Volume Two: Life as a Bandit - Chapter Fifty: Zhou Tian's Doubts

"These three are Elders Kuiyong, Kuiyun, and Kuilong of our sect. Haha, it is truly an honor for the Duanshui Sect to welcome Brother Qin," Sect Master Duanshuai said with a beaming smile as everyone took their seats. He had shifted his form of address from "Alliance Leader Qin" to the much more intimate "Brother Qin."

Qin Si smiled and nodded in greeting to the three elders. Accepting a cup of tea from Hu Zongyun, he cupped his hands in a polite gesture. "You are too kind, Sect Master Duanshuai. While our Zixuan Alliance has gained some strength, my brother and I are well aware of our own limitations. We pale in comparison to the Duanshui Sect, which has been passed down for nearly ten eons under your leadership. Please, do not be so formal, or you will truly embarrass me."

Duanshuai laughed heartily, studying Qin Si closely for a long moment before exclaiming, "A hero emerges from the youth! A hero indeed! For Brother Qin Si to lead the Zixuan Alliance to such great heights with the cultivation of a mere High-Level Heavenly Deity—to call it a miracle would not be an exaggeration. While I pride myself on the strength of the Duanshui Sect, I certainly cannot underestimate the talents of Brother Qin Si."

Qin Si smiled without responding. He understood the adage that favors offered without cause were either for malice or profit. He had arrived in Duanshui City uninvited and destroyed their defensive formation; in the eyes of most factions, this would be considered a slap in the face. Yet, Sect Master Duanshuai not only showed no resentment but was instead full of praise. This aroused a hint of suspicion in Qin Si. Having held a high position for years, he had tempered his once-impulsive nature, so he simply smiled and remained silent.

"Hmph, flattery without cause—what exactly are you trying to say?" Zhou Fei'er, clearly annoyed, interrupted. She sipped the Duanshui Sect's tea with a look of dissatisfaction. "Do you have any good wine? Is your sect so poor that you don't even have decent spirits to serve your guests?"

"Uh... this must be the apple of the eye of the Northwest Sage Emperor of Thunder Punishment City, Lady Zhou Fei'er, right? Truly unique, ha, haha." Duanshuai faltered for a moment before instructing Hu Zongyun, "Go quickly! Bring out the best wines from our collection. Lady Fei'er does not care for tea."

Hu Zongyun gave a bitter smile, acknowledged the order, and scurried off to retrieve the wine.

"And this must be the famous God King Pingtian? I have long heard that God King Pingtian is the right-hand man of Alliance Leader Qin. Seeing you today, the rumors do you justice," Duanshuai said, his gaze shifting to the silent Pingtian with an appreciative smile.

Pingtian was taken aback. He quickly stood up and bowed, looking flattered. "Sect Master Duanshuai, you flatter me. Pingtian is merely a nobody, far inferior to the Vice Alliance Leaders of the Zixuan Alliance."

"Hey, old man, what are you actually trying to say? Can't you just stop beating around the bush and speak your mind?" Zhou Fei'er pouted, looking displeased at Duanshuai and the three silent elders beside him.

Qin Si took a sip of tea with a smile. "Sect Master Duanshuai, please be direct. I do not believe I am as outstanding as you claim. If you have something to discuss, please, speak plainly."

"Well, haha, I wonder what brings Alliance Leader Qin to Duanshui City?" Duanshuai glanced at the disgruntled Zhou Fei'er and frowned slightly. "The young lady from Thunder Punishment City is not someone a typical faction can afford to host, so..."

Qin Si gave a meaningful look at Zhou Fei'er, who was sulking like a child. He suddenly realized the situation: this old man must assume that the Zixuan Alliance had formed an alliance with Thunder Punishment City, explaining why Zhou Fei'er had been traveling with him and causing trouble for the past hundred years.

In truth, it was not just Duanshuai. Almost every faction in the Hongmeng Divine World, large or small, had its eyes fixed on Qin Si and the Zixuan Alliance. With a faction so powerful that the Northwest Sage Emperor felt comfortable entrusting his daughter to them, who would dare to provoke them?

Moreover, although the two had not clashed with any factions over the past century, they had certainly done many shocking things. Even now, the thirteen God Kings who were forced to tend to the gardens of the Zixuan Alliance were still the subject of pity across the major powers.

"Thunder Punishment City is nothing special," Qin Si said, glancing at Zhou Fei'er. Seeing her nod repeatedly, he found it amusing. "Fei'er was sent to the Zixuan Alliance by her own father as a hostage to fulfill their vow of non-aggression toward us. So, Sect Master Duanshuai, there is no need to overthink it."

Zhou Fei'er’s face lit up with a smile, and she nodded vigorously to confirm that Qin Si was speaking the truth—that she was indeed a hostage left by Thunder Punishment City.

Duanshuai and his three elders looked as if their eyes were about to pop out of their sockets. Their mouths hung open wide enough to fit a walnut as they stared at the two, who were speaking without a hint of pretense. They felt as if their heads had been struck a hundred times by a heavy hammer, leaving them dazed.

"So, you mean to say that Alliance Leader Qin Si and Thunder Punishment City are not allied, but are actually enemies?" Duanshuai nearly bit his tongue. Would Thunder Punishment City voluntarily leave the Northwest Sage Emperor’s precious daughter as a hostage just to reconcile with the Zixuan Alliance? It was an absurd joke.

Thunder Punishment City was one of the largest factions in the Hongmeng Divine World, possessing multiple Heavenly Sovereigns and countless God Kings. Would they reconcile with a small Zixuan Alliance that only had a hundred God Kings? Especially when the Alliance Leader was merely a High-Level Heavenly Deity? Was that even possible?

"We are not exactly enemies at the moment," Qin Si said with a faint smile. "Since they have agreed not to infringe upon the Zixuan Alliance and have left a hostage, we are happy to enjoy the peace."

Duanshuai and the elders exchanged bewildered glances for a long time before managing a strained smile. "Brother Qin Si, please, stop joking with me. Since it is inconvenient for you to explain, I will not press the matter. How about this? Since you have traveled from afar, why don't you three rest here at the City Lord’s Mansion? Later this evening, our sect will host a banquet to entertain our friends from the Zixuan Alliance. How does that sound?"

Seeing Duanshuai’s disbelief, Qin Si did not bother to explain further. Without knowing the full story, no one would easily believe such things. He stood up, cupped his hands, and laughed. "Then I shall trouble you, Sect Master Duanshuai."

"Hey, old man, you still haven't said why you called us here! And he destroyed your city's defensive formation—why didn't you ask about that?" As Qin Si began to walk out, Zhou Fei'er jumped up and pointed at Duanshuai’s nose.

Qin Si frowned, reached out, grabbed Zhou Fei'er, and dragged her toward the exit. As she opened her mouth to continue, a fierce threat reached her ears: "Shut up. If you dare to blather on again, I will strip you bare and hang you on the city walls of Duanshui City. I have tolerated you for long enough."

Zhou Fei'er’s lip quivered as if she were about to cry, but Qin Si suddenly reached out and gave her a sharp, resounding slap on her rear, producing a crisp sound.

Duanshuai and the others watched with dropped jaws as Qin Si dragged the flailing Zhou Fei'er away, and even gave her a parting swat. They all wore expressions of sudden realization.

"It seems Thunder Punishment City values the Zixuan Alliance enough to marry off their genius daughter to this Qin Si," Duanshuai concluded after a long pause, a theory that finally seemed plausible to him.

Meanwhile, in the Northwest Thunder Punishment City:

"Has this brat Qin Si discovered something? Why has he been dragging Fei'er all over the place for the past hundred years, completely ignoring the affairs of the Zixuan Alliance? Could it be... has Fei'er been exposed?" Zhou Tian had received almost no useful information from Zhou Fei'er, and now that Qin Si had taken her out of the Zixuan Alliance entirely, her mission could be considered a total failure.

If he knew that Zhou Fei'er had already revealed the majority of Thunder Punishment City's secrets to Qin Si, he would surely be vomiting blood in rage. It was fortunate that Zhou Fei'er did not know much, otherwise, she would have sold out Thunder Punishment City long ago.

It was also fortunate that in the Hongmeng Divine World, the divine sense of a God King was not omnipotent; otherwise, if Zhou Tian could see Zhou Fei'er’s current state, he would have teleported to her side immediately.

"Come, drink! No one is allowed to use their internal energy—we must rely on our true capacity!" Zhou Fei'er shouted, lifting a jug and pouring it into her mouth, regardless of how much wine spilled.

True to her word, she used no divine power, relying solely on her physical constitution. Because of this, nearly half of the large jug of wine ended up spilled on the floor.

Qin Si shook his head and whispered to Pingtian, "I say, why don't we wait until she's drunk and send her back to Thunder Punishment City? This is too embarrassing..."

"Alliance Leader, Vice Alliance Leader Zhou has taken an oath. If we send her back to Thunder Punishment City, wouldn't that be the death of her?" Pingtian was somewhat annoyed by Zhou Fei'er, but nowhere near as much as Qin Si.

"What are you two whispering about? Pingtian, drink with me!" Zhou Fei'er said, her face flushed red as she pointed at Pingtian.

"No... nothing at all." Qin Si wiped the sweat from his brow and quickly turned away, lifting his bowl to toast Duanshuai. "Thank you for your hospitality, Sect Master Duanshuai. If you ever visit the Zixuan Alliance, we will certainly treat you to our finest wine."

"Haha, Alliance Leader Qin is too kind. At this banquet, there is something I would like to ask, if I may," Duanshuai said with a smile.

"Oh? The main event arrives," Qin Si thought to himself, then laughed. "There is no need for such formalities. Sect Master, please, speak your mind."