Chapter 586: Chapter 562 Magnanimity
Nevan laughed.
His laughter was natural and joyful, as if he already knew what was going to happen.
Kanter, after a brief mont of astonishnt, couldn’t help but start smiling too.
It seed Nevan had already negotiated with San You Trading Company, but he hadn’t inford Gao Yi in advance. As a result, he tolerated Ieda Kunio’s attempt to save face precisely because he knew the company had agreed to pay.
But Gao Yi’s real intention wasn’t about the money!
Money was certainly part of it, but more importantly, Gao Yi was here to cause trouble, to draw attention and create opportunities for Xinfeng.
Without even negotiating, how could Gao Yi have anticipated that the company had already decided to fork over the money?
Just as Gao Yi was thinking about how to raise the price at the last minute, Luca stepped forward from behind him. He quickly took out a small notebook, then a pen, flipped the notebook open, scribbled a string of numbers, and tore out the page he had just written on.
“This is a completely independent account from a bank we’ve never used before. Trust , they won’t be able to trace our tracks through this account.”
Handing the torn note to Ieda Kunio, Luca didn’t forget to whisper a few words into Gao Yi’s ear.
Of course, Luca wouldn’t pass up the chance to pocket such a large sum of money.
Ieda Kunio took the note with the account details, looked at it, then spoke sternly, “We will transfer the money imdiately, but I need you to promise that this matter ends here!”
It sounded like he was warning Nevan, as if Nevan would actually be intimidated.
Nevan puckered his lips briefly, then turned to Gao Yi and whispered, “Are you satisfied?”
What could Gao Yi say?
Though he’d co here looking for trouble, and though the way the Youji Association had entertained him left him extrely displeased, the agreed-upon price couldn’t be changed.
Even if Gao Yi didn’t have good intentions, didn’t plan to play fair, didn’t even think of treating the Ben with respect, he had to stick to the conditions he’d set himself.
No matter what the case, words spoken must carry weight.
With countless frustrations and suppressed emotion, Gao Yi abandoned his plan for a last-minute price hike.
“Uh… Well… Hmm…”
Internally conflicted, Gao Yi felt helpless, as going back on his word wasn’t sothing he excelled at. For him to improvise trouble at this stage felt like fumbling in the dark.
“Once the paynt arrives, this matter ends here!”
Gao Yi gritted his teeth and spat out this statent.
Nevan and Kanter had no clue about Gao Yi’s deeper plan for reconciliation; they simply assud he was solely after the money.
A flicker of relief briefly passed over the tense face of Ieda Kunio. He nodded, then gestured towards a nearby tea room and said, “Please, have so tea now.”
Gao Yi really didn’t have a solid plan for turning the tables at this point. Feeling stuck, he cast a hesitant glance at Lin Xianghua.
Lin Xianghua was the kind of man who kept his word, a straightforward fellow. The proverb “Don’t hit soone showing a smiling face” ca to mind, making it hard for him to find a valid justification to clash directly with Ieda Kunio, whose deanor seed soft and accommodating.
Lin Xianghua imperceptibly shook his head.
Dani and Sith exchanged glances, but neither had any ideas either.
Dani, despite being an adept British troublemaker, should theoretically be experienced in such scenarios, but his nature was all talk and little action—an old silver coin, not a true rogue.
Dani took a deep breath and shook his head.
Sith shrugged at Gao Yi as if to say, “You’re on your own.”
None of them were capable of pushing things forward effectively. If Yuri had been here, he’d have instantly cooked up a reason to provoke a fight. Xinfeng could’ve managed it too, even Feng Biao would’ve been up to the task.
Even Fisher, lying in a hospital in the United States, could’ve pulled this off; all of them had street smarts that equipped them perfectly for shaless confrontations.
No options left—Gao Yi had to act himself.
He glanced at the plethora of knives in the room and suddenly said, “Why so many blades on display?”
Ieda Kunio froze in his tracks, and Nevan quickly shifted into an expression of feigned confusion as well.
Gao Yi pointed to a knife nearest to him and said, “What’s the deal with bringing us here? Planning to chop us up with these?”
Charges fabricated out of thin air, nothing but a pretext.
He was transparently seeking trouble—what now?
Gao Yi felt a twinge of guilt deep down. Were it not for lack of better options, he wouldn’t resort to thods this blunt and crude.
Coming from a major nation, there was an ingrained sense of pride in his blood. Put simply, he wanted to maintain face.
Ieda Kunio looked utterly puzzled, but after a brief mont of contemplation, he suddenly smiled and responded, “I know you’re joking. These are blades I’ve spent years collecting. Each one has significant historical and cultural heritage. The knife you’re pointing at is a fad work from Jing Shangzhen.”
A tachi indeed, but Gao Yi pointing towards the blade was far removed from any interest in its historical craftsmanship.
Talking enthusiastically about the knife, Ieda Kunio moved towards a nearby rack, lifting a black-sheathed tachi with a yellow-handled cord tied around its grip.
One hand supporting the hilt and the other holding the bottom of the scabbard—not wielding it, but carrying it ceremonially—he held the blade with the edge turned towards himself and the spine facing Gao Yi, stepping forward with the blade balanced in both hands.
Standing before Gao Yi, bowing his head and body slightly, and presenting the weapon with both hands as tradition demanded.
By custom, Gao Yi was supposed to reciprocate by taking the blade with both hands, one grasping the hilt and the other supporting the scabbard’s end, lifting it securely before Ieda Kunio would release his hands and pass the blade formally.
However, Gao Yi had no intention of following this tradition.
Simply put, he wanted more trouble. If everything proceeded according to proper etiquette, how could he insult Ieda Kunio or escalate the situation?
So Gao Yi deliberately controlled himself to reach out with just his left hand.
Moreover, he had it all planned out. After receiving the blade, he would grip the hilt with his right hand, unsheathe it with a dramatic slash, and let the blade skim right above Ieda Kunio’s scalp.
If that didn’t frighten Ieda Kunio half to death, then he’d credit the man’s nerves.
But as Gao Yi’s hand extended forward, his right hand instinctively followed suit, leaving him unable to resist the compulsion to hold the blade ceremonially with both hands.
No choice, truly no choice.
Causing trouble was Gao Yi’s agenda, yet accepting the blade with both hands was his dignity as a martial artist, his upbringing, his martial ethics, his refined manners, and his pride as a citizen of a great nation.
Sumd up into one word: composure.
A great nation carries intrinsic composure; it cannot stoop to base, shaless antics like the petty people adorned in borrowed robes.
The bold strike at a stronger adversary out of anger, while the cowardly lash out at the weaker.
While Ieda Kunio had shifted from arrogance to humility, his adherence to the Sword Presenting Ceremony left Gao Yi bound by the requisite etiquette.
Once the blade was handed over, any casual flourish or swing was now beyond possibility.
Heaving an inward sigh, Gao Yi stepped back, grasped the hilt tightly, and gently extracted the gleaming blade.
Truly, an exquisite weapon.
Partway unsheathed, Gao Yi refrained from drawing the blade fully, contenting himself with examining half of it.
“This blade is a creation by the renowned Warring States Period craftsman Jing Shangzhen, with simple edge patterns—straight grain along a straight edge—and highlighted with golden patterning. I acquired it five years ago at great expense from a collector. Though not one of Jing Shangzhen’s masterpieces, it is undoubtedly authentic and extrely rare and precious.”
After extolling the blade’s virtues, Ieda Kunio calmly asked, “Do you like it, sir?”
Gao Yi halted his movent.
He harbored no sentint for blades from the Ben and frankly didn’t feel much fondness towards them, but holding a refined weapon in hand, he couldn’t deny its undeniable craftsmanship.
Good craftsmanship deserved recognition, after all.
Gao Yi broke into a sudden smile, then abruptly drew the blade fully, paying no mind to observing its tip, instead twirling it casually.
With an effortless swing, he noticed the knife was visually appealing but incompatible with its handling, due to its center of weight, length, and hilt design failing to suit Gao Yi’s style.
In truth, Gao Yi wasn’t skilled with blades or swords. He lacked expertise with weaponry altogether.
For him, a hamr was an extension of his arm, whereas long blades proved cumberso, even for basic maneuvers.
“It’s a decent blade.”
Gao Yi offered casual praise, then carefully and slowly aid the tip at the scabbard, reinserting the blade with an admittedly clumsy move, neither suave nor elegant. He then offered it back to Ieda Kunio with both hands.
Ieda Kunio received the blade in both hands.
It was clear Gao Yi had co seeking conflict, prompting Ieda Kunio to adjust his deanor drastically, the shift from arrogance to humility evident. He braced himself ntally, preparing for whatever challenges and insults Gao Yi might hurl his way.
But then Gao Yi acted courteously, sparking another transformation in Ieda Kunio’s mind.
Receiving the blade stirred him to reconsider; and swiftly, his confidence soared anew.
It’s the Ben’s nature to bow before power but remain unmoved by virtue.
Returning the blade to the rack, Ieda Kunio turned back, face once more adorned with an irkso smirk.
Kanter and Nevan thought the matter was settled; Ieda Kunio did too. However, in the next mont, Gao Yi suddenly said, “The blade is good; the person isn’t.”
Ieda Kunio froze, staring blankly at Gao Yi.
Gao Yi calmly added, “Can the Ben still produce skilled swordsn? I hear your ninjas are sothing formidable—are there any left? Bring one out and show .”
Kanter imdiately grasped Gao Yi’s intent—he was still gunning for trouble.
When it cos to creating conflict, nobody surpasses the Aricans.
Kanter’s face darkened, his voice dripping with sarcasm: “My grandfather used to say he shot down a bunch of fools charging with katanas on Iwo Jima. Ninjas? Pfft, what a joke. Their samurai and Bushido spirit were wiped out in World War II, weren’t they?”
Gao Yi wanted a skirmish, and Kanter rolled up his sleeves without hesitation, firing barbs left and right.
Yet Kanter’s taunts didn’t seem to hit their mark.
Ieda Kunio paused for a mont, then smiled sincerely, responding, “Blades are rely cultural symbols. As for ninjas, those are just cinematic tropes; Bushido was long ago discarded by history.”
His stance too slippery, too evasive—how do you force an opening?
Forget it; sincerity might just be the ultimate ace in the hole.
Gao Yi abandoned his attempt to provoke Ieda Kunio and decided to switch tactics.
“I ca here today to stand up for my brother. You’ve paid money, but I don’t feel avenged. Here’s an idea: gather ten of your best fighters, and we’ll settle this with duels—each one deciding either victory or death. For every match you win, I’ll reduce the amount by one hundred million US dollars; for every match you lose, you’ll increase it by the sa amount.”
Gao Yi laid out this enticing offer plainly to Ieda Kunio, then calmly added, “Well? Do you dare to take the challenge?”
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