Gui Xing continued, "I invited you two here today for two reasons. First, I wish to apologize to Fellow Daoist Xie. My words were somewhat rash a few days ago, and I offended you. Please forgive me."
Under normal circumstances, even knowing that Gui Xing must have some other motive for saying this, Xie Bao would have felt smug. But now, he cursed inwardly, You damned turtle bastard—just to harm me, you can even bring yourself to say something like this.
Yet he said aloud, "Fellow Daoist Gui, there's no need to keep such a trivial matter in your heart. We're all old monsters who have cultivated for thousands of years—why bother? Tell us about the second matter instead."
Gui Xing thought to himself, This bastard is mocking me for being petty. Let him gloat for now.
He said, "Thank you for your magnanimity, Fellow Daoist Xie. The second matter is that we have been here for so long, yet not only have we failed to take Sea Heaven Island, we have even lost so many men. We should discuss what to do next. Fight or leave? If we fight, how do we fight? Do we launch a frontal assault or outwit them? If we leave, how will we explain ourselves when we return?"
Though these words were largely idle chatter, Sha Dao'an and Xie Bao had indeed been deeply troubled by this matter these past few days. If they left, it truly would be hard to explain upon returning. Although they had lost nearly half their forces, their remaining strength still far surpassed that of the Sea Heaven Sect. But if they fought, the Sea Heaven Sect had made it clear that they would not come out to battle. Though they had many men, they were still somewhat lacking