Han Yu looked up at the towering Diancang Mountain before him. The mountain's cliffs were steep, wreathed in clouds and mist, resembling a great sword piercing the heavens. He sighed lightly. He really disliked these kinds of "persuasion" missions.
"If Li Hanzhou were here, he'd probably be rubbing his hands in excitement by now..."
He couldn't help but think to himself.
That guy, Li Hanzhou, treated every mission like he'd struck gold, throwing himself into it with gusto. Sometimes he got too carried away, causing the situation to spiral out of control. In the end, it was always Han Yu who had to clean up the mess.
Over time, a saying even spread through the cultivation world:
"Li Hanzhou for arson and murder, Elder Han for salvation and aid."
Han Yu shook his head, dismissing his thoughts. He wasn't here to reminisce today. He was representing the Tian Alliance to "deliver warmth" to the Diancang Sect.
Behind him followed two Xianling Guards, one on each side, clad in silver armor with spirit swords at their waists. Their faces were stern, their aura imposing. Though their strength wasn't top-tier, they were meant for show.
After all, for the prestigious Tian Alliance to send just a single person would be far too shabby.
"Inspector Han, please follow me."
A Diancang Sect disciple respectfully led the way, his expression tinged with nervousness. Han Yu gave a slight nod and stepped through the Diancang Sect's main gate.
Inside the mountain gate, the mist gradually dispersed. It revealed a straight stone path leading directly to the main hall on the mountain peak. Ancient pines stood sturdy on both sides, and spirit birds chirped, creating a truly immortal atmosphere.
Soon, Han Yu saw a middle-aged Daoist standing before him. The man wore a grayish-white Daoist robe, his face was square, but worry lines were etched between his brows. He was clearly burdened by heavy thoughts.
Han Yu's lips curved slightly. He understood - this was Lu Dingtian, the sect master of Diancang.
Before long, Han Yu was brought to the main hall, and the two men took their seats, host and guest.
Immediately, a servant brought forth a teapot and spirit fruits.
"Sect Master Lu, the Tian Alliance sincerely invites you. If the Diancang Sect joins us, we can share resources and pursue development together. Wouldn't that be wonderful?" His tone was gentle, as if he were merely making small talk.
Lu Dingtian let out a dry chuckle, stroking his beard. "Inspector Han is too kind. But the Diancang Sect is a small, minor sect. We dare not aspire to join an organization as vast as the Tian Alliance."
"You're too modest, Sect Master Lu." Han Yu smiled. "The Diancang Sect has deep roots in Yunzhou. The Tian Alliance needs allies like you."
"This..." Lu Dingtian looked troubled. "The affairs of our sect are complicated. I'm afraid we cannot attend to the matters of the Tian Alliance at this time."
"It's no problem." Han Yu set down his teacup, his voice still calm. "The Tian Alliance's rules are lenient. You only need to lend your name. We won't interfere in the Diancang Sect's internal affairs."
Lu Dingtian's eyes flickered. "Inspector Han may not know, but our sect's ancestral teachings state that we must not easily attach ourselves to external factions. This..."
"Oh?" Han Yu raised an eyebrow. "But I recall that three hundred years ago, the Diancang Sect allied with the Xuan Yin Sect?"
Lu Dingtian's expression changed slightly. "Th-that was due to the circumstances..."
"And how are the circumstances now, Sect Master Lu? You should know even better." Han Yu's tone grew colder. "The Tian Alliance's momentum is unstoppable. Does the Diancang Sect truly wish to swim against the current?"
The hall fell silent.
Lu Dingtian's forehead beaded with sweat, but he forced a smile. "Inspector Han, please allow me to discuss this with the elders..."
Han Yu slowly rose, brushing the dust from his sleeves. "It seems Sect Master Lu insists on making the Tian Alliance come again and again?"
Lu Dingtian's face instantly paled.
Han Yu tapped his fingers lightly on the table. The spirit tea in the cup had long since grown cold.
He looked at the fidgeting Lu Dingtian before him, and the smile on his face gradually faded.
"Sect Master Lu, the Tian Alliance sincerely invites you, yet the Diancang Sect repeatedly makes excuses..." He began slowly, his voice still gentle but tinged with a cold edge. "Could it be that you feel the Tian Alliance is unworthy of the Diancang Sect's thousand-year reputation?"
Lu Dingtian's forehead glistened with sweat as he forced a smile. "Inspector Han, you misunderstand. The Diancang Sect is a small, minor sect. We dare not aspire to join the Tian Alliance..."
"Aspire to join?" Han Yu gave a light laugh and suddenly stood up.
With this movement, the temperature in the entire hall seemed to plummet. The two Xianling Guards simultaneously stepped forward, the spirit swords at their waists humming.
"Sect Master Lu, have you thought this through?" Han Yu stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze like a blade.
He paused, his tone turning icy. "It seems Sect Master Lu would rather be an enemy of the Tian Alliance than a friend."
Before the words had fully faded, a commotion suddenly erupted outside the hall.
Lu Dingtian whipped his head around to see a small black flag had somehow appeared at the entrance of the hall, slanted against the wall.
"I-Inspector Han..." Lu Dingtian's voice trembled. "What does this mean?"
Han Yu leisurely straightened his sleeve cuff. "Nothing. Just leaving a mark for the brothers who will be coming later."
He looked up, a half-smile on his face, but the threat in his words was unmistakable.
One of the Dianmang Sect elders suddenly exclaimed: "That's the Black Banner Order! Under the Black Banner Order, they become enemies of the Heavenly Alliance! The moment they get the chance, they'll exterminate the sect!"
The air in the hall suddenly froze.
The Dianmang Sect elder's cry was still echoing when Han Yu's gaze swept over like a cold blade.
"This Elder..." A cold smile touched his lips, "is indeed well-informed."
With just a simple sentence, the temperature in the entire great hall seemed to plummet.
Lu Dingtian's face turned deathly pale as he whipped his head around to glare at the talkative elder. He saw the white-bearded old man now realizing his mistake, covering his mouth with eyes full of terror.
Han Yu said unhurriedly, "Since you recognize the Black Banner Order..." His tone was light, yet every word was like a knife. "Then you must also know what happened to the last sect that received it."
The hall was deathly silent.
Everyone remembered the Liuli Sect from three years ago. Its mountain gates shattered, its lineage broken, even the foundation of its protective great formation ripped out by the roots.
And hanging on the ruins at that time was precisely such a black banner.
Lu Dingtian's Adam's apple bobbed as beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
He forced himself to speak, "Han... Han Inspector... please wait a moment longer. I need to discuss this with a few elders."
The atmosphere in the hall subtly shifted.
The Third Elder, who had been so indignant moments ago, suddenly cleared his throat and stroked his beard. "Sect Leader, upon further consideration, joining the Heavenly Alliance might not be a bad thing."
He stole a glance at the Black Banner Order hanging outside the door. "The Heavenly Alliance is rich in resources, especially its monopoly on medicinal pills and spiritual herbs in several surrounding states. If we could obtain some alchemical texts... it would be excellent for the cultivation of our disciples."
The Fifth Elder immediately chimed in, "Exactly! I've heard the Heavenly Alliance has inter-state teleportation formations. It would make it much more convenient for our disciples to travel and train."
He spoke while wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.
Even the most stubborn Second Elder changed his expression at this point. He awkwardly said, "Actually... it's just in name, we won't lose anything..."
Lu Dingtian sat in the master's seat, his expression shifting uncertainly.
Looking at these fellow sect members who had suddenly changed their tune, a sense of absurdity welled up in his heart.
Just half an hour ago, these people had been passionately declaring they would resist the Heavenly Alliance to the end.
"Our Dianmang Sect has existed for a hundred thousand years..." Lu Dingtian muttered to himself, his voice growing softer. "We have our own integrity..."
Seeing this, the First Elder hurried over and whispered, "Sect Leader, integrity doesn't put food on the table. Think of the fate of the Xuan Yin Sect..."
These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Lu Dingtian.
Before his eyes, the image of his own sect's ruins appeared. The protective great formation torn to shreds, the Ancestral Hall turned to scorched earth.
"Actually..." Lu Dingtian's Adam's apple bobbed as he began to convince himself. "Joining the Heavenly Alliance... is also for the future of our disciples..."
"That's right!" the Third Elder quickly chimed in. "This is for the well-being of the younger generation!"
"Besides..." Lu Dingtian found it easier to speak. "The Heavenly Alliance's rules are quite lenient, it's not exactly submission..."
"Sect Leader is wise!" the Fifth Elder exclaimed in admiration. "This is clearly an equal partnership!"
Han Yu watched this farce with cold eyes, a hint of ridicule on his lips.
He watched the entire process of Lu Dingtian struggling, then compromising, and finally completely convincing himself. A flicker of pity showed in his eyes.
In the end, Lu Dingtian's face even showed a trace of excitement, as if joining the Heavenly Alliance were truly a good thing: "Dianmang Sect... wishes to join the Heavenly Alliance."
"In that case..." Han Yu lightly clapped his hands. "From today on, Dianmang Sect is a member of the Heavenly Alliance."
He showed a satisfied smile and patted Lu Dingtian's shoulder. "Sect Leader Lu is indeed reasonable."
Only after Han Yu and the two others had left did Lu Dingtian sigh, slumping back onto the sect leader's seat.
Meanwhile, Han Yu, who had turned to leave, sighed inwardly. This villain act was something he'd have to go consult Li Hanzhou about when he got back.
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