Elsewhere, Liu An, Yan Libing, and Shi Jiawen had also gathered together. The atmosphere, however, was rather stiff—not like the Lei father and son, with their paternal kindness and filial instruction, nor like the Ox-Head God and Horse-Face Ghost, who shared seamless tacit understanding.
On the contrary, the three of them seemed poised with swords drawn and bows bent.
Naturally, it was not because of anything else. Qiao Nian's death had left all three of them somewhat agitated, and with each harboring different thoughts, disagreements had arisen.
Shi Jiawen, for one, had now been thoroughly awed and conquered by Meng Zhao's strength and invincibility. He also yearned to receive guidance in Meng Zhao's Nameless Mind Method.
Thus, regarding Qiao Nian's death, his stance was to follow Meng Zhao's arrangements. Whatever Meng Zhao said, they would do. There was no need for any superfluous thoughts or ideas.
Liu An was different. Among the three, he was probably the closest to Qiao Nian. Although Meng Zhao's methods had controlled him and made escape impossible, he was unwilling to simply let others pull his strings. At the very least, regarding Qiao Nian's death, he felt they had to make some effort.
Therefore, he hoped to bring Yan Libing and Shi Jiawen around, gather the strength of all three, devise a strategy, and then jointly offer Meng Zhao their counsel.
Of course, the result might not be satisfactory. They might even offend Meng Zhao and arouse his suspicions. Still, Liu An believed that doing so would at least let him face the dead Qiao Nian with a clear conscience.
Besides, he was not insisting that things had to be done in any particular way. He merely wanted to make some attempt.
This was also Liu An's attitude toward Meng Zhao. He was now helpless