Wang Li, however, had a different opinion. "We can't afford to be slow, Matriarch," he countered. "These gangs are testing the waters. If we don't retaliate swiftly, it'll embolden others. They'll see the Xia Family as weak and susceptible, and they'll launch further attacks. Maybe it'll be the Spiritual Mine next, or the Red Iron Mine, another herbal garden, or even one of our strategic outposts with crucial array formations. We need to show them we won't tolerate these provocations."
A flicker of doubt crossed Xia Bingling's face. While his reasoning held some weight, she couldn't help but feel a prickle of apprehension. "But the herbal garden is heavily fortified," she argued. "Lu Mingfei wouldn't back them if it was easy pickings. They likely have powerful artifacts and formations guarding the place."
"Leave the formations to me," Wang Li replied confidently. "I can handle bypassing them."
