Gao Gongjin's eyes widened at those words. He stared blankly at Gao Gonglu, as though seeing his elder brother for the first time. His lips moved several times before he managed to say, "Brother—how can we do that?"
Gao Gonglu raised a hand, cutting him off. "Once, the ancestor was the Gao Household's mainstay. From now on, he is its burden. As long as the ancestor lives, Self-Sacrifice Zen will not relent. Once he finds one of the Four Aspects of Slaying Bandits and comes to wreak havoc on our household, Peaceful Way Abbey will be too intent on the Southern Return to care what happens to us. When that time comes, only death awaits us."
He paused, his gaze weighing heavily on his younger brother's face, and said, word by word, "Rather than that, we should put our faith in the Great Compassionate Venerable Wisdom King."
Gao Gongjin looked at him, feeling that the brother before him had grown stranger still—so strange that a chill crept into his heart. He could not help saying:
6
"What if we put our faith in the wrong one?"
Gao Gonglu nodded. Neither wavering nor anger showed on his face. He merely said softly, "Then the Gao Household will perish."
"If we do not believe, we perish. If we do, we still have some room to maneuver. Our Gao clan is already as precarious as a stack of eggs. Since the Wisdom King has shown compassion and offered a helping hand, we need only hold fast to it."
"But the ancestor—"
Gao Gonglu shook his head, cutting him off. "The ancestor has been in seclusion for years. The name Golden Bow can no longer keep the wild wolves outside our gates in check. This is an opportunity. Let us go and see together."