The Eternal Way-Chapter 145: Coercion

As soon as this treasure appeared, Li Qi could feel numerous gazes from all over Clear Mist City turning towards him.

"One... two, three, four," Li Qi silently counted in his heart.

"Nine... ten."

"Twenty-four, twenty-five." Li Qi opened his eyes and finished counting.

A total of twenty-five gazes, and judging by the feeling they gave off, they were all likely eighth-rank beings. Otherwise, he wouldn't have felt such a jolt, causing even his personal microcosm to tremble slightly.

This was not a good sign.

Li Qi cupped his hands together and said, "Please take these gifts back, Elder. The misunderstanding between me and your young master is too trivial for such an extravagant apology."

These treasures looked astonishing, and if it were someone else, they might have already been overwhelmed.

It would be like suddenly having a distant uncle leave you two billion in inheritance—few people could remain calm in such a situation.

But Li Qi's Dao heart was clear and unmoved by external things. He almost instantly refused without much thought.

Money wasn't important to him, and besides, that long sword wasn't important either.

He didn't know how to use a sword...

Even the best weapon was useless if you couldn't wield it properly.

Currently, he could only fight with his fists.

So, why did Jin Bu Huan suddenly give him so many things? Was he really afraid and wanted to apologize?

Li Qi himself didn't believe that explanation.

"This..." The protocol officer showed a troubled expression, hurriedly bowing and trembling as he said, "Sir, please don't make it difficult for me. If I can't get you to accept the gifts, my young master will surely punish me."

"Punishment is your young master's business, which I cannot interfere with, but I will do my best to plead for leniency on your behalf," Li Qi replied earnestly.

With that, he took out paper and a brush, quickly writing a letter.

He always carried paper and a brush to record his insights, knowing that memory alone wasn't reliable. Daily cultivation required reflection, not blind practice.

Even martial arts required comprehension, integrating one's thoughts while practicing. This was even more true for his witchcraft path.

This path was known for requiring intelligence; there was far more to memorize than ordinary paths.

Fortunately, he had an advantage, not needing to spend much time memorizing texts. But the saved time should be used to deepen understanding.

Cultivation itself was a process of learning and improving; mechanical practice would never lead to significant achievements.

After finishing the letter, he handed the paper to the protocol officer, saying, "Elder, please take this. If your young master punishes you, show him this, and he won't blame you."

The protocol officer became even more panicked: "Mr. Li, you don't understand... My young master—"

Before the elderly protocol officer could finish speaking, he suddenly trembled, engulfed by flames!

Li Qi tried to intervene but hadn't even gathered his qi before the elder was reduced to ashes, scattering on the ground.

Li Qi's expression darkened instantly.

At this moment, a red-bearded, red-haired middle-aged man descended from the sky.

It was none other than the 'Flame Lord' - Yan Jun.

His left sleeve was empty, severed by Shen Shuibei.

He bowed with one hand and calmly said to Li Qi, "Mr. Li, please accept the gifts. My young master has ordered that if you refuse, it means the protocol officer failed in his duties. Such servants who offend esteemed guests must be executed in front of you as an apology, otherwise, it shows we don't know how to discipline our subordinates."

Li Qi stared at this eighth-rank being, anger rising within him.

Thus, his tone became harsh: "Yan Jun, he hasn't been disrespectful, but I truly cannot accept these gifts..."

Before he could finish, another person stepped forward trembling—a woman in her forties with graying hair, shaking like a leaf, teeth chattering, but she gritted her teeth and bowed deeply to Li Qi: "Please accept the gifts, sir."

Li Qi took a deep breath and turned to walk away.

Yan Jun waved his hand, and the woman screamed as she was engulfed by flames.

From the gift procession, a young man rushed out crying for his mother.

Now, countless onlookers gathered along the street.

Some shed tears, others seethed with anger but dared not curse, glaring at Yan Jun.

Some watched Li Qi curiously, wondering what he would do next.

Others hurriedly left, not wanting to get involved, not even wanting to watch.

But most were merely spectators, watching without much emotion, purely for the spectacle.

After all, such events were rare.

Inside Piaoxu's inn, Qiyao was terrified, fur standing on end, hiding in Piaoxu's arms, trembling.

Piaoxu looked worried, watching Li Qi anxiously.

She could see that the visitor meant no good.

The rabbit continued carving talismans, oblivious to the outside world, using a compass and paper to calculate yin-yang numerology. Formations required strict reliance on numerology.

She seemed completely unaffected, carrying on as usual.

Outside, Li Qi's face was grim, but he said nothing, returning directly to the inn and slamming the door shut.

Yan Jun watched, shook his head, and gestured for the next person.

Another young girl, about seventeen or eighteen, nervously came forward, kneeling and begging Li Qi and Shen Shuibei to accept the gifts.

She cried bitterly, forehead bleeding, pleading desperately.

Li Qi remained indifferent, seemingly ignoring her.

Without his command, no one dared open the door. The staff and Piaoxu exchanged glances, frozen in place.

After half an hour of pleading, Li Qi ignored her, and Yan Jun waved again, incinerating her.

Then came another young man, also killed after failing to persuade them.

Next was a middle-aged man in his forties, with two young children clinging to him, crying. They were killed for hindering their father, who then charged at Yan Jun in rage.

But being unranked, he was easily incinerated.

An eighth-rank being could rule an entire world in Diyou Realm, commanding billions, a supreme power.

After killing several more, Yan Jun seemed tired, looking at the inn: "Mr. Li prides himself on kindness, saving even a fox possessed by a tiger demon. Why let these people die?"

Li Qi's face remained grim, but his tone was deliberately casual: "I save people not out of kindness, but convenience. But those who died were just your young master's servants. You have your reasons for punishing them. As an outsider, I shouldn't meddle in your household affairs."

Sitting down, Li Qi clearly understood two things:

First, to avoid being coerced, one mustn't be soft-hearted.

Second, to save more lives, sometimes one mustn't intervene.

When human lives become leverage, opponents will exploit them, leading to either one's own downfall or more deaths.

Li Qi knew what to do.

However, there were still issues.

First, the primary issue was 'face,' or rather, the 'reason' behind it.

Just as the saying goes, righteousness strengthens resolve.

Establishing principles requires reason.

Heaven and earth's energy, the way's principle.

Legal systems govern affairs, the principle of matters.

Proper etiquette aligns with righteousness, the principle of morality.

Human emotions are pivotal, the principle of feelings.

Truth aligns with reason, forming the 'truth.'

Li Qi upheld himself with righteousness, valuing reason. Righteousness aligned with public rules, the foundation of trust, essential for witchcraft. The 'apologies' were 'proper etiquette.'

Li Qi knew what Jin Bu Huan intended.

Accepting these apologies would imply forgiveness, absolving Jin Bu Huan of any wrongdoing.

This wasn't superstition but reality. Being wronged affected one's reputation, potentially impacting Li Qi's path.

Clearly, Jin Bu Huan saw Li Qi practiced witchcraft and used this method to make him feel guilty, possibly affecting his credibility with deities.

Li Qi could almost hear Jin Bu Huan's mockery: "Save them! You saved those I wanted to kill in the market. Aren't you kind? Let's see how many you can save!"

Moreover, Li Qi suspected the gifts were tampered with, bringing further trouble.

Though confident in his knowledge and with Shen Shuibei's help, he knew better than to underestimate others.

There was another minor issue.

If allowed to continue, Li Qi would eventually be seen as guilty.

He could feel resentment hanging over him.

The dead blamed him for not accepting.

"If you agreed, fewer would die. Why not agree?"

"Our deaths are your fault."

"Why stand by coldly while we die?"

Though no ghosts existed due to Yan Jun's fire destroying souls, these voices were merely perceived resentment.

Li Qi stood up, shaking off the resentment.

Being ninth rank, he transcended the mundane, untouched by such negativity.

Ordinary people often blamed those who didn't act, not the actual perpetrators.

Like blaming authorities for not solving child trafficking instead of the traffickers.

Thus, Li Qi didn't blame this phenomenon.

However, Jin Bu Huan misunderstood.

This wouldn't make Li Qi feel guilty. Any deity who would judge him based on this incident wasn't worth his respect.

What happened only added one goal to Li Qi's list in Clear Mist City: "Overthrow Jin Bu Huan."

Originally, he planned to make Jin Bu Huan leave Piaoxu alone and leave quietly.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.

But now, that wasn't possible.

"Miss Shen, how is the formation coming?" Li Qi asked Shen Shuibei, who was engraving talismans.

"Three hours, give me three more hours!" She raised her hand and continued busily around the room.

Li Qi nodded and looked at Piaoxu: "Miss Piaoxu, there may be a battle here, possibly damaging your inn. I'll compensate afterward. Please evacuate for safety."

But Piaoxu refused: "You offended Jin Bu Huan to save my life. How can I let you compensate me? I may not be powerful, but I have some pride."

She presented a small flying knife: "My cultivation isn't strong, but I had some luck. This is a divine weapon made from a strand of golden aura I obtained from Green Mountain, left by a tiger demon. It responds to my will, traveling two miles in an instant, reaching the pinnacle among ninth-rank weapons. If used all at once, its power can increase tenfold. Though weak, I offer this to aid you."

Li Qi examined the knife, seeing its golden glow and fierce aura, indeed a top-tier ninth-rank weapon, comparable to his Tang blade.

Though it looked familiar...

He couldn't dwell on it now, saying, "I'll accept it, it might be useful."

Li Qi pointed to the back door: "Hide in the backyard. Miss Shen's formation there should be complete, protecting you from the aftermath."