Undying Life

Chapter 93: Selection

Half an hour later, in the Zhong residence, Yilan Hall.

Yilan Hall was a grand reception hall with two large high-backed chairs at the top, and two rows of chairs on each side stretching all the way to the entrance.

Apart from Zhong Tian, there were twenty-three young masters who had been waiting in the hall. Upon their arrival, they took their seats in the two rows of chairs at the bottom, leaving the two high-backed chairs at the top empty.

The young masters conversed with each other, discussing the severity of the situation and brainstorming countermeasures. Some sighed in frustration, some remained silent, and others were noisy, but the overall atmosphere was quite chaotic.

At this moment, Zhong Tian and Yinglan walked into the hall. As soon as Zhong Tian entered, most of the young masters stood up.

"Big Brother!" They called out anxiously.

However, Zhong Tian walked calmly to the top of the hall.

Looking at the seat on the left, Zhong Tian didn't take it. Instead, he sat in the seat on the right.

Because the seat on the left was reserved for Zhong Shan. Only Zhong Shan could sit there, and no one dared to occupy it, not even Zhong Tian, the eldest son.

"Big Brother, with the eighty thousand troops outside, what should we do?" one young master asked anxiously.

"Yes, our Zhong family was once just a merchant family, but now with the army at our doorstep, what should we do?" another chimed in.

...

Zhong Tian looked at these young masters. If it were two years ago, Zhong Tian would have guided them, but after the Longmen Valley incident over a year ago, Zhong Tian understood something. Some people benefited from Zhong Shan's kindness but didn't necessarily appreciate it, taking everything for granted. Before great gains or great dangers, they might forget their gratitude.

Just like eight days ago when Yinglan asked all the young masters to come back, but some, in the face of imminent danger, actually defected to the court.

What Zhong Tian wanted to do now was to find people who truly regarded Zhong Shan as family, just like he did. And if Zhong Shan were here, he would probably have the same mindset!

"Stop the noise and sit down," Zhong Tian said sternly.

Under the command of Zhong Tian's single sentence, everyone fell silent immediately, settling down together. Of course, some had been seated from the beginning.

Even Ying Lan took a seat in front of a grandmaster chair.

At this moment, the stout man immediately spoke up, "Big Brother, in this expedition to Xuan Cheng, we only have eight thousand city defenders, while Da Kun Nation has amassed an army of eight hundred thousand. If they besiege us for some time, we'll be cut off from food and firewood. How will the common people survive? Our Zhong Mansion won't hold out for long either."

"Yeah, Big Brother, what else can we do? Hold out until the end?" another person anxiously inquired.

"Well, we're all brothers here. Some situations I've just learned about myself. Ying Lan was planning to keep it from you, but I can't." Zhong Tian suddenly spoke up.

With Zhong Tian's words, the expressions of the young masters all froze, turning to Zhong Tian together. Indeed, their true brother was still their elder brother; Ying Lan was after all one generation apart.

Zhong Tian noticed the expressions of the young masters.

"Firstly, our adoptive father is severely injured and still recuperating. That's why he didn't come out earlier when he heard your quarrels," Zhong Tian addressed the young masters.

Hearing this, the group became worried, some with a hint of realization as if they had received significant news.

"Secondly, among the enemy's army, the royal Su family and the four major clans have dispatched all their innate experts. There are a total of twelve innate experts, one of whom is the ancestor of the Su family, a pinnacle innate master," Zhong Tian continued.

Ying Lan remained silent on the side because Zhong Tian had already informed her earlier to seek the most trustworthy individuals for their uncle. With treacherous hearts, for the future establishment of the country and pacification of the world, internal discord must be avoided at all costs. They must stand united with Zhong Shan, their adoptive father, even if there were disagreements among the adoptive sons.

"How could this be?"

"Twelve innate experts?"

"The last time, when the four clan leaders attacked, there were only eight innate experts, right? And four of them were pinnacle innate masters. Didn't adoptive father manage to handle it?" the stout man interjected again.

"Just now, I heard Ying Lan say that time, adoptive father sought two powerful external aids, and there was also the surprise use of the Eight Ox Crossbows, which ultimately led to victory. But now, the external aids have left, adoptive father is injured, and it's only us. Moreover, the twelve innate experts will only appear at the most critical moments; they intend to use the lives of the eight hundred thousand army to fill our Zhong Mansion," Zhong Tian furrowed his brows with concern.

"How could this be? If adoptive father doesn't recover soon, what are we going to do? Fight to the end? By then, we'll only end up dead. If adoptive father wasn't injured, he might have surrendered, right?" one of the young masters suddenly expressed fear.

And this fear seemed to trigger a chain reaction, spreading overwhelming fear among the other young masters.

"Zhong Jin." Zhong Tian suddenly glared angrily at the person who had just spoken.

Under Zhong Tian's glare, Zhong Jin trembled.

Zhong Tian stared at him for a while, then scanned the people in the hall before slowly speaking, "Zhong Jin, and all of you present here, listen to me. You were all beggars on the roadside before, or were about to become beggars. With families ruined and lives on the line, it was our adoptive father who gave you a meal to eat, taught you vast knowledge, and bestowed upon you wealth and luxury for a lifetime. Everything you have is from our adoptive father. Remember this."

With a single glare from Zhong Tian, the young masters immediately fell silent. Zhong Tian was giving them one last psychological encouragement, urging them to remember the affection they shared with Zhong Shan.

"Yes, there are indeed eight hundred thousand troops outside, and our Zhong Mansion will surely be overwhelmed. We will face death, but we still have family ties and our adoptive father. Our adoptive father has raised us for decades, provided for us for decades. In this final hour, can we not share his hardships together?" Zhong Tian spoke again.

"The four clan leaders died at the hands of our adoptive father. Those outside wish nothing more than to tear our adoptive father apart. There will be no mercy. So, what we face is all-out resistance, holding out until the end," Zhong Tian continued.

Upon hearing Zhong Tian's words, some furrowed their brows, but they concealed it well, showing nothing.

After looking around at everyone, Zhong Tian felt it was enough.

"Of course, I am not devoid of compassion. It's normal to have different thoughts in times of crisis; after all, nobody wants to die. With our adoptive father still in seclusion for healing, I'll act on his behalf. Anyone who wishes to leave, I, Zhong Tian, will not stop you, nor will Xuan Cheng. You're free to go," Zhong Tian suddenly changed his tone.

Upon hearing this, all the young masters paused. Allowed to leave?

"Big Brother, is this for real?" Zhong Jin, the one who spoke earlier, asked in surprise.

"Yes, I have credibility. You should all know this. Since I've said it, I'll do it. I won't stop you, but I hope that after you leave, you won't betray the Zhong Mansion," Zhong Tian said solemnly.

The adoptive sons immediately began to whisper among themselves. No one doubted Zhong Tian because all the young masters knew that Zhong Tian learned from their adoptive father, and his word was as good as gold. He would never go back on a promise.

"You have the time it takes for an incense stick to decide. No one is allowed to leave until then. After the incense stick burns out, those willing to abandon the mansion will be escorted out of the city by my men. This is a one-time opportunity. If anyone decides not to leave, but later shows any sign of betrayal during the defense against the army, I will execute them for treason on behalf of our adoptive father," Zhong Tian declared with determination.

Then, Zhong Tian closed his eyes. He said no more, waiting for the incense stick to burn down.

The approaching army meant the city's inevitable fall. After a certain time under siege, Xuan Cheng would fall without even being attacked, and then the eight hundred thousand troops would swarm in, using their lives to fill Zhong Mansion. And with their adoptive father still gravely injured, why was he injured?

The young masters continued to talk, some already trembling with fear, ready to abandon the mansion. Once outside the Zhong Mansion, where couldn't they go? Did they have any grudges with the emperor? Perhaps surrendering now could earn them a decent position. Even if not, the world was vast; there wasn't just the Da Kun Nation. In the Great Song Nation, with what their adoptive father had taught them, they could still live well. To live was to have everything; to die was to be free from worry.

After an incense stick's worth of time...

"Have you made your decision?" Zhong Tian asked solemnly.

"Big Brother, we've made our decision. We'll leave. Perhaps we can leave a spark for Zhong Mansion and come back for revenge in the future," Zhong Jin spoke up again.

And behind Zhong Jin, a group of people seemed to follow his lead.

Zhong Tian narrowed his eyes, staring at Zhong Jin for a while before finally saying, "Very well. You don't need to pack up. Leave immediately. And once you're out of Zhong Mansion, you're no longer associated with us. Don't mention revenge anymore, and don't use the Zhong surname. You can't bear the consequences."

The departing individuals flushed red, but none of them said anything more, preparing to leave.

"Ying Lan, personally escort these people out of Zhong Mansion and see them off from Xuan Cheng. After that, they will have no ties with our Zhong Mansion," Zhong Tian said with some sadness.

"Understood," Ying Lan nodded.

"Go, go, go!"

Twenty people, led by Zhong Jin, followed Ying Lan, bustling out of Zhong Mansion toward the southern city gate.

In the hall, there were still three young masters left. One was the stout man from earlier, and the other two, one around forty years old, and the other around thirty, were among the youngest.

Watching these three, Zhong Tian took a deep breath.