Wen Dingchen gave a slight nod. "We are taking revenge on Xiao Xuanye and Shen Youling. They have no substantial connection with Long Tianji, so there's no reason for us to antagonize him. Let's go and say hello!"
Relying on their noble status, the father and son sauntered forward brazenly. "King Long, I've long admired you. My na is Wen Dingchen, and it is truly my good fortune to..."
Lin Tang, however, cut him off. "'This king?' What are you to call yourself that? Others call King Long. If you are also a king, wouldn't people mistakenly think you can compare to ?"
"You—" Wen Dingchen was stunned. He never imagined that, despite having no history or enmity between them, the man would show him such utter disrespect. He was even insulting him? How outrageous!
Wen Liangjue was also infuriated. "Hey, Long Tianji, you're going too far!"
"Go fuck yourself!" Lin Tang cursed again. "Where did this maggot co from, writhing about? Absolutely disgusting!"
Wen Liangjue grew even more furious and opened his mouth to retort, but Wen Dingchen let out a cold snort and rationally stopped him. If his son actually cursed Long Tianji and ended up injured or killed for it, the loss would be far too great. "Since King Long looks down on this king... no, on , then please excuse our departure. Farewell!" He yanked Wen Liangjue and turned to leave.
However, Xiao Xuanye flashed forward, blocking their path.
"Xiao Xuanye, do you dare defy your superior?" Wen Dingchen bellowed. "Rember your place! You hurt my son last ti and nearly killed him just now. The fact that I'm not holding you responsible today is already an act of rcy beyond the law. You'd better know what's good for you and get out of my way!"
By now, Guo Jufeng had learned that Xiao Xuanye had even told Yan Qinghe to get lost. After weighing his options, he switched allegiances once more. He silently grabbed Xiao Xuanye to prevent him from actually killing the Night King. "Old Xiao, stop. Let them go."
With Guo Jufeng's stance made clear, Wen Dingchen grew even more audacious. He spat disdainfully in Xiao Xuanye's direction and continued to stride away with his head held high.
"Did I say you could leave?" a cold voice rang out. It was Lin Tang.
The expressions on the faces of Wen Dingchen and his son froze, and they both spun around. "King Long, you... do you have further instructions?"
"That Evil God from before... you're the ones who brought it into this world, aren't you?" Lin Tang said. "Colluding with an Evil God is a capital cri!"
"What? I'm being frad! The Lord of Delights... He... He wasn't summoned by us! How could we possibly be capable of such a feat? Haha, this joke isn't funny at all..." Wen Dingchen's heart skipped a beat, but he put on a brave front, pleading his innocence repeatedly.
Wen Liangjue also denied it hastily, then challenged, "What evidence do you have? You can't just slander an innocent man!"
"If I say you did it, then you did it. I don't need evidence," Lin Tang stated indifferently. Now *that* was domineering.
Wen Dingchen was utterly speechless. Seeing the blade in Lin Tang's hand glimr, ready to strike them down, the father and son nearly wet themselves in terror again. "Wait, don't kill us! We're truly innocent! If my earlier attitude was disrespectful, I apologize! I'll kneel and apologize to you right now!" Caring little for the dignity of his title as Night King, Wen Dingchen dropped to his knees with a thud.
Wen Liangjue still maintained a sliver of pride. "You're a senior and an esteed master, how can you be so petty..."
"Liangjue, shut your mouth!" Wen Dingchen barked at him.
Guo Jufeng mustered his courage and said, "King Long, Wen Dingchen's status is, after all, quite special. Perhaps you should..."
Lin Tang remained unmoved, his sword poised to strike!
"NO!" the father and son scread, clutching their heads in utter despair and indignation.
"Stay your hand!"
A helicopter descended rapidly, and a man with a refined, amiable air and gold-rimd glasses stepped out. This was Yin Changjian, the Chief of Jiangbei City. In this urgent situation, however, his composure was rather disheveled. He stepped forward, slightly out of breath. "King Long, I've co bearing good news!"
Lin Tang asked with surprise, "Good news? What good news? Are you planning to marry your daughter to ? I haven't even seen what she looks like. If she's not pretty, I'm not taking her."
Yin Changjian was speechless. After being choked up for a few seconds, he managed to continue, "King Long, you jest. My daughter's modest looks are hardly worthy of you. The truth is, just a mont ago, the Supre Pavilion issued a national announcent. They will be awarding you the highest honor: the National Guardian dal!"
"What?"
"How is that possible?"
Everyone was shocked.
"The National Guardian dal? The dal that's only been awarded twice in the last century? This is the third ti? And it's going to Long Tianji? On what grounds?"
"I admit King Long's martial arts are unrivaled and he is a match for ten thousand foes! But he's never made a single contribution to the country. How can the title 'National Guardian' even apply? They could have given him any other honor; there was no need to award this particular dal!"
"I just spoke with Old Yan, and he didn't ntion this at all. Yin Changjian, are you faking an imperial decree?"
Zhu Yingning and the others also drew a sharp breath, their gazes toward Lin Tang changing entirely.
Wen Dingchen and his son, anwhile, let out another long sigh of relief. Normally, they would have vehently objected to this news. It was complete madness! But right now, all they wanted was to save their own skins and get far away from the lunatic Long Tianji. Since Long Tianji was receiving the National Guardian dal, he would essentially beco a full mber of the Central Earth Official establishnt. He would be one of them. And one doesn't simply harm their own, does one? He would have to consider his newfound honor and status, wouldn't he?
However, Lin Tang just blinked. "The National Guardian dal? What the hell is that? A lump of gold mixed with so other tals, fashioned into so chunky pattern, and given to ? What's the use? I'd rather have so tangible benefits."
The crowd nearly choked. "How can you say that?"
"That's the highest honor! How can you be so disdainful?"
"Besides, once you wear the National Guardian dal, your status will be equal to that of Old Yan and the others. This is an event that will be recorded in the annals of history!"
Guo Jufeng and the others were practically hopping with rage. If they weren't certain they couldn't beat him, they would have beaten him to a pulp.
Of course, Lin Tang understood the significance of the National Guardian dal; he was just saying this on purpose. He shook his head. "In the end, it's all just empty words. Without the National Guardian dal, am I inferior to that old man Yan? I slapped him across the face last ti, and didn't he still smile and bow to ? I don't want this damned thing. Whoever wants it can go claim it."
"...I give up. I really give up!"
Guo Jufeng and the others sighed deeply. They truly hadn't expected this. What others viewed as a priceless treasure, he regarded as a worn-out shoe.
Guo Jufeng even secretly contacted Yan Qinghe again to ask if this was real.
On the other end, Yan Qinghe's tone was one of surprise and helplessness. "It's true. The Supre Pavilion used its executive power to make a unilateral decision, bypassing our elders' vote entirely... There must be deeper considerations, which we will inquire about in detail later. But this matter is set in stone."
"What do you an, set in stone? Long Tianji doesn't even want it!"
"What?!"
Yan Qinghe was flabbergasted. He couldn't help but curse silently. What a vulgar brute! All brawn and no brains! He's completely insane! Does he, Long Tianji, really think he's that great? What's so damn noble about him?! He should know that he's offended a whole circle of deities. Once the gods descend to settle their scores, he'll be dead ten tis over! In this situation, the elders' intention was to distance themselves as much as possible, to draw a clear line. That way, the gods wouldn't turn their wrath upon all of Central Earth when they ca to annihilate him. And now, the Supre Pavilion suddenly wants to bind him so closely to us. This ans making all of Central Earth bear the future fury of the gods! What a trendous sacrifice! What a heavy price! And he still refuses?! Once this news spreads across the globe, won't every other nation laugh at Central Earth for fawning over soone who just snubs them? He has no sense of the greater good!
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