Chapter 1895 - 1899: The Banquet
The process of subduing the two who were crossing tribulations wasn’t complicated nor earth-shattering.
Lu Xiaobu, being in the Mahayana stage and with the assistance of someone whose cultivation had returned to normal, managed to break down each one individually, successfully turning the two into his slaves.
From now on, the Sword Master of Sword Island had become a nominal ruler of the island.
While Xin Lifeng and the others waited for Lu Xiaobu’s next move, Lu Xiaobu chose to throw a banquet.
Yes, a banquet.
However, this banquet was exclusively for the hundred thousand Iron Cavalry.
In a luxurious grand hall.
Lu Xiaobu sat on the floor, held a wine cup, gazed at the hundred thousand Iron Cavalry in front of him, and raised his cup lightly: "Brothers, I have an idea."
Upon hearing Lu Xiaobu speak, the somewhat noisy crowd quieted down and all eyes were on Lu Xiaobu, awaiting his words.
"I want everyone to disperse and infiltrate all the islands I know."
At this point, Lu Xiaobu hesitated, showing some uncertainty.
"However, unlike the previous infiltration of Sword Island, this time the duration of the infiltration is uncertain, and I won’t give any clear objectives. It’s very dangerous!"
"So, I want to seek your opinions, because in a certain sense, this decision is somewhat selfish!"
These were Lu Xiaobu’s heartfelt words.
He knew the true reason behind creating this new world.
It was just to have a decisive showdown with Lin Feng.
His original thought was to genuinely prevent the hundred thousand Iron Cavalry from getting involved in this victory or defeat, as he simply couldn’t afford the losses.
It was only due to the strong protests from the hundred thousand Iron Cavalry that he allowed everyone into the new world, joining in this contest.
Upon hearing Lu Xiaobu’s words, the hundred thousand Iron Cavalry exchanged glances and silently smiled.
Finally, Dawa stepped forward, smiling at Lu Xiaobu and said, "Young Master Bu, your idea is right! Why protect us so strictly? We’re not kids!"
"Exactly, exactly!"
The hundred thousand Iron Cavalry joined in, causing a commotion: "Many of us are even older than Young Master Bu!"
"Stop messing around! I’m not joking!" Lu Xiaobu waved his hand: "I genuinely feel guilty towards you all. You originally had good lives in the Heavenly Dynasty with families and careers, able to peacefully live your whole life! Yet, because of me, you got involved in things that shouldn’t concern you!"
"Young Master Bu, you’re at it again," Erwa jumped out, looking exasperated: "Do you really think we’re the type for a stable life?"
"If this world didn’t appear, we would definitely live like ordinary people, but this world did appear!"
"Do you want us to be just ordinary people? When have our hundred thousand Iron Cavalry ever been so cowardly?"
Sanwa chimed in: "Young Master Bu, we know your concerns. You fear losing lives, but there’s a saying, people can choke on food too, doesn’t mean we stop eating, right?"
"Following you, we’ve lived exuberantly; things others might never obtain in a lifetime, you’ve brought to us within years!"
"I still remember how our hundred thousand Iron Cavalry looked when we first established. Those were tough times!"
Siwa scratched his head and chuckled: "Remember when everyone got impulsive and left their jobs to travel nationwide selling? Thinking back, it was really adorably foolish!"
Wuwa: "We were foolish, but wasn’t Young Master Bu even more so? Knowing full well we were on a futile mission, yet took out all assets for us to conduct a totally idiot campaign, almost going bankrupt!"
Liuwa: "So you see, Young Master Bu, we’ve always been those idiots, idiots without much brain, able to get everything under your protection, but equally eager to recklessly charge for you again."
Qi’wa: "Don’t you think you’ve been overly protective of us, especially since arriving in this world?"
"Many great resources could yield better results on suitable people, yet they’re merely helping some of us break through minor realms."
"We know it’s because when it involves life matters, you’ve become extremely cautious, even ignoring us at times, fearing losing lives!"
"But, Young Master Bu, do you know our thoughts?"
"Your battle with Lin Feng isn’t a commercial war from the Heavenly Dynasty, losing means we can’t rise again, it’s a life-and-death gamble!"
"You worry about us losing lives due to this, but haven’t we also worried about your excessive protection leading to your loss, losing your life?"
"You’re the soul of Lu Group, the Commander of hundred thousand Iron Cavalry, if you lose, how do we even continue living?"
"In fact, allow me to say something potentially inappropriate; we’ve discussed privately, when the decisive battle comes, regardless of your methods to remove us from the battlefield, we’ll find ways to be on it!"
"By then, if there’s no arrangement from you, we ragtag soldiers might be the first to fall!"
Towards the end, Qi’wa even had a cheeky grin on his face.
Clearly a somewhat heroic cause, yet in his mouth, it sounded like a joke!
"Exactly! Exactly!"
The hundred thousand Iron Cavalry began tapping the ground and causing a commotion again.
"Young Master Bu, we’re one and the same, sharing joy and sorrow. While you’re alive, you might have ways to rescue from Hell, but if you’re gone, we’re powerless!"
"Being undercover, what’s so hard about it?"
"Exactly, not just undercover without orders, maybe before you even arrive, some of us might have already taken over that island!"
"What the heck, why are you revealing my plan!?"
"Get lost! Li Ergou, you think you can conquer an island? Dream on!"
There were even quite a few complaints directed at Qi’wa: "Why did you spill everything, wasn’t it supposed to be a secret!"
"Boss Qi’wa, if your loose lips cause the plan’s failure, don’t blame us for messing with you!"
"..."
Qi’wa turned his back on that bunch of troublemakers and raised his middle finger: "Bite me!"
Lu Xiaobu looked at the chaotic crowd of hundred thousand Iron Cavalry, silently and with indescribable emotions swirling in his heart, he was unsure of what to say.