Chapter 154: Are You Here to Negotiate Peace or Start Trouble?
"It was that Konoha brat!"
After a while, one of the Mist ninja finally reacted and roared, "Kid, undo this right now, or I'll kill you!"
"You're really noisy. Just behave and enjoy the darkness."
Prolonged darkness was enough to shatter a person's sanity. Li Jiexuan found some rope and tied up all these fools one by one.
"Brat, let us go!" At first, the Mist ninja still shouted with plenty of vigor. But as time passed, hunger and thirst set in, and they gradually lost the strength to curse.
Then, a faint, tantalizing fragrance drifted through the air—chili, cumin, pepper salt, and thick waves of roasted meat aroma…
It was barbecue!
Li Jiexuan tended the meat over the fire, eating and drinking leisurely. Smelling the scent, the Mist ninja who had been starving for an entire day couldn't help but swallow hard.
Gulp…
Finally, one of them gave in.
"Master from Konoha, I was wrong. Just treat me like a fart and let me go!" the Mist ninja cried miserably. "I want some barbecue too…"
Li Jiexuan smiled, dispelled the genjutsu on him, and tossed a piece of roasted meat at his feet.
"Thank you, thank you!"
The Mist ninja grabbed the meat and devoured it, grease covering his mouth. Hearing this, the others couldn't endure it any longer. One by one, they surrendered.
"This esteemed sir from Konoha, my name is Yabao. I'm a chunin from the Hidden Mist." The leading chunin indeed had a pair of large buck teeth. "We shouldn't have killed those villagers. We admit our guilt!"
Hearing that, Li Jiexuan curled his lip in disdain. "Who told you I care about that? Whether those villagers live or die has nothing to do with me. That's an internal matter of your Land of Water."
"Then you are…?"
Yabao was confused. If it wasn't about the villagers, why torment them like this?
"I am Konoha's envoy for peace negotiations!"
Li Jiexuan grinned as if it were the most natural thing in the world, eight white teeth gleaming brightly.
The Mist ninja were stunned. "You're sure this is a peace negotiation?"
An hour later…
"I am Konoha's envoy. I have come to the Hidden Mist Village to negotiate peace!"
Li Jiexuan smiled and nodded at the Hidden Mist ANBU. Beside him, Yabao forced an awkward laugh. "We've already confirmed his identity."
Hearing this, the Crow-masked ANBU of the Hidden Mist sneered. "Konoha is sending children this small to negotiate peace? How laughable!"
Li Jiexuan pretended not to hear and continued smiling. "Please inform the Mizukage as soon as possible. Konoha has come with sincere intentions…"
"Tch!" The Crow ANBU let out a cold snort. "Lord Mizukage does not meet with nobodies. If you want to negotiate peace, have your Second Hokage come personally!"
"And our Hidden Mist Village isn't some childish ninja playground like your Konoha. If you don't want to die, a little brat like you had better get out while you can!"
With that, the Crow ANBU burst into laughter and turned to leave. Clearly, he hadn't taken Li Jiexuan seriously at all.
"Sigh. Why do you always have to force me?"
Li Jiexuan shook his head helplessly. He had already tried hard to restrain himself. But now it seemed completely unnecessary—these people simply didn't know how to appreciate mercy.
"Dragon Sage Mode!"
Silver scales spread across his body. Like a deity, Li Jiexuan stepped through the air and floated in front of the Crow ANBU.
"Why did you have to force me?"
"What!?"
The Crow ANBU's eyes widened in shock. Before he could react, a powerful fist rapidly filled his vision.
Boom!
The crow mask caved in completely. His facial bones were smashed into a mangled mess. For the rest of his life, he probably wouldn't dare show his face again!
"You really shouldn't show off when you don't have the strength."
Li Jiexuan shook his head lightly in disdain. In an instant, dozens of Hidden Mist ANBU appeared, surrounding him tightly.
"Was it you who attacked our ANBU?"
The Elephant-masked ANBU leader spoke coldly. "Who exactly are you? What is your purpose in coming to the Hidden Mist?"
Hearing that, Li Jiexuan shrugged helplessly and took out the peace negotiation document.
"I am Jōnin Li Jiexuan from Konoha. I have come to the Hidden Mist Village to negotiate peace!"
"Negotiate peace?"
The surrounding ANBU widened their eyes in disbelief, glancing at the Crow ANBU whose face was now unrecognizable.
So this is how peace negotiations are done nowadays?
Are you here to negotiate peace… or to start a war?