Commander Mu stood by the window, listening to his biological daughter and his adopted daughter converse behind him.
“Sisi, based on your understanding of Ye Zhongming, is he the type to go crazy and risk his life?” Mu Xinfei asked, holding her best friend’s hand and frowning.
Ye Zhongming’s demeanor today had completely changed the impression she had of him. She didn’t know which version of the King of Cloud Peak was real—the rational man who had negotiated with her in the past or the one who had announced this crazy plan today.
Bai Sisi smoothed her hair, her eyes filled with nostalgia, but in a flash, they were clouded with confusion and… a hint of pain.
“Xinfei, I don’t know. It’s been so many years, and with the apocalypse, I really don’t know what he’s become,” Bai Sisi said apologetically, patting her friend’s hand. “But the old him wasn’t like this. Ever since the apocalypse began, he… became someone I didn’t recognize.”
Mu Xinfei looked at her friend, feeling deeply guilty. Bringing Bai Sisi to Cloud Peak this time had been her father’s idea. The intention was the same as when Mu Xinfei had brought Ye Zhongming’s ex-girlfriend to negotiate with him in the past—to see if old feelings could be used to influence him.
Although this plan wouldn’t involve selling out Bai Sisi’s interests, at most it was just trying to see if Ye Zhongming still had some lingering affection, it still made Mu Xinfei feel guilty.
“But this plan is just too insane. Wanting to kill the Armor King? Is this something a normal person would even think of?” Mu Xinfei said angrily, frowning as she thought. Then she added, “I’ll go talk to him alone. Maybe I can get some useful information.”
With that, she stood up. Bai Sisi also stood, unsure whether to follow or not.
Commander Mu suddenly spoke, stopping Mu Xinfei in her tracks.
“Dad?”
Commander Mu turned around, waved his hand, and sat down on the sofa.
“No need to ask. We’re joining.”
“Why?” Mu Xinfei anxiously sat beside her father, ready to persuade him to abandon the idea.
Having experienced everything firsthand, she knew how hard it had been for her and her father to accumulate their current resources and how much they had sacrificed. Aside from political marriages, she and Commander Mu had given everything they could.
Now, she couldn’t bear to see this powerful combat unit destroyed meaninglessly here.
“Regardless of how much Ye Zhongming has changed, he’s not a madman. At least, when it comes to strategic decisions outside of life-and-death situations, he’s not a madman. At his level, every decision has to consider too many factors. Even if he were to go mad, his subordinates wouldn’t follow him blindly.”
“Dad, you don’t understand Cloud Peak. They’re all fanatics who worship Ye Zhongming. They’d follow any order for that man.”
Mu Xinfei had seen Cloud Peak’s combat teams in action. Their fanaticism and intensity had left a deep impression on her. It seemed like no other faction in the apocalypse could fight like Cloud Peak, unleashing 120% of their combat power. Even the Resistance Zone couldn’t match that.
She believed it was entirely due to their personal worship of Ye Zhongming.
But Commander Mu shook his head.
“Daughter, Ye Zhongming might be a kind of faith for Cloud Peak, but this faith isn’t like religious. It’s not something that would make post-apocalyptic evolved trust him unconditionally. This faith is more like heartfelt admiration. The latter is more rational. Cloud Peak’s soldiers might be willing to die for Ye Zhongming, but they wouldn’t let their sacrifices be meaningless, nor would they follow Ye Zhongming’s orders if he lost his mind. Otherwise, Ye Zhongming wouldn’t have reached his current position, and his combat teams wouldn’t have such formidable combat power strength.”
Their positions and experiences were different, and so were their perspectives on issues and people. Commander Mu was looking at this from a completely calm, third-party perspective.
“Did you notice earlier? When Ye Zhongming was talking to us about this, the other Cloud Peak members showed no surprise. There was no fear, no anxiety in their eyes—only excitement and enthusiasm. They know everything and want to do this.”
Mu Xinfei listened to her father’s words, feeling lost, but she had to admit this was true.
“Also, whether it’s Li Daqian or Deacon Water, they’re both very quiet now.”
This statement made Mu Xinfei pause.
Commander Mu smiled and ruffled his daughter’s hair.
His precious daughter had plenty of drive and was decisive enough to act when necessary, but she was slightly lacking in analyzing people’s hearts.
“If I were unsure, I’d go discuss it with the others involved—not you or Sisi, but those who are on equal footing in this matter. Even if we ultimately decide to join this plan, we should see if we can work together to pressure Ye Zhongming and gain more benefits.”
“But they didn’t come.” Commander Mu smiled. “Is it because their relationship with Cloud Peak is so good that they’d follow orders without question? Obviously not. It’s because they’ve either analyzed the situation themselves or received private assurances from Ye Zhongming, confirming that this plan is feasible. That’s why they’re so silent. Since that’s the case, the answer is already clear. So why should we worry or hesitate?”
“But, Dad, I’m still worried…”
Commander Mu leaned back on the sofa. “Even if we fail, won’t we have Thousand Beast Villa, Five Ring Money, and Cloud Peak with us? They’re stronger than us now.”
The proud Mu Xinfei snorted in dissatisfaction at her father’s show of weakness, ending the conversation about their decision.
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