Martial arts ascend to the gods

Chapter 617 Wolf King
Wang Boxiong frowned and said helplessly, "The problem is that we must first be courteous before resorting to force to have a legitimate reason for fighting. Without the first step of negotiation, everything else will become an obstacle. Moreover, we can only negotiate with the Zhao family now. But the new problem is that what we can't get on the battlefield, we can't get at the negotiating table either. It's like you being framed; going through legal channels won't solve the problem because of the entire legal system... you understand."

Zhou Leng pondered for a moment and said, "Alright, I'll go find Zhao Cong and negotiate first."

Wang Boxiong nodded and said, "Let's discuss this negotiation properly to avoid any unexpected events..."

The two were focused on this matter, and Wang Boxiong didn't mention anything else. Zhou Leng didn't care when he didn't say anything more.

With the help of Wang Boxiong, Zhou Leng contacted Zhao Cong's assistant chief and arranged to meet the next day.

The following evening, Zhou Leng arrived at the Liangjiang General District compound by car. After being checked by the martial arts guards on duty, the vehicle entered and stopped in front of the largest villa in the compound.

Zhou Leng got out of the car, and Zhao Cong personally came out to greet him.

He looked like a robust man in his thirties or forties, with a broad forehead, square face, kind expression, wearing black trousers and a white shirt, exuding righteousness.

"Master Zhou, your presence is an honor to my humble abode. Please, please come in." Zhao Cong descended the steps and invited Zhou Leng inside.

Zhao Cong's friendly tone and humble attitude surprised the driver and butler.

The assistant chief accompanying me today also wore a smile and was very cautious.

The driver and the housekeeper were unaware of the situation, but he was well aware of Zhou Leng's rank.

In theory, Zhou Leng's rank is higher than Zhao Cong's.

Even if Zhao Cong enters the Supreme Court next year, he will still be a long way from becoming the deputy chief judge.

Zhou Leng rose to the level of Vice Chief of the Dragon World in one step. Even though his foundation was not stable, Zhao Cong did not dare to be negligent.

After all, the locals have adhered to the principle of being subservient and obsequious for many years, and foreign affairs are of utmost importance, even more so than their own.

Zhou Leng walked into the living room, and the two sat down at the tea table to drink tea and chat.

With a highly emotionally intelligent assistant in attendance, the two sides had a pleasant conversation.

Before long, the food was served, and the three of them sat down to eat.

After finishing the meal, the assistant chief got up and took the butler and maid with him.

Only Zhou Leng and Zhao Cong remained in the living room.

Zhou Leng glanced at the camera in the corner.

Zhao Cong smiled and said, "The cameras are off today." As he spoke, he pressed a button on the table.

Prevent any listening magical artifacts.

Zhou Leng nodded, took a sip of aged Pu'er tea, and savored it carefully. It was mellow and smooth, with a slight lingering taste, and a rich and mellow aroma. Despite being an aged tea, it had no musty smell at all.

Setting down his teacup, Zhou Leng got straight to the point: "I'm a martial artist by nature, and I don't like beating around the bush. I've come here for only one purpose: to reclaim the mine that belongs to me."

Zhao Cong smiled slightly and said, "You've gotten straight to the point, so I won't beat around the bush either. Our Zhao family values ​​talent, especially you. There are some things I can't say to others, but I can say them directly to you. Of course, the most important reason is that you are already qualified to be my equal. As long as you join the Zhao family's patronage, not only the mines, but all of the Zhao family's assets in the entire Rucheng area will belong to you and will never be taken back."

The two looked at each other.

Before meeting, both sides had made extensive preparations.

“What’s mine is mine, and I don’t think I need to pay any price I don’t want to pay.”

"But this world is neither yours nor mine; we must abide by the rules of this world."

“Some of the rules are wrong,” Zhou Leng said.

“But we can’t break it, we can only follow it.” Zhao Cong smiled as he poured Zhou Leng a fresh cup of tea. “It tastes best now, too strong at the beginning and too weak at the end.”

“We may not be able to break it, but we can refuse to follow it.” Zhou Leng did not drink his tea.

"But the benefits of following the rules outweigh the benefits."

"In the long run, the benefits of rejecting bad rules outweigh those of bad ones."

"We won't live that long."

"This is why some ancient tribes, states, and ethnic groups were completely wiped out," Zhou Leng said.

"If my descendants truly perish, it's because they were incompetent. What can I do?" Zhao Cong said with a smile.

"You're the one who stabbed them in the back time and time again."

"Thinking like that is too extreme. I used to think that way too, but then I realized that everyone's abilities are limited, and I can only do so much as I have now. Aren't you the same? You wanted to exterminate the sea monster, but what about now?"

"But I have always wanted to eliminate the sea monster, and I have always been on this path."

"We're just changing direction, adapting to circumstances, there's nothing wrong with that."

“If my classmate Hu Yi said something like that, he wouldn’t be wrong; he’s just an ordinary person. My uncle Li Linhan is also right; he’s injured. Most people who say such things are not wrong. But you can’t say you should have everything when you’re seizing benefits and power, and then say you’re just an ordinary person and shouldn’t bear any responsibility after you’ve gained those benefits and power.”

Zhao Cong shrugged and said, “You have a flawed assumption. You're treating us like some kind of extraordinary genius like my grandfather. But based on my experience, everyone I've encountered from the Martial Academy either comes from a better background, has higher emotional intelligence, or excels in their specific areas of work. Of course, some are just lucky. Aside from that, in terms of morality, willpower, emotions, or other unrelated areas, we not only don't surpass ordinary people, but we often fall short. In reality, we live in constant fear and anxiety. Some people are good at math, some at physics, some at divine script, and we just happen to be good at ascension, that's all.” “Then what are you all bragging about all day?” Zhou retorted coldly.

“Boasting is both a reflection of our abilities and a reflection of our weaknesses. It’s a very normal form of self-protection, just like you. You always hope that we are fair and just, that we are all great people like my grandfather, and that you always hope to be seen as good people. That’s also your weakness, and also your way of protecting yourself. There’s no difference.” Zhao Cong’s gaze was equally frank.

Zhou Leng looked at Zhao Cong.

This is a person with a well-rounded inner world, possessing a completely self-consistent set of internal beliefs, and entirely unaffected by any external opinions.

"Good is good, evil is evil, right is right, and wrong is wrong."

"I completely agree, I wholeheartedly support you, but I can't do it," Zhao Cong said calmly.

"So, your group is the one with the lowest moral standards?"

Zhao Cong remained silent.

Morality cannot restrain people or groups who lack morality.

Zhou Leng slowly said, "In other words, only interests can drive you?"

"That's mostly true, or more accurately, it's correct. I have my own definition of what's right, and you have yours. Everyone lives according to their own definition of what's right. But unfortunately, what's right for people often clashes. For example, I always think you're right, but I'm not wrong either."

Zhou Lengdao: "So you think that the fall of Blue Star and the rise of the Demon Lord are the right thing to do?"

Zhao Cong poured out the cooled tea and poured the water from the heating plate into the teapot.

"The biggest difference between us and children is that we have seen too many shadows, endured too many swords, weathered too many storms, and suffered too much humiliation. When these pains and fears accumulate to the limit, our reason cannot handle them, so we can only rely on instinct like wild animals. Most people, most of the time, live by their animal instincts. We are no different."

Zhou Leng asked, "Are you saying that humanity is clearly facing the danger of extinction, and you, as one of the leaders, are just wandering around aimlessly like a herd of wild boars?"

"In a sense, the history of humankind as a whole is like a mad, irrational wild boar running around in circles."

Zhou Leng slowly said, "Then why did Confucius, Newton, Einstein, Marx, Zhao Sheng, and others come along to tame this wild boar, making it more and more rational and progressive?"

“I’ve said it before, I’m not a saint. Most of the people I know, apart from my grandfather and a few others, are ordinary people. We’re not prophets, and even my grandfather ultimately failed miserably. If he couldn’t do it, why do you expect me to?” Zhao Cong asked, looking surprised.

“I never asked you to become a saint. I just don’t understand why your Zhao Palace, which is already incredibly wealthy with enough money to last several lifetimes, would resort to any means to snatch the meager sum from me.”

Zhao Cong remained silent for a long time before saying, "The wolf king will only let its subordinates eat scraps when it has eaten and drunk its fill. If it dares to violate this rule, it will surely be torn to pieces by the pack. The wolves are always very good at reading between the lines."

"If the pack of wolves is about to starve to death, they will still tear the wolf king, who is eating alone, to pieces."

Zhao Cong sighed and said, "I have indeed thought about this matter, but after much thought, I have no solution. So what can I do? I will just honestly be an ordinary member of the Zhao family, doing what they do, and that's all."

Zhou Leng also sighed softly and said, "As expected, we can't get the mine back at the negotiating table."

“You can take it back, you can even get more,” Zhao Cong said.

"If I take back the mine using your methods, how am I supposed to explain it to the Xue family father and son who were killed, and to all those people whose families have been destroyed because of your taking the mine?"

"They're dead."

“They are dead, but they live on in your fear. One day, those fears will coalesce into a raging inferno that burns away all evil. Just as you said, we will do what they did in the past.”

Zhou Leng pointed to Zhao Cong's heart, stood up, and walked outside.

Zhao Cong rose to see him off, showing no anger whatsoever, and smiled, saying, "You still have time, you still have opportunities. We'll be waiting for you at the Zhao Palace."

Zhou Leng strode out of the Zhao family's house.

Zhao Cong stared at Zhou Leng's retreating figure, his vision blurring.

That shadow... it's so familiar.

I once had such a straight spine.

He once made grand pronouncements in front of his grandfather.

only……

A look of surprise suddenly appeared on his face, but he quickly regained his composure.

He recalled the last look his grandfather gave him; there was no anger, no despair, not even disappointment.

His gaze was calm and serene, as if he saw through everything.

Will Grandpa be able to see this person arrive?

He looked down at his heart, and Zhou Leng's pointing finger made him very uncomfortable.

There seemed to be a terrifying power accumulating within, writhing in your heart.

(End of this chapter)