I Can See Your Combat Power - Chapter 546
Chapter 546: Chapter 542: Punish Without Teaching
In the middle peak of Red Cloud Mountain,
Those attendants who got minor injuries while participating in the support were all taken by Du Ling to the clan’s medical center for treatment. At such a critical moment, there wasn’t really a place to grow medicinal plants in Red Cloud Mountain. Therefore, even the Tang Clan’s doctors who only had to deal with minor injuries seemed to be struggling. After all, there was a shortage of medicinal plants and limited spiritual power, which meant most people were only given basic treatment and were sent on their way.
Whether they were common martial artists or elite clansmen, none of them objected to this method of treatment because they were all utterly terrified.
For most ordinary martial artists, the most shocking moment in their life might be witnessing Old Xu defeating the heroes of Xiling with just one sword. They seemed to have unconsciously forgotten that Xu Sheng, the young master, was just a martial artist at the peak of the Mortal Realm, and above that were the Fierce Realm and even the King Realm.
However, when two Azure Dragons rushed into the crowd and easily stirred up a storm of death, they finally realized that there was such a thing as total incapacity to resist. They saw the heavy-armored Shen, the boss, being blasted away in an instant. Many people were shredded into pieces before they could react.
A martial artist must have a fighting spirit. And when this fighting spirit is broken, the martial artist is also done for.
When Tang Luo arrived at the middle peak, he saw a group of defeated veterans sitting in groups, all in despair, as if a cloud of darkness was hanging over them.
A few disheartened young men on the periphery saw Tang Luo and quickly got up to salute him. This unusual commotion immediately drew the attention of everyone.
“The Clan Lord is here. The Clan Lord is here!”
Like defeated soldiers, the attendants stood up one after another to greet Tang Luo, but they didn’t dare lift their heads, as if they had made a grave mistake.
Tang Luo slowed down and nodded at each attendant who saluted him. He moved through the crowd, stood at the most prominent place at the front of the line.
The Pride of Xiling looked at the attendants in front of him, and it was impossible for him to not feel frustrated. Despite having urged them to retreat multiple times, they were still rushing forward due to the instigation of the Xiling elites.
If the Xiling elites were just temporary residents on Red Cloud Mountain whom clans’ leaders could only request but not command, the attendants were different.
From the moment they put on their headscarves, they were already slaves. Whether they lived or died depended on the whim of the master. It could only be said that they were still acting out of instinct and had not recognized their own positions.
“All of you, lift your heads up.” Tang Luo called out to the crowd. His booming voice, with its extraordinary ability, swept across the field like a cold wave, sending chills down the attendants’ spines as they raised their heads in fear.
The reason why these martial artists were so dispirited, besides the power of the Twin Azure Dragons, was another very important reason—they realized that they were going to be punished.
When they heard Gong Zheng’s plea for help, many attendants were somewhat excited, because the scene was very similar to the story where the master’s house was in danger, his servants rescued him, and they were rewarded for their bravery.
Taken ahead by the Fierce Realm powerhouse of the Du Clan and the renowned healer of Xiling, Xiao Jinlin, with several other powerhouses forming a defense line, even if they couldn’t bring out any force, who would not want a share of these almost gratuitous merits? If there were rewards to be distributed in the end, even the gesture of waving a banner and cheering would earn a little reward, right?
Finally, when the Twin Dragons charged, nearly half of the martial artists who went along got injured, and even more died. If they hadn’t broken the Thousand Green Wood boundary, the attendants would have died within the boundary. At this moment, they were thinking of nothing but rewards or anything. They were only hoping that Tang Luo’s punishment could be light.
“Do you know, from the moment you put on that headscarf, you are no longer free people, but my family servants?” Tang Luo whispered to the crowd: “Since you are my servants, you must obey my orders. What is the value of a servant who does not obey the master’s orders?”
The crowd gasped. No one expected the punishment to be so heavy. From what the Pride of Xiling suggested, they were going to be executed!
Instantly, the attendants fell on their knees to plead for mercy. Especially those Mortal Realm warriors who went north with ulterior motives and were lucky to come back alive, they were pale at the moment. This severe punishment was almost beyond their expectations.
“Silence.” The sound wave erupted again, drowning out everyone’s voices. Tang Luo looked at the crowd without any expression, and slowly said: “But as the ancient saying goes, to punish without teaching is tyrannical. Considering this is your first offense and you have made contributions in aid, plus you all were free people before, it is excusable and that makes your merits and demerits countervail each other. Therefore, I will not handle this according to the Tang Clan’s regulations.”
There is no standard for good, but evil is clear.
It is called tyrannical to kill without teaching, it is called brutal not to prohibit something while treating it as a crime, it is called thievish to delay the order until due, to withhold and begrudge is called fiscal official.
Although he has never been a Lord and doesn’t know what a successful Lord should be like, Tang Luo doesn’t want to be the worst one.
Since he hasn’t taught them how to be good servants, Tang Luo wouldn’t execute them for the mistakes they made. It’s as simple as that.
The attendants, kneeling on the ground, heard Tang Luo’s addition, and suddenly they saw a glimmer of hope. Who would have thought that such a serious crime as disobeying the clan leader’s orders would get off so lightly?
The attendants began to chant praises of their lord’s wisdom, and the middle peak was in uproar in an instant.
Once their safety was guaranteed, some of the attendants regained their intelligence. They realized that the expression ‘made contributions’ usually comes after a fight, meaning the battle at the northern hump has ended, and… they have won?
A few very bold attendants turned their eyes and asked loudly: “May I ask, Lord, has the villain been slain?”
The scene with the Twin Dragon Charge was too brutal. They were also genuinely scared of the vicious elderly man who had dragon arms. The only way to overcome this fear is to hear news of his defeat.
The wave of cheering suddenly fell silent, and almost everyone’s eyes were fixed on Tang Luo on the high stage, hoping to hear this good news.
Facing the hopeful gazes of the crowd, Tang Luo shrugged and said, “Unfortunately, although we won, we were not able to end his life.”
“However!” Tang Luo suddenly raised his voice and declared enthusiastically with uplifted hands, “We have severed the arms of the Mi Yang, ensuring that the terrifying Azure Dragon will never appear again!”
The middle peak fell utterly silent, which Tang Luo did not expect. Looking confused, he felt awkward because it felt like a failed performance.
Waste of efforts, Tang Luo muttered to himself awkwardly, lowering his arms.
“Long live the Clan Lord!!!”
“The Pride of Xiling is invincible!!!”
The sudden outburst startled Tang Luo. It was only after a full seven breaths of silence that people erupted in cheers again. This time, their joy was almost frenzied.
Because only at this moment did they realize who that terrifying man with dragon arms was.
It turned out it was the Supreme Being of the Mi Clan, Mi Yang, the number one powerhouse recognized by Xiling before Xiao Jinlin. Although he had long left the martial world, tales about him still filled it.
