Nine Star Hegemon Body Art

“What do you mean by ‘play big’?” asked Tang Wan-er.

Long Chen studied the map and replied, “I mean, if they’re planning to kill us, we should make sure none of them leave alive.”

“What?” Tang Wan-er gasped, her face becoming pale. The idea of killing them all was so shocking she could barely comprehend it.

“Isn’t that too extreme? Even if they are targeting us, we can’t just wipe them all out,” Tang Wan-er stammered, her voice trembling.

She hadn’t even dared to think of such a thing.

With a cold expression, Long Chen replied, “If they’re only trying to slow us down or eliminate us from the competition, then yes, it’s still within the rules of the game. But what if they aim to kill us?”

“They wouldn’t dare, right?” Tang Wan-er said hesitantly, not believing her own words.

“Are you willing to risk the lives of the Hidden Dragon Legion for that?” asked Long Chen coldly.

“I…”

Tang Wan-er would normally play off such a question, but Long Chen’s cold expression told her how serious it was.

“You are no longer the old Tang Wan-er. Now, you are the commander of the Hidden Dragon Legion. The lives of everyone here depend on your decisions, and your indecisiveness could cost them their lives. If you are going to be like this, you should just disband the Hidden Dragon Legion,” said Long Chen, his tone sharp.

Startled by his anger, Tang Wan-er quickly responded, “Long Chen, please don’t be angry. It’s my fault. I’ll follow your lead, alright?”

Despite her words, Long Chen could see that she still hesitated, unable to fully commit to a decision. He sighed inwardly. The truth was that Tang Wan-er wasn’t suited for commanding people. Her gentle nature made her too hesitant, and she lacked the ruthlessness needed to make tough choices. These weren’t good traits for a leader.

“Xiao Yue, come here,” Long Chen called out to one of the eight divine retainers.

After Long Chen laid out his thoughts, the retainers were visibly shaken, fear flickering in their eyes at the thought of killing everyone. Only Xiao Yue remained unfazed, her expression cold and resolute.

“Big brother Long Chen is right. Our lives are gifts from our parents, and no one has the right to take them. If they’re trying to kill us, we must respond in kind. If we endured when we were weak, we shouldn’t keep enduring now that we’re strong. Otherwise, what’s the point of all our hard work?” said Xiao Yue, her eyes filled with determination.

Seeing the resolute light in Xiao Yue’s eyes, Long Chen nodded inside. Of the eight retainers, she possessed the greatest courage and meticulousness. She had what it took to be a general.

One retainer said hesitantly. “If we kill them, it’ll be considered a serious violation of the rules. The consequences for us are one thing, but an offense at this level will implicate our original sects as well. If they attack us first, we can retaliate, but any deaths will escalate things beyond our control. We won’t be able to justify ourselves. As disciples of the Wind God Sea Pavilion, we’re bound by its rules, and we should act within them.”

“They’re the ones setting the rules against us, though,” Xiao Yue interjected, shaking her head. “Big brother Long Chen already said this transportation setup was a trap. How can we be expected to play by their rules when they’ve rigged the game?”

Another retainer spoke up, albeit more conservatively. “I feel like we’re in a period of rapid growth. Right now, patience is key. Once we become Emperors, they won’t be able to bully us any further. To clash with them directly now is not wise.”

Though this stance was more cautious, it made sense. They were indeed growing stronger every day, and avoiding a direct clash until they were more powerful could be the best strategy.

Each retainer expressed their views, one by one. Only Xiao Yue’s thoughts aligned with Long Chen’s. She believed that if the other side wanted their lives, they had to reply in kind. Even if they didn’t kill them outright, they needed to deliver a harsh enough blow to make sure their enemies would think twice before provoking them again. Only by crushing their enemies now could they prevent future conflicts and distractions.

Of the remaining seven retainers, five expressed that they should avoid such a clash as much as possible. In the worst-case scenario, they could evade their enemies entirely and take an alternate path. After another day, they’d reach a different hunting area. Even if it meant losing a day, they were confident they could still outperform most of the other groups and wouldn’t end up last.

The last two were undecided. They felt that both sides had valid points and couldn’t commit to one strategy over the other.

In the end, the decision was left to Tang Wan-er. She found herself in a difficult position, torn between the options. She knew where Long Chen stood, but only Xiao Yue fully supported his stance, while the majority leaned toward caution.

Tang Wan-er glanced at Long Chen for guidance, but he simply shook his head. “This is the Hidden Dragon Legion’s decision. You are its commander. Whether we attack or defend, that choice is yours to make.”

In the end, the minority had to obey the majority. After considering everyone’s opinion, Tang Wan-er chose not to fight the other divine sons and daughters directly. Instead, they would take an extra day to circumvent the original transportation site and search for another hunting ground.

However, Tang Wan-er felt uneasy after making this decision. Once the eight retainers left, she grabbed Long Chen’s hand and, with some hesitation, asked, "Are you angry?"

Long Chen shook his head. “I was for a moment, but I came to realize that it’s natural for people to have different ways of thinking. For example, men and women see things from distinct perspectives, and no one knows how things will turn out. What may seem wrong now could later prove to be right, and the reverse could also be true. Time will reveal whether a decision is wise or not. Perhaps something will be right after ten years, but it might be wrong after a hundred years. Who can say? But the reason I’m angry is not because of the decision you made—it was because you were so hesitant in making it.”

“As long as you’re not angry, it’s good. It’s all because I’m too dependent on you and my master. Just give me some time, and I’ll adapt,” said Tang Wan-er softly, holding his arm.

Long Chen wanted to say more, but seeing her like this, he relented and smiled. “Consider this time letting them off the hook. But next time, we won’t be so merciful.”

“Alright. It’s a promise,” Tang Wan-er said, smiling as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

Once everyone had recovered, Long Chen had Tang Wan-er lead them, deciding the next course. With the spatial laws in this area behaving strangely, Xia Chen’s formation discs were ineffective, so they had to rely on their own abilities to travel.

…

Meanwhile, deep within the Blood Fiend Battlefield, in a hidden location, over ten figures stood together, watching as a dot of light moved across a formation disc.

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