The moment those words left his mouth, Yao Si's eyelids twitched violently. A devastating surge of Emperor Origin erupted from his body, whipping up a gale that howled through the great hall. His aura turned perilously dangerous.
He was truly furious—a hot face slapped against a cold cheek. Hua Qingsi had told him that Yang Kai wanted him to take up the position of Commander of the Jizi Army. Reluctantly, he had agreed, coming all the way to Lingxiao Palace to discuss the army's future with Yang Kai, only to receive a response like this.
Go back to wherever he came from? Where could he even go back to?
He had been the Deputy Commander of another army. He had spent several days back at the Seven Mists Sea severing those ties and handing over every last matter to his successor. Now the entire Seven Mists Sea knew he was coming to serve as Commander of the Jizi Army—he had even received congratulations from a great many people.
A Deputy Commander's authority was nothing to scoff at, but how could it compare to being Commander—the sole person beneath only one, standing above a million? It was, in every sense, a promotion.
And now Yang Kai was telling him to go back?
If he actually returned, and others asked, was he supposed to tell them he had been rejected and sent packing by the Commander of the Jizi Army? He could not afford that humiliation—and neither could Soul Nether Palace, nor the Soul Nether Great Emperor.
If Yao Si had still possessed any room for choice seven days ago, then now there was no path of retreat. It wasn't him who had cut off his own escape—it was that he had never expected Yang Kai to adopt such an attitude, when the man had been practically begging for talent before, only to cast him aside like a worn-out shoe.
Was this even human? Yao Si felt he had been played!
But with his retreat already severed, no matter how raging his fury, Yao Si did not immediately erupt. He merely asked in a cold voice: "What do you want?"
Yang Kai's expression remained calm. "It isn't what I want. It's that Brother Yao needs to recognize his own position and station."
Yao Si closed his eyes. He drew a deep breath, then exhaled. With each inhalation and exhalation, the airflow throughout the entire hall grew restless and agitated.
Hua Qingsi and Bian Yuqing held their breath in quiet alarm, afraid that the two men would come to blows right here if one wrong word was spoken. They weren't especially worried about Yang Kai coming to any harm, but if things truly fell apart, the Jizi Army would lose Yao Si entirely.
Fortunately, though Yao Si was wild and untameable, his mental fortitude was truly exceptional. When to rage and when to endure—no one needed to teach him that. After a moment, he opened his eyes, cupped his fists toward Yang Kai, turned his head slightly to the side, and spoke in a deep, heavy voice: "Yao Si... greets the Commander!"
Every word was ground out between clenched teeth, his voice thick with rage and grievance—an outpouring of blood and tears.
The instant those words fell, Yang Kai burst into hearty laughter. He appeared abruptly before Yao Si, seized him by the arm, and declared with the warmest enthusiasm: "Commander Yao, there's no need for such formality! From now on, we're all one family—we should support and look after one other. No need to stand on ceremony!"
His attitude had made an abrupt, dramatic reversal. Such an intimate display would have convinced any bystander that Yang Kai and Yao Si must be the best of friends.
Hua Qingsi shook her head with an amused laugh. Seeing it all play out, she finally understood what Yang Kai had been after.
His Lordship had stressed "position and station" twice in succession—all for the sake of that one title: Commander.
After all, when Yao Si met Yang Kai today, opening his mouth with "Palace Master Yang" and closing it with "Palace Master Yang"—that simply wouldn't do. On any other occasion, such an address wouldn't matter. But now it was unacceptable. Yang Kai was the Commander of the Jizi Army, and Yao Si was its Commander—meaning superior and subordinate. Military law carried absolute authority, and military orders were as immovable as mountains. No matter what, Yao Si had to call Yang Kai "my Lord."
Only then could it be said that Yao Si recognized himself as a member of the Jizi Army, that he had grasped his own position and station, rather than sitting above it all as the son of a Great Emperor.
That was precisely why Yang Kai's attitude had changed.
With Yang Kai gripping his arm, Yao Si's face twitched, his gaze blazing with fire.
Yang Kai, however, seemed entirely oblivious. He turned to Hua Qingsi and said: "Come, bring the wine. Today marks Commander Yao's first day—it's a great joy for the Jizi Army. I, as Commander, want to drink deeply with Commander Yao to celebrate."
Before Hua Qingsi could even acknowledge the order, Yao Si barked out a sharp shout: "I'd like to see anyone dare bring wine!"
His belly was stuffed with rage—who had any mood for drinking? Even if he were to drink, it certainly wouldn't be alongside Yang Kai. Yao Si was willing to call Yang Kai "Commander" because the Great Emperor's decree hung over him, but even a Commander had no authority over his personal affairs.
Hua Qingsi had been about to fetch the wine, but upon hearing this, she found herself in a difficult spot. She could only look to Yang Kai, her expression clearly seeking guidance.
Yang Kai laughed. "If Commander Yao doesn't wish to drink, then we won't drink. Let's sit down and talk. There will be much in the army that requires Commander Yao's expertise going forward. Though we've known each other a long time, we haven't truly gotten to know each other yet. This is the perfect..."