Liu Yuan, visibly enraged, violently slapped at the table between them, sending it flying, ruining everything on it. The table backed up with Liu Yuan's violent martial energy swirled in the air and smashed towards Yao Ye. Gu Yun and Liu Changhe reacted in time, promptly circulating their Martial energy to defend the mortal maids and themselves as well. Yao Ye, the obvious target, was standing still, his hands behind his back, seeming to await the impending danger.
Just few meters away from his frame, the incoming table was sliced into countless pieces in the air which rebounded in different directions. The oppressive power behind the rebound was one which Liu Yuan hastily defended against.
"Titanium Bone Shield!" He yelled summoning the defensive weapon. A shining light blue hexagonal shield spiralled out of his palm. Despite Liu Yuan's defensive measures, he staggered five steps backwards, while panting. Even Liu Ning raised an eyebrow. Liu Yuan gasped open mouthed at Yao Ye with a questioning look at which Yao Ye responded with a smile.
"You couldn't...." Liu Yuan stammered disbelievingly. Suddenly, there was a sound of a trumpet, echoing through the hall. A voice was projected as the doors opened,
"We're supposed to be celebrating our success."
Immediately, this figure became the subject of over 200 gazes. He was a tall figure with long, thick and dark hair which stooped just below his shoulders. Martial might radiated in his voice as he spoke, overshadowing the entourage of soldiers behind him. His green eyes narrowed as he continued,
"Not fighting each other like mindless bulls." He said as he took solid steps to the main table.
"A pleasant welcome, Martial Brother Bai Chuan and a pleasant surprise. You were just in time." Liu Ning greeted with a smile.
"Your boys gave me quite the welcome, which must be looked into." Bai Chuan replied in a low tone.
"It's a trivial issue." Liu Ning concluded with a wave of hand. He glanced at Liu Yuan and Yao Ye who went back to their businesses.
"Which could advance to something worse." Bai Chuan whispered in Liu Ning's ear.
"It's their behavior; the youth. Let them be. Better still, they get themselves killed and end their rivalry." He replied coldly.
"Cold as always." Bai Chuan took his seat beside Liu Ning on the platform, "I guess that must be your charm." He said taking brief glances at the two beauties at Liu Ning's side.
They shared a laugh.
"Anyways, my men suggested that there should be a celebration as soon as they heard the Goodnews. And truly, it's a milestone achievement worthy of celebration. After those months at the war camp, we can finally say that we have more than 50 percent of the Chu Zhou Province under our control."
Bai Chuan touched his chin while giving his train, who were awaiting orders, a signal to separate into the feast.
"I think that the celebrations are too early. It's not time to celebrate yet. Personally, I don't believe that the percentage conquered is up to 30 percent. Perhaps, 30 percent at most, not more." He commented, giving Liu Ning a critical gaze.
"30 percent?" Liu Ning gave up a low shout, "it's three of the five Clans we're talking about!"
"You mean... the three weakest clans. We have not met the real powerhouses in this conquest. From a strength ranking perspective, the Ming Clan has the Qin Clan's formidable support and that strength could match the three conquered clans at their peak. The Qin Clan on its own is a more formidable opponent. What if there are other hidden Dragons undiscovered yet?"
Liu Ning thought in silence for a while.
"Even so, we will hit them when they least expect it. At least the army needs a break to regather morale and strength."
"I'm not disputing that fact. But you have to know that, there is nothing they cannot expect from us now. They are aware of our most recent achievements and the fact that Ming Clan is the next target. No matter how many rounds of spies we eliminate, they could still scrape some info. Not to forget, the Heaven Martial Palace forces." Bai Chuan analyzed.
TL Notes: Heaven Martial Palace = Heaven Profound Martial Academy
"They will not ally with the Qin Clan."
"Just what if they do," Bai Chuan said, taking up a tumbler of wine to his mouth, " they do not have a reason not to."
Liu Ning furrowed his brows as he pondered on Bai Chuan's statement. After the pause, he said,
"Then, we'll need reinforcements."
Bai Chuan nodded with a smile, "Surely. Now, that's what I came to talk about." He said as he rose.
Liu Ning put a hand on his shoulder and said, "But since you are here, you might as well be part of the feast."
"Hmm... Alright." He answered as new maids came to his service, pouring him some wine, pulling off his shoes and other things that could make him comfortable.
"A toast, then." Liu Ning rose his voice as he stood himself. Everyone stood too.
"To victory!" He yelled.
"To victory!" The response came echoing back as the merriment continued.
Liu Ning and Bai Chuan took their seats too.
" This Gu Clan surely has a lot of beautiful maids, you see that." Liu Ning said, reclining in his chair.
Bai Chuan flashed him a meaningful grin.
In the shadow of the darkness, when everyone had retired, two figures stood talking.
"Gu Tian, why didn't you show up at the party?"
"How will I face Liu Ning and the others? Where will I keep my face? Just how?"
"Soon you might not have a place to keep your head at all. Do you think you have a choice here. The clan is under their control now. From what I heard, Bai Chuan assassinated the Gu Clan head and he did so single handedly!"
"They are so strong and uncontrollable. I have no choice. I will put my fate in my hands and appear before him tomorrow." Gu Tian said decisively.
"You could run away, you know. The Qin Clan is still accepting refugees."
"How many months will I need to get there? The borders may be closed by the time I get there and they will still catch up with me." Gu Tian said with a completely distressed look.
"More still, I may not be able to get out of here with all Liu Ning's high-level guards. If he catches me trying to escape, I'll surely be doomed."
"I fear for you, brother. You are treading on a thin line."
Gu Tian sighed and shook his head as the shadows darkened into the night.
At the Heaven Profound Martial Academy,
In a stone room near the inner periphery of the residences, about twilight, Gu Taixu lay on the floor with a blue-green coloured pill on his lips. His eyes were closed and he was breathing weakly, his face pale. Chen Yilin and another outer disciple stood side by side watching the subtle reaction.
"He gave me quite a shock. Totally unexpected."
"..."
"Hey, what pill did he tell you he used?"
"Berserker Spirit Pill. As for those bastard, I will revenge of anything happens to my friend."
"You could not even defend yourself, that is why he resorted to this. He is quite the risk taker because that would have been the only way out and he took it." Fu Jian said, nodding, "he's a good friend."
"Senior Brother, will he recover soon?"
"I don't know. I know about pills that temporarily increase cultivation Level but at most one to two tiers," he said, "but to raise it by an entire level is rare. Extremely rare. Totally unheard of."
"..." Chen Yilin gasped.
"The higher the power it offers, the higher the backlash effect, that's the law. To break the natural law comes with its aftereffects."
"But, how soon can he get on his feet?"
" It could take weeks or months, depending on his current foundation of Martial Arts. If his foundation was weak, it could take even longer, even with the aid of the Spirit Reviving Elixir." He said with a frown.
"So it all depends on him now."
" Sadly, yes." He said as he nodded.