31: Chapter 31 Meeting Tang Xiaowu

Chen Shanzhi pushed open the door. Before he could take in the room's furnishings, a slightly effeminate voice laced with clear dissatisfaction drifted over.

"Commander Chen, you've finally arrived."

In the center of the room, A-Man wearing a cyan scholar's robe sat in a Grandmaster's Chair. His face was fair but carried a distinct air of meanness.

He held a tea lid in his hand, casually scraping away the tea froth without even lifting his eyelids.

"Several days have passed, yet these Wu Clan people haven't sent anyone to communicate with us."

"These southern barbarians simply have no respect for our Great Zhou, do they?"

This man was the Supervising Officer for this diplomatic mission, Wang Yuanhua.

According to official rank, Chen Shanzhi, as the special envoy commander, was the primary official, while Wang Yuanhua was merely a deputy responsible for supervision.

However, this fellow relied on the fact that he was the Supervising Officer sent by the Third Prince. He constantly used his minor authority to act like a big shot, putting on airs throughout the entire journey.

Seeing that Chen Shanzhi didn't respond, Wang Yuanhua slammed his teacup onto the table with a sharp 'clack'.

He looked up, his triangular eyes staring intently at Chen Shanzhi as he said in a sarcastic tone:

"As the commander, you're just going to sit and wait without taking any action?"

"If you ruin His Highness's grand plans or cause Great Zhou to lose face..."

"Can you even bear the responsibility for such a crime?"

Chen Shanzhi laughed inwardly.

This guy really was a piece of work.

It was only the third day, and he was already losing his cool?

However, Chen Shanzhi had to act according to the memories in his mind, so he naturally wouldn't lower himself to the level of such a clown.

He pulled out the chair opposite him and sat down, casually pouring himself a cup of tea.

His movements were smooth and fluid, completely ignoring Wang Yuanhua's fury.

"Supervising Officer, please remain calm."

Chen Shanzhi blew on the steam rising from his tea and said unhurriedly:

"The Wu Clan is ignoring us because they want to intimidate us."

"If we get all worked up over something like this, we'll only lose the upper hand and let them look down on us."

"Although I haven't moved these past two days, I haven't been idle either."

Chen Shanzhi set down his teacup and leaned forward slightly, putting on an air of profound mystery.

"I've been observing the Wu Clan these past two days. Has the Supervising Officer noticed anything strange?"

"Observing? Anything strange?"

Wang Yuanhua looked at him suspiciously. "What could be strange about this dilapidated Post House?"

Chen Shanzhi didn't answer directly. Instead, he lightly tapped the table and asked in return:

"What does the Supervising Officer think the Wu Clan's current attitude toward our Great Zhou is?"

Wang Yuanhua was taken aback. He instinctively puffed out his chest and snorted:

"Do you even need to ask? Our Great Zhou is the Celestial Empire."

"Offering them an Alliance is doing them a favor. Naturally, they should be filled with gratitude..."

"The Supervising Officer is gravely mistaken."

Chen Shanzhi cut him off directly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"If they truly wanted an Alliance, why would they throw us into these remote guest rooms?"

"If they were truly afraid of the Demon People, why are the guards outside the Post House so lax?"

"This..." Wang Yuanhua opened his mouth, his mind unable to keep up.

Chen Shanzhi then threw out several strategic questions that sounded professional but were actually hollow.

For instance, he spoke of the advantages and disadvantages of the Wu Clan's terrain if two armies were to clash, and so on.

As a result, Wang Yuanhua stammered, unable to utter a single coherent word for a long time. Finally, he waved his hand in embarrassed rage:

"Enough, enough! This official is A-Man of letters and doesn't understand your military intricacies."

"Anyway, I have only one thing to say: we must see the Wu Clan Chief tomorrow, or I will hold you solely responsible!"

Chen Shanzhi smiled slightly, stood up, and cupped his hands.

"Rest assured, Supervising Officer. This subordinate knows what he's doing."

As he stepped out of the room, the respect on Chen Shanzhi's face vanished instantly, replaced by a look of mockery.

"For now, it seems this Supervising Officer is a pure and simple idiot."

"No brains, no guts, yet he loves to put on airs."

In the original game plot, someone like this usually wouldn't survive past the first chapter.

But in this current hidden plot...

A pig-like teammate like this was sometimes the best shield.

Thinking of this, Chen Shanzhi was in a good mood. He hummed a little tune as he returned to his room and fell asleep immediately.

If nothing went wrong, the plot should advance again tomorrow morning.

...

The next morning.

Just as the sunlight spilled into the room, a rapid knocking sounded at the door.

"Commander Chen! Commander Chen! Wake up!"

The excited voice of a guard came from outside:

"People from the Wu Clan have arrived! They say their Clan Chief wants to receive us in the Meeting Hall!"

Chen Shanzhi snapped his eyes open, a smile that said 'as expected' appearing on his face.

He quickly dressed, made himself presentable, and pushed open the door.

Outside, Wang Yuanhua had long been waiting impatiently.

This fellow had specifically changed into a brand-new official robe today, his hair combed until it was slick and shiny.

He even held a folding fan, preening himself in front of the bronze mirror by the door.

Chen Shanzhi was stunned, his expression turning odd. This look... why did it feel so familiar?

Seeing Chen Shanzhi come out, Wang Yuanhua snapped his fan shut and raised his chin:

"Commander Chen, move faster. Don't let those barbarians think we Great Zhou people are lazy."

Chen Shanzhi didn't bother arguing and simply nodded. "Let's go."

The two of them, accompanied by four elite guards, followed a Wu Clan guide toward the Meeting Hall deep within the stockade.

The Wu Clan stockade was built against the mountain, consisting entirely of stilt-house architecture. It was completely different from Great Zhou, filled with an exotic flair.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, they arrived before a magnificent wooden hall.

Two rows of Wu Clan warriors stood at the entrance, holding spears with totems tattooed on their bodies. Each had a fierce Aura, their eyes like those of wolves and tigers.

"Please." The guide stepped aside to lead the way.

Chen Shanzhi straightened his clothes and strode inside with his head held high.

The interior of the hall was vast, though the lighting was somewhat dim.

Chen Shanzhi's gaze swept across the room, instantly taking in the situation.

Seated at the head of the hall was a middle-aged man.

He wore a tiger-skin cloak that revealed half of his sturdy chest. His muscles bulged like iron stones, covered in intricate cyan tattoos.

He had a rugged face with thick brows and large eyes, exuding a natural authority.

This should be the current Clan Chief of the Wu Clan, Miao Yunzhan.

In a slightly lower position to the left of the main seat sat an old man as thin as a withered stick.

The elder was wrapped entirely in a pitch-black cloak, leaning on a withered wooden staff adorned with bone ornaments. His eyes were closed as if he were asleep.

However, the cold and obscure Aura radiating from him caused Chen Shanzhi's heart to tremble slightly.

The Divine Shaman of the Wu Clan—a figure whose status was second only to the Clan Chief and the clan's most mysterious expert.

Behind the old man stood a youth.

He wore ornate leather armor decorated with silver. His chin was held high, his eyes filled with an insufferable arrogance as if he were looking down his nose at the world.

No doubt, this was the Divine Shaman's Personal Disciple.

Finally, Chen Shanzhi's gaze landed on a young woman standing beside the Clan Chief.

With just one look, his breath hitched for a moment.

This woman was, naturally, Tang Xiaowu.

But at this moment, she was completely different from the cold girl he usually saw in the capital.

She wore an outfit with distinct Wu Clan characteristics.

Her upper body featured a tight-fitting, deep blue short jacket with exquisite five-colored patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs.

It revealed arms as white as lotus roots and a slender waist one could almost wrap a hand around.

Her lower body consisted of a pleated short skirt that barely covered her thighs.

It exposed two long, straight, and dazzlingly white legs.

She wore a heavy silver crown on her head and a silver collar around her neck.

With every slight movement, the silver ornaments on her body made a crisp 'ding-ling-ling' sound.

This attire forcefully blended a sense of wildness and allure into her originally cold temperament.

She was both pure and seductive; the visual impact was explosive.

Chen Shanzhi felt his heart betray him, beating several times faster.

He forced down the agitation in his heart and met Tang Xiaowu's cold eyes.

Their gazes met in mid-air.

Chen Shanzhi winked his right eye, giving a subtle hint that only the two of them would understand.

However, Tang Xiaowu looked at him as if he were a complete stranger.

She looked away expressionlessly, without even a flicker in her eyelids.

Chen Shanzhi's heart sank.

Oh no, the situation he feared most had happened.

Could Tang Xiaowu's mission in this Secret Realm have truly placed her on the opposite side?

If their missions conflicted, things would be very troublesome.

Just then, Miao Yunzhan, who was in the main seat, spoke.

"Everyone, please sit."

His voice was deep and resonant, like muffled thunder echoing in the hall.

"These past few days, I was at a critical stage in my cultivation, so I remained in seclusion."

"I failed to receive the Great Zhou envoys in a timely manner. Please forgive me."

Just as Wang Yuanhua was about to lash out, Chen Shanzhi beat him to it, cupping his hands with a smile:

"The Clan Chief is too kind. Cultivation is a major matter; it is only right that we wait a few days."

"I am Chen San, the commander of this Great Zhou mission."

"The one beside me is the Supervising Officer for this mission."

"We offer our greetings to the Clan Chief and the Divine Shaman."

Miao Yunzhan nodded slightly, his sharp, tiger-like eyes sweeping over Chen Shanzhi.

He seemed somewhat surprised by this young man's composure.

Then, he briefly introduced the people around him.

The old man was indeed the Divine Shaman, and the youth was his Disciple, named Sang Ji.

As for Tang Xiaowu's identity in this plot, she was Miao Yunzhan's daughter, the Saintess of the Witch Clan, Miao Aman.

"I wonder, what is the purpose of the envoys' visit?" Miao Yunzhan asked, despite already knowing the answer.

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

Chen Shanzhi did not beat around the bush; he stood up directly and said in a clear voice:

"Naturally, I have come to form an Alliance with the Wu Clan."

He walked to the center of the main hall and spoke eloquently:

"Currently, the Demon Dynasty in the north is restless, and their ambitions are known to everyone."

"They view our Human Race as food. Once they launch a full-scale southward invasion, the first to bear the brunt will be your clan and the borders of my Great Zhou."

"The principle of 'when the lips are gone, the teeth are cold,' I presume the Clan Chief understands better than I do."

"If our two parties join forces and act as mutual support, the Demon People will not dare to act rashly."

"Otherwise, once they pick us off one by one, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Chen Shanzhi delivered these words with reason and evidence, neither servile nor overbearing.

However, after hearing this, Miao Yunzhan did not show much interest.

He picked up the wine bowl on the table, took a sip, and said indifferently:

"The matter of an Alliance is of great importance; we need to deliberate on it at length."

"Moreover, there has been plenty of rain this year, and there is plenty of game in the mountains; our Wu Clan is living quite peacefully."

"As for the Demon People... we haven't seen any movement yet."

Is he starting to stall already?

Chen Shanzhi frowned slightly; this diplomatic mission was indeed not going to be smooth.

Just as Chen Shanzhi was preparing to throw out his second bargaining chip and continue lobbying.

"Bang!"

Wang Yuanhua, who was beside him, suddenly slammed the table and stood up abruptly.

"Deliberate at length? How much longer do you need to deliberate?"

Wang Yuanhua pointed at Miao Yunzhan, his face full of arrogance, spittle flying everywhere:

"Does the Clan Chief want to take a good look at the current situation of your Wu Clan?"

"Every year you are raided by the Demon People, suffering countless casualties, yet you don't even dare to let out a fart!"

"His Highness is merciful and willing to give you a chance to form an Alliance; that is a favor to you!"

"Don't be ungrateful; if you don't form an Alliance with our Great Zhou,"

"once the Demon People's army arrives, you barbarians will be annexed sooner or later."

"By then, all of you will become food for the Demon People!"

"Damn it!"

Chen Shanzhi couldn't stop him in time and felt his head buzzing.

What kind of pig teammate is this?

The biggest taboo at the negotiating table is exposing someone's shortcomings, yet this guy went straight to rubbing salt into their wounds—and spicy salt at that!

Sure enough, before the words had even faded.

"Boom!"

An incredibly terrifying Aura erupted instantly from the main seat!

The air in the entire main hall seemed to be drained in that instant, and the temperature plummeted to freezing.

Chen Shanzhi only felt a chill down his spine, as if he had been targeted by an ancient Vicious Beast; his whole body stiffened, unable to move.

And Wang Yuanhua, who bore the brunt of it, was even more miserable.

His arrogant expression was still frozen on his face, but his body began to tremble violently like a sieve.

"Thump!"

His legs went soft, and Wang Yuanhua collapsed onto the floor.

His face was as pale as paper, and there was even a faint damp patch seeping from his crotch.

"Presumptuous!"

Miao Yunzhan slowly stood up, looking down at Wang Yuanhua from above, his eyes filled with murderous intent:

"Is this the upbringing of a Great Zhou envoy?"

"If it weren't for the fact that we do not behead envoys during wartime, you would already be a corpse!"

That terrifying Aura belonging to a Peak Martial Artist made it difficult for Wang Yuanhua to even breathe.

He could only open his mouth wide, making strange "ho-ho" sounds.

Chen Shanzhi gritted his teeth, forcibly resisting the Aura.

The Life Fire within his body flared; under this terrifying Aura, he actually managed to take half a step forward.

He blocked in front of Wang Yuanhua and said in a deep voice:

"Clan Chief, please calm your anger. The Supervising Officer is also anxious about the safety of Great Zhou and your clan."

"That is why he spoke without thinking; I ask for the Clan Chief's forgiveness!"

A trace of surprise appeared in Miao Yunzhan's eyes; he did not expect the person in front of him, merely at the Life Fire Realm,

to not only be able to take half a step forward under his Aura but also remain calm and speak eloquently.

"Hmph!"

A moment later, he snorted coldly and withdrew that suffocating Aura.

"It seems that you have traveled far and do not know much about our Wu Clan."

Miao Yunzhan sat back in his seat and said coldly:

"We shall discuss the Alliance another day."

"Today, I will have my daughter and the Divine Shaman's Disciple take you all for a tour of our Wu Clan."

At this moment, that young man Sang Ji, who had been looking down his nose the whole time, walked over together with Tang Xiaowu.

Sang Ji glanced at Wang Yuanhua, who was collapsed on the ground, and a sneer curled on the corner of his mouth, undisguised:

"Tsk tsk, the officials of Great Zhou, is that all the courage you have?"

"The two of you, please follow us."

Tang Xiaowu kept a cold face, her gaze sweeping over Chen Shanzhi without any emotional fluctuation.

Chen Shanzhi would not give up and gave her a wink.

However, Tang Xiaowu directly ignored his little gesture.

She turned and walked out of the hall, leaving behind only a cold sentence:

"Many places in the Wu Clan are set with Gu formations and traps; you two had better keep up."

"If you accidentally wander into a Forbidden Ground, you might just lose your lives there."

After speaking, her long, beautiful legs moved, causing the silver bells at her waist to chime as she walked out without looking back.

Sang Ji also sneered and followed.

Chen Shanzhi sighed and reached out to pull Wang Yuanhua up from the ground.

"Can you still walk, Supervising Officer?"

Wang Yuanhua stood up tremblingly and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, as if he had just returned from the gates of hell.

"This... this Wu Clan... is just too... too barbaric!"

He muttered with lingering fear, but there was a trace of malice in his eyes.

The two of them followed out of the main hall.

The sun was shining brightly, and as Wang Yuanhua bathed in the sunlight, he seemed to have finally recovered from his previous fear.

He looked at the swaying figure of Tang Xiaowu in front of him.

His originally terrified eyes gradually became somewhat glazed, and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

This woman... she's really something.

Suddenly, Wang Yuanhua seemed to have thought of something.

He leaned over to Chen Shanzhi, nudged him with his elbow, and lowered his voice with a chuckle:

"Commander Chen, that daughter of the Wu Clan's Clan Chief... isn't she beautiful?"

Chen Shanzhi was stunned and looked at him with some confusion: "Why would the Supervising Officer say that?"

Wang Yuanhua put on a lecherous smile that all men understood and winked:

"Don't pretend; I saw it just now."

"Commander Chen, your eyes were almost glued to her."

"Not only were you staring at her, but you were also winking at her."

"I presume, Commander Chen, you have taken a fancy to a Wu Clan woman, haven't you?"

Chen Shanzhi was speechless and just wanted to explain.

But Wang Yuanhua put his arm around Chen Shanzhi's shoulder and said in the tone of a good buddy:

"Oh, it's normal, it's normal."

"A-Man who isn't romantic is not a true youth!"

"Besides, who wouldn't like such an exotic little wild cat?"

Having said this, he patted his chest:

"On this journey, I think I can say that I and Commander Chen have a friendship that has endured through life and death."

"What's more, just now, Commander Chen even helped me block the Wu Clan Chief's Aura."

"I, your brother, will remember this favor."

"It's rare to see Commander Chen take such an interest in a woman."

"As a good brother, I must help you!"

Chen Shanzhi's mouth twitched; this person's imagination was truly powerful.

But he still asked: "Help me? How will you help?"

Wang Yuanhua pointed to Sang Ji and Tang Xiaowu walking in front, and whispered his plan with a wicked smile:

"Look, there are four of us walking together now; how inconvenient is that?"

"In a moment, I'll find an excuse to have that man take me somewhere else alone."

"That way, won't it just be you and the Clan Chief's daughter left?"

"A lone man and a lone woman, strolling through the mountain forest... hehehe."

Wang Yuanhua gave Chen Shanzhi an encouraging look:

"I believe that with Commander Chen's charm and methods, taking down a Wu Clan girl will be as easy as pie, right?"

"As long as you can 'sleep-convince'... ahem, I mean convince, this Clan Chief's daughter."

"Then our negotiations will be as good as done, right?"

"If it succeeds, it will be a great achievement!"

Chen Shanzhi was dumbfounded.

This... this train of thought?

Although this guy was most likely doing this to dump the entire Alliance matter onto him,

but this result... was exactly what he wanted.

He was just worrying about not having a chance to have contact with Tang Xiaowu alone to confirm the situation.

This was like someone delivering a pillow just as he was getting sleepy!

"Then I will have to trouble you, Supervising Officer." Chen Shanzhi held back his laughter and bowed.

"Easy, easy!"

Wang Yuanhua slapped his thigh, immediately stopped, pointed at Sang Ji in front, and shouted loudly:

"Hey, you there!"

Sang Ji turned his head back, looking impatient: "What do you want?"

Wang Yuanhua lifted his chin, putting on a picky look:

"This official does not like so many people crowding together to tour; it's too noisy."

"You, take this official to the mountain over there to look around and enjoy the scenery."

"As for Commander Chen... let Miss Miao take him to walk around elsewhere!"

Sang Ji frowned, just about to refuse.

But he looked at A-Man, who was standing to the side with an indifferent expression, and then at the expectant Wang Yuanhua.

His eyes rolled, and seeming to think of something, he nodded: "Fine."

After speaking, a sneer flashed in Sang Ji's eyes, and he led Wang Yuanhua toward the fork on the left.

Tang Xiaowu stopped in place, turned around, and looked coldly at Chen Shanzhi, who was now left alone.

"Let's go, Commander Chen."