I Can See Your Combat Power - Chapter 163
Chapter 163: Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Nine: The
Method of Restarting
Translator: 549690339
Without a doubt, Gong Zheng was a strong man, not only in terms of cultivation, but also in terms of his willpower. Therefore, Tang Luo did not hesitate to applaud him.
If he had been lucky enough to be born into a rich family like the Tang Clan, perhaps his current achievements would have been remarkable. Unfortunately, some painful experiences had shaped him into the martial arts practitioner he was today.
Upon hearing Tang Luo’s applause, Gong Zheng’s face suddenly turned pale. He had merely intended to voice his grievances, but he had said too much. His wife and daughter were still in Mi Hou’s hands, and if his words angered Tang Luo, who would look after them if he did not care for his wellbeing?
When he thought of this, Gong Zheng’s expression froze, turning into an expression of fear. Stuttering, he said, “I. I. Just now. I was talking nonsense, you… should not take it to heart.”
Tang Luo waved his hand, chuckling lightly, “You are absolutely right, I completely agree.”
He had initially thought that Gong Zheng was an ordinary martial artist, but he turned out to be an ambitious person. Gong Zheng was perhaps just unlucky. If he hadn’t run into Tang Luo, then after several decades of intense cultivation, Gong Zheng might have been able to break through to the Fierce Realm and establish a powerful family of his own. Any ordinary martial artist would consider that a success.
To establish a family, own a fixed property, and then grow the family tree. If luck was on his side and his descendants were zealous, they might even become a prestigious family like the Tang Clan.
In fact, the method mentioned by Gong Zheng is commonly used by most martial artists during their initial accumulation phase – exploitation and plundering.
The biggest advantage of this method is that it’s straightforward and brutal but at same time it brings short term benefits. Some uninformed martial artists would then be led down this irredeemable path.
Gong Zheng was surprised that the Pride of Xiling, who was highly praised in Xiling, would agree with his point of view. He was somewhat frightened, yet rejoiced at the same time. He couldn’t help but ask, “Really?”
Tang Luo rested his hand on his chin and casually answered, “Of course. The martial arts way is the art of conquest where the law of the jungle prevails. What you said is not wrong.”
When Gong Zheng heard these words, he felt as if he had met a kindred spirit. Thinking about his situation, he felt profound grief. Bitterly, he laughed, “Ah, if that’s not wrong, then why am I defeated.”
If his thoughts have been correct, then why has he ended up in the state he is in today? Is it merely because of bad luck?
With an unresolved gaze, he looked at Tang Luo, hoping that he could provide some answers.
“Defeat?” Tang Luo chuckled, switched to his left hand to support his chin, waved his right hand towards him and said, “The way I see it, you haven’t lost at all.”
Gong Zheng’s face changed. He did not understand why Tang Luo would say this. His painstakingly built Righteous Gang had been destroyed, Mi Hou was pursuing him, his wife and daughter were imprisoned, and he was one step away from death. If this wasn’t considered defeat, what was?
Noticing his puzzled expression, Tang Luo decided to play a little game with him.
“As a person who has reached the peak of the Mortal Realm, not only do you possess a formidable martial arts technique, but you also own a body armor worth millions. Even many warriors stronger than you are helpless against you.”
“As for the Righteous Gang, they are just a group of rabble-rousers. Even if they were completely annihilated, you could still start from scratch.”
“The Mi Family has a formidable reputation, but its influence is limited to only one city—Xiling, and if I were you, I would simply take the Lingjiang River and move downstream. The waterway is fast and you could travel hundreds of miles in a day. You could enter a new city a month later. With your cultivation and body armor, it’s just a matter of time before you rise again.”
Upon hearing Tang Luo’s words, Gong Zheng’s expression changed significantly, but deep down he knew that what Tang Luo said was correct. However, his wife and daughter were still held captive in Mi Hou’s residence, so how could he leave? Therefore, he said in a respectful manner, “The Pride of Xiling is joking. How can I leave without rescuing my wife and daughter?”
“That is your stupidity.” Tang Luo’s tone was indifferent, and he said coldly, “The woman and child you care about are just extra burdens. If you want to walk on the king’s path, you have to extinguish all emotions and attachments. When you rise again, will you lack women?”
Gong Zheng was struck with shock, pointed at Tang Luo, and his body started shaking uncontrollably.
“Did you even realize that when you decide to take the ruthless path, you cannot have weaknesses. That woman and that child, they are your weaknesses. As long as you ignore them, you are still that fierce lone wolf.” Twenty years ago, you were still a martial artist in the Mortal Realm who started from nothing. Now, look at yourself. With the cultivation level at the peak of the Mortal Realm and a set of spiritual armor, you can start all over again if you cut off your weaknesses, and you don’t even have to do it yourself. As long as you decide to leave, Mi Hou will help you remove your weakness. Where else can you find such a good thing?”
Tang Luo gave him a slight smile, which seemed like a devil’s temptation.
“Is this still a human?” Gong Zheng finally realized where his fear came from. The person sitting in front of him wasn’t the Pride of Xiling; he was clearly a devil in human flesh.
Regard his wife and daughter as his own weaknesses, such an emotionally ruthless person actually exists? His body trembled with anger.
Tang Luo gently shook his head, placed his hands on the table, and said with another seductive suggestion, “Think about it carefully, am I wrong?”
“What’s wrong with escaping from Xiling, moving downstream along the river, and rising in a new city?”
“Look, in order to attract Shao Yuan’s attention, Elder Yin returned your body armor. Now it’s on you, and he’s not here. This is your best chance.”
Tang Luo watched Gong Zheng with interest, but the words he said struck his heart like a devil’s spell.
He was really tempted. With armor on him and a mere young prodigy in front of him, how could he be constrained if he was hell-bent on escape? However, when he thought of his wife’s tenderness and his child’s smile, he could not make the decision to escape.
Gong Zheng looked at Tang Luo, who was completely at ease. He couldn’t imagine what kind of prominent family could bring up such a devil. At this moment, he suddenly had a sense of epiphany, which made him bend down, seeming to age ten years in an instant.
So, it turns out that he didn’t understand what being ruthless meant at all. Just like Tang Luo said, he was still attached to a woman and a child. He was dreaming of making a name for himself and avoiding being bullied.
He had nothing back then, and he couldn’t even compare his ruthlessness to that of the children of prominent families. He was inferior in terms of cultivation, resources, and even ruthlessness. What did he have to compete with them?
A pained Gong Zheng closed his eyes, trembling all over. Tears uncontrollably streamed down his face. He knelt down with his forehead touching the ground, wailing in pain.
Seeing his weak appearance, Tang Luo frowned, picked up the now lukewarm tea in front of him, and drank it in one gulp.
Poverty breeds cunning, while wealth fosters kindness.
Many people’s wickedness is not actually their first choice, it is simply because they lack resources. When people are driven to desperation, if they don’t resort to cunning tricks, they may die. Many kind-hearted families have been forced to ruin and suffer terrible tragedies. It is because they have been driven to desperation, but they do not resort to cunning tricks.
The young Gong Zheng was one of those desperate people, but the difference was that he came up with a “cunning trick”. He decided to oppress those weaker than himself in order to satisfy himself and avoid starvation.
The “cunning trick” allowed his life to get better and to become more affluent, but the more affluent he became, he did not think of improving his “cunning trick”. If it hadn’t been for Shao Yuan’s emergence, he might have even ruled supreme in West Street..
