Chapter 111: Chapter 94: Who Agrees? Who Objects?
"Oh? What is it? Li, please, tell us." The crowd’s curiosity was piqued.
Li Qianlang’s expression turned solemn as he announced, "I have gathered you all today for a matter of utmost importance: to welcome the Upper Envoy from the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance!"
"The Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance?!"
"Someone from the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance is here?!"
His words were like a drop of cold water in boiling oil, instantly causing an uproar.
Expressions of shock, excitement, and even awe appeared on everyone’s faces.
The Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance!
They were the true overlords of the water bandits, dominating the Qinglin Waterway and holding sway over Ning’an Prefecture.
Their foundation was deeply embedded in the Prefecture City, their power vast and intricate. They were an existence that small-time water bandits from the counties could only look up to in awe.
Every year, they had to pay a hefty "tribute" to the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance in exchange for protection, allowing them to survive in the gray areas outside the Government Office’s full control. There was once a foolish Water Stockade that tried to resist; in the end, their entire stronghold was washed in blood, with no one left alive—not even a chicken or a dog.
It was precisely because they flew the banner of the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance that they dared, to some extent, to disregard the county-level Government Office.
"The destruction of the Black Snake Water Stronghold is no small matter. There must be an accounting for it."
Li Qianlang explained, "That is why, a while ago, I sent men to the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance with a message pleading our case. According to the reply I received, their Upper Envoy will grace us with his presence today.
"With such an important figure arriving, I dared not greet him alone. I have therefore invited all of you to welcome him with me, to show our collective reverence and respect for the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance."
"Excellent! With an Upper Envoy from the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance here to take charge, we’ll finally have someone to rally behind!"
"Exactly! And it proves our yearly tributes weren’t for nothing!"
Hearing this, the crowd’s anxieties settled, and excitement lit up their faces. ’If the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance is willing to deal with the Changshan County Government Office,’ they thought, ’won’t we be able to go back to the lawless, carefree days of old?’
Li Qianlang took in everyone’s reactions and sneered inwardly, though his expression remained impassive.
A long wait followed.
More than two hours passed. By noon, the Upper Envoy from the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance had still not appeared. The atmosphere in the great hall grew restless, and many began to mutter complaints, wondering if the news had been mistaken.
Just as the crowd’s patience was wearing thin—
"Reporting to the Village Chief! The Upper Envoy from the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance is outside the gates!" a water bandit reported breathlessly, scrambling into the hall.
In an instant, all chatter ceased.
Everyone’s expression grew taut, and all eyes snapped to the entrance of the hall.
In the next moment, an invisible pressure washed over them like a tidal wave, enveloping the entire hall.
Outside the hall, a short figure in a cyan robe appeared, stepping through the air as if on solid ground. A faint cyan glow swirled around his body—one of the clear signs of an Innate Powerhouse.
Innate Body-Protecting True Qi!
Crossing the Void—he was an Innate Powerhouse.
Feeling this terrifying, heart-stopping pressure, all the water bandit chieftains were deeply shaken. Even their breathing caught in their throats.
Watched by the crowd with a mixture of awe and fear, the cyan-robed figure drifted like a phantom, in an instant appearing above the main seat at the head of the hall.
Li Qianlang reacted in a flash, hastily rising to respectfully vacate the seat of honor.
The cyan-robed man slowly descended. The Innate True Qi around him dissipated, revealing his true face.
The man was barely four feet tall, built like a dwarf, with a face that was exceptionally ugly. He had small, squinted eyes, and a few sparse, whisker-like hairs sprouted from the corners of his mouth. On the chest of his cyan robe was an embroidered, palm-sized emblem of a snarling cyan flood dragon.
Despite the newcomer’s grotesque appearance, no one present dared show the slightest hint of disdain. The immense aura belonging to an Innate Powerhouse was enough to render them all silent with fear.
"I am the envoy, Yu Qiantong."
The cyan-robed dwarf sat down imperiously on the tiger-skin chair that had belonged to Li Qianlang. His indifferent gaze swept over the water bandit chieftains below, who cowered like quails. His voice was shrill, yet it carried an undeniable authority.
"Greetings, Yu Shangshi!"
Li Qianlang was the first to bow, his voice ringing out clearly.
"Greetings, Yu Shangshi!"
The other chieftains, as if waking from a dream, scrambled to follow his lead, their voices a ragged chorus filled with absolute awe.
"Hmph. Rise," Yu Qiantong said, waving his hand dismissively as if shooing flies.
"Thank you, Upper Envoy."
Only then did the men dare to straighten up. They exchanged glances, but no one dared to be the first to speak. The atmosphere grew heavy.
Finally, Li Qianlang stepped forward to break the stalemate, asking cautiously,
"If I may ask the Upper Envoy, what instructions does the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance have for us?"
Yu Qiantong glanced at him with his small, squinted eyes and let out a cold cackle that sounded like a night owl’s hoot.
"The Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance’s intentions are simple. We will handle the trouble you’re facing..."
Hearing this, a flicker of joy ignited in the chieftains’ hearts. Grateful expressions began to form on their faces as they prepared to offer some polite thanks.
But before they could, Yu Qiantong’s tone shifted, becoming chillingly sinister.
"However... from this day forward, all forces under your command are to be absorbed into the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance. The Changshan Mountain region will establish the Alliance’s Changshan Sub-Branch. I will personally serve as Squad Leader, with Li Qianlang as my Vice Squad Leader. As for the rest of you..."
His gaze, cold as lightning, swept over the men. "Based on your individual cultivation and strength, you might serve as Hall Masters or other leaders within the sub-branch. I have spoken."
He leaned forward slightly, a chilling smile twisting his ugly face.
"Who agrees? Who objects?"
The words struck them like a clap of thunder from a clear sky.
Everyone froze. The joy on their faces instantly hardened, replaced by shock and dismay.
An acquisition? To be absorbed into the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance?
This was entirely outside their expectations.
In the past, the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance had only ever collected tribute in exchange for protection. There was no precedent for them directly annexing their subordinate powers.
