This was Elder Jin's way of thinking.
It was also the survival rule he had always adhered to: when necessary, everything came second to keeping himself alive.
Even protecting those two siblings was only because of pressure from the Flame Cliff Family. Otherwise, he would have slipped away long ago.
For Elder Jin, ever since his weak days, his talent had never been particularly outstanding. He had no powerful background, no great strength, and no inherited patronage... Yet in this cold universe, he had still climbed step by step to the Dominion Realm and even wormed his way into the Flame Cliff Family, gaining a certain standing.
That had much to do with his character.
When it was time to show himself, he would do so. But the moment he sensed something was wrong, he would never force himself into the limelight. Everything revolved around preserving his own safety.
Once a person was dead, there was nothing left.
As for loyalty, that too was built upon the foundation of him being alive. He held no feelings for the Flame Cliff Family. They were merely using each other—the Flame Cliff Family gave him sufficient benefits, and he risked his life for them. It was that simple.
Now that no one else was present, Elder Jin naturally refused to keep up the appearance of being ready to fight to the death.
"Let them return to the family. Whether you go find their elders to lodge a complaint or keep causing trouble, that is up to you! Otherwise, if you kill them now, this old man will certainly not survive. This old man may not be particularly strong among the Dominion Realm, but if I truly risk my life, you will not come out of it unscathed either!"
"This time, consider it that