Getting a Sugar Mommy in Cultivation World!!

The Emperor paused and looked at Noah and asked, "So, I would like to understand the intentions of Emperor Feng Wuhan. How does he plan to help our empire? and..." He took another deep breath and continued, "What does he want in return?"

Noah, who had been patiently waiting for him to ask this question, smiled inwardly before opening his mouth to speak. "We are willing to help you rule out the spies in the Empire. You cannot live with the threat of being the next one to be controlled."

Noah came up with lots of things that the Wuhan was willing to lend his help for, some of them being helping the Quan Empire expose the spies and deal with them.

The more indebted the empire became to Wuhan, the better it was for them.

"And what do you ask in return for all of this?" The Emperor showed no delight on his face even when he heard all the sweet things they were being given. There was no way any sane emperor would let the other get the bigger straw in negotiation.

Noah's eyes left the Emperor and settled on the moon that hung low between the distant mountains—silver, solemn, and strangely heavy. Its pale light bathed the garden in ghostly hues, casting long shadows behind the lanterns and trees.

"What we want in return for all of this is simple," he finally said, his voice low, yet firm enough to silence the wind chimes.

"There will be a war."

The words fell like stones in a still lake, rippling outward.

"A war unlike anything our generation has seen. Not between sects or empires. Not over borders, resources, or pride. But for survival itself."

His gaze remained fixed on the moon.

"It won't come tomorrow. Maybe not even in the next few months. But it is coming. And when it does…" Noah turned his head back to the Emperor, eyes calm but unwavering, "…we will need your Empire to stand with us—without hesitation, without question."

The Emperor's brows knit, his mouth opening to protest, but Noah raised a hand and continued before the words could leave his lips.

"This won't be the kind of war where you can opt to sit out. The flames of the battles will not be limited to the Feng Empire; they will soon engulf the whole world."

Noah's words made the Emperor reconsider attacking the world, a war like none other…

That was something he could not come to believe.

"If something like that happens, the Hidden Families would not sit still. Even now, if the word of the incident at the temple reaches their ears, they will send their representatives to deal with them." He countered, pointing at the source of his confidence.

Noah knew many things about the cult, but there was no way he could reveal all of them without explaining the source of his information. In the end he had to work with what he got.

"Be that as it may," Noah smiled and looked back at the man without flinching, "if such a situation arises, we will expect your unshakable trust and allegiance."

The Emperor's fingers tightened around the railing.

"And also we will need more than just your armies, Your Majesty," Noah said. "We'll need your voice. To convince the other empires. They have not yet gone through what your empire has suffered, so they will be skeptical, and they will want to look down on the cult, taking the matters into their own hands, thinking they can do everything."

He let the moment stretch, watching the old monarch's face, waiting to see how deeply the words took root.

For a long while, the Emperor said nothing. His eyes wandered—not toward Noah, but toward the vast city below. The towers, the bridges, the people—his people. The weight of their lives hung on his decision.

An emperor could not make a decision like this and back down later; he had to tread carefully, but then again, the imminent danger of the cult and the potential leaks left him no choice but to rely on Noah. He exhaled slowly, deeply, like a man who had just accepted the weight of a burden he could not set down.

"If I do this…" he finally said, his voice rough with the age that rarely showed, "if I stand behind you when the time comes, I will be declaring more than an alliance."

"I will be declaring a side."

Noah nodded solemnly. "Yes. You will."

Another pause.

The Emperor looked again at the moon, then at his city—his people.

And then he closed his eyes and gave a second sigh, softer than the first but more resolute.

"Very well, Noah of Feng. When the time comes, my sword, my city, and my voice will stand beside yours."

He opened his eyes again, and this time, there was no hesitation in them. "But know this—I will hold you to your word. If I stake the fate of my empire on this path, if only there will be no other option, our continent, all the empires, will declare war against the cult."

"If no such thing happens, will you be demanding something else from me?"

Noah met his gaze, the moonlight reflecting in his silver-flecked irises.

"No." He immediately shook his head. "If no such thing happens, think of this favor as an action of goodwill from our empire. A hand of friendship extended by our side towards a better future for both our empires."

With a smile, Noah extended his hands towards the old emperor, who looked shocked by his actions before bursting out in laughter.

"Hahaha!!! If this was your idea, I have to say you are an interesting fellow, Mr. Noah." With his regained vigor, he firmly shook Noah's hand.

"Now, enough of the boring talks. Take a good rest, dear guests; the maids will lead you to your rooms whenever you want to go back." He pointed towards the line of servants at the end of the garden, standing against the wall.

Then, with a slow turn, he walked away to rejoin the others, leaving Noah and Xin Yan beneath the falling blossoms.