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The world of Shen Jinghai fell silent for a full five seconds.
For a martial arts expert of the Mountain-Overturning Realm, five seconds was already a very long ti.
A cultivator skilled in culinary arts could prepare a whole table of dishes within five seconds, while one skilled in construction could build an exquisite house within the sa tifra. An expert demoness in bedroom skills could even cause catastrophic incidents resulting in millions of casualties within five seconds.
However, to a cultivator of the Sea Overturning Realm, five seconds felt like witnessing the origin and extinction of all things in heaven and earth.
Yet Shen Ruoshi wasn’t in a hurry, he just tilted his head and asked, "Jinghai, have you thought of your response?"
As the voice of Shen Ruoshi rang out, the passage of ti in Shen Jinghai’s world finally returned to normal. He pondered for a mont, then frankly said, "Regarding the diplomatic mission from the Li Family, I have followed the Lord City Lord’s important instructions, providing them with the full reception protocol, including an initial show of force, emphasizing Shen City’s disdain and discontent towards the Li Family."
Upon hearing this, Shen Ruoshi nodded in agreent, "Indeed, one must not show a good face to the Li Family. Twenty years ago, being hospitable to them led to trouble. However, they wouldn’t just let it go, would they?"
"Indeed, they did not let it go." Shen Jinghai said, "I set several challenges for them, which they overca one after another. Clearly, they ca well prepared."
Shen Ruoshi nodded, a cold smile suddenly curling at the corner of his mouth, "Given the cunning and treachery of the Li Family, daring to visit Shen City on my birthday celebration, they must have done thorough preparation, otherwise, wouldn’t it just be self-humiliation? And then?"
Shen Jinghai said, "As the saying goes, "Attack while your montum is strong, weaken it, and then exhaust it," they overca the challenges in one vigorous effort, at the peak of their montum. I thought it wise not to confront them head-on, so I gave them the cold shoulder, planning to act when their montum wanes."
This ti, Shen Ruoshi frowned, "Cold shoulder? And then?"
Shen Jinghai said, "As expected, Shen Qingming and the others will leave Shen City in disgrace in the next few days."
"What!?"
With Shen Ruoshi’s angry roar, the entire oval hall began to rumble and tremble, countless cracks burst through the tightly structured surrounding rocks, and the fluorescent crystal stone in the center of the hall flickered on and off, making the cave mansion feel like a ghostly realm.
Shen Jinghai composed himself, speaking in a deep voice, "Following the Lord City Lord’s instructions, I set nurous obstacles that didn’t lose face and were in accordance with the rules. Despite their exhausting efforts and breaking through challenges in Shen City, appearing to make great progress, they remained only on the outskirts, unable to et the Lord City Lord. As ti passed, they beca disheartened inside, sustaining themselves rely with a sense of unwillingness. Now, with just over ten days until the Lord City Lord’s birthday banquet, and not even having received an invitation, even the best attitude won’t hold for long. Therefore, I estimate that by the night of the Lord City Lord’s birthday banquet at the latest, they will have to pack up and leave. Of course, if they are foolish enough not to know better and try to crash the banquet without an invitation, I won’t be polite..."
Having finished, Shen Jinghai bowed his head deeply, awaiting the Lord City Lord’s orders.
The Lord City Lord took a deep breath, saying, "So, Qingming and the others, won’t be coming?"
"Yes, they won’t be coming."
No sooner had the words been spoken than a thunderous rage, like the heavenly punishnt, exploded before his eyes.
"Who told you to do that?!"
Facing the City Lord’s fury, cold sweat gushed from Shen Jinghai’s forehead, his heart pounded wildly as if it might explode, yet he struggled to maintain a calm expression, responding in a low voice, "When the Li Family sent their visiting card that day, the Lord City Lord replied with a spittle..."
Shen Ruoshi was montarily taken aback, then angrily said, "I spat at that vile Li Fengyun! Qingming is just a little girl. As the dignified City Lord of Shen City, would I spit at a little girl?!"
Shen Jinghai was also taken aback, wasn’t that the case?
So he raised his head and asked, "Then, Lord City Lord, do you want to see your granddaughter?"
Shen Ruoshi said, "I... back when Yue’e completely severed ties with the family, her daughter has no right to be my granddaughter!"
Shen Jinghai was relieved and said, "In that case, they are rely representing the Li Clan and Cyan Cloud City in their visit, so it’s reasonable to keep them out..."
"You!?" Shen Ruoshi’s eyes widened, his piercing gaze fixed on Shen Jinghai, yet he found that although the latter was under imnse pressure, he stood with his head held high, showing no sign of guilt.
Clearly, in Shen Jinghai’s view, his actions were in accordance with the Lord City Lord’s instructions. Even if he were blad, he was without guilt in his heart.
"Moreover, Lord City Lord, after what happened back in the day, Vice City Lord Yueying was deeply hurt. Now seeing Yue’e’s daughter might bring her more pain. If you were to et them at this ti..."
"I don’t need your reminder!" Shen Ruoshi waved his hand, causing a demonic wind to howl in the hall, forcing Shen Jinghai to shut his mouth.
"Ah, indeed, Qingming... the daughter of Li Fengyun, would indeed trouble Yueying. So, in your opinion, how can we comfort Yueying?"
Shen Jinghai pondered for a mont, then said, "Forgive my presumption, but if I may venture an opinion on the Lord City Lord’s family matters. In my view, Vice City Lord Yueying now has only you to rely on — although you have always been extrely strict with your children’s education, it is precisely this strictness that has shaped an upright and steadfast image of a father, commanding their deep respect and awe."
Listening to this, Shen Ruoshi nodded slightly.
Shen Jinghai spoke again: "After Vice City Lord Yueying lost her dearest sister and most admired lover, the only support in her heart is you, her dignified father. Your every move affects her emotions, so for her, the best solace would be for Lord City Lord to take the lead in completely severing ties with the Li Family, expelling the Li Family’s envoy, and declaring a permanent ban on Li Family mbers from entering Shen City."
"...To comfort Yueying, I must take the lead in severing all ties with the Li Family?" Shen Ruoshi had a completely incredulous expression, "Conversely, if I can’t cut off ties, it will hurt Yueying?"
Shen Jinghai lowered his head: "This subordinate is dull and dares not presu to know Vice City Lord Yueying’s thoughts, but by common sense, it should be this way. Therefore, considering the harmony of Lord City Lord’s family, this subordinate decided to give Shen Qingming and his group the cold shoulder."
Upon hearing this, Shen Ruoshi’s impatience was already fully visible, his fingers drumming on the armrest of the black throne, resounding with a rhythmic thunk, unsettling the heart’s rhythm...
"Jinghai, you’ve served as Vice City Lord for quite so ti now, right?"
Shen Jinghai said: "Thanks to Lord City Lord’s regard."
"Over the years, you have diligently fulfilled your duties, bearing the gossip outside, loyally fulfilling your responsibilities, all of which I’ve seen."
Upon hearing this, Shen Jinghai was so moved that his eyes turned red: "To be acknowledged by Lord City Lord, Jinghai would go through hell and high water to repay..."
"No need to ntion going through hell and high water, that’s too serious." Shen Ruoshi said, "Then, I also just realized that you’ve been working for so many years, always doing things for , to the point where you’ve even delayed your own affairs. In this, I, as your superior, have been negligent."
Shen Jinghai was filled with anxiety: "Lord City Lord..."
"No need to say more, I have already decided, soone like you who is willing to think and work hard, is an invaluable asset to Shen City and should be carefully treasured, so starting today, you should take a break for a period of ti."
"Ha?" Shen Jinghai was astounded.
Shen Ruoshi said: "Put aside the work of the Vice City Lord temporarily and hand it over to others to handle, and take a good long vacation. It would be best if you could resolve your lifelong affairs during the vacation."
"But, Lord City Lord, I don’t need to rest at all..."
"Every person who dies from overwork always thinks they can still endure an all-nighter without needing rest before they die." Shen Ruoshi waved his hand, stopping Shen Jinghai’s rebuttal, "In order to better perform your duties in the future, take this ti to rest assured and before resolving your lifelong affairs, don’t co back."
With Lord City Lord’s decision made, Shen Jinghai, though full of words of rebuttal, could only suppress them.
——
After leaving the City Lord’s Cave Mansion, Shen Jinghai felt the world turned gray, his spirit wretched as if facing death.
Even a fool could clearly recognize that Lord City Lord was already deeply dissatisfied with him.
After serving as right and left arm for more than twenty years, this was the first ti Shen Jinghai had aroused Lord City Lord’s dissatisfaction, yet just this once, it directly caused him to lose his most proud position as right and left arm.
The matter concerning Shen Qingming and others, it seed he had bungled, but even thinking back now, Shen Jinghai still did not know where he went wrong.
With the long-exhibited aversion Lord City Lord had towards the Li Family, it was impossible to have any good impression of this envoy from the Li Family that seriously lacked sincerity. If it were Li Fengyun and others who ca, they wouldn’t dare openly strike at Shen City. Yet it was a group of juniors who ca, and the Shen Family couldn’t bully the small with the big, making matters troubleso.
This cold treatnt was what Shen Jinghai considered the best solution, yet it angered the City Lord. Shen Ruoshi wanted him to not return until he resolved his lifelong affairs, which ant not wanting him to return.
In this, which step exactly went wrong?
If he couldn’t even understand what angered Lord City Lord, perhaps he truly was no longer qualified to be a right and left arm?
Thinking thus, Shen Jinghai unconsciously walked out of the Shen Family’s Inner City. For the past few decades, his life as a Vice City Lord was regular and stable, except for when he concealed his whereabouts with magic to stealthily leave the office for blind dates every week, he was completely imrsed in work. Now relieved from his duties by the City Lord, he unexpectedly found himself at a loss.
What else was there to do besides work?
Besides being by Lord City Lord’s side, in this vast world, where else could he find a place to belong?
Thinking of this, Shen Jinghai felt a deep sorrow rising within, looking up and laughing forlornly.
At this mont, the clouds above rolled, snowflakes leisurely began to fall, accumulating a thick layer of snow in Shen City shortly after.
In this icy world, Shen Jinghai felt his situation even more pathetic and laughable, wishing he could just vanish from the world.
However, right at this mont, delicate footsteps suddenly approached, a slender woman holding a round umbrella walked towards him.
"Mr. Shi Buqing?"
Turning suddenly, he saw an exquisitely flawless face, appearing charmingly in front of Shen Jinghai.
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