It wasn't a loud voice, but to Qi Xiongbei, it rang like the evening drum and morning bell. He whipped around toward the speaker. It was Fang Zheng, and Qi had no idea when he had arrived.
"Brother Fang, Brother Fang, tell us what you think..."
His mind was in turmoil. Now, he clung to Fang Zheng like a lifeline, hoping Fang could offer a way forward.
Fang Zheng said, "The reasoning is simple. If Master Wu stays with the Righteous Alliance and becomes a Furnace Master representing the alliance, the Righteous Alliance will surely support him with all its might. By contrast, if he represents the Sea of Stars Alliance, they already have three Furnace Masters and won't be able to give him their full support. I believe Master Wu's talent and insight mean he wants more than simply to become a Furnace Master. The position of Chief Refiner is what he ought to pursue. Wouldn't you agree, sir?"
To Qi Xiongbei, those words were like lightning splitting the deep night, like thunder shaking a clear sky.
Qi Xiongbei hurriedly said, "Old Fang has put into words exactly what I wanted to say. As the saying goes, 'Better the head of a chicken than the tail of an ox.' If Master Wu goes to the Sea of Stars Alliance, he'll just be icing on the cake. But if he comes to the Righteous Alliance, he'll be giving us charcoal in a snowstorm. If Master Wu can represent our alliance as a Furnace Master, we'll surely support him with all our strength in becoming Chief Refiner."
Master Wu sighed. "I understand the reasoning Brother Fang and Brother Qi have laid out. But Deputy Alliance Leader Song is clearly siding with that fellow surnamed Xu. There's little point in my staying