I walk sideways in the game world

Chapter 185: Endless Difficulties, Difficulty in Showing Sincerity

The towering palace was resplendent with gold and jade, carved beams and painted buildings, and every detail displayed the majesty and wealth of the Golden Lion Kingdom. However, at this moment, Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin had no time to appreciate this luxurious scene. Their hearts, like the cold night, were shrouded in a shadow.

After a long wait, they finally entered the Golden Lion King's palace. However, instead of a warm welcome, they were greeted by a stifling silence. The Golden Lion King sat high on his throne, his face dignified and imposing, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's, surveying them. Beside him sat a young and beautiful woman, presumably the Golden Lion King's beloved daughter, the princess rumored to possess a breathtaking beauty.

Ren Xiaoyao was about to speak when he was interrupted by a scathing voice. "How dare you refuse to kneel before His Majesty? Are you here to seek peace or to provoke me?" The speaker was an elderly man in a gorgeous robe, holding a whisk and a sinister look in his eyes. He was none other than the most powerful imperial advisor of the Golden Lion Kingdom.

Ren Xiaoyao replied calmly, "We are here for the welfare of the people of both countries, not to surrender. Why should we kneel?"

"How dare you!" The Imperial Master was furious upon hearing this. "How dare you, a mere tiny country, act so arrogantly in front of the Golden Lion Kingdom? You simply don't know your place!"

"Master, calm down," the Golden Lion King, who had been silent until then, finally spoke. His voice was deep and magnetic. "You are guests who have come from afar. There is no need to be polite."

Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin exchanged glances, each seeing a hint of solemnity in the other's eyes. The Golden Lion King appeared pleasant, but in reality, he concealed a sharp edge. Every word he spoke was filled with temptation and oppression.

"Tell me, what is the purpose of your trip?" asked the Golden Lion King indifferently.

Ren Xiaoyao took a deep breath and was about to speak when the Imperial Preceptor jumped in to challenge him again, "How can you speak so casually in front of His Majesty? Someone, bring the tea!"

Two maids came up with tea. Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin took the teacups, but found that the tea was turbid and had a strange smell.

"What's the matter? Are you two dissatisfied with the poor hospitality of our Golden Lion Kingdom?" The national teacher asked with a sneer, his eyes full of mockery.

Ren Xiaoyao calmly placed the teacup on the table and looked at the Golden Lion King with a determined gaze, "Your Majesty, we are here to..."

Before he could finish his words, the princess, who had been silent the entire time, suddenly spoke. Her voice was clear and pleasant, yet it carried a hint of unquestionable majesty. "Wait a minute, I heard you brought an alliance plan. Show it to me."

Xia Lin stepped forward, pulled out a scroll from her bosom, and slowly unrolled it… She gracefully unfolded it, revealing a clear map of the two countries, along with a plan for future regional cooperation and resource sharing. This plan had been meticulously prepared, striving for fairness, justice, and mutual benefit.

However, the princess only glanced at it casually, her lips curled in disdain. "Is this your sincerity? This plan appears to be comprehensive, but in reality, it's all about your own interests. How can the Golden Lion Kingdom benefit from this?"

Xia Lin had anticipated that they wouldn't readily accept it, so she explained calmly, "Your Highness, this plan is the result of careful consideration and repeated deliberation. It's definitely the most beneficial for the development of both countries. Look at this area..."

Just as Charlene was about to explain in detail, the princess impatiently interrupted her, "No need to elaborate. I'm not interested in these tedious details. Father, I don't think these people are sincere at all. It's better to let them go back."

The Golden Lion King did not say anything, but just stared at Ren Xiaoyao with deep eyes, as if trying to guess what he was thinking.

General Black Tiger, who had been silent the entire time, suddenly stood up. His tall stature and resonant voice resonated, "Your Majesty, I suggest that we allow this envoy to compete with me. If he can defeat me, it will prove that they truly have the strength to form an alliance with the Golden Lion Kingdom. Naturally, we will seriously consider their proposal."

Everyone in the hall was shocked when these words came out. General Black Tiger was the most powerful warrior in the Golden Lion Kingdom, with unfathomable strength. Having him take action was obviously intended to intimidate Ren Xiaoyao.

The Imperial Preceptor stroked his beard, a sinister glint in his eyes as he echoed, "General, your words make sense. Let's allow this envoy to demonstrate his abilities and broaden our horizons."

The princess also chuckled, "Yeah, all talk is fake, let's see the real thing with our own hands."

Ren Xiaoyao knew this was a deliberate trap set by the other party to test his strength. He exchanged a look with Xia Lin. Although Xia Lin was worried, she also understood that at this moment, they had no way out.

"Okay, I promise you." Ren Xiaoyao's tone was calm, but revealed an unquestionable firmness.

The Golden Lion King waved his hand, signaling everyone to withdraw. The center of the hall was quickly cleared, transforming into a simple arena. General Black Tiger removed his heavy armor, revealing his muscular build. He flexed his muscles, making a crackling sound, and a powerful sense of oppression washed over him.

Ren Xiaoyao seemed calm and composed. He slowly drew out the long sword from his waist. The sword was as crystal clear as frost and snow, emitting a cold light.

"Please teach me." Ren Xiaoyao said calmly, his eyes like torches, locking onto General Black Tiger's every move.

General Black Tiger roared, like a tiger descending from the mountain, and pounced towards Ren Xiaoyao with overwhelming momentum.

For a moment, swords flashed and shadows appeared as two figures clashed fiercely in the magnificent hall. The clanging of weapons clashed incessantly...

Ren Xiaoyao's swordsmanship was light and graceful, unpredictable, while General Black Tiger's saber technique was powerful and sweeping. The two exchanged blows, each bringing the fight to a close. However, anyone with a discerning eye could see that while Ren Xiaoyao wasn't at a disadvantage, he wasn't in a clear advantage either.

The Golden Lion King looked at the two people fighting fiercely in the field, his brows slightly furrowed, and a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes, "Could it be..."

Amidst the flashes of swords and sabers, Ren Xiaoyao's form was elusive, as elusive as a wisp of smoke. Knowing the Black Tiger General's incredible strength, he maneuvered with his flexible and varied swordsmanship, looking for a flaw. As the Black Tiger General's attacks continued, his anxiety grew, and his techniques gradually became disorganized.

The spectators had varying expressions. The Imperial Master's brow furrowed, his eyes gleaming as he pondered something. The Princess appeared bored, carelessly fiddling with the jade bracelet in her hand. Only the Golden Lion King remained fixed on the battle, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's.

"Your Majesty, this boy's swordsmanship is strange. It doesn't seem to be the style of our Golden Lion Kingdom." The red-robed envoy leaned close to the Golden Lion King's ear and whispered, with a hint of provocation in his tone. "Also, the cooperation plan they proposed is a bit too generous. Is it possible..."

He deliberately kept it to himself, but the implication was clear. The Golden Lion King's expression changed slightly, a flicker of suspicion in his eyes. Indeed, while Ren Xiaoyao's swordsmanship was exquisite, it exuded an unfamiliar aura, distinct from the martial arts style of the Golden Lion Kingdom.

"Your Majesty, please be careful!" The red-robed envoy continued to fan the flames. "Now that troubled times are approaching, various forces are ready to make moves. No one can guarantee whether they are truly cooperating or have other intentions!"

The Golden Lion King did not speak, but looked at the two people fighting fiercely in the field with a deeper gaze.

In the arena, Ren Xiaoyao seized upon a flaw in Black Tiger General's hand and with a flash of his sword, he aimed for his opponent's throat. Shocked, Black Tiger General quickly raised his sword to block, but the sword still sliced his arm, and blood immediately gushed out.

"You lost." Ren Xiaoyao put away his sword and stood up, saying lightly.

General Black Tiger covered his wound, his face livid, his eyes filled with resentment. He had wanted to use this opportunity to intimidate Ren Xiaoyao, but he ended up getting injured instead, leaving him completely humiliated.

"Thank you." Ren Xiaoyao bowed and turned to walk towards Xia Lin.

"Good boy, you really have some skills!" The Golden Lion King suddenly spoke, his tone unable to tell whether he was happy or angry. "However, if you want to cooperate with my Golden Lion Kingdom, this little skill is far from enough!"

Ren Xiaoyao's heart sank. He knew that the real test had just begun.

"Someone, bring the tea!" the Golden Lion King shouted loudly, but there was a chill in his tone.

Two maids came forward with a tray containing two cups of steaming hot tea. However, Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin smelled a hint of danger.

"This tea..." Xia Lin was about to speak, but Ren Xiaoyao stopped her with a look. He knew that at this moment, any rejection or doubt would only deepen the other party's suspicion.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your hospitality." Ren Xiaoyao picked up the teacup and drank it all in one gulp.

The fragrance of tea is everywhere, but it can't cover up a slight bitterness...

"The taste of this tea seems to be a little wrong..." Ren Xiaoyao put down the teacup, his expression changed slightly, but it was too late.

Bitterness spread through his mouth, and Ren Xiaoyao felt his blood and qi surging, his inner flow of Qi blocked. He endured the discomfort and calmly placed the teacup back on the tray, his eyes sweeping over everyone present like a hawk.

"Good tea!" The Golden Lion King laughed loudly, seemingly unaware of Ren Xiaoyao's unusual behavior. "I wonder if the two envoys are satisfied with this tea?"

"Your Majesty, we are extremely grateful for your hospitality." Ren Xiaoyao bowed and said with a neither humble nor arrogant tone, but he couldn't hide the slight trembling in his voice.

"As long as you are satisfied, as long as you are satisfied." The Golden Lion King's eyes swept back and forth between Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin, and a meaningful smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Xia Lin remained silent throughout the entire process, simply standing quietly beside Ren Xiaoyao, observing everything around her with a cold gaze. Although she didn't drink the tea, she was aware of the unusual atmosphere.

"Your Majesty, we came here this time to..." Ren Xiaoyao suppressed the surging blood in his body and tried to explain his purpose again. However, before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by the Golden Lion King.

"The two envoys have come a long way and must have worked hard. You should go down and rest first." The Golden Lion King said, waving to the guards beside him, "Come, take the two envoys to the guest room to rest."

Two guards stepped forward and "invited" Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin out of the hall without any explanation.

"Your Majesty, this..." General Black Tiger couldn't help but feel anxious when he saw this.

"That's fine." The Golden Lion King waved his hand. "Let's leave them alone for a few days. I want to see what they're up to!"

A sinister glint flashed in the red-robed envoy's eyes, and he whispered, "Your Majesty is wise. We must be on guard against these two individuals of unknown origin!"

The Golden Lion King didn't say anything, but just nodded slightly, with an elusive look in his eyes.

After leaving the main hall, Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin were taken to a remote courtyard.

"Brother Xiaoyao, how are you?" Xia Lin asked anxiously as she entered the room.

Ren Xiaoyao sat cross-legged on the bed, using his internal energy to suppress the chaotic Qi in his body. His face was pale and cold sweat was pouring down his forehead.

"I'm fine, it's just that someone tampered with this tea." Ren Xiaoyao said gritting his teeth, his voice full of anger and helplessness.

They had come from afar, full of sincerity, but they hadn't expected to be treated this way upon entering the Golden Lion King's palace. What exactly was the Golden Lion King's intention?

"It seems that we are under house arrest." Xia Lin walked to the window and looked at the heavily guarded guards outside with a frown on her face.

Ren Xiaoyao took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. He knew that now was not the time to get angry. The most urgent thing was to find out the true purpose of the Golden Lion King and who was secretly obstructing him!

As night fell, the entire palace was shrouded in an eerie silence. However, beneath this silence, an undercurrent was quietly surging...

The red-robed messenger stealthily approached the courtyard where Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin lived. He exchanged a few words in a low voice with a guard, then pressed a heavy purse into the guard's hand. The guard weighed the purse, a greedy smile on his face, and calmly put the purse away. Then, he turned and walked deeper into the courtyard...