Then Stand

Everything Li Guanqi had done today was meant to draw something out. Even striking up casual conversation and sharing wine with Ji Yuchuan had been intended to make suspicious minds speculate wildly—minds like Yuan Hongyi's! Originally, he had suspected Jiang Yi of being behind the trouble, but now... The man had actually dragged out the assassin who had ambushed Song Yunshu earlier. That gave one serious pause. Li Guanqi had been observing everyone in the hall. When that assassin was thrown out, not a single person showed any suspicious reaction. As for whether Jiang Yi had hired the killer, no one could say for certain. Yet Li Guanqi was sure that even if the assassin had been sent by Jiang Yi, not a single clue would be left by now. The corner of Li Guanqi's mouth curved slightly, and he murmured inwardly, *Interesting... This Tianji Pavilion is far more interesting than I imagined.* Just as many in the room were still kept in the dark, utterly unaware of who the figure sprawled on the ground was— *Boom!* Li Guanqi raised his hand and released a terrifying streak of sword qi, killing the black-robed man right in front of everyone. A long trench was carved into the blue flagstone floor, extending straight to the tips of Jiang Yi's boots. The old man's expression remained calm, yet a fine sheen of sweat formed across his brow. Within his wide sleeves, his fists clenched tight. A moment earlier, he had nearly struck. The black-robed man's head had been severed, and as the cowl fell away, a pitch-black iron frame mask was revealed on his face. Li Guanqi swept his divine sense across it, his brow furrowing at once. The mask on the assassin's face had been heated red-hot and fused directly onto the flesh. His features were entirely unrecognizable. Suppressing his thoughts, Li Guanqi looked up at Jiang Yi with a smile. "Then he is dead. Wouldn't want to waste Tower Master Jiang's kind gesture." The atmosphere in the hall grew oppressively heavy. Even Yuan Hongyi tucked his hands into his sleeves and feigned resting with closed eyes. Among the upper echelons, only Ji Yuchuan wore a faint smile, watching it all unfold with placid detachment. Li Guanqi smiled. "Since everyone has arrived, Tower Master Jiang, please take a seat." Though he told him to sit, Li Guanqi did not budge an inch, remaining firmly in the chair that belonged to Jiang Yi. Jiang Yi walked slowly toward the seat belonging to Li Guanqi, ultimately halting behind Ji Yuchuan. Facing Li Guanqi, he said softly, "Please take the seat of honor, Pavilion Master." Li Guanqi shrugged. "I don't feel like getting up. It's quite nice sitting beside Brother Ji." "Sit wherever you like. I take your seat, you take mine." "I'm a broad-minded man who doesn't fuss over minor details. It's fine." Down below, the brocade-robed Jiang Han's cheeks twitched. Whether judging by today's performance or by what they previously knew of Li Guanqi... No one knew if he was broad-minded, but he was certainly someone who settled every petty grudge! The moment those words were spoken, what little sound remained in the Deliberation Hall vanished entirely. The cultivators seated below quietly circulated their primal energy, shifting to internal breathing. From beginning to end, the old man showed no trace of emotion on his face. Hearing Li Guanqi's words, he merely bowed and said, "Jiang Yi would not dare. Pavilion Master, please take the seat of honor." Li Guanqi twirled his wine cup. Hearing that, he replied flatly, "Since you don't dare sit..." He glanced back at the old man, his voice neither loud nor soft. "Then stand." The moment the words left his mouth, even Yuan Hongyi across from him could not help but open his eyes! That was Jiang Yi, Master of the Purple Tower! The man of highest status and cultivation among the Four Towers. Within the Tianji Pavilion, he was second only to one and above tens of thousands. Yet now Li Guanqi was forcing him to stand throughout the council? To inflict such humiliation—many even expected Jiang Yi to turn hostile on the spot! The lamplight in the hall flickered, playing across Jiang Yi's face like a reflection of his suppressed fury. A heavy mountain seemed to press down upon everyone's hearts, making it difficult to breathe. Yuan Hongyi's squinted eyes clearly caught Jiang Yi standing behind Li Guanqi, a cold glint flashing in his downcast gaze, the skin of his face twitching uncontrollably. Li Guanqi lowered his head, poured himself a cup of wine, and spoke in an icy tone. "Look at me like that again... and I'm afraid I might not be able to resist killing you." A chill ran through every heart in the hall! Jiang Yi felt a sudden jolt, recollections of Li Guanqi's past deeds involuntarily surfacing in his mind. Even his gaze softened considerably as he said calmly, "The Pavilion Master speaks rightly. Then this old man shall simply stand and listen." Li Guanqi did not even bother to answer, leaving him hanging. Setting down his cup, his gaze swept over everyone like an eagle's. He spoke without a ripple in his voice: "In that case, let us begin." "I am newly arrived, and through Elder Gu's regard, I have been entrusted with overseeing the Tianji Pavilion while he is in secluded cultivation to break through." "If there is anything I do improperly..." He paused, and everyone held their breath, waiting for the rest. Li Guanqi's tone hardened, his gaze turning razor-sharp. "I must trouble all of you to bear with it. Anyone who can't bear it... can come find me." The faces of everyone in the hall shifted. Ji Yuchuan took a deep look at Li Guanqi. Tu Yongsi opened his murky eyes, thoughts unreadable. Yuan Hongyi offered an oily smile, yet remained silent. Behind Li Guanqi, Jiang Yi appeared completely detached, as though none of this concerned him in the slightest. Standing behind Li Guanqi, Song Yunshu had not taken her eyes off him from the beginning. Had it been her, she would never have convened everyone in the Deliberation Hall at such a juncture. Nor would she have dared to humiliate Jiang Yi before the entire assembly! It was nothing short of making enemies for herself! Not to mention threatening everyone present to their faces... *What on earth is he thinking?!* Yet at this moment, Li Guanqi exuded an overwhelming presence. A pavilion master dropped in from out of nowhere had completely seized control of the room. Regardless of what these people thought inwardly, at least around this table, no one dared step out of line against him. Li Guanqi's face suddenly shifted into a genial smile. "Of course, an empty figurehead of a pavilion master like me still requires everyone's utmost support." With his smile, the tension in the hall eased considerably. Tu Yongsi was the first to state his stance: "The Red Tower will spare no effort in supporting Pavilion Master Li." As the old man spoke, Yuan Hongyi's eyes flicked unobtrusively toward Tu Yongsi and Ji Yuchuan. Ji Yuchuan had not intended to speak, but Li Guanqi sat right beside him, staring straight at him. Pale-faced, Ji Yuchuan had no choice but to cup his hands. "The Blue Tower will likewise support Pavilion Master Li." When Ji Yuchuan spoke, Yuan Hongyi felt a chill in his heart—when he had entered earlier, he had seen Li Guanqi drinking with him... Seeing this, Yuan Hongyi could only smile and echo the sentiment. Below, seeing their respective tower masters take a stance, the rest chimed in one after another. Even Jiang Yi, standing behind him, voiced his agreement.