You Are Rabbits! . . .
That smile on Cha Eun Xiao's face bore traces of frustration, directed more at himself than anyone else.
He was fully aware that his words were the unvarnished truth, a reflection of the harsh reality. There was no sense of comfort in his heart. After all, he had recently contributed seventy billion, and now, he found himself in isolation and helplessness. Such a situation would undoubtedly be disheartening for anyone.
Yet, he comprehended the situation. No nation would willingly jeopardize itself for the sake of a civil organization, even if that organization had made a massive financial contribution.
Moreover, the Kingdom of Chen was teetering on the brink of peril, besieged by enemies on four fronts. While the civil organization had recently made a substantial donation, politics was politics, and it left no room for sentiment. The lives of a billion people took precedence over that of a singular Ling-Bao Hall.
As Zuo Wuji had so aptly put it, Feng Zhiling's unwavering dedication to the kingdom bordered on sheer foolishness.
Cha Eun Xiao may or may not have known it, but he was undeniably aware that there were things worth safeguarding.
"I don't want my homeland to be continuously ravaged by war. I don't want my country to be reduced to ruins. I don't want my loved ones to become lifeless corpses," he silently affirmed.
"I don't want any of that. I wanted that seventy billion for myself. Whether or not others lend a helping hand is their prerogative. As for the consequences I will face, that's my own affair."
"That's it. I don't require anyone to understand me. I did what I did, and I feel content with it. That's the extent of it."
Returning to the matter at hand, Cha Eun Xiao asserted, "So, the elder from the Dongfang Clan's statement is simply inaccurate. It's entirely mistaken. What we are confronting isn't merely thirty thousand individuals. We are pitted against... every preeminent cultivator in the world."
"We'd like to ask, under such dire circumstances, even if your eight noble clans sincerely wish to form an alliance with us and each clan commits their utmost effort, can we navigate this crisis unscathed?" Cha Eun Xiao inquired blandly. "You say you can aid us. Whether I believe it or not is not the most crucial matter. The real question is, do you believe in what you're saying?"
The elder flushed, conscious of the stark truth in Cha Eun Xiao's assertion. In the face of such adversity, their best efforts were manifestly insufficient. What assistance could they truly provide? Even if they vehemently professed their ability to help, they were all too aware that their claims were hollow.
"Nevertheless, let's flip the perspective," Cha Eun Xiao proposed with a sardonic glint in his eyes. "Though you may not be able to assist Ling-Bao Hall, we possess the financial means to assist you."
He rolled his eyes and continued, "Despite the world's animosity towards us and their desire to end my life, I understand that deep down, they covet my supreme dan beads as well."
"Undeniably, the two great sects are formidable," Cha Eun Xiao conceded. "Yet, if we intend to shield a clan, even eight clans... perhaps we can."
"But we can take it a step further," he proclaimed with pride. "If you wish to depart, we can ensure your safe return to your respective domains. That is our offering. How does that sound? I genuinely believe in the words I've just spoken. Do you?"
Their silence was telling. They were compelled to believe in those words. How could they not? It was an undeniable reality.
"So, let's confront the current state of affairs," Cha Eun Xiao stated, brushing aside their previous comments. "What you've offered as the five clans is akin to offering a rabbit before the New Year's Eve to me. I can celebrate the New Year with or without a rabbit."
The mention of a rabbit visibly stirred the men from the five clans, their anger palpable in the air.
"After all, we are prominent figures in the world," they thought indignantly. "We might not be the most powerful, but who would dare to look down on us? Yet, now we find ourselves likened to rabbits in the eyes of Feng Monarch of Ling-Bao Hall... rabbits he doesn't truly require!"
As they bristled with anger, Cha Eun Xiao offered a semblance of consolation. "You are not rabbits, and we are not celebrating a New Year without you..."
They anticipated an apology, but his following words left them seething. "You are not rabbits. You are slightly superior to that."
Their anger surged to new heights.
"Damn it! Your explanation only made matters worse! We are slightly better than rabbits? Damn you! You're the rabbit, and your entire family are rabbits!" they fumed.
Cha Eun Xiao surveyed them with icy detachment, his smile devoid of warmth.
[Do you dare to go mad at me?]
Long Tianyun cleared his throat, casting wary glances at his companions. This was unquestionably not an opportune moment to lose their composure. Doing so would only invite another formidable adversary into their already precarious situation.
Feng Monarch and Ling-Bao Hall displayed a palpable fearlessness, harboring enmity with the entire world. Even if the eight noble clans chose to oppose him, it would make little difference in the grand scheme.
But for the eight noble clans, it was a stance they could ill afford. They had reached a critical juncture, and alienating Ling-Bao Hall instead of forming an alliance amounted to severing their sole lifeline. They swallowed their anger with visible difficulty, stopping just short of spewing blood from their mounting frustration.
Fortunately, they managed to restrain themselves, refraining from venting their anger right then and there.
Feng Monarch pressed on, "Even in our dire situation, it changes nothing for you. Nothing at all! It's not Ling-Bao Hall in dire need of assistance; rather, you are the ones urgently requiring our protection. Ultimately, it is our choice to make."
His words were a stinging truth, akin to a needle piercing their hearts. "Yet, you asserted that we are the desperate ones in need of you? You even entertained thoughts of taking my position? You deigned to converse with Wan Zhenghao as though you were above us? Isn't that the height of hypocrisy? Heh, heh..."
Long Tianyun heaved an inward sigh of resignation. At the outset, they held some initiative in the conversation, but the elder from Dongfang Clan had squandered it through his reckless remarks. Now, they were bereft of any recourse to ameliorate the situation or, for that matter, to overturn the tables.
The other nine members of the five clans exhibited deep blushes on their faces. Cha Eun Xiao's statements resonated with undeniable truth, leaving no room for rebuttal..