"This damn apocalypse, so unoriginal. The Golden Immortal Secret Realm was an apocalypse, and the Water Immortal Secret Realm is no different."
Wan Lei leaned back weakly against the chair, staring at the tent's ceiling, his mood exceptionally heavy.
The difference was, in the Golden Immortal Secret Realm, he could do his utmost to save more people, to shelter those pitiable souls. But now, he had to personally make the decision, to abandon more people, just to ensure a small portion survived.
He couldn't quite explain why he was doing this, whether it was because he had promised to take the Dengyan tribe home, or if it was sheer selfishness, simply wanting to complete his mission.
But in any case, if he didn't do this, everyone would die.
He could be indecisive, he could grandiosely declare that he wouldn't abandon anyone, and stand on a moral high ground, leading everyone forward.
And then...
He would watch them all be swallowed by the sea, drowned, and die.
And then...
He would take Fang Xiaoyu, bring Liu Yuxin, and if he felt charitable, find other acquaintances, and head to the Great Wall, pick another tribe, and enter.
Easily, no one could blame him, because he had tried his best. He hadn't abandoned anyone; they had died themselves. What did it have to do with him, Wan Lei?
But... he couldn't do that.
This responsibility, he had to bear it, along with the infamy, the guilt, the self-reproach. He had to carry everything, marching forward under its weight.
Doing his best, so simple.
Being a hero, not easy.
"Tens of thousands of tribes in the Land of Destiny, do they all have to walk there? If so, even with the so-called 'human heads,' wouldn't the vast majority of tribes still die here?
Don't you have any means of transportation? Something that can carry many people, like war galleys?"
Fang Xiaoyu suddenly thought of a key point.
"We do have them. Some tribes possess war galleys capable of holding ten thousand people.
Some tribes have their Tier Four or Tier Five Sacred Beasts, which are enormous and can fly, carrying many people.
Some tribes have battle formations and divine abilities that can manifest forms of high-tier Sacred Beasts, composed of people, flying in the sky, and also carrying many people."
"So... you have none of that, right?"
"Uh..."
Dengyan Ge and the other two lowered their heads in shame.
"Where would we have them?
These are possessions of top tribes with Fifth Tier powerhouses, and moreover, particularly wealthy ones that have survived for many years without perishing."
"The Bai Ze tribe is also a Fifth Tier tribe, why don't they have them?"
"The Bai Ze tribe is just a major tribe in the north. The northern regions are generally poorer. They can only lord it over others in this extreme northern land. If placed among tribes with dozens of Fifth Tier powerhouses, they wouldn't even rank."
"Is that so? But where can we find a powerful Fifth Tier tribe to rob their transportation means?"
Fang Xiaoyu frowned, pondering deeply.
"How about we contact others? See if they know of any such places? In return, we can bring along the tribes that provide clues."
Dengyan Ge suggested.
"Let's try to contact them, but the hope is slim. If anyone knew of such a place, they would have likely sought refuge and become vassals already.
Let's just go as we are, someone will bring things to us."
Wan Lei raised his head.
"Oh? Has the divine being contacted friends?"
"No, I'm talking about enemies. Don't underestimate the allure of Mahayana stage human heads. This is the ticket to enter the Great Wall. Ordinary small tribes wouldn't dare provoke us now. Those with the strength to dare will necessarily be the top tribes."
Wan Lei stood up, exhaled, and said,
"Announce our decision to the young and strong of the Bai Ze tribe. Anyone willing to abandon their tribe and join us can follow. The old, the weak, the sick, and the disabled – none will be taken."
"As you command."
The next morning, the prisoner camp erupted into severe unrest.
Upon hearing the Dengyan tribe's decision, those people immediately protested. However, might makes right. After killing some rioters, the rest quickly became obedient.
The Dengyan tribe not only took their Sacred Beasts but also their supplies and provisions.
This was plunder.
Not a single one of the five thousand young warriors of the Bai Ze tribe chose to follow the Dengyan tribe; they all chose to perish with their kin.
The Dengyan tribe departed.
Leaving behind a group of pitiful, helpless, and starving elderly, weak, women, and children.
Behind them, unending sounds.
The curses of men, the wails of women, the hungry cries of children, striking like a hammer at the soul of every member of the Dengyan tribe.
Purple rain fell on their faces, sinking into the ground and gathering into a river, flowing northward.
To the north, there were more people, waiting to die in despair.
The heavens and earth had no spiritual energy, and those people had no food.
The Dengyan tribe had left.
In this environment, in this desperate situation,
Such abandonment was tantamount to murder;
Such plunder, what difference did it make from slaughter?
"We might as well have killed them directly, given them a swift end, and saved them from starving to death in this hell, enduring further suffering.
We didn't kill them, so our conscience is clear, but they have to endure more hardship."
Fang Xiaoyu's eyes were red as he wiped the water droplets from his face, unsure if they were rain or tears.
"Are we... worse than Kaelen?"
Wan Lei stared blankly ahead.
Kaelen treated people as slaves, as livestock, but at least he kept them alive.
But they, they had abandoned everyone.
"Hey, you two,"
A voice came from behind.
Turning around, they saw Liu Yuxin looking at them coldly.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Those people are enemies. They're dead, they're dead, why feel sorry for them?"
"How can you be so heartless? Do you think everyone is like you?"
Fang Xiaoyu retorted angrily.
"You are inciting sedition!"
Liu Yuxin's voice suddenly turned shrill. Her big eyes immediately reddened, and large teardrops flowed down. Her lips trembled slightly.
"Are only you two upset? Do only you feel pity? Do only you have consciences? Everyone is like this, who wants to abandon them?
The two of you keep talking and talking, saying it endlessly, making others feel even worse?!
The two of you are leaders, not instilling morale, just lamenting your own fate, what's the use?!"
Liu Yuxin's words silenced both Wan Lei and Fang Xiaoyu.
The atmosphere of the team was extremely heavy, and the despair spread to everyone, fermenting, accumulating, waiting only for an explosion.
Wan Lei stood in mid-air, looking at the endless procession below. After a long pause, he suddenly smiled and roared, "Da Feng Novel"
"What are you dawdling for? Let's go, I'll take you home!!!"
"Not motivated to go home, you've got problems with your brain!!!"