Martial Ascent to Divinity-Chapter 635 - 615: Wolf King

Wang Boxiong frowned and said helplessly, "The issue is that we must start with diplomacy before resorting to force to legitimize our actions. Without the first step of negotiation, everything that follows will become an obstacle. Furthermore, when facing the Zhao Family now, we can only begin with negotiation. But the new problem is that what cannot be obtained on the battlefield cannot be obtained at the negotiation table either. Just like when you’re falsely accused, the legal route won’t solve it because the whole legal system... you understand."

Zhou Leng pondered for a moment and said, "Okay, I’ll go find Zhao Cong and start the negotiation."

Wang Boxiong nodded and said, "Let’s have a good discussion about this negotiation to avoid any surprises..."

The two focused on this issue, and Wang Boxiong did not bring up the second matter. Zhou Leng noticed he didn’t mention it again and didn’t mind.

Zhou Leng, with Wang Boxiong’s help, contacted Zhao Cong’s chief assistant and arranged to meet the next day.

The next evening, Zhou Leng arrived by car at the main courtyard of the Liangjiang district, and after inspection by the stationed Martial Artist, the vehicle entered and stopped in front of the largest villa in the courtyard.

Zhou Leng got out of the car, and Zhao Cong personally came out to greet him.

His appearance was that of a man in his thirties or forties, strong-featured with a wide forehead and square face, expression kind, wearing black dress pants and a white shirt, a picture of righteousness.

"Grandmaster Zhou’s visit brings glory to my humble abode, please, come in," Zhao Cong came down the steps, graciously inviting Zhou Leng inside.

Zhao Cong’s friendly tone and humble attitude secretly surprised the chauffeur and housekeeper.

The attending chief assistant also had a smile, being very cautious.

The chauffeur and housekeeper were unaware, but he knew very well Zhou Leng’s rank.

In theory, Zhou Leng’s rank was higher than Zhao Cong’s.

Even if Zhao Cong entered the Supreme Court next year, he would still be far from the position of vice-chief.

Zhou Leng reached the level of vice-chief of the Dragon World in one step, and although his foundation was unstable, Zhao Cong dared not disrespect him.

After all, the local tradition of many years adhered to the principle of extreme humility, with foreign matters taking precedence over one’s own family.

Zhou Leng walked into the living room, and both sides first sat down at the tea table to drink tea and chat.

With the savvy chief assistant present, the conversation was pleasant for both sides.

Soon, the meal was served, and the three of them sat at the table to eat.

After the meal, the chief assistant stood up and took the housekeeper and maid away.

In the living room, only Zhou Leng and Zhao Cong remained.

Zhou Leng glanced at the camera in the corner.

Zhao Cong smiled, "Today’s cameras are already turned off," he said, pressing a button on the table.

This prevented any listening devices or Demon Spirit Artifacts.

Zhou Leng nodded, finished a sip of aged ripe Pu’er, savoring its smooth and soft taste, subtly lingering on the palate, with a rich fragrance, remarkably without any musty taste for an aged tea.

Putting down the teacup, Zhou Leng got straight to the point, "I am straightforward by nature, not fond of beating around the bush. My purpose in coming this time is only one: to reclaim my mine."

Zhao Cong smiled slightly and said, "You come straight to the point, and I won’t go around in circles either. We, the Zhao Family, value talent highly, especially you. There are some things that cannot be said to others but can be said to you. Of course, the most important reason is that you are already qualified to sit on equal terms with me. As long as you join the Zhao Family’s patrons, not only the mine, but all the Zhao Family’s assets in the Rucheng area will belong to you and never be taken back."

The two locked eyes.

Before meeting, both sides had already made numerous predictions.

"What is mine, is mine, and I believe I shouldn’t have to pay any price I don’t want to."

"But this world is not yours, nor is it mine, we must abide by this world’s rules."

"Some rules are wrong," Zhou Leng said.

"But we cannot break them, only follow them," Zhao Cong smiled, pouring new tea for Zhou Leng, "Now it tastes best, earlier too strong, later too weak."

"We may not break them, but we can all refuse to follow them." Zhou Leng did not drink the tea.

"But the benefits of following the rules are greater."

"In the long run, there are more benefits in refusing to follow wicked rules."

"We cannot live that long."

"That’s why some ancient tribes, countries, and ethnic groups completely perished," Zhou Leng said.

"If my descendants truly perish, then it is their incompetence, what can I do?" Zhao Cong still smiled.

"It is you who stabbed them over and over from behind."

"Thinking this way is too extreme. I used to think so too, but then I understood that everyone’s ability is limited, and I can only achieve this much now. Isn’t it the same for you? You wanted to eliminate the Sea Sirens, and now?"

"But I have always wanted to eliminate the Sea Sirens and have always been on this path."

"We are just changing direction as needed, there is no wrong in that."

"If my classmate Hu Yi said something like this, it’s indeed not wrong; he’s just an ordinary person. It’s also not wrong if my uncle Li Linhan said it, as he’s injured. Most people saying such things wouldn’t be wrong. But you can’t claim you deserve everything when seizing benefits and power, then turn around and say you’re just an ordinary person who shouldn’t bear any responsibility after obtaining them."

Zhao Cong shrugged and said, "You have a faulty assumption, which is treating us like my grandfather, the unparalleled talent capable of ruling the world. But in my experience, everyone I’ve met in the Martial Mansion is either born into a better family, has higher emotional intelligence, or excels in certain specialized skills. Of course, some are just luckier. Beyond this, whether in morality, willpower, emotions, or other unrelated fields, we not only don’t surpass ordinary people but often fall below them. In reality, we spend our days in constant fear, every step fraught with alarm. Some people excel at math, others at physics, some in Divine Text, and we, just happen to excel at rising up, that’s all."

"Then why do you guys brag all the time?" Zhou Leng responded flatly.

"Bragging is both a manifestation of our ability and a reflection of our weakness; it’s a very normal form of self-protection, very normal. Just like how you all always hope we are fair and just, hope we’re all great men like my grandfather, hope to be seen as good people by others — that’s also your weakness, your form of self-protection. There’s no difference." Zhao Cong’s eyes were equally candid.

Zhou Leng looked at Zhao Cong.

This is a person nearly at harmony within himself, with a completely self-consistent internal view, unaffected by various external opinions.

"Good is good, evil is evil, what’s right is right, what’s wrong is wrong."

"I entirely agree, I fully support you, but I can’t do it." Zhao Cong said lightly.

"So you mean your group has the lowest moral bottom line?"

Zhao Cong remained silent.

Morality cannot restrain those without morals or moral groups.

Zhou Leng slowly said, "In other words, only interests can drive you?"

"For the most part, yes, to be precise, that’s correct. I have what I deem correct, you have what you deem correct, everyone lives according to their own sense of correctness. But unfortunately, what one person sees as correct often conflicts with another’s. Just like, I can always see you as right, but that doesn’t make me wrong."

Zhou Leng said, "So you think the sinking of Blue Star and the Devil Lord’s dominion is correct?"

Zhao Cong poured out the cold tea and poured hot water from the heating station into the teapot.

"The biggest difference between us and children is that we’ve seen too many shadows, endured too many blades, gone through too many storms, suffered too much humiliation. When these pains and fears accumulate to the limit, our reason can’t handle it, and we can only rely on instinct like animals to judge. Most people, most of the time, live by animal instinct. We are no different."

Zhou Leng asked, "Are you saying that even though humanity is facing the danger of extinction, you, as one of the rulers, are running around aimlessly like a pack of wild boars?"

"In one sense, the whole history of humanity is like a frenzied, mindless, reckless wild boar."

Zhou Leng slowly said, "Then why did figures like Confucius, Newton, Einstein, Marx, and Saint Zhao emerge to continually tame this wild boar, making it more rational, more progressive?"

"I said it before, I’m no saint; the people I know, apart from my grandfather and a few others, are mostly ordinary. We are not prophets; even my grandfather ultimately failed. If he didn’t do it, why do you expect me to?" Zhao Cong looked surprised.

"I’ve never asked you to be a saint; I just don’t understand why, when the Zhao Palace is already wealthy beyond measure, you still use every means to snatch the few melons and dates in my hands."

Zhao Cong remained silent for a long time, then said, "The wolf king will only let its pack eat scraps after it’s full. If it dares to break this rule, it will surely be torn to pieces by the pack. The pack of wolves always knows how to read the leader’s expression."

"If the pack is about to starve to death, it will also tear the lone-eating wolf king to pieces."

Zhao Cong sighed and said, "I’ve indeed thought about this issue, but ruminating many times yields no solution. So what to do? Just honestly be an ordinary Zhao Family member, do what they do, that’s it."

Zhou Leng also sighed lightly and said, "Indeed, can’t get the mine back at the negotiation table."

"You might get it back, might even get more." Zhao Cong said.

"If I reclaim the mine in your way, when the Xue Family father and son killed because of that mine, those generations whose families were destroyed and people perished because you took the mine, if they ask me, how should I explain it?"

"They’re dead."

"They’re dead, but they live on in your fear. Someday, these fears will gather into overwhelming flames, burning all wickedness. As you said, what they did, we too can do."

Zhou Leng pointed at Zhao Cong’s heart, stood up, and walked out.

Zhao Cong stood up to see him off, not angry at all, smiling and saying, "You still have time, still have chances; we in Zhao Palace will be waiting for you."

Zhou Leng strode out of the Zhao Family.

Zhao Cong watched Zhou Leng’s retreating figure, a sense of déjà vu enveloping him.

This figure, so familiar.

Back then, he also had such an upright backbone.

Also declared grand words before grandfather.

It’s just...

An expression of surprise suddenly appeared on his face, then he calmed down.

He recalled his grandfather’s last look towards him — there was no anger, no despair, not even disappointment.

That look was light and clear, as if seeing through everything.

Could grandfather foresee the arrival of this person?

He looked down at his heart’s position, Zhou Leng’s gesture made him very uncomfortable.

Inside, it seemed indeed to accumulate terrifying power, twisting the heart.