Chapter 22
What to Do With Them?
The Black Hawk unit head's full name was Jin Ling. He was the head of Black Hawk special forces unit number 1. Since childhood, he'd always faithfully performed his assigned duties without fail.
This time he received a very special order from above. The event where massive power waves swept across the entire City A yesterday left the military unable to sit still.
In this era, a level 4 treasure was already valuable, let alone pills or treasures above level 5. They were like legendary things that no one in this era could create or refine.
Only what was passed down remained.
The military placed great importance on it. If it was a pill no one knew about, that meant opening a new door that might be able to push cultivators' power beyond the Grandmaster level.
The military was willing to use any means—willing to do rude things without caring about consequences.
Jin Ling was just a man bearing the burden. He had to follow the duties and orders he received.
So what kind of being did he provoke this time?
Jin Ling gritted his teeth. His Martial Master 5th stage cultivation power was like a useless toy before this young woman. He didn't even have the strength to stand up. He knelt like a subject loyal to royalty.
The people remaining in the room fared no better. Soldiers from the Black Hawk unit lay trembling on the floor in fear. They were special forces who had undergone excellent training. Facing one young woman, they couldn't even raise their heads to look.
As for Han Xiaoyi, Yi Fan, and Ting Kangming, they were in worse condition than anyone. The pressure where they lay seemed heavier than elsewhere. Their faces were pressed flat against the floor, unable to lift even slightly.
One side of their faces flattened from the pressure. They looked like pig heads. Han Xiaoyi, whose cultivation power was the lowest, could barely move her limbs while tears streamed down.
All that arrogance and young miss demeanor was gone.
What's happening!?
The Tang clan house servants and caretakers looked at the scene in confusion. Those soldiers and noble guests all went down trembling on the floor. Those beside them startled and exchanged glances.
Tang Tianjie stood behind Bai Fanxian, his body trembling as he watched. The Tang clan people on that side weren't affected by Grandmaster Bai's pressure at all. She could control pressure to distinguish friend from foe!
He glanced at the young woman fearfully. That noble face was colder than he'd ever seen. Normally, Grandmaster Bai was quite simple and very kind to her people.
Today he saw her truly displeased!
Bai Fanxian looked at the scene before her with calm eyes. She crossed her legs and sat with the demeanor of an empress. The ordinary guest chair suddenly resembled a throne. Her nobility and power burst forth like a great emperor looking down on all under heaven!
This was one of her aspects!
Another reason why ten thousand years ago she was called "Empress"!
She wasn't simply kind—she was only kind to her own people. You could see from the beginning she didn't care about little Hui'er lying on the roadside at all. If not for being impressed by those determined eyes and feeling fated, she wouldn't have bothered with a child like Hui'er.
Whenever she considered someone hers, as long as they didn't betray the trust she gave, she was ready to take their side and help without caring about any gods or deities.
Right now, she considered the Tang clan half hers. They facilitated her in many ways and didn't cross the line she set.
She quite liked people who knew their place like this Tang clan.
Besides, the tea they served tasted quite good too...
"..."
Bai Fanxian stared at the Black Hawk unit head, Jin Ling. He felt his whole body tremble under her gaze. Jin Ling realized he had intruded on a being he shouldn't have.
The young man swallowed hard. He used all his strength to raise both hands together the way martial world people did to apologize.
"Se... Senior Bai, please calm down..."
He tried to plead. He didn't dare call the young woman before him Lady Bai like Tang Xiuhuan did, fearing it would be rude. For a being possessing power at this level, he didn't know what title to use besides Senior.
Senior in martial terms only.
He didn't know that this youthful young woman's actual age was hundreds of times older than himself.
She only had 25 years of normal memories, though.
"...What should be done with you?"
Bai Fanxian spoke only six words. But these six words rang into the listeners' souls. Ice-cold and indifferent, as if they had no value in her eyes at all.
"...Th... We were wrong this time. Please forgive our rudeness!"
Jin Ling's voice trembled. Each word he spoke came out with difficulty, since Bai Fanxian's pressure pressing down on their bodies hadn't decreased at all.
"...Hmm?"
Bai Fanxian raised her thin eyebrow.
"...You think it'll be that easy?"
Bai Fanxian's last words came with pressure that increased almost double! Even someone like Jin Ling had to use both hands to help support the floor. Otherwise his face would definitely go down flat!
Bai Fanxian's power wasn't just this!
This was only a fragment of her power!
"Th... The military apologizes for intruding on you, Senior... At least please let my men go back. I... I'll accept this fault myself..."
Jin Ling tried to speak pleadingly. He looked toward Bai Fanxian while pleading.
"Ch... Chief..."
"No... I'll stay."
The Black Hawk unit people, even though lying trembling on the floor, quickly used all their strength to stop him when they heard the chief pleading to let them go.
"No... Senior, I'm the one who gave the order... They're not involved."
Jin Ling spoke with difficulty. But when he finished speaking, he looked at Bai Fanxian with determination.
He was their leader. These people entrusted their lives to him. He had to take responsibility to bring them back alive!
Bai Fanxian narrowed her eyes, looking at Jin Ling and all the Black Hawk unit people. Her pressure suddenly surged through to the sky for just a brief moment. But it carved pressure and fear deep into their hearts.
Jin Ling faced death in the blink of an eye. Hair all over his body stood up. Cold sweat flowed from his body until his uniform was soaked.
"...Mm."
Whoosh.
The pressure pressing down on Jin Ling and the Black Hawk soldiers disappeared instantly as if it never existed. They slowly got up to sit with haggard faces.
Jin Ling, too surprised to speak, turned to look at Bai Fanxian with an unbelieving face.
"Se... Senior?"
"You can go..."
Bai Fanxian merely waved her hand lightly as if shooing them away. Those who could stand up saw that besides the Black Hawk unit, people from the Han clan, the three bodyguards, the Yi clan, including Ting Kangming, were still lying trembling on the floor as before.
Jin Ling understood something. This young woman could control pressure with extreme skill! At first because of the pressure, he didn't notice that the Tang clan people on the same side as them weren't affected at all!
Grandmaster... and might even be a high-level Grandmaster!?
Thinking of this possibility, Jin Ling couldn't help trembling again. This time he almost made a mistake leading the military to intrude on a truly powerful being!
"...Thank you for your mercy... Senior Bai. May I ask your full name?"
Before leaving, Jin Ling bowed down and asked politely. He still feared that tremendous power.
Bai Fanxian merely raised her tea to sip again, with Uncle Huang thoughtfully pouring more for her.
"Bai Fanxian..."
"I'll remember... And I'll prepare a gift to apologize for our rudeness to you, Senior, and to the Tang clan."
Jin Ling didn't forget what he said before. He also knew that Bai Fanxian was subtly protecting the Tang clan. So he didn't forget to mention the Tang clan's name as well.
"We take our leave. Thank you for Senior Bai's mercy!"
"Thank you Senior Bai for your mercy!"
The Black Hawk unit officials bowed their heads in thanks in unison and quickly left as fast as possible. Fear still filled their faces as they hurried out of this house.
She was willing to let them go so easily because they merely had to follow orders received from above. They were military people. They couldn't disobey orders. Besides, she was quite impressed with Jin Ling's sacrifice and honesty.
He once said he wouldn't let anything be damaged. They searched carefully and truly nothing in the Tang clan was damaged.
He said he would compensate the Tang clan. He truly didn't forget.
She was willing to let him and his people go this easily.
He pressured until the little children behind her almost cried. He didn't intend that. He intended to pressure her instead. The children were clinging behind her and wouldn't go anywhere, so they received that pressure too.
"Well then..."
Bai Fanxian set the teacup down on the table. Her calm eyes full of power swept over the people remaining in the room.
"...What should be done with you all?"