Chapter 1261: I Don't Understand

Shi Mingcheng's stance was crystal clear.

Slaying demons? No problem. Interrogating demon spies? No problem.

But the people of Qi, Qi would investigate and judge them itself.

There would be no debate with Jing until Jiang Wang was completely safe. Truth or falsehood, evidence or lack thereof, none of it mattered.

Only one demand: Hand him over!

Even if Jiang Wang were a demon spy, Qi would hold a public trial itself!

Jing might think themselves the greatest under heaven, but without a true fight, who were they to Qi?!

With words spoken to this extent, even Pei Xinghe's good temper began to fray.

He had spoken politely to Shi Mingcheng, not because Jing feared Qi. Looking at the world, who did Jing fear? They had already gained an advantage and did not need to be overbearing. From the perspective of the larger picture, they were merely giving Qi a step down.

He hadn't expected the Qi people to not only step on that step but to jump right onto their faces.

This was beyond endurance.

His face turned cold, "Does Qi truly wish to ignite a war between two nations for the sake of a mere Inner Mansion cultivator?"

Shi Mingcheng's hand spread wide, "His Majesty has decreed to me: Jiang Wang is a man of Qi. The safety of a Qi man is the foundation of the nation. The dignity of Qi shall not be challenged. For one man of Qi, we shall not hesitate to sacrifice ten thousand!"

He glared ferociously at Pei Xinghe, "Are you of Jing prepared to witness the death of ten thousand?!"

On this Bì'àn Bridge, where the river winds howled, the commander of Qi's Winter Stillness Army, Shi Mingcheng, and the commander of Jing's Disaster Slaughter Army, Pei Xinghe...

Were at loggerheads!

Just like the two colossal powers behind them, Qi and Jing, reigning supreme in the present world, faced off from across the void, revealing their fangs!

"Since you have spoken such words," Pei Xinghe said expressionlessly, stepping forward, "I shall test your long saber!"

Furious waves surged, the stone bridge spanned across.

The two living True Masters on the bridge collided in an instant!

On this day.

Zhao Xuanyang captured Jiang Wang in the Zhongshan state, and Ji Zhaonan raised his spear to block him.

Then Chunyu Gui appeared, battling Ji Zhaonan on the long street.

Zhao Xuanyang seized the opportunity to capture Jiang Wang and escape.

Following this, Shi Mingcheng left the Myriad Demon Gate, returned to the present world, and personally demanded Jiang Wang's return, while Pei Xinghe stepped forward to obstruct him.

Communication between the two sides failed, leading to battle on the Bì'àn Bridge!

Since ancient times, involvement with demons has not been uncommon. But most were dealt with quietly. The vast majority of people in the present world found it difficult to perceive the reality of "demons."

So distant... as if the Borderlands were another world entirely.

But because the person involved this time, Jiang Wang, was the Yellow River's foremost talent, the number one Inner Mansion cultivator in the present world, who had risen to fame at the recently concluded Yellow River Convention, known throughout the land.

And also because the person who took action to apprehend him was the renowned Jing Kingdom prodigy, Zhao Xuanyang.

This matter attracted extremely widespread attention.

If it were just this, it might only be a temporary sensation.

After all, the person involved was only at the Inner Mansion stage, with no suspense before Zhao Xuanyang. The tide might recede, and it might just fade away.

The ancient Demon Slaying Alliance Covenant was of long standing.

The ancient and traditional Jing Kingdom had not taken "hosting justice" in the world just once or twice.

Habituated or not, the world had more or less grown accustomed to it.

But no one expected Qi's attitude to be so unyielding, directly dispatching powerful individuals from nearby within the Myriad Demon Gate to snatch the person!

Indeed worthy of the Qi Emperor, Jiang Shu, who had obstinately launched a war against Great Xia with the nation's full might. Facing the world's strongest, the Jing Kingdom, he drew his bow and unsheathed his sword at the slightest disagreement.

Now the gaze of the entire present world was focused on this matter.

If this matter was not handled properly, it might very well trigger another war between hegemonic nations after Qin and Chu.

This was likely to be a war that would sweep across the entire Central and Eastern Regions!

Strange occurrences happened every year, but this year was particularly rife with them.

Great Jing's eyes swept across the world, its pieces placed in all directions, and few dared to challenge its edge.

And Qi had charged forth, without the slightest hesitation.

"A ruler should not raise an army out of anger, nor a general engage in battle out of resentment."

This is sound military wisdom.

Since ancient times, those who rashly wage war have inevitably perished by it.

Especially when facing an opponent like Jing Kingdom, the strongest in the present world, anyone would weigh their actions carefully.

Leaving aside other matters, discussions and deliberations in the Political Affairs Hall and Military Affairs Hall for several rounds would take ten days to half a month.

Not to mention such a long period of deliberation, even if there were only two or three days of consultation, Jiang Wang would have long been kneeling on Mount Yu Jing, and at this time, his head might have been displayed across the land, his crimes publicized.

However, Jiang Wang persisted under Zhao Xuanyang's pursuit for a full day and more.

Qi's decision was even more decisive, directly mobilizing people from behind the Myriad Demon Gate!

To be honest, this wasn't too strange.

After all, Jiang Shu was an extraordinary ruler, and Qi and Jing were both hegemonic nations. When truly facing each other, they might not necessarily be weaker in their stance.

What the Mirror World Platform found particularly perplexing was why a sallow-faced old monk dared to enter the Central Region without notice and fly thousands of miles without a summons?

High above the Central Region.

The sallow-faced old monk flew here at full speed.

Suddenly, a painting scroll leaped out of the void, unfolding before him.

Strangely, the canvas was blank, containing nothing.

And a滄桑 voice emerged from within the scroll: "Stop, newcomer!"

Without a word, the sallow-faced old monk, with his stinky feet clad in straw sandals, delivered a direct kick to the face of this blank scroll.

The scroll drifted backward, narrowly avoiding it. The沧桑 voice seemed to be enraged, "Ku Jue! You trespass and are disrespectful, are you seeking death?!"

Old Monk Ku Jue's face was taut, saying, "You in Jing have tempers, is my Hanging Void Temple made of mud?"

"Today is truly inauspicious, all manner of goblins and ghosts have appeared!" The voice said coldly, "What matter do you have to cross the border, you must tell me?"

"I have no other matter, I just need to find Zhao Xuanyang and ask that son of a turtle, why he slandered my beloved disciple!" Old Monk Ku Jue was indignant, "My obedient disciple wouldn't even dare step on an ant and often helps elderly people cross the street. All this talk of exterminating families and associating with demons is nonsense! They even say he assassinated his master, am I not still alive and well? Zhao Xuanyang is speaking utter falsehoods! Full of lies! A complete absurdity!"

"Jiang Wang is your disciple?" The voice was clearly very surprised, so much so that it temporarily ignored Ku Jue's rambling words, and with an attitude of considering the bigger picture, it cautiously asked, "Then why is he not tonsured, and why does he serve in Qi?"

Ku Jue really couldn't answer.

So he just glared, "Meddling in what doesn't concern you, what's it to you?!"

"Whether he is your disciple is another matter, and whether he is involved with demons will be decided after a public trial. Only one thing, I must tell you. Qi has already officially sent a national letter to negotiate with my Jing Kingdom because of this person. There are also powerful individuals battling our experts in the Central Region. This matter is no longer a simple matter of Jiang Wang alone, but involves both Qi and Jing!"

The voice in the scroll was very serious, "Ku Jue, do you know what it means for you to step in and get involved now? What is the stance of the Hanging Void Temple behind you? Can you bear this responsibility?!"

"I don't care what the hell it means! I don't understand such things!" Ku Jue waved his dirty hand, saying extremely forcefully, "I only know that no one can touch my obedient disciple!"