered arrived one after another.
"Don't just talk, let's eat."
Seeing quite a few dishes had been served, Qin Xiao picked up his chopsticks and started eating.
Yun Man and Lin Shimeng also didn't say much. They picked up their chopsticks and began eating.
Only Ye Jiarong was full of worries. Even eating this precious spirit food felt tasteless and difficult to swallow.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere in Private Room One was tense.
There were only three people in the private room: Heavenly Clothes Pavilion Master Ye Tianyi, City Lord Chen Lou, and Grand Commander Chen Shunyi.
"Pavilion Master, don't get angry. My uncle's proposal is also very good for your Heavenly Clothes Pavilion."
Chen Lou quickly poured wine for the angry Ye Tianyi while persuading her.
"I, Ye Tianyi, have long said that I won't seek a dao companion until reaching Body Integration stage. I ask the Grand Commander to not bring up this matter again."
Ye Tianyi thought for a moment but still suppressed her anger.
"Tianyi, although I am a few hundred years older than you, my feelings are sincere. As long as you agree to become my dao companion, I promise to serve as your Heavenly Clothes Pavilion's guest Elder. With a Body Integration stage Elder, your Heavenly Clothes Pavilion can also be upgraded to a second-tier force. Why not do this?"
Grand Commander Chen Shunyi continued.
The entire Qingzhou was divided into five districts based on geographic regions. Each district had a Grand Commander, which was an administrative department of the Supreme Heavenly Dynasty. Chen Shunyi was the Grand Commander of this eastern district. His cultivation had recently broken through, reaching early Body Integration stage.
Chen Lou was also able to become City Lord in this Tianyi City and be its local emperor because of this relationship.
Starting from over a hundred years ago, Chen Shunyi began pursuing Ye Tianyi. But Ye Tianyi had always refused. How could she possibly form a dao companionship with someone older than her grandfather?
"Yes, Pavilion Master Ye, before when my uncle hadn't broken through to Body Integration stage, your refusal was understandable. But now my uncle has broken through to early Body Integration stage. He can completely elevate your Heavenly Clothes Pavilion to a higher level. Don't miss this opportunity."
Chen Lou also quickly added.
"City Lord, Commander, Tianyi appreciates your good intentions. This matter doesn't need to be mentioned again."
Ye Tianyi still firmly rejected.
"Ye Tianyi, don't be ungrateful. The reason your Heavenly Clothes Pavilion has been stable for so many years without anyone causing trouble - do you really think it's because your Heavenly Clothes Pavilion is strong? Those people were merely giving face to me, this Grand Commander. If you remain obstinate, don't blame me for turning to support other forces instead."
Chen Shunyi also lost patience and angrily said.
Regarding this matter, Ye Tianyi couldn't deny it. Although she had strongly refused, Chen Shunyi had persistently pursued her. Seeing this situation, other forces indeed hadn't troubled her Heavenly Clothes Pavilion anymore. But this wasn't a reason she had to marry Chen Shunyi.
"Tianyi naturally remembers the Grand Commander's care over the years. Later, I will prepare generous gifts to express gratitude. But Tianyi still says the same thing: I won't seek a dao companion for now, and I don't have this intention in the short term."
Ye Tianyi remained firm. Moreover, she had anticipated this situation before coming, so she had even brought thank-you gifts with her.
"Fine, fine, fine, Ye Tianyi. If you insist on refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit, aren't you afraid I'll destroy your Heavenly Clothes Pavilion? What does your Heavenly Clothes Pavilion have to withstand the wrath of a Body Integration stage cultivator?"
Seeing that nothing worked, Chen Shunyi became furious. His aura became violent. Since it had come to this, he could only threaten.
"Commander, don't scare me. The Supreme Heavenly Dynasty also has regulations. All dynasty officials cannot oppress local forces."
Ye Tianyi wasn't afraid either. Whether in the cultivation world or the mortal world, the Supreme Heavenly Dynasty had various rules. Otherwise, it wouldn't be in such a peaceful state. There were regulations to maintain balance. Even if you were a Body Integration stage Grand Commander, you couldn't act arbitrarily.
"The dynasty indeed has regulations. But what if I leave the dynasty? If I destroy your Heavenly Clothes Pavilion as a Rogue Cultivator, at most it counts as a personal grudge. I'd just be imprisoned for a few hundred years. For Body Integration stage cultivators, neither the cultivation world nor the mortal world will punish too severely."
Chen Shunyi was already furious beyond restraint. At this point, he couldn't care anymore. Perhaps this was love turning to hate when unattainable.
"Commander truly intends to do this? Even at the cost of your own future, you'll destroy my Heavenly Clothes Pavilion?"
Ye Tianyi looked at the furious Chen Shunyi and also hesitated somewhat.
It wasn't that she planned to marry Chen Shunyi, but rather she was thinking that if it really came to this, she could only disband the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion. Then have the Ye Family disperse too, with everyone leaving separately.
Disregarding the safety of one's own force and family - does this count as selfish? Ye Tianyi didn't know, but she still insisted on her opinion. She would also go into hiding. She had a Heavenly Spirit Root. As long as she had enough time, once her strength reached Body Integration stage, she could take revenge. She would personally take revenge.
Dong, dong, dong
Just as Chen Shunyi was about to answer, the door of Private Room One was knocked.
"Who is it?"
Chen Lou asked with an unhappy expression.
"It's me, Qin Xiao, from the neighboring private room. I've long admired you seniors and want to come toast a drink."
Qin Xiao stood at the door and said.
Of course, he wasn't really here to toast. The arguing in Private Room One was too loud, and his ears were very sensitive. Knowing the situation was becoming difficult to resolve, he came over.
"Come in."
Chen Shunyi also knew he couldn't act impulsively now. He needed to calm down. Since someone had come, that was naturally better, preventing the atmosphere from becoming too explosive.
"Greetings to you seniors. I'm new here and came to get acquainted."
Qin Xiao waited a moment, then pushed open the door. He held a wine cup in one hand and a pot of spirit wine in the other.
Seeing Qin Xiao enter, the three people also returned to their previous states. The atmosphere eased.
Chen Shunyi naturally didn't want to get acquainted with any Qin Xiao. But the current situation indeed needed someone to break the tension. Otherwise, it would really break down. He still wanted to try again.
"Seems you're somewhat sensible. This Pavilion Master Ye doesn't need introduction since you're friends. This one here is extraordinary - he's my uncle, Eastern District Grand Commander. Being able to meet him once is truly your good fortune."
Chen Lou saw it was Qin Xiao and introduced, while also highlighting his connections.
He said this not with good intentions, but to prepare for later when he would make Qin Xiao hand over those two women.
"So it's a family. No wonder you're ganging up to bully Pavilion Master Ye alone."
Qin Xiao suddenly changed his tone, speaking to Chen Lou.
"Young man, courting death! How dare you speak to us like that."
Chen Lou was first stunned, then came to his senses. He struck towards Qin Xiao with one palm.
This palm was extremely fast. A palm shadow filled with Spiritual Qi shot toward Qin Xiao.
Chen Lou had already checked Qin Xiao and found he was just an ordinary person. So he didn't even stand up. Just this casual palm strike was enough to seriously injure the other party. After all, it was a Nascent Soul stage palm strike.
Everything happened too quickly. Ye Tianyi wanted to stop it but was already too late. The palm shadow had already hit Qin Xiao.
After the palm strike, Qin Xiao patted his chest. This palm strike didn't even activate the Heart-Protecting Turtle Shell's Shield. Compared to Yun Man's fists, this was indeed just tickling.
"How are you unharmed?"
Chen Lou looked somewhat surprised at Qin Xiao. Although this palm strike was casual, it wasn't something a mortal could withstand.
"Old thing, attacking without warning first. You scared me."
After straightening his clothes, Qin Xiao cursed at Chen Lou.
"Who exactly are you? What does this matter have to do with you? Why are you getting involved?"
Chen Shunyi didn't attack but instead asked Qin Xiao with suspicion.
"Because I have this. So I have no choice but to get involved."
Qin Xiao finished speaking, then took out the Great Elder Token that Ye Qiuyue had given him.