The Emperor stood there stunned, his mind in complete disarray. Accept the protection of Young Master Jiang Chen? Wouldn't that make them a puppet of the Eternal Sacred Land?
Prince Huo spoke coldly, "It seems the Sancai Island Domain really doesn't know how to accept a good thing when it's handed to them. In this world, countless factions would give anything to receive Young Master Jiang Chen's protection. You're staring at a gift from the heavens, and you're actually hesitating? Are you waiting for Young Master Jiang Chen to slaughter you all before you come to your senses?"
Prince Huo naturally hoped the Sancai Island Domain would behave themselves and become Jiang Chen's subordinates — at the very least, they would answer to Jiang Chen from now on. The Huichun Island Domain answered to Jiang Chen as well, so even if the two sides couldn't become allies, the Sancai Island Domain wouldn't dare stir up trouble anymore.
These years, the Huichun Island Domain truly needed time to recuperate and restore their strength.
Jiang Chen regarded the people of the Sancai Island Domain with a cold gaze.
"If you're going to hesitate, then forget it. However, from this day forward the Huichun Island Domain accepts my protection. If any of you dare provoke them again, you will be provoking me. Should there be a next time, don't blame me for being ruthless." Jiang Chen's voice turned frigid.
Zhao Situ from the Sancai Island Domain grew anxious and sent a voice transmission to the Emperor: "Your Majesty, what are you still hesitating for? Once the Huichun Island Domain receives Young Master Jiang Chen's protection, they will only grow stronger and stronger. When that time comes, rather than being devoured by them, we'd be better off submitting to Young Master Jiang Chen now. Even if Young Master Jiang Chen doesn't treat us equally, at least the Sancai Island Domain's lineage will survive."
Zhao Situ was a perceptive man.
He understood perfectly well that the Huichun Island Domain had never been a benevolent neighbor. If they were left to recover their strength and received Jiang Chen's protection, they would inevitably launch attacks on surrounding powers.
When that happened, the Sancai Island Domain would already be severely weakened, and the balance of power would flip completely. Forget about maintaining an even footing — they'd be lucky not to be swallowed whole.
The Emperor suddenly snapped to his senses and called out in a loud voice, "Young Master Jiang Chen! The Sancai Island Domain is willing to submit to Young Master Jiang Chen, and we humbly request your protection!"
"Is that what you truly mean?" Jiang Chen asked with a faint smile.
"Without question! My earlier hesitation wasn't because I was unwilling — I was afraid that if the Sancai Island Domain accepted the Young Master's protection, the Huichun Island Domain would swallow us up and we wouldn't even retain our lineage."
The Emperor was a clever man as well. He laid his doubts bare outright, hoping to see whether Young Master Jiang Chen had a response.
Jiang Chen chuckled. "I may be overbearing, but I wouldn't go so far as to extinguish your lineage. If you place yourselves under my protection, you will only grow stronger in the future. I will absolutely not let your lineage be wiped out. Of course, now that both of you will be under my protection, from this point forward you will function as an alliance and must not attack one another."
"That goes without saying — we will follow the Young Master's command." The Emperor was overjoyed.
As long as their lineage was preserved, he would agree to anything. After all, the Sancai Island Domain had been severely weakened and was in no position to accomplish anything in the short term.
It would be far better to find a powerful patron. At the very least, the Huichun Island Domain wouldn't be able to justify attacking them anymore. When he thought about it that way, submitting to Jiang Chen was actually the best possible outcome for the Sancai Island Domain.
Jiang Chen waved his hand. "Very well. What's your name?"
"The imperial family of the Sancai Island Domain bears the surname Yan. His Majesty's name is Yan Duo," Zhao Situ answered hastily.
Yan Duo?
Jiang Chen nodded. "Emperor Yan Duo, Prince Huo — I'll lay down the law here today. Since you have both submitted to me, I will treat you equally. From this day forward, all grievances between you are wiped clean. Neither side is to wage war against the other. Can you agree to that?"
Prince Huo declared, "As long as the Sancai Island Domain knows its place, the Huichun Island Domain won't go looking for trouble."