Chapter 525: Chapter Five Hundred and Twenty One:

Crystal Fall

In fact, these words were not just directed at the Fang brothers. Most martial arts practitioners among the commoners did the same. Rather than risk their lives fishing in the dangerous torrent, they would rather wander among the mountain cliffs and receive more relief supplies. The risk and returns of the former choice were not in proportion. Unless they were truly desperate for meat, most people would choose the latter, as it provided stable returns.

This matter was raised only to demonstrate to these people that their perceived cunning had long since been noticed, and that they shouldn’t arrogantly consider themselves shrewd.

Fang Yuan’s face fell into despair. He suddenly realized that he had underestimated the heroes of the world. What was even more terrifying was the realization that he couldn’t bear the price of his contempt.

“Do you have anything to add?” Tang Luo asked calmly.

The small-eyed man looked up at the man standing with his arms crossed, then at the two fierce warriors behind him. He pulled at the corner of his mouth in self-deprecation. “Nothing more. You really know me well, had we not just met today, I would have thought you had been observing me for a long time. How do you plan to deal with the two of us?”

“Very simple, I’ll give you two choices,” Tang Luo said calmly, holding up two fingers. “One is to send you to heaven and scatter your ashes in the swift river, to see if it can bring you back to your hometown. The other is to stay in Red Cloud Mountain as my followers. Take your pick.1

As Tang Luo finished speaking, hope shone in Fang Yuan’s despairing eyes. He could hardly believe his ears. Not just him, even Gong Zheng, who was standing behind Tang Luo, was shocked and muttered, “Master, reconsider. Such a selfish and scheming couple, who plots to escape at every turn, is of no use. Red Cloud Mountain is short-staffed; we have no time to keep an eye on

them all day.”

Tang Luo turned to look at Gong Zheng and asked with a smile, “How do you think we should handle it?”

“In my opinion, these two still harbor ulterior motives. They only pretend to appease because they are afraid of your majesty. It is better to kill the two and make an example out of them!” Gong Zheng said grimly. Since his injury was healed, he had wholeheartedly served Tang Luo. Now, he considered himself a part of his forces, which was different from his previous reluctant acceptance of Tang Luo’s shelter for his wife’s and daughter’s safety.

Having traveled the jianghu for more than twenty years, he believed that the most important trait a subordinate should possess was loyalty, and that small-eyed man, filled with schemes at only over twenty years old, would surely be discontent with being subordinate to others. Therefore, he thought a show of force would be more beneficial.

“You’re unreasonable!”, Fang Xiong, who had been standing silently behind Fang Yuan, suddenly blurted out upon hearing Gong Zheng’s words. “The master has already given us two options, what do you mean by insisting on killing us? We weren’t on bad terms before, nor recently!”

The big bear-like man had a booming voice that matched his stature, drawing everyone’s attention immediately. Gong Zheng’s face turned pale in anger upon this direct challenge. As he was about to teach this big brute a lesson, he heard Tang Luo laugh and say, “That’s a good point.”

Tang Luo turned back to Gong Zheng and said, “Lately, you’ve been too eager to kill. An excessive killing intent can lead to one’s spirit being tainted by the Blood Fiend, I can sense its aura in you right now. Be careful, if your spirit isn’t pure, you have no hope in the Fierce Realm. Don’t let your anger and killing intent dominate your reason and ruin your martial arts foundation.

This reminder put Gong Zheng in a cold sweat, he remembered that he’d executed hundreds recently, and so could now easily discuss executing the two ■molting’ brothers without being emotionally affected. Recently his fellow brothers have been increasingly wary of him. Were it not for Tang Luo’s reminder, he would have thought it was his newfound authority that was affecting them. The descriptions of martial artists tainted by the Blood Fiend in the scriptures made him terrified. Despite having roamed around the jianghu for more than twenty years, he was grateful to Tang Luo and said, “Thank you for the reminder, I shall heed your advice, Master.”

“Hmm,” Tang Luo nodded, turned to Fang Xiong and continued, “alright, tell me which path do you choose?”

Among the two brothers, he liked Fang Xiong more. He could sense from their conversation that Fang Xiong was a simple and straightforward person. Moreover, his preference for strong women was somewhat amusing. So, compared to the crafty Fang Yuan, Tang Luo was more willing to train Fang Xiong.

Fang Xiong scratched his head, looked into Tang Luo’s eyes and said, “Let my brother decide, I’ll follow him.”

“Really?” Tang Luo was even more amused. “There are two paths. If your brother chooses to die, would you still follow him?

“Still follow,” Fang Xiong said without hesitation.

When brothers unite, their resolve is as firm as gold… Interesting… Tang Luo smiled widely at Fang Yuan. “Looks like you treat your brother well.”

“You are too kind.” Fang Yuan drew a breath, stood up and said to Tang Luo, “My brother and I will stay in Red Cloud Mountain and serve you!” It’s an old Chinese idiom: if the green mountain remains, there will be firewood to burn. In fact, Tang Luo really only provided one option. After all, no sane person would choose to die. Although they knew their days on Red Cloud Mountain would be unbearably hard, it was better than dying.

It’s an old saying; those who understand the current affairs are wise. Tang Luo was not surprised about Fang Yuan’s choice. As he was about to respond, he heard a breaking sound from the sky followed by a sudden green light that flooded the entire sky. A huge crystal pillar broke through the cloud layer and fell towards the west peak of Red Cloud Mountain.

Three Fierce Realm souls targeted Tang Luo, making him unable to move. He could only watch helplessly as the crystal pillar quickly descended.

The violent fluctuation of spiritual power caused a space tremor. This sudden fierce spiritual art attack caught everyone off guard.

Southern Ridge Beast Valley, The Wind Media Tower.

The elder, Mi Yang, who should have been presiding over the courtyard, left hastily after receiving a message, leaving everyone else puzzled.

A senior Wind Media picked up the blood crow shadow map left on Mi Yang s desk. It contained information about Tang Luo. According to the place and information marked by the Wind Media, this man was now in the west sub-peak of Red Cloud Mountain.

“Damn!” The Wind Media member was immediately aware of Mi Yang’s destination upon seeing the blood crow shadow map on the desk. Since the day Mi Chu was killed, Elder Mi Yang had held a grudge against Tang Luo. Originally, because of dealing with flood-related matters, Clan Leader Mi Jin forbade Mi Yang from accessing any information about Tang Luo. He was afraid that this impulsive elder would disrupt their plan. But, for these past two months, Mi Yang had been quietly staying in the South Ridge Beast Valley. In his spare time, he would meet with his old friends to enjoy tea and incense. Everyone thought that this elder of the Mi Clan had adjusted his mindset and had hidden his hatred in his heart, but they did not expect him to suddenly make such a big mess..