"It's you."
Lin Ba narrowed his eyes as he looked at Ning Tian, the very man who had crippled his most prideful youngest son!
Ning Tian bit into an apple, looking at Lin Ba, "What, does Lord Lin Ba miss me that much?"
Hearing Ning Tian's words and seeing his smug smile, Lin Ba's heart burned with rage. It was not just missing you; he practically wished you were dead!
Although he thought this, Lin Ba's face always wore a smile.
He feigned nonchalance with a laugh, "The legendary Grandmaster of Heavenly Demon Sect is well-known throughout the entire Heavenly Spirit Realm. I have long wanted to meet you, Grandmaster."
"Oh?"
Ning Mo smiled, chewing on the apple and plopped down on the chair beside, asking, "How is the carefree prince nowadays?"
"…"
Hearing Ning Tian bringing up the most sensitive topic, Lin Ba clenched his teeth; his smile was uglier than a cry.
"Grandmaster, I'd rather not answer this topic. Perhaps you could ask another question."
"Oh, then how is the prince's cultivation heart doing?"
"…" Lin Ba's face darkened, "Grandmaster, that question is no different from the previous one."
"Oh."
"Then, how is the prince's physical health?"
"…"
Lin Ba was practically going crazy on the inside.
He soon took a deep breath, "My son's body is still recovering, and his cultivation heart is, too."
"Oh, is that so."
Ning Tian nodded, took a big bite of the apple, and muttered, "Your son's cultivation heart really isn't up to par, fragile like tofu. It definitely needs strengthening."
"As Grandmaster says."
Lin Ba almost spewed out blood, biting his teeth and nodding emphatically.
Seeing Lin Ba seething with anger yet having to swallow it back, the Great Elder and the others couldn't help sneaking in a few chuckles.
The Grandmaster's move was utterly shameless!
"Grandmaster, my son was ignorant previously and offended you."
At this moment, Lin Ba suddenly said something unexpected.
"On behalf of my son, I apologize to Grandmaster."
"???"
Three big question marks appeared over the Great Elder and everyone else's heads.
This…
Knowing Lin Ba, they were aware of his arrogant nature.
He would not normally apologize to anyone.
But now…
Ning Tian was also stunned by Lin Ba's move, but quickly, a glint of understanding flashed in his eyes, seeming to grasp what Lin Ba was aiming to do.
He was probably afraid that Ning Tian would interfere and cause the Empress to reject his request.
So, he preemptively took the initiative to prevent Ning Tian from having any grounds to comment.
"…"
As it turned out, Lin Ba's maneuver did indeed work.
His words really left Ning Tian with nothing to say.
Ning Tian slightly furrowed his brow.
"Hmph."
Seeing that, Lin Ba chuckled internally, thinking how the youngster was no match for him!
Subsequently, he turned to Luo Wuqing and bowed slightly, "I wonder if the Empress would agree to the cooperation I mentioned?"
At this moment, Lin Ba's smile curled up confidently.
Without Ning Tian interfering, the cooperation was surely a done deal!
Luo Wuqing glanced indifferently at Ning Tian, saw his slightly furrowed brows, and then turned to Lin Ba, "No need, I have no interest in this cooperation. My Heavenly Demon Sect has the strength and prefers not to be dragged down by others."
"…"
Lin Ba was taken aback for a moment, then quickly grasped the situation.
"What? What do you mean?"
Hearing her words, Lin Ba's confidence drained from his face, replaced by a deep panic.
"Empress, what… what is the reason for this?"
"As I said, my Heavenly Demon Sect has the strength, and we have no need for others." Luo Wuqing's voice was cool, her tone commanding, leaving no room for argument.
Upon hearing this, Lin Ba's complexion turned pitch-black, grinding his teeth.
"I see."
"If that's the case, we should take our leave."
After speaking, he turned around, and to the gathering of Dongxing Kingdom's powerhouses behind him barked, "What are you waiting for? Let's go!"
A group of the Dongxing Kingdom's powerhouses followed Lin Ba and left dejectedly.
Watching them leave, the Great Elder and the others couldn't help but smirk.
In the great hall, Luo Wuqing turned to Ning Tian and spoke indifferently, "Speak what you wish to say. Remember, this is the Heavenly Demon Sect, and right behind you, it's me."
"…"
Hearing this, Ning Tian was momentarily stunned, filled with emotion.
He approached the Empress, "Wife, you've moved me so much, I must reward you well."
"…"
"There's no need for rewards."
Hearing this, Luo Wuqing was taken aback and instantly realized what this man meant by rewarding her. She bit her silver teeth and rejected without hesitation.
"No, you want to."
"No, I don't."
"No, you really do."
"No, I really don't."
"…"
Watching the exchange in the great hall between the Grandmaster and the Empress about what they wanted and didn't want, the Great Elder and the others were completely baffled.
What's all this about wanting and not wanting?
(End of Chapter)