"Jiang Wuming, along with the entire Zhanlong team, broke through the frontline command's defense, publicly killed Gu Tianlong, and escaped by helicopter!"
At night, this news spread, shaking the entire Mount Everest battlefield and the global martial arts world!
"Why did Jiang Wuming and the Zhanlong team do this?"
"I think the rumors that Gu Tianlong designed to trap the Zhanlong team are true!"
"Even if this is true, the Martial Department should have dealt with Gu Tianlong. Unless..."
"No matter the real inside story, it's certain that after this incident, Jiang Wuming and all members of the Zhanlong team will no longer be able to stand in the Martial Department or even the Dragon Country. They might even be wanted by the Dragon Country!"
For a time, on the Mount Everest battlefield, on the Divine Net forum, and in every corner of the global martial arts world, people were discussing this matter.
...
Yanjing.
In a special family compound.
"Gu Lü, is the news true? Has Tianlong really been brutally murdered?!"
Upon hearing the news of Gu Tianlong's death, Gu Tianlong's mother rushed to the study and loudly questioned Gu Lü.
Gu Lü had been smoking alone in the study after learning the news.
At this moment, seeing his wife burst in, he looked up and said expressionlessly, "Yes."
"Thump!"
Upon confirmation, Gu Tianlong's mother immediately sat down on the floor and then screamed uncontrollably,
"Why did this happen? Didn't you say there would be no danger on the Mount Everest battlefield? Why did Tianlong die? And he didn't die at the hands of foreign enemies, but was killed by Jiang Wuming?!"
"A life for a life! The Gu family will not let that bastard Jiang Wuming go!"
Gu Lü extinguished his cigarette and said coldly.
"What's the use of that? Even if you kill him, can Tianlong be resurrected?"
Gu Tianlong's mother looked up at Gu Lü and roared hoarsely.
"Enough!"
Gu Lü suddenly roared, "The root cause of this matter lies entirely with your Zhao family! If we hadn't offended Jiang Zhan back then to help your family, wouldn't we have planted the seeds for this? Would today's events have happened?!"
"—"
Gu Tianlong's mother was speechless.
Twenty years ago, someone from the Zhao family colluded with outsiders to harm Ye Jinmei.
After the incident, Gu Tianlong's mother pleaded with the Gu family to protect the Zhao family. In the ensuing struggle, higher authorities did not bring justice to Jiang Zhan, which led to the tragic bloodbath of the Zhao family!
Now, an almost identical scene was unfolding again!
However, twenty years ago, that national hero chose to stay and guard the ancient city of Loulan for the country and its people.
Now, the young man had chosen to leave!
...
Three hours after Jiang Wuming killed Gu Tianlong, Long Qisheng, the temporary Marshal of the Martial Department and the Commander-in-Chief of the Mount Everest battlefield, returned to the frontline command.
Accompanying him was Long Yongjie, the Great Elder of the Dragon Gate.
Both had urgently left the frontline battlefield due to Gu Tianlong's murder!
In the command center, the conference room.
Long Qisheng, Long Yongjie, Li Rui, Wu Ju, and Jian Jian were seated in different positions in the conference room.
"Staff Officer Li, Elder Wu, what exactly happened? Didn't I instruct you to stop Jiang Wuming and the Zhanlong team from committing violence? Why did no one in the entire frontline command prevent their criminal act, and even allowed them to escape after the crime?"
In the conference room, Long Qisheng's questioning voice rang out.
"Marshal, as per your instructions, I dispatched the White Tiger, Black Tortoise, and Vermillion Bird Dragon Guard teams, along with the Loulan, Sharp Blade, and Snow Mountain Guardian teams, to intercept Jiang Wuming and the Zhanlong team, but we failed," Li Rui replied.
"Why did you fail?" Long Qisheng pressed.
"Jiang Wuming used force to threaten them, causing everyone to not dare to intervene," Li Rui said. This was the 'truth' publicly stated by Jiang Wuming.
"Staff Officer Li, be it the Dragon Guard or the Guardian teams, they are the most elite warriors of the Martial Department. I am very curious, since when did the most elite warriors of the Martial Department lose the courage to fight when faced with threats?"
As Li Rui's words fell, a deep voice echoed in the conference room.
The owner of the voice was Long Yongjie, the Great Elder of the Dragon Gate.
This was Long Yongjie's first utterance after arriving at the frontline command.
Under the lights, his expression was so gloomy it seemed to drip water, and unconcealed anger was evident in his features!
"Master Long, the warriors of the Martial Department have never lacked courage."
Li Rui raised an eyebrow upon hearing this and said solemnly, "This was an accident. As for the reason, perhaps it's because they were facing Jiang Wuming and the Zhanlong team."
"What's wrong with Jiang Wuming and the Zhanlong team? Can they trample on rules, violate laws, and commit murder?!" Long Yongjie questioned loudly.
"Naturally not. This is also why I ordered their arrest after they killed Gu Tianlong."
Li Rui first answered Long Yongjie's question, then changed the subject, saying,
"What I meant was that before this incident, Jiang Wuming led the Zhanlong team in many battles against foreign enemies, achieving great merits, and defending the honor of the Dragon Country's martial arts world in the Global Martial Arts Competition!
In the hearts of the warriors of the Martial Department, he is a hero and the future of the Martial Department and the Dragon Country!
And the Zhanlong team, before this incident, was the most outstanding guardian team in the Dragon Country!
We cannot deny that all of this will have some impact on the Dragon Guards and other Guardian teams' warriors!"
Hearing Li Rui's explanation, Long Yongjie was about to erupt.
But this time, before he could speak, Wu Ju, who had been silent, said,
"Marshal, Master Long. Regardless, the Dragon Guards and Guardian teams failed to stop Jiang Wuming and the Zhanlong team members, meaning they did not complete the task assigned by the command. They can be dealt with according to the regulations of the Martial Department. Furthermore, as the supervisor of the Dragon Guards, I bear leadership responsibility. Moreover, I was not present at the time, so I accept punishment as well!"
"—"
Long Yongjie fell silent.
Wu Ju's voluntary plea of guilt blocked all his subsequent words.
"We'll discuss accountability later. I believe our urgent task is to properly handle this matter," Long Qisheng said again, setting the tone for the meeting. "This incident has caused a great shock on the Mount Everest battlefield, within the Martial Department, and even in the global martial arts world. Everyone is waiting for the outcome of the handling. If it cannot be handled properly, it will cause adverse effects."
"A life for a life, as is natural and right. Immediately dispatch people to apprehend Jiang Wuming and the others and bring them to justice!" Long Yongjie said coldly.
"Those who plot against lives are not to be pitied!" Li Rui countered.
"Smash!"
Upon hearing this, Long Yongjie angrily slammed the conference table, shattering it instantly and sending wood chips flying, but he paid no attention. He stood up and said word by word, "Li Rui, what do you mean?"
"Long Yongjie, although there is no conclusive evidence proving Gu Tianlong colluded with outsiders to trap the Zhanlong team, all of us present know that this is true. Otherwise, Jiang Wuming and the Zhanlong team would not have taken such extreme actions!" Li Rui said expressionlessly.
"You also said there is no evidence! Can speculation serve as evidence? Moreover, if I understand you correctly, you approve of the actions of Jiang Wuming and the Zhanlong team? Or perhaps, you even secretly provided them with assistance? For example, did you intentionally send Wu Ju to the Grand Curtain to create an opportunity for them to act?!"
Long Yongjie directly tore off the facade and questioned angrily.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Hearing Long Yongjie's words again, the expressions of Long Qisheng, Wu Ju, and Jian Jian changed greatly. They had not expected Long Yongjie to be so direct.
Li Rui, however, stared at Long Yongjie expressionlessly and asked, "Long Yongjie, is it so difficult to admit you were wrong?"
"You... What did you say?!" Long Yongjie's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.
Long Qisheng, Wu Ju, and Jian Jian also looked at Li Rui with astonishment.
"Back then, when Master Zhuge was in seclusion, you were in charge of the Dragon Gate's affairs and selected Gu Tianlong as your personal disciple and the Senior Disciple of the Dragon Gate. In terms of martial arts talent alone, Gu Tianlong indeed deserved these positions. However, Gu Tianlong was unworthy of his position—he was selfish, narrow-minded, unscrupulous, and morally corrupt!
You had already discovered all of this, but Gu Tianlong was chosen by you.
To prove yourself right, or rather, to compensate for your past mistakes, you did not abandon Gu Tianlong and tried to salvage the situation, but in reality, you were abetting evil!
In other words, if Gu Tianlong was not your personal disciple, not the successor you chose, would you have continuously defended and supported him?
Actually, whether defending or supporting, you simply don't want to admit your mistake, you want to prove to Master Zhuge and everyone else that you, Long Yongjie, did not choose the wrong person!
However, if you're wrong, you're wrong.
Moreover, one wrong step leads to a cascade of mistakes!"
"—"
Long Yongjie was rendered speechless.
Li Rui's words were like a sharp dagger, piercing his heart and exposing the most vulnerable part of his soul.
"As for you saying I approve of the actions of Jiang Wuming and the Zhanlong team, I can tell you clearly, I do not approve, nor do I support. But as you said, I did not try my utmost to stop them."
Li Rui continued, his words shocking.
Swish, swish, swish, swish...
The expressions of Long Qisheng, Wu Ju, and Jian Jian changed once more.
Even Long Yongjie looked at Li Rui with surprise!
"Because, twenty years ago, the Martial Department, and even the Dragon Country, missed an opportunity once. I don't want tragedy to repeat itself."
Li Rui stated the reason word by word, then looked at Long Qisheng, "Long Qisheng, although you have one foot in the Half-Step Celestial God realm, do you think you are stronger than Master Zhuge? Or comparable to Master Tianlong?"
"What do you mean?"
Long Qisheng was stunned. He hadn't expected Li Rui to suddenly turn his spearhead towards him and address him by his name.
"In the hearts of these two, Wuming is the hope for repelling foreign enemies and achieving victory in the war. And he is the only hope!"
Li Rui said word by word, "One wrong step leads to a cascade of mistakes. Please help me relay these six words to the Great Elder.
How you choose, is up to you!
Also, if you believe that my tacit approval of Jiang Wuming and the Zhanlong team's actions is wrong, I am willing to bear all responsibility!
Coincidentally, Old Qi is down, and I'm tired too!"
With that, Li Rui stood up and walked directly out of the conference room.
"Old Li!"
Long Qisheng quickly called out.
There was no response.
The old man who had dedicated his life to the Martial Department, known as the brain of the Martial Department, left without looking back.
The youth smashed the bowl.
The old man smashed the pot!
Because.
The world needs justice!
...