Chapter 357: Farewell
Raindrops the size of peas fell from the sky, pattering loudly on the roof tiles.
Fan Tai stood in front of the window sill, gazing at the city shrouded in rain, lost in deep thought.
He suddenly asked, "Uncle Master, what do you think I should do now?"
As soon as Fan Tai spoke, a gray-robed elder with chicken skin and crane hair silently appeared beside him and responded coldly, "What to do? Either fight the barbarians or abandon the foundation here and leave; what else can you do?"
"Fight?"
Fan Tai couldn’t help clenching his fists, angrily saying, "With what do I fight the barbarians? Rely on the disciples on the island, or a rabble of outsiders?"
"Uncle Master, the Great River Gang has already sided with the Wuqi Tribe, plus the mountaineers, we have no chance of winning!"
The gray-robed elder snorted, "If you can’t win, then leave."
"Leave?"
Fan Tai smiled bitterly, "This is the legacy left by my master, and before passing, he instructed me to guard Golden Sand Island well, to pass it down for generations."
"If I just give it to the barbarians, how can I face my master in the underworld?"
As he spoke, the face of this Tier Six powerhouse twisted slightly.
"If you preserve the land and lose the people, you lose both. If you preserve the people and lose the land, both are preserved!"
The gray-robed elder scoffed, "Such a simple principle, don’t tell me you can’t understand?"
After a pause, he added, "Even if there is a future, I don’t think your junior brother would blame you."
Fan Tai spread his fingers, wearily asking, "Is there really no other way?"
The gray-robed elder was silent for a long time, then said calmly, "There is one more way, and that is to seek help from Xia Ruins. They won’t watch the Great Dream Marsh fall into the hands of the Southern Barbarians."
"Xia Ruins?"
The bitterness on Fan Tai’s face deepened, "Those high and mighty noble families, will they really care about our life and death?"
"Then what do you want?"
The gray-robed elder became irritated, "We must try, at worst I’ll risk this old face, go to Xia Ruins and beg for help. Anyway, I don’t have many years to live and don’t need to save face for the grave!"
Fan Tai was left speechless.
"Then so be it!"
The gray-robed elder became more irritable, suddenly leaping out of the room and into the wind and rain outside.
Fan Tai watched the figure disappear into the deep night, the pain and sorrow on his face wiped away, his eyes cold and grim.
This Golden Sand Gang leader whispered, "Sorry, Uncle Master."
He knew very well.
Once his Uncle Master entered Xia Ruins, whether or not he could return with aid, he had no chance of surviving.
Fan Tai knew, his Uncle Master understood this too.
But still, he was unhesitant!
"Great River Gang!"
Fan Tai squeezed out the words through gritted teeth, the coldness in his eyes transforming into a raging fire.
It burned fiercely as if it could consume everything.
At the same moment, Zhang Yuan, braving wind and rain, returned to his home with Wang Wu.
He said to this subordinate who had followed him for a while, "Golden Sand Island is no longer safe. Where do you want to go? I can send you out."
Wang Wu was dumbfounded, "Master, Master, are you abandoning me?"
He had barely managed to cling to Zhang Yuan, and now Zhang Yuan was telling him to leave.
Wang Wu felt utterly lost.
Zhang Yuan sighed and replied, "I’m doing this for your own good."
Zhang Yuan had some suspicions before and just confirmed it with Fan Tai.
That is, the Great River Gang had already sided with the Wuqi Tribe.
Dignified Tier Five martial artists even turned into dogs for the Southern Barbarian Wizard, so it’s easy to imagine how bad the situation for Golden Sand Gang is going to be!
Zhang Yuan himself wasn’t afraid, even if the Wuqi Tribe captured Golden Sand Island, no one could stop him from leaving.
But Wang Wu couldn’t.
Wang Wu’s strength was too weak, his Tier One Light Force level made him a bottom-level nobody on the island.
If a great battle erupted, he wouldn’t even be able to ensure his own safety.
And Zhang Yuan couldn’t keep dragging him as a burden.
Moreover, Wang Sangou’s situation also served as a warning to Zhang Yuan, making him realize the complexity of the current internal and external situation on Golden Sand Island.
Is Kuang Wei the only one who has been turned on this island?
The answer is obviously no.
When a single cockroach is found, chances are there’s already a nest inside!
Zhang Yuan could protect himself.
But if the barbarian spies targeted Wang Wu...
All this time, Wang Wu had been loyally working for him, so Zhang Yuan was willing to offer one final help.
To get him out of danger!
After Zhang Yuan explained the situation, Wang Wu finally understood and said dejectedly, "Thank you, Master. Then I’d like to trouble you to send me to East Lu Island."
East Lu Island?
After Zhang Yuan’s inquiry, he learned that East Lu Island was a large Land Island, but very remote, on the edge of the Great Dream Marsh settlement, with harsh conditions and few inhabitants.
Only those who couldn’t make it here would go to East Lu Island to make a living.
Zhang Yuan was quite surprised, "Why go there? I can send you to Xia Ruins."
Wang Wu was clever, with rich experience surviving at the bottom, and he could certainly live well at Xia Ruins too.
Ruins City might be tough, but the vast Outer Ruins offered boundless opportunities.
Far better than East Lu Island, right?
"Master, my decision is made!"
Wang Wu resolutely replied, "I grew up in the Great Dream Marsh and don’t want to leave it. I will live well on East Lu Island, and if there’s an opportunity in the future, I wish to serve you again!"
Saying this, he knelt down and kowtowed three times vigorously at Zhang Yuan.
Seeing his determined attitude, Zhang Yuan stopped persuading him, helped him up, "Alright then."
The rain poured all night, only stopping at dawn.
As daybreak came, the white mist covering the marshes hadn’t cleared, but Zhang Yuan and Wang Wu arrived at the water’s edge.
After loading all the items they brought on the small boat, Zhang Yuan, commanding his warship, quietly left Golden Sand Island with Wang Wu, heading northeast.
Wang Wu’s small boat was tied behind, following all the way.
Even with an extra person and a boat, the warship, under Zhang Yuan’s command, moved at incredible speed.
Soon, Golden Sand Island was left far behind.
The journey to East Lu Island was quite smooth, with no danger encountered.
Even if there were, Zhang Yuan would use the Red-eyed Crow to spot it in advance.
Avoiding it promptly.
In truth, he wasn’t afraid of the barbarian warships roaming outside.
Just wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Nearing dusk, a large island appeared in their view.
"Master, this is the place."
Wang Wu knelt in gratitude, "Your great kindness and virtue, I will never forget in this lifetime!"
Zhang Yuan helped him up, "Take care!"
Zhang Yuan knew very well that this was the end of their fate, and the chances of meeting again were slim to none.
Not to mention he was still using someone else’s identity.
The Chen Zian persona he adopted wouldn’t be used again once he returned.