Free Web NovelChapter 381: Chapter 381: Humble and Submissive
Early the next morning, men from both the City Construction Department and the Celestial Dragon Guard arrived at the pavilion of the Artifact Refining Workshop to offer a sincere apology to Xuli.
The moment they walked through the door, they began pouring out their woes, admitting they never should have indulged their subordinates’ reckless behavior. Having offended the Artifact Refining Workshop, they were now sincerely apologizing and insisted that the Workshop could punish their men however it saw fit, be it by death or torture.
The two major powers adopted an extremely humble stance, both hoping to quell the matter before it escalated any further.
Upon seeing the representatives from these two major powers, Master Xuli was overcome with anger and couldn’t stop making cold, sarcastic remarks.
Commander Jia Fang of the Celestial Dragon Guard had some prior acquaintance with Master Xuli, so he was spared the worst of it. Director Wu from the City Construction Department, however, was viciously berated, yet he dared not offer a single word of protest.
Finally, with a woeful expression, Director Wu said with feigned righteousness, "Master Xuli, just say the word. This was our City Construction Department’s mistake. Whatever punishment you name, we will accept it. But as for our partnership with the Artifact Refining Workshop... please, Master Xuli, I beg you to put in a good word for us. We absolutely cannot let it be severed. This situation is killing us!"
"Indeed, Master Xuli," Commander Jia chimed in. "You and I have known each other for many years. You can’t just write off the entire Celestial Dragon Guard over this one incident! I heard this matter has already reached Master Lu Li. Isn’t that a death sentence for us?"
Both Director Wu and Commander Jia were leading figures in their respective organizations. On their own turf, they were imposing figures who commanded respect, but now, before Xuli, they were like chastised schoolchildren—a truly pathetic sight.
After delivering a thorough lecture, Xuli shook his head. "You should have thought about the consequences before acting. In any case, I’m not the one who can decide whether to resume our partnership with you."
"Master Xuli, if you can’t make the decision, who can?"
"Exactly! We’ve been friends for years. You’re not going to make us go see Master Lu Li, are you? The two of us aren’t nearly qualified enough to meet him."
Hearing this, Commander Jia and the others felt their hearts leap into their throats. ’Is Master Xuli really going to make us go to Master Lu Li? If that’s the case, we’re dead men for sure!’
Although they were leaders in their own right, compared to Master Lu Li, they weren’t even in the same league.
"Of course I’m not sending you to my master," Xuli said, shaking his head. "You know full well how this incident started. My forgiveness is useless. The key is to obtain Master Xuan Ye’s forgiveness. As long as Master Xuan Ye forgives you, everything else can be settled."
"Then please, Master Xuli, take us to see Master Xuan Ye."
In truth, Director Wu and the others had already made inquiries and knew that Ye Xuan was the key to resolving the situation. However, not being familiar with him, they felt it would be improper to show up at his door unannounced. That was why they had come to plead with Master Xuli first.
"Very well, I’ll take you there," Xuli said with a shake of his head. He, too, wanted to put this matter to rest as soon as possible.
The group soon arrived in front of the Luo family residence.
"Sirs, this is the Luo family residence. May I ask your business here?"
The guards at the Luo family residence were sharp-eyed. Seeing the extraordinary presence of Master Xuli and his companions, especially the group wearing Celestial Dragon Guard uniforms, they immediately spoke with utmost courtesy.
"Please inform Master Xuan Ye that Xuli of the Artifact Refining Workshop is here to see him."
"So it is Master Xuli. Please wait a moment, Master."
Not daring to delay, the two guards hurried off to deliver the message.
Xuli waited patiently at the gate. freeweɓnovel.cøm
Seeing Master Xuli’s patient expression, Director Wu and Commander Jia felt a chill run down their spines. It seemed Ye Xuan’s status was even higher than they had imagined.
Upon hearing that Master Xuli had come to visit, the Luo family residence immediately bustled with activity. Patriarch Luo Min personally came to the gate to greet them with great ceremony.
"Master Xuan Ye, this is all my fault! A thousand times, my fault! I failed to discipline my men properly. Now, I’ve brought these animals here, all tied up. Hit them, curse them—even if you kill them, I, Wu Quan, will not say a single word against it."
The moment they entered the living room, Wu Quan adopted a subservient posture before Ye Xuan. As he spoke, he viciously kicked Captain Huang Zhong and the others lying on the floor, making them howl in pain.
At this point, Huang Zhong didn’t even dare to glance at Ye Xuan, his heart filled with utter terror.
"Master Xuan Ye, Captain Shao Jun of my Celestial Dragon Guard also offended you yesterday," Commander Jia quickly chimed in. "I am deeply ashamed and have come today to atone for his actions." Then, he turned to Shao Jun and the others, his voice cold. "You lot! Why haven’t you apologized to Master Xuan Ye yet?"
Shao Jun and his men were bitterly resentful, but seeing Commander Jia’s sharp glare, they hurried forward and said earnestly, "Master Xuan Ye, yesterday we were blind and offended you. We offer our sincerest apologies. We hope that you, in your magnanimity, can find it in your heart to forgive our transgression."
As they spoke, Shao Jun and his men felt incredibly aggrieved. They were members of the prestigious Celestial Dragon Guard, who always carried themselves with authority in the Imperial Capital. When had they ever been forced to apologize so humbly?
Even Commander Jia felt awful. The Celestial Dragon Guard was in charge of security in the Imperial Capital; they were the very symbol of the Sky Empire’s law. They had never suffered such a humiliation.
But he knew that, right now, he had to accept whatever the other party demanded.
There was no helping it. The other side clearly had the upper hand.
If he didn’t eat humble pie now, and Master Lu Li became enraged, word would surely reach the royal family. While the commanders wouldn’t likely lose their lives, a severe reprimand and a reassignment were almost certain.
Watching the men from the City Construction Department and the Celestial Dragon Guard apologize so meekly, the members of the Luo family were utterly dumbfounded, their hearts pounding. When had they ever witnessed such a scene?
Ordinarily, a mere captain like Huang Zhong was enough to fill the Luo family with dread. But now, the esteemed Director of the City Construction Department and the Commander of the Celestial Dragon Guard had come to their home to apologize. What an incredible display of power!
After delivering their apologies, Commander Jia and his men waited for Ye Xuan to speak. He was curious to see how Ye Xuan would handle the situation, though he fully expected some demands would be made. He had already resolved that as long as it was within the Celestial Dragon Guard’s power, he would refuse nothing.
Meanwhile, Captain Shao Jun and his men remained in a deep bow, their heads hung low.
But then, something they never expected happened. Ye Xuan glanced at Captain Shao Jun and his men, strode forward, and helped them to their feet. With a faint smile, he said, "Captain Shao, you overstate the matter. You were merely performing your duties yesterday. While there may have been some errors in judgment, it was an honest mistake. There is no need for an apology. And Commander Jia, you are being far too serious."
Ye Xuan’s actions left Commander Jia and the others stunned.
...
They had come prepared to be thoroughly extorted by Ye Xuan.
But his actions and attitude left them at a complete loss.
A thought even crossed Commander Jia’s mind: ’Could it be that Master Xuan Ye’s anger hasn’t subsided yet?’
’But that makes sense,’ he thought. ’Look at the City Construction Department. They brought their men here tied up, beat them black and blue until they were dripping with blood, looking utterly wretched, and offered them up to be killed or punished at will.’
’Now look at me. Shao Jun and his men offered a sincere apology, but they’re completely unscathed. When he sees that, how could he not be angry?’
He hastily said, "Master Xuan Ye, please don’t act like this. I am consumed with guilt! After hearing what happened yesterday, I couldn’t sleep a wink. The Celestial Dragon Guard’s purpose has always been to serve the populace and maintain order in the Imperial Capital. And yet, yesterday, when some worthless scoundrel was posturing in front of you, not only did my Celestial Dragon Guard fail to punish the villain, we were about to drag you, Master, back to our headquarters for questioning."
"Such an act is a stain upon the Celestial Dragon Guard’s honor. When I heard of it, I was overcome with shame and guilt. My apology today is offered with the utmost sincerity. No matter how you choose to punish my men, Master, I will not stand in your way."
Commander Jia spoke with righteous conviction, his voice booming. Then he shot a fierce glare at Shao Jun and his men. "You lot! Kneel and admit your fault!"
"Master Xuan Ye, we know we were wrong! Please, punish us!"
Shao Jun and his men cried out, their hearts bleeding as they prepared to kneel.
"Commander Jia, you have truly misunderstood me." Ye Xuan smiled faintly. There was no way he would let them kneel. He grabbed Captain Shao’s arms, holding him up.
He truly had no intention of making the Celestial Dragon Guard admit fault.
The Celestial Dragon Guard was the personal guard of the Sky Empire’s royal family. In terms of status, they were just like the Royal Guard of the Liuyun Kingdom’s King—a local powerhouse.
If they knelt here today, it would not be because of him, Ye Xuan, but out of respect for Master Lu Li.
He, Ye Xuan, might enjoy a moment of satisfaction, but for the Luo family, who had to continue living in the Imperial Capital, it would be planting a hidden time bomb.
They might not dare to act against the Luo family out of deference to the Artifact Refining Workshop, but they would never, ever forget this humiliation.
So Ye Xuan didn’t plan to make the Celestial Dragon Guard admit fault, nor did he plan to teach them a lesson.
Of course, that wasn’t the main reason. More importantly, during yesterday’s incident, the Celestial Dragon Guard hadn’t actually done anything too far out of line. They hadn’t laid a hand on him or the Luo family. The worst they had done was prepare to take him back to their headquarters, and even that had failed.
That was the real reason. Otherwise, with Ye Xuan’s personality, forget the Celestial Dragon Guard—even if the Imperial Capital’s royal family were to offend him, they wouldn’t get off lightly.
In the living room, Captain Shao, who was about to kneel, suddenly felt an immense force that prevented him from moving down an inch.
The shame and humiliation in his heart vanished instantly, replaced by sheer terror as he stared at Ye Xuan.
To have become a grand captain in the Celestial Dragon Guard, he was a Tier Six Martial Venerable. While not a top-tier expert in the Imperial Capital, he was certainly no pushover. Yet, as a Tier Six Martial Venerable, he was unable to kneel under Ye Xuan’s light touch. This display of power left him utterly aghast.
"Commander Jia, Captain Shao, perhaps you don’t know me very well. When I, Xuan Ye, get serious, I don’t give face to anyone, not even the gods themselves. But yesterday’s events truly had little to do with Captain Shao. At most, he was slightly disrespectful. Do I look like the kind of person who would hold a grudge over something so minor?"
Ye Xuan said with a faint smile.
