Still...

Ji Jue realized what was in his heart the moment his gaze touched Tong Shan's, and they looked at each other without a word before their eyes parted.

Both of them understood then.

At that moment, the first to get up was Lou Feng.

"Sorry..."

His expression twitched as he clutched the unshattered spiritual crystal in his hand, "I haven't found my aunt yet, I... I'll stay."

As he spoke, he formed another crystal from his palm, using spiritual means to seal and stabilize it, "Here's a letter, just give it to the teacher, Captain Tong.

You all saved me more than once on this journey, and my actions are solely my own, not related to others."

Tong Shan took the spiritual crystal without a word.

"I'm not too sure, it's all dangerous," Jiang Xuan scratched his chin, "Since Xu Guan has a plan, why not give it a try? Worst comes to worst, it's just death. Investing one is worth it, two doesn't lose, three is a profit."

"Hey, it seems I'm the crowd, right?"

Ji Liu laughed and after a long ponder, he sighed, "Ji Xue and I follow orders; it's up to you, Captain Tong."

"I haven't even spoken, how can you speak for me?" Ji Xue glared angrily.

Ji Liu glanced at her, shrugged, "Then say—"

"..."

Ji Xue struggled for a while, growing more angry, and fiercely glared at her older brother, "I feel the same!"

Xu Guan wore a complex expression; after so many years of acquaintance, even he, slow as he was, should understand his intentions now.

"Have you really thought this through?" he asked solemnly.

"Not thought through, all foggy, all tangled, unsure, unclear," Tong Shan replied bluntly, "With the situation so, I won't force it.

As a superior, I must consider my subordinates' opinions.

This time, I'll make things clear."

Tong Shan, with arms folded, looked around at everyone, "With the situation as it is, the future unpredictable, hesitating will just lead to death. Either we bet on a chance and escape,

or we stay and become a major pain for the Evil Cult!"

"Agreed!"

Ji Liu raised his hand without a second thought.

Ji Xue was a moment late and became angry again, harshly kicking her brother, "Me too!"

"Oh? Is that the case?" Jiang Xuan suddenly realized, grinning, "You should've said earlier. Going back would mean being sent to the front lines again anyway. Looking at it now, there's really no need."

"..."

Xu Guan hesitated for a long while, sighed, "I have no objections."

In the silence, while Lou Feng was still in astonished joy, Tong Shan's gaze finally rested on Ji Jue.

"Everyone's decided, huh."

Ji Jue was puzzled, "Why ask me?"

"You and Mr. Lou are different from them."

Tong Shan sighed, "You're not from the Security Bureau, never took a penny from Tian Yuan... It was I who dragged you into this. I'm as clear about the state of Cliff City as you, and it makes no sense to call on you to step up for the greater good.

A craftsman inherently owes no duty to perish."

He hesitated before promising, "If you disagree, I will consider retreat as a priority."

"...You said it, I'm not from the Security Bureau, so there's no reason for me to die for this mess," Ji Jue sighed.

Tong Shan remained silent.

"But I'm still mostly a Cliff City person, right?"

Ji Jue grew more helpless, laughing wryly, "I've grown quite accustomed to living here, if possible, another decade or so wouldn't be a problem.

In such times, one can't just stand by and watch, run off with one's family."

He had long experienced the severity of natural disasters.

The terror of man-made ones was likely even greater.

Once Spring City exploded, probably half of Hai Province would be contaminated and involved, becoming a land like this Demon Realm.

For so many years, Spring City had sunk into darkness, and even now, hidden underground, he could still hear the continuous, illusion-like faint cries and wails from deep within the soil.

Too many tears and blood.

So-called death, so-called despair...

But such a hell, how much more must be created?

How repulsive must it get before they are satisfied?

He might not be a friend of the Security Bureau.

But he and the Evil Cult were already enemies!

From the moment that gang of dogs brought the drifting Time Ruins to Cliff City... Just killing Lian Cheng wasn't enough!

Even if he couldn't be a good doctor, he could still be a good craftsman.

There are people who like to say 'Trash is just treasure in the wrong place,' but some trash is just trash, hopelessly unacceptable from its core, if there was any slight value at all...

Then what he could do, was to send the wrongly placed gems back to where they belong!

In the deathly silence, Ji Jue reached out, flicked the edge of the Bone Knife, listened to its faint singsong, rising from its lingering sound, he looked up at Tong Zhiwu's solemn face.

Suddenly, with a merciful smile:

"—After all this, is it still possible to raise the pay?"

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