<strong>Capítulo 1498: Chapter 1491: Head-to-Head Confrontation</strong>


    “Miss Avril, it seems you recognize me, so I won’t introduce myself.”


    Upon hearing Avril call out his name, Sima Lingyun showed no surprise. Instead, a cold smile yed at the corner of his mouth as he looked at Avril and spoke with an unruffled tone, “I have some matters I’d like to discuss with you, Miss Avril. I wonder if you have the time.”


    “Of course, I have time. With an invitation from Group Leader Sima, how could I dare refuse?” Avril looked at Sima Lingyun, a hint of seriousness flickering in her eyes, but soon a faint smile appeared on her face as she slowly responded.


    “In that case, Miss Avril, shall we? My car is already waiting nearby. Let’s talk somewhere else.”


    Speaking, Sima Lingyun turned directly and walked towards a ck sedan parked not far away, where Jiao Long was sitting in the driver’s seat, waiting for him.


    The situation in Jiangnan had concluded two days earlier. Sima Lingyun and Jiao Long had returned to Beijing, and as for any remaining matters, if the members of the Yanhuang Group left in Jiangnan couldn’t resolve such minor issues, they might as well get out of the group and not upy a spot.


    The midday sun was fierce and scorching, casting its intense rays upon Beijing, bathing this ancient city with a rich historical heritage in a golden light.


    In a very famous teahouse in Beijing.


    Sima Lingyun and Avril sat in a booth made with bamboo screens in the teahouse. On the table was a pot of freshly brewed Tieguanyin, its faint aroma spreading through the air.


    Sima Lingyun poured a cup of tea and took a sip leisurely, his gaze fixated on the bustling, noisy street outside, without saying a word.


    Avril also poured herself a cup of tea, took a gentle sip, and didn’t speak first either. Instead, she spected in her heart about why Sima Lingyun had sought her out alone this time. Was he warning her not to make a move in Beijing, or telling her directly to leave China?


    As the seconds ticked by, the entire booth was eerily quiet. Sima Lingyun gazed out the window, savoring his tea leisurely, as if there wasn’t another person sitting in front of him.


    Watching Sima Lingyun’s nonchnt demeanor, Avril’s eyes flickered. She couldn’t help but be the first to speak, “Group Leader Sima, let’s not waste time. Let’s cut to the chase. Why did you call me here today? Don’t tell me you invited me just for a cup of tea.”


    The elegant and melodious tone of Avril’s voice reached his ears, bringing Sima Lingyun back to his senses. He smiled and said, “Could it be that the esteemed Holy Daughter of the Holy See can’t guess why I’ve sought you out? Since you know, Holy Daughter, why ask knowingly.”


    “Group Leader Sima, you’re joking. I’m just an ordinary woman. How could I predict what others are thinking?” Avril responded with a faint smile.


    “Is that so?”


    Sima Lingyun said in an unruffled tone, hearing Avril’s words, “If an ordinary woman can toy with the Dark Council, she must be quite extraordinary. What do you say, Miss Avril?”


    “Group Leader Sima, what do you mean by that?”


    Hearing Sima Lingyun’s calm words, a sharp glint shed in Avril’s eyes, and her tone turned somewhat icy.


    “What I mean, I think, is clearer to you than to me, Miss Avril. We both know what’s going on. I just hope, Miss Avril, that you won’t test my patience. Otherwise, I won’t hesitate to add another soul to my sword.”


    Though Sima Lingyun’s tone remained steady, his gaze fell upon Avril, piercing through space like a sharp sword, filled with a fierce aura.


    Hearing Sima Lingyun’s wordsden with murderous intent, Avril frowned slightly, but her expression remained unchanged as she calmly spoke, “Group Leader Sima, are you threatening me? It seems I’ve done nothing. This time, my visit to China is merely to mend rtions between the Church and Huaxia Martial Artists. Group Leader Sima, you’re overthinking it.”


    “Is that so?”


    Sima Lingyun tapped his finger on the table and said indifferently, “Miss Avril, do you think I’m a fool? Could you tell me, exactly why you met with the Yang Family, and don’t tell me it was also to mend rtions with Huaxia Martial Artists.”


    “What, do I need your permission, Group Leader Sima, to meet with the Yang Family?”


    Avril spoke calmly: “Besides, I want to repair rtions with Chinese Martial Artists, so naturally, I need to approach the Yang Family. The Yang Family is a prominent family in Beijing and is among the top families in China. As long as I repair rtions with them, mending rtions with other Chinese Martial Artists will naturally follow without any issues. Moreover, the Yang Family is just my first stop. After some time, I will also visit the Mu Family, Han Family, Tang Family, and Lu Family. Group Leader Sima, do I need your approval to visit these families, or do you want to send people to follow me to see if I’m lying?”


    Upon hearing Avril’s words, Sima Lingyun’s face turned unpleasant. It seemed that Avril was much more troublesome than he had imagined. On the surface, her words indicated her innocence, even suggesting surveince to prove her integrity.


    However, in reality, these words were a trap. If you acted as suggested, you would fall right into the pit.


    One must understand that Avril’s purpose foring to China this time is to repair rtions between the Church and Chinese Martial Artists. If Sima Lingyun dared to send people to monitor Avril, it wouldn’t take a day for the entire world to know that the Yanhuang Group was abusing its power, monitoring the Holy Daughter of the Holy See, and preventing her from meeting any Chinese Martial Artists, attempting to obstruct friendly rtions between the Church and Chinese Martial Artists with ulterior motives.


    If such news spread, even Group Leader Sima Lingyun of the Yanhuang Group would be in serious trouble.


    These days, rumors are like an invisible murder weapon.


    “Miss Avril, your provocations won’t work on me. I don’t care what ns you have in China, but I can clearly tell you, you’d better behave in China and not y any tricks, or don’t me me for being impolite with you.”


    “Impolite with me, Group Leader Sima? Sometimes, be careful with your words. Do you dare to take action against me? If you dared to take action against me, we wouldn’t be talking in a teahouse, but you’d have me in your Yanhuang Group’s prison.” Avril said with a cold smile.


    Upon hearing Avril’s words, a sh of anger crossed Sima Lingyun’s eyes. Although he wanted to refute Avril’s words, he didn’t know where to begin because Avril was right. If he really dared to harm Avril, they wouldn’t be conversing in a teahouse but would be in the Yanhuang Group’s prison.


    Avril, no matter what, is the Holy Daughter of the Church. The current Pope has half a foot in the Earthly Immortal Realm and is an invincible powerhouse. Once he arrests Avril and brings her into the Yanhuang Group, it could likely reignite conflict between the Church and Chinese Martial Artists, reminiscent of the Crusades more than a decade ago.


    More than a decade ago, during the Crusades, although Chinese Martial Artists sessfully annihted the Crusaders and strong individuals from the Church, the costs were significant. Should another Crusades-like event erupt, the consequences would be unimaginable.


    Looking at Sima Lingyun, Avril’s lips curled into a mocking smile. This was her trump card. Even if Sima Lingyun suspected that her visit to China was aimed at Lu Tianxing, he dared not act against her. There was only one reason: her identity as the Holy Daughter of the Church. If Sima Lingyun dared to touch her, the repercussions would be beyond what he could handle.


    “Quite the means, quite the calctions, Miss Avril. Now I finally believe the saying, ‘Women are not inferior to men.’ Unfortunately, you did miscalcte one thing.” Sima Lingyun suddenly said, looking at Avril.


    “What thing?”


    Upon hearing Sima Lingyun’s words, Avril frowned, and a sense of unease immediately surged in her heart.


    “If I’m not mistaken, your visit to China this time might be targeting Lu Tianxing, am I right?”


    “What if it is, what if it isn’t? What can you do to me?”


    “You’re right, right now I truly can’t do anything to you. But, what if Lu Tianxing bes an elder of my Yanhuang Group?”


    Sima Lingyun revealed a mocking smile: “The Holy Daughter of the Church attempting to assassinate an elder of the Yanhuang Group, Miss Avril, when this news returns to the Church, do you think the Church will stand up for you?”


    “You…”


    Upon hearing Sima Lingyun’s words, the smile on Avril’s face froze immediately, her face turning gloomy. Sima Lingyun was outright threatening her, yet this threat was very effective. Her reliance was her status as the Holy Daughter of the Church, but once it involved the Yanhuang Group, her status became insignificant.


    If Lu Tianxing really became an elder of the Yanhuang Group, and she still attempted to kill him, it would be equivalent to being hostile to the Yanhuang Group. At that point, the Yanhuang Group would have ample reason to act against her, and even if she dies in the hands of the Yanhuang Group, the Church wouldn’t stand up for her, let alone instigate another Crusade.


    The previous group leader of the Yanhuang Group, Ji Xingyun, and the Old Master of the Lu Family, these two powerhouses together, even if they couldn’t destroy the Church entirely, they could still severely cripple it. The Church would never risk engaging with such top-tier powerhouses because of one Holy Daughter, pushing the Church to the brink of destruction. As she told Yang Anlong, if one Holder dies, the Church could immediately find another Holder and support another Holy Son.


    If she died, within three days, the Church would have a new Holy Daughter.