Chapter 154 - Kneel

Chapter 154: Kneel

In front of Kang De, Hong San was no longer as ferocious as before.

His waist was even more bent than usual in front of Kang De.

He felt very guilty.

When he heard this, he subconsciously explained softly, “Because this is your credit. No matter how bold I am, I don’t dare to take your credit…”

Kang De said coldly, “You’re so good at observing people’s expressions and eloquence. Why, can’t you see the situation clearly now? Is there a point in explaining in front of me now?”

Hong San stopped talking.

“You have nothing else to say? Alright, I’ll say it for you.”

Kang De looked at Hong San, who was lowering his head in silence, and said, “When I first arrived, your first thought was to let me escape and bring you away. Later on, news from the elf army came that the City Lord had sealed the four doors and you could not leave. Then, you said that you wanted me to find the mayor to reveal my identity and let me leave on my own.”

“I can tell that you’re sincere in these suggestions, including burning paper offerings for me earlier. It can be said to be sincere. I’m very grateful.”

“You’ve always wanted me to leave quickly and not be involved in Valentine City, right?”

He came to Hong San.

“But just now, you pushed me to the limelight in front of these citizens and praised my contributions, letting them know me, and letting them cheer for me… Is this only because you don’t dare to monopolize my contributions and want people to be grateful and remember me? Is it only because of this?”

Kang De said calmly, “Then the problem is that you want me to leave. If I really leave and swagger away, regardless of this place, let Valentine City face the elves and fall into the flames of war. Let those commoners pick up their weapons and walk up the city wall. A motley crew will face the attack of the hegemony…”

“Many people will definitely die. They will be very helpless, desperate, collapse, and crazy. They will think of you, think of me, and shout, Lord Hong San, save us. They will shout, Military Advisor Dong Zhuo, where are you? I don’t know if you’re here, Hong San. You might be around to protect them or even sacrifice yourself. Perhaps you would see that the situation was bad and secretly slip away. All of this is possible.”

“However, I definitely won’t be there. The Military Advisor is not around. After the Military Advisor brought a large number of resources, he disappeared. He didn’t protect these people or fight for them. These desperate people will curse me, wail, and even curse. All of this is meaningless. Then, why let them know my name?”

“Also…”

Kang De slowly said, “I’m also human. Human hearts are made of flesh. If you let these people cheer for me, should I let them surround me next to admire, praise, and thank me?”

“Then, I’ll remember these people. I’ll remember their respect and love. Knowing that, I’ll leave them in this Valentine City to face the elves’ slaughter. One day, I’ll return and I know that almost everyone is dead. Then, will I feel pain and guilt because of this?”

“Therefore, if I want to leave, why should you let these citizens know me? There’s no benefit, only a disadvantage. They’ll curse me before they die. When I think of them, I’ll feel uneasy.”

“Even a boring university student like me who doesn’t know much about the ways of the world can think about this.”

“You’re smart and slick. You’re so good at observing people’s expressions and talking nonsense… How can you not think of this?”

“If you wanted me to leave Valentine City as soon as possible, there wouldn’t have been that scene. With your meticulousness, you would definitely have thought of this and not let me have any unnecessary connections with the Heaven and Earth Association.”

“Unless you changed your mind.”

Hong San’s body trembled.

Kang De’s voice was cold and sharp, “It’s because Nick’s order is too cruel and heartless, causing you to pity the fate of those people. Or rather, it’s you who finally made a decision in these few days of swaying and confusion… Hong San, it seems that you’ve decided to live and die with the Heaven and Earth Association. Not bad, you’re a man.”

“However, you must feel that you’re inexperienced alone. The previous victory was only a coincidence. You really can’t protect those people because you’ve never believed in yourself and have always placed yourself in a very humble position. You doubt yourself. You don’t have confidence. You’re used to relying on others.”

“Therefore, you targeted me.”

“This is the only thing you did wrong.”

“Hong San, you shouldn’t have used such a stupid method on me.”

“It’s too bad. What a stupid choice. You could clearly have begged me sincerely. You could have revealed your true intentions and told me about your determination and willpower. You didn’t take the right path but used these underhanded small methods. You’re really stupid to the extreme. Not only did you not achieve your goal, but you also attracted my suspicion and vigilance.”

Kang De’s whisper echoed in Hong San’s ears.

“I’ll think that since you’re willing to play such a small trick on me because of this situation, next time, you will also use other tricks for other reasons.”

He stretched out his hand and patted Hong San’s shoulder.

“Also, Hong San, you’re really underestimating me.”

At this moment, the Cathayan finally could not hold it in anymore.

With a plop, he knelt on the ground and kowtowed desperately, “Master, Master Kang, I was blinded. I shouldn’t have such thoughts. I…”

Kang De squatted on the ground and held his shoulder. “Don’t kneel or kowtow. You’re the Mountain Chieftain of the Heaven and Earth Association. You have to be self-aware. You have to treat yourself as a human. You’re human, understand?”

“You have to do things upright and not play dirty tricks. Personally, I feel that this is very important. You should be straightforward.”

“Also, Hong San, I’m quite disappointed.”

“On the way, I’ve been waiting for a person like you to roar. I’m waiting for a lowly guy like you to stand up like a hero and fight for others.”

“I’m also waiting for you to kneel.”

“I want to see the moment when you kneel down like a man with a straightened back and loudly tell me that you have to protect those who follow you and ask for my help. You’re willing to fight for others and bend your knees to achieve it. I hope to see you like that.”

“Now, although your original intention is the same, I keep feeling that something is missing.”

Kang De sighed, “What can I say about you?”

The more amiable he looked and his attitude was calm, the more shocked Hong San was. If a person’s emotions reached their limit, they would definitely collapse. There were two forms of collapse, one external and one internal.

To the outside world, it was madness, reckless madness.

Internally, it was weakness and hysteric crying.

Hong San had revealed his ferocity and madness earlier. Now, tears were already streaming down his face.

Thousands of emotions surged in his heart. Countless words surged into his mouth. His mind was filled with the faces of those commoners and everything he had seen along the way.

However, he could not say a word.

This was because those surging emotions were something he had never experienced before.

Pity, kindness, protection, tenacity, responsibility…

He had never had these things, these emotions, these thoughts, and these ideas.

He did not know how to explain or express it at all.

He was only crying. In the past, he was eloquent, but now, he was tossing and turning. It was only those few words.

“Master, beat me up. I did something wrong. I shouldn’t have had those thoughts…”

“But those people are really pitiful. If the elves come and they go to defend the city, they’ll definitely die…”

“I know my mistake. Master, please don’t leave. I really can’t do it…”

However, just as Kang De had said, he still felt that something was missing.

“Alright, stop crying and begging.”

Hong San looked up, fear and pleading in his eyes.

Kang De said indifferently, “It’s useless because I haven’t made a decision… You once had the chance, but you lost it. Now, I still have to think about it.”

Hong San did not understand, but he did not dare to speak.

“I won’t leave for the time being, but whether I want to stay or not and how far I have to go depends on the situation. However, Hong San, even if I stay, dealing with the elves comes from my own judgment and decision. You have to understand this matter. Don’t think of using me or plotting against me. Today is the last time.”

“I hope there won’t be any more tricks today.”

“Arrange a house for me.”

Looking at the other party’s miserable back, Kang De slowly shook his head and sighed silently.

He pinched the space between his eyebrows and cursed, “D*mn.”

It was unknown who he was scolding.

Hong San’s actions were actually only a small matter. He would not be dissatisfied with this matter and decide to leave, allowing Valentine City to be wreaked havoc by the elves… Just as he had said, regardless of whether he stayed or not, it came from his own judgment and decision and he would not vent his anger because of his disgust.

The reason why he was angry was that Hong San had actually played such a small trick to scheme against him.

He clearly trusted this guy and even treated him as half one of his own.

Hong San’s actions were naturally far from betrayal, but this small action and scheming behind his back still made him feel very, very unhappy—he could have said it directly.

It was unknown if this mood was because he was angry that the latter let him down or simply angry about the matter.

“So…”

Kang De rubbed his face and sighed, “Don’t tell me I got a betrayal PTSD…”

After experiencing Glory Sand, he was indeed very sensitive to these things.

He shook his head and chased this thought from his mind. Then, he took out the crimson scroll.

The scroll touched his palm and burned with resplendent golden flames.

Before deciding whether to stay, he had to finish what he could do and compare his strength before making a choice… One of the things was to analyze the secret of the crimson scroll.

“Then, let’s begin.”

…