Chapter 93: Blind Loyalty
After that loud voice echoed through the hall, a robust figure quickly appeared at the entrance, leading a small group inside.
His hair and beard were streaked with white, and his short, bristly hair stood upright like steel needles. His body was the very definition of brawny, a man with broad shoulders and thick arms that exuded power. This was Titan, the patriarch of the Strength Clan.
"Huh? What's going on here…?" Titan had just stepped inside when he noticed that his old friends were not sitting in the host's seat. Instead, a young man who looked oddly familiar occupied the position of honor.
"Old Gorilla, you're the last one to arrive this time."
Niu Gao, as the host, stood up to greet him, but at the same time, he kept frantically giving him meaningful looks. Titan noticed his silent signals, then turned back to take a good look at Ye Cheng.
His pupils shrank as realization struck now he remembered why this young man seemed so familiar.
"Greetings, Your Excellency."
Titan quickly bowed. Even though he was much older than Ye Cheng, in the world of soul masters, strength determined respect. It was only natural for the weak to bow to the strong.
Ye Cheng gave him a slight nod in acknowledgment, granting him face.
Then, Niu Gao, Bai He, and Yang Wudi immediately began explaining, each adding their own words, telling Titan about the events that had transpired how they had all pledged allegiance to Ye Cheng, how only his Strength Clan remained, and how, if they joined, the Four Great Clans could be reunited.
After listening to their explanations, Titan looked utterly shocked at first.
Then, after a brief hesitation, he turned to Ye Cheng and said, "I appreciate Your Excellency's offer, but I must refuse."
His firm rejection caught everyone off guard.
Niu Gao couldn't hold back and immediately snapped, "Old Gorilla, have you lost your mind?! Do you even realize what you're turning down? If you join, we can all move into White Cloud City together, our financial struggles will be gone, and even Spirit Hall's suppression won't be a problem anymore!"
Titan's pupils contracted slightly.
He hadn't expected Ye Cheng's offer to be this generous he felt tempted for a moment.
But then, he remembered the future vision showing his master, Tang Hao, being crippled by Ye Cheng, and his resolve hardened once again.
"I'm sorry, but my Strength Clan will never pledge allegiance to another faction." His tone was resolute, utterly unshakable.
Bai He, seeing how stubborn Titan was being, urgently said, "Old Gorilla, think this through! Remember when we were still in the Clear Sky Sect did we ever get treated this well?! Why would you reject such an incredible offer?! Wait… don't tell me you're still clinging to Tang Hao?"
Titan could hear the urgency and frustration in their voices, but when he thought of Tang Hao from the vision, his determination only grew stronger.
"My master is still alive. I will not betray him."
As soon as these words left his mouth, Yang Wudi immediately let out a cold snort.
"You're still calling that bastard your master? You're really getting dumber with age," Yang Wudi said, his voice filled with contempt. "The Clear Sky Sect abandoned us, and yet you still side with them?!"
Titan knew he couldn't refute that, but after a brief moment of silence, he still stubbornly said, "I have no love for the Clear Sky Sect, but my master treated me well. I can abandon the Clear Sky Sect, but I will never abandon my master."
That was the final straw.
Yang Wudi slammed his hand down on the armrest, his face twisted with fury as he stood up and shouted, "I'll admit that Tang Hao was good to us in the past! But who do you think caused this disaster in the first place?!"
"Qian Xunji killed Lady Ah Yin! Was Tang Hao not supposed to take revenge?!" Titan roared back, also standing up.
"He could take revenge and I supported him back then!" Yang Wudi shouted. "I even thought he was a true man, and I was ready to follow him into battle against Spirit Hall.
And then what happened?"
As he spoke, his anger erupted like a volcano.
"Tang Hao ran away! And the Clear Sky Sect? They ran away too!
Meanwhile, who was left behind to face Spirit Hall's wrath?!
Us!
Do you even remember how many of our people died because of them?!"
Yang Wudi's voice was filled with fury and grief.
"Exactly! We might not hate Tang Hao, but after that incident, our Four Great Clans took the full brunt of Spirit Hall's revenge! We've already repaid whatever kindness we owed him!" Niu Gao sighed, his voice heavy with sorrow.
Titan fell silent for a moment.
Deep down, he knew they were right.
But Titan had always refused to acknowledge it.
He forced himself to believe that Tang Hao had his reasons, that there was a greater purpose behind his actions.
Some people would call this loyalty.
Others would call it blind devotion.
When Spirit Hall had been at its strongest, the Clear Sky Sect hadn't been able to resist them. Even if they had fought back, they would have suffered immense losses.
For the Clear Sky Sect, retreating had been the best choice.
But for the Four Great Clans who were abandoned to face Spirit Hall alone it had been a nightmare.
The Four Great Clans had actually been lucky their losses had been less severe than many of the other Clear Sky Sect affiliated clans. Many had been nearly wiped out because of Tang Hao's actions.
It was one of the most despicable betrayals imaginable.
Tang Hao created a mess.
Then he disappeared.
And he left all of his followers to deal with the consequences.
What kind of leader does that?
The hall fell into an eerie silence.
After a moment, Bai He sighed deeply and said, "Old Gorilla, we've fought side by side for years.
When the Clear Sky Sect abandoned us, we survived by relying on each other.
Are you really not going to reconsider?
If you let this opportunity slip away… you will regret it."
Everyone turned to Titan, awaiting his final decision.
Titan hesitated for a moment.
Then he shook his head.
"I'm sorry, brothers," he said firmly. "I cannot forsake my master.
And I thank Your Excellency for the offer, but… a loyal servant cannot serve two masters. I will not betray him."
At that moment, Titan perfectly embodied the concept of blind loyalty.
Or, as some might call it slavish devotion.
BANG!
Niu Gao slammed his hand on the table, his face filled with disappointment and anger.
"If you're still clinging to your so called master, then get the hell out!"
Yang Wudi and Bai He also shook their heads in disappointment.
Titan had made his choice.
And they wouldn't force him to change it.
It was just a shame that he wouldn't be joining them.
Despite their longstanding brotherhood, the Four Clans had always had their differences.
Titan and Yang Wudi, in particular, had fundamentally opposing ideals they had simply never openly clashed before.
But today, everything was laid bare.
Yang Wudi despised Tang Hao.
Titan remained devoted to him.
From Ye Cheng's perspective, loyalty was a valuable trait.
But when that loyalty wasn't directed at him, it was nothing but a hindrance.
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