Enter Together! . . .
As expected, a verbal skirmish erupted between the Cha and Li Clans, escalating into a battle of words.
In the end, Cha Tianchen delivered the final word that drew the heated exchange to a close.
"If the Li Clan remains obstinate in their refusal, I shall declare war. We shall be locked in combat with the Li Clan until the very last Cha perishes," Cha Tianchen declared icily. "We may as well spill our blood right here. After all, you are intent on severing our path to survival. We shall not allow you to depart unscathed. If we are destined for hell, we shall drag you along. No one enters the third layer alone! No one lays sole claim to the treasure!"
This ultimatum left the Li Clan with no alternative but to relent. The Cha Clan had effectively brandished their lives as a threat. Should the Li Clan persist in their opposition, it would lead to a potentially lethal confrontation. It was a widely acknowledged principle that the side that mourned their losses usually emerged victorious. Nevertheless, even if the Li Clan were to emerge as the victors, there would be no spoils to claim.
Following a contentious debate, an accord was eventually reached. Each clan would dispatch ten individuals to enter the Heaven Treasure Mountain simultaneously.
The Li Clan would lead the way.
Irrespective of their destination, violence was strictly prohibited. Cha Tianchen was barred from entry.
The Li Clan members insisted that Cha Tianchen remain outside.
For the sake of equity, Cha Tianchen readily consented to this condition. Given his considerably greater strength, his inclusion would result in the immediate demise of the Li Clan's ten members, and all the treasures would fall into the Cha Clan's possession. This would leave no room for dispute, and Li Clan's participation would effectively amount to assisting the Cha Clan.
Cha Tianchen conceded to this arrangement.
In fact, he was well aware that the Li Clan would never permit his entry, rendering any argument on this matter utterly futile.
Curiously, none of the participants had sought Cha Eun Xiao's opinion during the negotiations.
Cha Eun Xiao found himself taken aback by these developments.
This was a twist he had not anticipated.
Had Zuo Wuji been present, he would likely have been struck by the cunning and political acumen displayed by both clans. The individuals on both sides were adept at manipulating their stances according to the circumstances, adeptly navigating the negotiation process to further their own interests. In fact, either of these clans could easily govern a kingdom within the Land of Han-Yang, or perhaps even aspire to conquer the entire world.
Cha Eun Xiao had initially formulated a plan in which the Li Clan would escort him into the mountain, following which he would proceed to eliminate all the Li Clan members within, possibly offering their remains as a tribute to the local beasts...
However, with both clans deciding to embark on this journey together, how could he still execute his original scheme?
Should he proceed to slay them all? Would such a course of action be morally justifiable?
While he was certainly not averse to ending the lives of strangers, Cha Eun Xiao was not an unrelenting and remorseless individual. Furthermore, he shared some degree of kinship with the Cha Clan.
Given that both clans had reached a unanimous decision, Cha Eun Xiao surmised that it was ill-advised to act as a dissenter. He scratched his nose and calmly voiced his consent, albeit with a caveat.
"The three of us will enter together," Cha Eun Xiao stated, his gaze shifting between Han Bingxue and Xuan Bing.
"Yes!"
"I am not going," were the simultaneous responses that resonated.
Both responses left Cha Eun Xiao astounded.
Han Bingxue displayed enthusiasm to participate, while Xuan Bing refused outright.
A twitch of Cha Tianchen's countenance betrayed his bewilderment.
"Why do your subordinates have conflicting views?" he wondered inwardly.
Xuan Bing cast an inscrutable glance at Cha Eun Xiao before calmly explaining, "I have visited the location numerous times and am no longer intrigued by it."
Cha Eun Xiao experienced a moment of enlightenment, realizing the error in his previous thinking.
Misty Cloud Palace faced an urgent need for the Regeneration Ink Lotus, which was vital to preserving their lives. Xuan Bing, the esteemed Prime Elder of Misty Cloud Palace and the most formidable figure among them, had already ventured to the mountain independently. Her familiarity with the terrain was presumed to be comprehensive, except for the area at the summit, which remained inaccessible.
Cha Eun Xiao found himself in the company of such an influential figure as Xuan Bing, and yet he had sought assistance from external sources. His plans seemed futile and superfluous. While he had other intentions for exploring the mountain, that was not the primary concern.
Gazing at the members of the Li Clan and the Cha Clan, Cha Eun Xiao mused, "It appears that they may be embarking on a futile endeavor. Xuan Bing has likely scoured every nook and cranny of this place on multiple occasions, so there's a good chance that the Regeneration Ink Lotus is no longer present within."
He was astute but failed to grasp Xuan Bing's reasoning. She chose not to accompany them, not due to her familiarity with the terrain, but because of the unique aura that only Cha Eun Xiao could detect. In her heart, she wished for him to seize this extraordinary opportunity. Even though Cha Eun Xiao was unaware of her true identity as Bing'er, she knew that he needed the resource more than she did.
This is why Xuan Bing declined to join the expedition. She harbored no desire for the Regeneration Ink Lotus; her sole wish was for Cha Eun Xiao to acquire it all. Her selflessness was driven by her belief that he should benefit from the opportunity.
She held no intention of permitting Han Bingxue to enter, but her concern for Cha Eun Xiao's safety led her to a different conclusion. She felt that Han Bingxue's presence could serve as a safeguard for Cha Eun Xiao in the event of any unforeseen developments.
As a result, she did not oppose Han Bingxue's participation. Nevertheless, if circumstances had permitted, Xuan Bing would have immediately incapacitated Han Bingxue rather than allow him to accompany Cha Eun Xiao into the mountain and share in the gains.
Both Cha Eun Xiao and Han Bingxue made their decision to enter the mountain. However, conflict arose within the Li Clan and Cha Clan's ranks, as each member desired entry. An internal dispute was on the brink of breaking out.
After significant deliberation, the two clans eventually reached an agreement. Each clan would select ten individuals to enter the Heaven Treasure Mountain simultaneously.
The Cha Clan designated ten middle-aged men, all of whom exuded vitality and vigor. Cha Eun Xiao observed them, making sure to discern which group they belonged to for the sake of his safety.
"You appear to be the elite members of Cha Clan, is that correct?" Cha Eun Xiao inquired casually. "Which group are you associated with?"
Cha Tianchen appeared taken aback by the question and offered a smile. "These men are from the second and fourth groups. While they may not be the most powerful, they certainly possess their own merits."
The Li Clan's ten chosen members were approaching, appearing to be in agreement with their leadership's decision. Their gazes turned toward Cha Eun Xiao, awaiting any alternative propositions.
Cha Eun Xiao fell deep into thought. He pondered the role these individuals played in the dire circumstances his father had faced. His mind raced with thoughts of whether he should feed them to the mountain's beasts. As the members of Li Clan approached, he contemplated the possibility of allowing them to meet a similar fate, thereby burying them alongside the members of his own clan. In a short span of time, he conjured a host of malevolent schemes that could lead to the gruesome demise of the twenty individuals within the Mountain of All Medicines.