Negotiations, it was said, involved starting with an outrageous demand and ending with a modest compromise.
Zhao Tingshan knew this well, and had prepared himself thoroughly before coming. He had expected Jessica to demand the "White-bellied Bird," a weapon that had once wreaked bloody havoc in the East and Gaul.
To his surprise, Jessica didn't bring it up. Instead, the three conditions she proposed were all utterly unacceptable to Zhao Tingshan!
Jessica didn't care. With sixty-six people captured alive, the Rhode family held absolute leverage. They had plenty of time and patience to wait out the East’s stubbornness.
To exert maximum psychological pressure on Zhao Tingshan, Jessica, with the utmost politeness, ordered Rhode to do unspeakable things to the women.
Not long after.
Screams and cries echoed from the snow-covered ground not far away.
Zhao Tingshan bit his lip until it bled, his cheeks puffing out rhythmically, yet he uttered not a single word.
Even Li Xiao, who had returned from his "stroll" through the Blackwater Forest, acted as if he saw and heard nothing.
It wasn't that they were heartless. It was because they understood that sometimes, one had to be.
Li Xiao entered with a smile, nodding to Alexander before asking Zhao Tingshan how the negotiations were going.
"Dragon Lord Li, we cannot accept any of Ms. Jessica's conditions." Zhao Tingshan forced a smile and shook Li Xiao's hand. "It seems I won't be able to complete this mission. I'm sorry to have troubled you to make this trip for nothing."
We would rather these dozens of people be tortured to death here than agree to a single one of your conditions! This was the message Zhao Tingshan intended to convey when he politely took his leave from Jessica after shaking hands with Li Xiao.
The tactic of retreating to advance was a common ploy in all negotiations. Besides, Zhao Tingshan had never expected to succeed in one go. Their presence here for the initial negotiation was also to assess the hostages. If the hostages were all dead, then there would be no point in negotiating.
Now that Zhao Tingshan had personally seen all sixty-six hostages "lively and kicking," he was "relieved." If negotiations were to continue, there would be no need to do so in this freezing wasteland.
It was precisely for this reason that Jessica had ordered Rhode's men to treat the captives in the most beastly manner as Zhao Tingshan and his party were leaving!
"Mr. Zhao, you are too kind. It is my honor to accompany you here." Li Xiao replied briefly and politely, then turned to Alexander. "Mr. Alexander, I wish to take the bodies and send them home."
Alexander was an intermediary, but not the master of the Rhode Legion. When Li Xiao stated his intention to take away the bodies of Xingxing and the others, he should have addressed Jessica, the actual host. He hadn't. This clearly showed he didn't take Jessica seriously!
Before Alexander could answer, Jessica said calmly, "Dragon Lord Li, those bodies are my spoils of war. You are asking Patriarch Moses, Mr. Moses, instead. This clearly shows you don't take me seriously."
"Esteemed Madam, you are mistaken," Li Xiao said, finally turning to Jessica with a smile. "I never disregard anyone. I simply disregard beasts."
Beasts! Li Xiao had just called Jessica a beast to her face. This was an act of extreme rudeness. After all, from a certain perspective, the Rhode family and the Moses family were equals. The Rhode family was simply more discreet and wealthier.
Li Xiao, however, respected Alexander. That was because the Great Patriarch of the Moses family was qualified to be Li Xiao's friend, or his enemy! The Rhode family, of equivalent standing, had forfeited their qualification for Li Xiao's respect by deliberately tormenting those people in front of Zhao Tingshan.
Jessica's face changed drastically! Li Xiao looked into her eyes, his gaze suddenly sharpening like a锥子 (zhuī zi - awl/錐子), and asked softly, "Do you wish to die?"
Jessica's face changed again. Li Xiao then turned to Rhode and asked the same question: "Do you wish to die?"
Rhode—
"You, wish to die?" Li Xiao's third question was directed at his friend and enemy, the Great Patriarch of the Moses family, Alexander!
Alexander's pupils contracted sharply. Others might not understand Li Xiao, but Alexander had known him for over twenty years. They had fought to the death and shared drinks together. They knew each other inside and out. Therefore, when Li Xiao asked this question to Alexander, who had been merely watching from the sidelines, he knew that Li Xiao had developed a murderous intent towards everyone present, except Zhao Tingshan!
Li Xiao didn't want to play by the rules anymore. If he abandoned everything and unleashed his fury, no one present would leave the container alive. The reason that the Lord of Dragon Ruins, with his esteemed status, was driven to break the rules and kill indiscriminately was because Jessica had ordered those people to be tormented.
Li Xiao could disregard the lives of those "pigs." But he could never change this:
I come from the Great Tang East.
I am a descendant of Yan Huang!
This was an indelible mark etched into the deepest part of his soul. He would never let it be erased, even if he died ten thousand times.
"I agree to let Dragon Lord Li take the bodies." After a momentary gaze with Li Xiao, Alexander suddenly turned to Jessica and said menacingly, "Anyone who dares to disagree is an enemy of the Moses family, an enemy until death!"
Jessica's soul trembled. She genuinely couldn't understand why global giants like Li Xiao and Alexander were no longer playing by the rules! She finally realized she might have made a mistake. She had touched Li Xiao's pride! If this continued, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Jessica immediately nodded. "Fine, Dragon Lord Li may take the bodies. Rhode." She ordered Rhode, "Let those hostages go. And from now on, never torment them arbitrarily."
Rhode quickly agreed and turned to rush out. As he ran into the icy snow, Rhode finally let out a long sigh of relief. At that moment, he saw his dear Luna!
As Rhode ran out, a fleeting look of surprise flashed in Li Xiao's eyes. He re-examined Jessica before smiling at Alexander. "My friend, I owe you a favor."
Alexander gave a wry smile. "Do we still need to be so polite between brothers? I only hope that next time, you won't have the urge to kill me. After all, on a global scale, only I and the Great Lamp of the Divine Emperor Hall are worthy of being your friend. If I die, you'll feel lonely."
"My mind sometimes goes on the fritz, please don't mind," Li Xiao said nonchalantly. As he slung an arm around Zhao Tingshan and headed for the door, he said, "Old Zhao, when you get back, ask Li Wujiang for me. When will he come to Dragon Ruins to help me with some things within his power? Ah, I feel like I'm about to be abandoned by her."
Zhao Tingshan instinctively glanced at Bai Hong and said, "Men of your Li family never seem to lack female companionship, do they?"
How true that statement was! At least Li Qianfan, a man of the Li family, was not lacking female companionship at the moment, even though he was deep in the mountains of the border region.
Inside a spacious tent, brightly lit, four women were playing cards with him. Don't get the wrong idea. It was a genuine card game, like "you play a pair of threes, I play a pair of fours."
With five people, they couldn't play Dou Dizhu, Upgrading, or Gouji. Bao Huang was the most appropriate game.
The wind blew from the depths of the forest. Unidentified night birds occasionally let out strange hoots. Kui Shu and his men patrolled back and forth a hundred meters from the tent, guarding against any wild beasts that might disturb the Madam, the Young Master, and the three young ladies' evening's entertainment.
"Ha, haha." With a snap, Li Qianfan threw down two Big Jokers, completely crushing Su Nanyin's pair of Little Jokers.
Damn it. Su Nanyin cursed and could only reveal a single Three. Li Qianfan, meanwhile, laughed triumphantly. "Sister, no matter how well you hide your cunning, you can't fool my sharp eyes! I knew long ago you were Shen Maomao's lackey! Come here, obediently stick on a paper slip (this slip is for the person who gets 'stuck' or 'messed with')."
The Emperor was Shen Zui. Li Qianfan, Chong Chong, and Yaoyao were all Rebels this round. And Chong Chong, with her very good cards, was already miles ahead. For the Rebels, they win if they 'trap' the Emperor or the 'protector.'
"Why am I teamed up with this idiot again?" Su Nanyin groaned, sitting cross-legged on the carpet like everyone else, but she had to bring her face, already covered in paper slips, to Li Qianfan. Although Su Nanyin was as wicked as a viper, her card game etiquette and drinking manners were good. She accepted the bet and the consequences without complaint.
*Poof* Li Qianfan spat on the paper slip. Su Nanyin's eyebrows twitched. The rules were clear, but the brat always used saliva. Damn it— Su Nanyin said pitifully, "Brother, can you not use saliva? Otherwise, I'll be woken up by the smell at night."
*Mao Mao Chong bites—* Everyone shivered collectively. Du Yaoyao, naturally indifferent but a little dim-witted, couldn't help but ask, "Mom, do you really want to divorce Dad and fall for someone else?"