Leaning against the door in her nightclothes, Jiang Qingtong nodded and said softly, "I know."
Jiang Shengyu raised a hand, making a courteous gesture. "I just didn't expect Sect Master Ning to be so patient. Coming to see us this late at night—please, have a seat, Sect Master Ning."
Ning Haoyu glanced at Jiang Shengyu, then at Jiang Qingtong. After taking a deep breath, he finally sat down opposite Jiang Shengyu.
Jiang Qingtong stepped forward to pour tea for both Jiang Shengyu and Ning Haoyu.
Seeing the solemn expression on Ning Haoyu's face, Jiang Shengyu spoke directly, "Let's not beat around the bush. Sect Master Ning, you wish to secure a future for the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—and that future, we can give you."
Ning Haoyu hadn't expected Jiang Shengyu to be so blunt. His brows furrowed slightly as he looked at the two before him. In a low voice, he asked, "You two… you're from the Sun Moon Empire, aren't you?"
"What's wrong with that? Does that make us any less human?" Jiang Shengyu replied with a question of his own.
Ning Haoyu was momentarily speechless. He opened his mouth, then finally shook his head. "No, I didn't mean it that way."
"Good," Jiang Shengyu said lightly. "Then let's leave the formalities aside. Since you already know who we are and still chose to visit us at this hour, Sect Master Ning, it seems you don't mind that we're from the Sun Moon Empire. And if you intend to use that as leverage in these talks, there's no need—because it's not us who are seeking cooperation. It's you—and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
Jiang Shengyu smiled faintly. Beside him, Jiang Qingtong brought over a plate of refreshments and placed it before Ning Haoyu. "Please, have some, Sect Master Ning."
Ning Haoyu looked down at the pastries in silence. Jiang Qingtong sat down, sipping her tea and nibbling a piece of pastry as she studied his expression. Then, without a word, she pushed her own plate of refreshments toward Jiang Shengyu.
Jiang Shengyu picked up a piece, took a bite, and nodded appreciatively. "Hmm, your sect's pastries are quite good."
Seeing how calm and composed the two were, Ning Haoyu spoke in a low voice, "Judging by your demeanor, your status within the Sun Moon Empire must not be ordinary. Then I'll speak plainly—the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect hopes to purchase a batch of soul tools through the two of you. Price is not an issue."
At that, Jiang Shengyu chuckled. "Price isn't the issue."
Jiang Qingtong added, "Sect Master Ning still doesn't understand. If word were to spread that the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is cooperating with the Sun Moon Empire, how would your sect survive that?"
Ning Haoyu frowned. "But I'm cooperating with you two! Yes, you're from the Sun Moon Empire—but you're also inner court students of Shrek Academy. Qingtong is even a reserve member of the Shrek Seven Devils! How could that be a problem?"
"There's always a problem—if someone wants to find one."
Jiang Shengyu sighed softly and asked, "Tell me, Sect Master Ning, how are relations between the Dou Ling Empire's royal family and your Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
The question caught Ning Haoyu off guard. After hesitating a moment, he answered, "They're… fairly good."
Jiang Qingtong shook her head. "You hesitated—that means you're not confident, are you?"
The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect may have been located within the Dou Ling Empire, but the sect's young master, Ning Tian, still had to struggle at Shrek Academy, seeking a path forward for his sect. That alone showed that their position within the empire wasn't as secure or glorious as it appeared.
After Jiang Shengyu's question, Ning Haoyu fell silent. He had to admit that Jiang Shengyu had a point. The sect's relationship with the Dou Ling imperial family was indeed less than harmonious—there were even tensions beneath the surface.
"You're suggesting," Ning Haoyu asked slowly, "that the Dou Ling Empire might use this as an excuse to move against the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
"Not might."
Jiang Qingtong shook her head. Jiang Shengyu continued, "They definitely will."
Their certainty made Ning Haoyu frown. "And why are you so sure?"
"Because," Jiang Shengyu said, "it's easy to go from frugality to luxury—but hard to go the other way. The Dou Ling Empire has enjoyed peace for too long. With almost no external threats, the royal court and nobility have grown complacent and decadent. If chaos were ever to arise, such a fragile system would collapse instantly."
"And when that happens," Jiang Qingtong picked up seamlessly, "a wealthy but militarily weak sect like the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would become the royal family's perfect scapegoat—and their lifeline. They could easily use your dealings with the Sun Moon Empire as a pretext to destroy you."
The two of them spoke in perfect rhythm, dissecting the dangers with chilling clarity.
Ning Haoyu shook his head. "No… this is just speculation."
"But it's speculation that could very well become reality," Jiang Shengyu replied calmly. "Sect Master Ning, if the imperial courts of the three great empires could abandon even the Tang Sect—who once saved them all—why wouldn't they abandon the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
Ning Haoyu's brow furrowed tightly. He retorted weakly, "But… the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is the number one auxiliary-type martial soul on the continent!"
Jiang Qingtong spread her hands. "All the more reason, isn't it? With that as justification, they could dissolve your sect entirely—scattering all Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda soul masters into the army or placing them directly under royal control. Far safer than letting an independent sect grow unchecked."
Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong's words struck like hammers. Ning Haoyu fell silent once more, head lowered, expression dark and uncertain.
Their reasoning brought to mind the fate of the Tang Sect. Though the sect had recently been reestablished, Ning Haoyu still remembered the centuries of suffering it endured. Compared to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Tang Sect had rendered far greater service to the three empires—yet that hadn't saved them.
If they could be cast aside, what chance did his sect have?
That thought was the final straw. He looked up at Jiang Shengyu, eyes deep and conflicted. "Young Master Jiang… in your opinion, what should the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect do to avoid such a fate?"
At those words, both Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong smiled. They knew then that Ning Haoyu's heart had begun to waver.
Jiang Shengyu said softly, "Work with us."
Ning Haoyu gave a thin smile. "Isn't purchasing soul tools already cooperation?"
Jiang Qingtong replied, "You know perfectly well that's not what we mean. The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can become the next Tang Sect."
Become the next Tang Sect…
The very plan that Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong had once championed—urging the Tang Sect to relocate to and rebuild within the Sun Moon Empire—now revealed its true purpose.
With the Tang Sect's example before him, Ning Haoyu began to consider whether his sect might follow a similar path and cooperate with the Sun Moon Empire.
Yet for so many years, the Sun Moon Empire's image had been one of cruelty and menace. For the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to ally with them would mean abandoning all they had built within the Dou Ling Empire.
That thought made Ning Haoyu hesitate, unable to give an immediate answer.
"Nine Treasures Glazed Tile… a legacy of ten thousand years. If the Glazed Pagoda could truly reach nine levels, then—and only then—would it live up to its na
me," Jiang Qingtong murmured softly, almost to herself, as Ning Haoyu sank into contemplation.
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