These people who stepped out accounted for about one-tenth.
King Lin was not angry, for in warfare quality matters over quantity. Lightened of dead weight, he could now advance into battle unencumbered.
But those who remained in line felt a bit uneasy. Had no one stepped out, they might have felt justified, but now, they were sowhat panicked, fearing that the leader would be angry.
Yet thinking that most had not stepped out, they believed their choice was correct.
Surely the leader would not go against the will of the majority.
Niu Peng, however, started berating the chiefs who had not stepped out.
Ashad and resentful, these n thought to themselves, "You’re fed and not starving; have you considered our plight?"
"One may have grievances with Xu Scholar, plotting to betray him when the ti cos," a leader harbored malicious thoughts.
Seeing the situation beco sowhat uncontrollable, King Lin waved his hand, motioning everyone to be quiet. Then, King Lin spoke: "Each to their own, we cannot force one’s hand. Let us part on good terms."
He then allowed those unwilling to leave to reconsider.
After everyone had made their decisions, King Lin would then consult Xu Qing about the matter.
The crowd dispersed, and Niu Peng stayed by King Lin’s side. "Big brother, these people are all ingrates. In my opinion, we shouldn’t give them a di, they have money anyway."
King Lin chuckled: "Niu Peng, I’m not angry, so why are you? We’re striving for great achievents, we don’t need those who are not fully committed. No need to make enemies if we can’t be brothers."
Niu Peng muttered: "You’ve trained your Martial Arts to such a level, what are you afraid they’ll do?"
King Lin smiled: "That’s why I tell you to read more often. In order to befriend Xu Gongming, I found a tutor and learned to read and understand so principles. My Teacher said, ’Those who follow the Dao have many allies; those who lose the Dao have few.’ To , this ans, make friends aplenty, enemies few. It’s like the Fist Skill: when two powers et, concentrate your strength to break through the enemy’s weakest point, and naturally, you can overco all battles and break through any attack."
"Did I speak out of turn just now?"
King Lin replied: "Not necessarily. They’ve followed for long and at the crucial mont, they’re less reliable than so of the new brothers. Your scolding, if they have any conscience, will remind them of my kindness. Moreover, after the scolding, their guilt will be lessened, and their resentnt focused on you."
"So I beco the target?"
"Ha-ha-ha, kindness mistaken for enmity. Let them hold a grudge, feel less guilty, at least they won’t hinder our voyage to sea."
"Ah, human hearts are too complicated. Big brother, you see things clearly. From now on, I will do as you say." After Niu Peng lost his Martial Arts ability, his mind beca much purer. Recently, he had even received spirit blood from King Lin, and without realizing it, he had repaired his muscles and bones, with a faint sense of breaking and then standing anew.
King Lin naturally noticed this and speculated that Niu Peng had accidentally reached a superior state of Martial Arts.
It would not be good to spell it out, so he let Niu Peng comprehend it on his own.
King Lin went on: "Xu Gongming received the flesh and blood of the Three-tailed Black Fox, surely he must have made significant progress. Pity..."
He had seen Xu Qing’s thods when they went hunting together last ti and had finally given up on the idea of recruiting Xu Qing to his side. With Xu Qing’s age, if he were to work together with him on great deeds, in three to five years, it might be uncertain who would be calling whom big brother.
"This kid is ruthless and vicious. Once I’m not in Jiangning Prefecture, I’m afraid that the underworld of Jiangning will quickly submit to him. Given ti, the entire green forest of South Zhili might co under his secret control. Heh heh..." King Lin didn’t believe that Xu Qing was a quiet man.
Now he sowhat felt like the characters in Tang Dynasty Legend, where the bearded guest t the Taiyuan Young Master.
He himself was also a hero, yet facing such a person, he knew that Jiangning Prefecture and even South Zhili were no longer places where he could establish his enterprise.
Fortunately, with Xu Qing’s connections, he now had a market for his goods once he sailed the seas.
In fact, the other powers at sea, whether Eastern Barbarians, Southern Ocean pirates, or others, were ultimately linked with the nobles on land.
They were responsible for robbing cargo and for escorting and smuggling for the nobles’ rchant ships. The nobles provided them with weapons, food, and other resources, and took care of selling the looted goods...
Originally, King Lin planned to work with Eunuch Zhao and Marquis Wuding, but with those two old foxes about to fall from power, how could King Lin continue to choose them.
"Now that I venture forth, it’s like a dragon entering the sea, finding its place. But I wonder, Xu Gongming, when will you beco a True Dragon, achieving your ambition in the Nine Heavens." King Lin wondered.
...
...
Xu Qing had not expected the snowstorm to be so fierce. At the base of the cliff, he let down the Fire Cloud Horse, carrying Su Lianqing up the mountain.
"Should we take a break?" Su Lianqing was extrely frightened. The mountain path was too steep; if the young master slipped by accident...
Well, to die together with Xu Qing doesn’t seem so bad.
With Xu Qing, she felt there was direction and solidity in what she did. Without this master, she felt she would be lost.
"You underestimate ."
"No, it’s just in case of an accident."
"There won’t be an accident. If we were to fall, I’d certainly throw you down first to lighten my burden." As he spoke, one hand released Su Lianqing, and his fingers turned into claws, gripping fiercely into the hard cliff rock.
This was the power of the Tiger Demon Bone Refining, the Tiger Claw Hand.
Now Xu Qing’s finger joints were visibly thickened, and even his trimd nails seed exceptionally sharp.
"Alright then." Su Lianqing knew that in the company of her young master, she would not hear comforting words.
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