Another scoffed.
"You only want to return, why don't you think about the consequences? This matter can be said to be the ancestral home testing us. But it may also be looking for a scapegoat."
"When the truth comes out, all they need to do is deny it and say that we did it on our own. Then they can separate us again. They won't suffer any loss, but we will face a catastrophe!"
"That's too much!"
"What do you mean by heavy words? Let's not talk about Qianlong Gaowu's inevitable revenge. Just saying that Zuo Xiaoduo practiced Nanchang's Yanyang Sutra, how can his relationship with him be shallow?"
"Can our Fenghai Wu family withstand a slap from the Minister of the South? Not to mention our family, even if it is the Shangjing Wu family, can they withstand the Minister of the South? If they can really withstand it, will they not take action?"
"Are you not going to avenge Yuntian? Are you just going to let it go like this?"
"Times have changed, and things have their priorities. Is the life of a descendant worth risking the entire Wu family? If Wu Yuntian were alive, he would be a genius with an endless future, and the family would have an obligation to stand up for him, which is understandable. But he is dead, and he died on the arena of the Dragon and Tiger Ranking Competition! Do we really have to break the rules and risk the entire family for a dead person?"
"Wu Laosan, what do you mean? How come you just mentioned Yuntian's death so lightly? Yuntian is not your biological son, right?"
"Even if it's my own son, I still have to consider the safety of the family! I will never allow such a risk! The Fenghai Wu family is the result of dozens of generations of hard work, and it must not be destroyed because of this matter!"
"Bullshit, Wu Laosan, I think you are just gloating over someone else's misfortune. Don't you feel pain in your heart when you speak nonsense like this?!"
"It doesn't hurt at all. Why should I feel pain?! The situation is clear now. I am just telling the truth. How many times have I, Wu Lao San, risked my life for our family? That one time was not for the overall interests of the family. Don't blame me for your son's death!"
"quiet!"
The head of the Wu family, Wu Yuntian’s grandfather, had a troubled and gloomy look on his face.
He was also dizzy and confused by the noise from dozens of juniors, and it was difficult for him to make a decision.
Emotionally speaking, he was indeed more inclined to kill Zuo Xiaoduo and avenge his grandson, but rationally speaking, he felt that this was not the right approach.
The Wu family in Shangjing did not take any action, but instead instructed their own family to take action. If you think about it more deeply, you can see how huge the risk is.
Although the hatred in my heart is surging, my normal rationality is also on alert at all times.
The pleasure of slashing your enemy with a knife, feeling relaxed physically and mentally, and having your thoughts clear, and the mentality of being mature, prudent, and seeking stability, are constantly in conflict with each other.
"I'll tell you what time it is."
The head of the Wu family had a gloomy face and said, "The Shangjing family didn't just ask us to do this, but they wanted to see our attitude. Shangjing will also send people, but they are cautious and will not leave any handles."
"The second point is about blood feuds. If a family member dies and the family remains indifferent, what impact will it have on the long-term development of the family? In other words, if any of you dies outside, do you want the family to avenge you? Or do you want the family to avenge you? Or do you want the family to avenge you? This is about the cohesion of the family, not just right and wrong!"
Everyone was silent for a while.
The face of the head of the Wu family changed in a complicated way. After a while, he spoke again: "The third point is the concern. If we kill Zuo Xiaoduo without involving the Wu family and without any future troubles, it would be the best. Especially now, the underground world is taking action. We can take advantage of the situation and fish in trouble. We may not be exposed. But..."
He added in a serious tone: "Once it is exposed, the Wu family will be gone!"
"We still need to think twice about whether we can take the risk."
"The above points are not contradictory. Because there are always various considerations for any matter. The family has done many such things. But this time, it involves Minister Nan, so we have to act cautiously."
"The family needs to develop, multiply, and grow stronger; taking risks to a certain extent is inevitable; but being cautious is also essential. When both sides cannot be taken into account, you can only choose one side."
"This is a choice! A choice about the survival of the Wu family!"
After saying this, Patriarch Wu looked a little older.
After all, in his heart, what really occupies the most important position is to kill Zuo Xiaoduo, but he must not ignore the life and death of the entire family!
The top management of the Wu family was still immersed in a collective silence, and no one spoke for a long while.
Those who had previously advocated revenge began to consider the consequences with a heavy face; while those who had previously advocated calmness were also considering the issue of family cohesion.
This question deeply penetrated everyone's mind: If they died, or their son died, would the family step in? Would they step in? Would they seek revenge? Or would they put the greater good first
If we remain indifferent, will our whole family feel disheartened
Will it
Everyone knows the answer, of course it is yes!
But... it's still hard to choose!
Wu Yuntian's father sat aside with a haggard look on his face.
The middle-aged man who was originally as handsome as jade, has become covered with spots of white hair in the period after his son's death.
He had a gloomy face and still sat there without saying a word, but his gloomy aura was infecting others.
Many people can't help but think, if Wu Yuntian was my son, what would I think, what would I do, and what decision would I make
"Listen to what the younger generation has to say."
The young men were called in.
Among the geniuses from various academies at the top of the family rankings, there are as many as five or six who are studying in Qianlong Gaowu!
"What do you say about the targeting of Zuo Xiaoduo?"
Wu Tai, the oldest of the youngest generation in the Wu family, made it clear: "I don't agree with killing Zuo Xiaoduo!"
Behind him, Wu Qing and Wu Yi said: "We don't agree either."
The other teenagers hesitated and said, "We also feel that we should not target Zuo Xiaoduo anymore."
Wu Yuntian's father looked at the younger generation of the family with some sadness, and his eyes fell on Wu Yunhai. Looking at his own nephew, the middle-aged man asked in a hoarse voice: "Yunhai, what do you say?"
"Me?" Wu Yunhai was confused. If possible, he wanted to be invisible and not say a word.
However, the eyes of all the backbone members of the Wu family were focused on him, making Wu Yunhai feel very pressured for a while.
He quickly organized his words and said slowly: "Uncle, I think this matter can be viewed in two parts."
"First, when Zuo Xiaoduo first came to Fenghai, the family elders ordered us to befriend Zuo Xiaoduo. At that time, we really wanted to make friends with Zuo Xiaoduo, including Wu Qing, Wu Yi, and all of us in Qianlong."
“That’s how we all do it.”
“Initially, it was very difficult for us to convince ourselves to give up the hatred in our hearts and accept a genius with a normal heart... However, when we had already established a friendship with each other, we were told that the family’s real intention was to kill him. This was another test for us.”
"We understand the family's strategy of deceiving the enemy and their considerations, but from a... emotional perspective... it is still difficult to accept."
Wu Yunhai raised his head and said, "We are not the kind of people who would give up everything for the sake of brotherhood, but... at this stage, I personally feel... it is not appropriate to kill Zuo Xiaoduo."
"This killing spree in the Xingmang Mountains has attracted the attention of the Empire's top brass. We have estimated that the number of bounty hunters has exceeded 10,000, and this is only limited to our estimation. The actual number of people who have arrived will be even greater. It is really too many, and it is bound to trigger the Empire's top brass' vigilance..."
This is what Wu Yunhai said.
The Wu family was collectively silent.
Wu Yuntian's father sighed deeply.
The head of the Wu family also sighed deeply.
Wu Yunhai thought for a moment and said, "Actually, I think that my uncle, grandfather, and all the elders are a little one-sided and take things for granted when considering this matter!"
"What do you mean?"
"In my opinion, the question now is not whether we kill Zuo Xiaoduo, but whether we get involved in this matter."
Wu Yunhai said: "As far as the current situation is concerned, the entire underground world is committed to hunting down Zuo Xiaoduo. Just based on this aspect... Excuse me for being frank. The possibility that our Wu family can finally successfully kill Zuo Xiaoduo is infinitely close to zero!"
These words made everyone feel ashamed.
But we have to admit that this statement is true. It couldn’t be more true!
Wu Yuntian's father's eyes lit up secretly, and he said, "I have an idea."
"What's the idea?"
"You can send a message to the people over there to keep their troops on hold. If, I mean if... if Zuo Xiaoduo is really seriously injured and we run into him... or we catch him... then we can discuss how to deal with him. It won't be too late!"
Everyone seemed to be thinking about something. This approach of responding to ever-changing situations with constancy and making advances and retreats based on facts was the most advantageous approach for them at the moment.
Patriarch Wu: "Well, that's it for now. Don't make a decision yet."
After saying that, he stood up, put his hands behind his back, and walked out slowly.
When passing by his son, he stopped, shook his head slightly, and walked out.
…
At the Gao family, the quarrel was just as intense.
However, compared with the Wu family, the Gao family finally reached a consensus.
The elders were still arguing, but when the younger generation started speaking, the situation took on a completely different look.
Gao Qiaoer took the initiative to stand up and expressed her opposition clearly.
"I am against killing Zuo Xiaoduo and I am against participating in the bounty on Zuo Xiaoduo."
"We followed the family's initial instructions... We deliberately approached Zuo Xiaoduo and made friends with him..."
These words were exactly the same as what Wu Yunhai said, but what followed was very different.
(End of this chapter)