A Debt Has a Head, a Grudge Has a Master

"Now, the people are right here."

Bibi Dong (Nan Feng) extended a slender finger, pointing first at Bai He on the ground, then at Tang Xiao.

"Sect Master Tang, I give you two choices."

"First, drop your Clear Sky Hammer, bring every member of the Strength Clan, and kneel in surrender. If This Seat is in a good mood, perhaps I might spare your lives."

"Second..."

A flash of purple light flickered in the eyes of Bibi Dong (Nan Feng). Behind her, Chrysanthemum and Ghost understood instantly; their spirit rings flared, and a storm of blade-sharp petals, along with countless ghostly, shadowy hands, were pressed against the throats of the old, the weak, the women, and the children.

"Go ahead and strike."

"If you dare to let that hammer fall..."

"This Seat guarantees that before your hammer even touches the ground, your own uncle's head will roll to your feet first!"

"And these children, these women..."

"Because of your heroism, they will all be reduced to piles of minced meat!"

"Come on!!"

Bibi Dong (Nan Feng) took a sudden step forward, her aura erupting as she shouted sharply:

"Let me see just how tough the so-called Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect really is!!"

"Let me see whether you value your pride more, or the lives of your kin!!"

This roar exploded across the battlefield like a thunderclap.

Every gaze was fixed upon Tang Xiao.

The members of the Strength Clan, in particular, looked at the women and children of the Speed Clan with blades at their throats, a sense of shared sorrow and dread rising in their hearts.

If the Sect Master ignored the lives of the Speed Clan today, then tomorrow... would he ignore them as well?

Tang Xiao gripped the Clear Sky Hammer tightly, the veins on the back of his hands bulging like winding earthworms, revealing the extreme struggle and torment within his heart.

Fight? Or not fight?

If he fought, his uncle and those clansmen would surely die, and the Clear Sky Sect would bear the infamy of being cold-blooded and heartless, losing the support of all hearts.

If he did not fight, was he simply to let them be slaughtered?

"Sect Master..."

Titan clutched his chest, his eyes filled with grief and indignation, yet also carrying a hint of pleading.

Not just him, but the elders and disciples of the Clear Sky Sect behind him, as well as the clansmen of the Strength Clan—everyone's eyes were gathered on Tang Xiao.

They did not fear death, but to be held hostage by their own kin, to watch their loved ones die before their eyes—this was a death too stifling to bear.

"What exactly... do you want?"

Tang Xiao took a deep breath, his voice hoarse.

"Heh."

Bibi Dong (Nan Feng) let out a soft laugh and slowly descended from the air.

With a wave of his hand, that luxurious, gilded Pope's throne appeared out of thin air, landing steadily between the two armies.

Bibi Dong (Nan Feng) stood on no ceremony, sitting right down, crossing his legs, and resting his chin on his right hand. His posture was not that of someone facing an army, but rather someone admiring flowers in his own courtyard.

"Actually, This Seat does not wish to start a war."

The voice of Bibi Dong (Nan Feng) drifted out, carrying a tone of compassionate lament:

"War always results in death."

"Regardless of victory or defeat, countless families will be shattered. The elderly will bury the young, wives will lose their husbands, and children will lose their fathers."

"People of the Clear Sky Sect will die, people of the Four Great Clans will die, and the sons of my Martial Soul Hall will die as well."

"The dead are at peace, but what of the living? How are those orphans and widows to survive in this chaotic world?"

"There are no victors in war, only the defeated."

As these words were spoken, the atmosphere of the entire battlefield turned bizarre.

The elders of the Clear Sky Sect looked at one another, all of them completely bewildered.

This... is this the same ruthless, cold-blooded Bibi Dong who was just threatening to exterminate their entire clan?

Why has he suddenly started lamenting the world and preaching about peace and love?

What exactly is this woman trying to do?

"Ridiculous!"

Tang Xiao could finally take no more. He stepped forward, glaring at Bibi Dong. "Bibi Dong, stop putting on this hypocritical display of fake mercy!"

"From beginning to end, hasn't this entire affair been stirred up by your Martial Soul Hall?!"

"It was Qian Xunji who first led men to surround and kill my brother! And it was you who first launched this war to annihilate my affiliated clans!"

"You want to talk to me about peace now? About not wanting to see people die? Don't you find that laughable?!"

"It is indeed laughable."

Bibi Dong (Nan Feng) nodded, looking surprisingly agreeable. "This Seat also finds it quite laughable."

"However, Sect Master Tang, what else can be done?"

Bibi Dong (Nan Feng) spread his hands, his tone laced with helplessness:

"Regardless of how it started, the result is that Qian Xunji is dead, killed by the hammer of Tang Hao."

"As the holy land for all soul masters on the continent, the murder of a Pope is a disgrace that must be washed away. If we were to just let it go, how could Martial Soul Hall continue to command the masses of soul masters? How could we maintain our standing between the two great empires?"

"We have no choice."

"This grudge, Martial Soul Hall must settle. This face, Martial Soul Hall must reclaim."

"Therefore..."

Bibi Dong (Nan Feng) paused, his gaze deepening:

"Sect Master Tang, since everyone has their difficulties, and since no one wants a mutual destruction..."

"Why can we not find another way to resolve this problem?"

"What way?" Tang Xiao frowned.

"Every debt has a debtor, every grievance has a source."

Bibi Dong (Nan Feng) leaned forward slightly, his heterochromatic pupils locking onto Tang Xiao:

"From beginning to end, rather than calling this a conflict between the two great powers of Martial Soul Hall and Clear Sky Sect, it is better to call it a personal vendetta between the former Pope Qian Xunji and that rebellious son, Tang Hao."

"It was Qian Xunji's greed that led him to try and seize Tang Hao's wife, and it was Tang Hao's resistance that led him to kill Qian Xunji."

"Since it is a matter between the two of them, why must the entire Clear Sky Sect be implicated? Why must so many innocent people be buried along with them?"

Bibi Dong (Nan Feng) pointed to the soul masters of Martial Soul Hall standing in battle formation behind him, then gestured toward the group of Clear Sky Sect disciples opposite, who were filled with righteous indignation yet dared not act rashly:

"Look at these people. Behind every one of them is a family, with parents, wives, and children waiting for them to return home."

"Must so many people be sent to their deaths just for the sins committed by Tang Hao alone? Must countless families be plunged into grief?"

"Is this fair?"

The entire scene fell into a deathly silence.

Whether it was the soul masters of Martial Soul Hall, the disciples of the Clear Sky Sect, or even the muscle-headed brutes of the Strength Clan, everyone fell silent at that moment.

Indeed.

Is it fair?

This was the trouble Tang Hao caused; why should they be the ones to risk their lives?

Bibi Dong (Nan Feng) watched the flicker of hesitation on their faces, sneering inwardly as he upped the ante:

"Therefore, this Seat proposes a different way to resolve this."

"A way that doesn't require everyone to fight to the death to settle the matter."

Tang Xiao's brows were locked tight. Although his hand gripping the Clear Sky Hammer remained tense, the killing intent in his eyes had faded significantly.

"How do you intend to resolve it?" Tang Xiao asked in a deep voice.

"It is very simple."

Bibi Dong (Nan Feng) smiled slightly. "The Clear Sky Sect shall assist Martial Soul Hall in capturing the murderer, Tang Hao!"

"As long as you hand Tang Hao over, or cooperate with us to execute him, it will serve as a sacrifice to the spirit of the late Pope."

"Then..."

Bibi Dong (Nan Feng) scanned the crowd, his voice becoming incredibly seductive:

"Martial Soul Hall's grudge will be settled, and our face will be reclaimed."

"Although your Clear Sky Sect will lose a Tang Hao, you will preserve the foundation of your sect, protect the Four Great Clans, and save these thousands of lives."

"No one will have to fight to the death, and everyone can go home to their wives and children."

"Is this not the best possible ending?"

As soon as these words were spoken, a commotion broke out on the side of the Clear Sky Sect.

Especially among those elders who were already dissatisfied with Tang Hao for causing this trouble; their eyes lit up instantly.

This... this actually sounded like a decent proposal!

As long as they handed over one Tang Hao, they could trade for the safety of the entire sect, protect the Speed Clan, and even avoid a war that could potentially cripple the sect's vitality.

This was a good deal!

"Impossible!!"

However, before the elders could speak, Tang Xiao let out a roar, refusing flatly.

"Bibi Dong! Don't you even think about it!"

Tang Xiao let out a furious roar, raising his Clear Sky Hammer once more. "You want me to betray my own brother? In your dreams!"

"Tang Hao may have erred, but he is a member of my Clear Sky Sect! Even if I, Tang Xiao, were to die, I would never commit such a filthy act of selling out my kin for glory!"

"Oh? Is that so?"

Bibi Dong (Nan Feng) did not get angry; instead, she smiled playfully. "Sect Master Tang is truly a man of loyalty and righteousness."

"However..."

Bibi Dong (Nan Feng) gestured toward the women and children of the Speed Clan, whose necks were currently pressed against blades:

"Your own brother is family, but are your own uncles not family as well?"

"These elders who watched you grow up, these children who call you cousin and Sect Master—are they not your kin?"

"To protect a sinner who has brought about a catastrophe and driven the entire sect to the brink of ruin, are you going to send these innocent relatives to their deaths with your own hands?"

"You only care about your precious brother who caused this disaster, yet you completely disregard the lives of these clansmen who have followed you with unwavering loyalty!"

"In your eyes, is the life of Tang Hao alone more important than the future of the entire Clear Sky Sect, more important than these thousands of lives?"

"Or is this what you call loyalty and righteousness?"

"Is this your grand sense of justice?"

"You--!!"

Tang Xiao trembled with rage, yet he was rendered speechless by this barrage of rhetorical questions.

"Furthermore..."

Bibi Dong (Nan Feng) turned her gaze toward the elders of the Clear Sky Sect, her tone becoming haunting:

"Honored elders, do you also believe that it is worth sacrificing the entire Clear Sky Sect, along with your own lives and the lives of your families, for the sake of one Tang Hao?"

"Tang Hao is a genius, a Title Douluo. He has run away; he is in hiding."

"But what about you?"

"Can you run? Can your family legacies run?"

"Are you truly willing to see your families destroyed just to pay for his mistakes?"

These words were like poisonous thorns, piercing precisely into the most selfish and darkest corners of the elders' hearts.

Indeed.

Why should they?

Why should they pay with their lives because Tang Hao caused trouble?

Why should the entire sect be sacrificed just to protect that rebellious son?