Suddenly, Mu Liqiu broke into a giggle and was followed by Zhang Mengyao. The two women could not hold their laughter, but it was only for a while before Mu Liqiu forced herself to stop.
"Child, Old Fan is seriously talking with you, this is involving people's lives. You should take this seriously," Mu Liqiu tried to speak for Fan De. She had known Fan De for a long, over half of her life, so she felt obliged to help.
Tang Shaoyang had more respect for the old lady than the old man. He nodded to the old lady and turned toward Fan De.
"Kuhum…" Fan De let out a small cough to diffuse the awkwardness as he tried to regain his composure, "Just like your mother-in-law said, we need your help," the old man did not say specifically what kind of help they needed.
"We sent a hundred and twenty soldiers to the third portal," he stopped midway as he let out a frustrated sigh, "And we lost thirty-eight soldiers," the old man did not mention specifically how they died.
"From our captain's information, guns are less effective against the beast in the portal. We used half of the reserve bullets we have but the result is disastrous," Fan De continued with his stories, "They reported the gun only killed a few beasts,"
Kang Jiayi and Mu Liqiu were surprised that the guns were not effective against the beasts.
"Just get to the main point! I am not interested in your misery," Tang Shaoyang waved his hand to the old man.
"Even though guns are not effective against the beast but cold weapons such as swords proved to be more effective. The people from the Flame Castle helped the soldiers to survive in the third portal,"
"So I come here to ask your help, please lend us your reserve weapon to our soldiers. We need your help to face the next portal," Fan De bowed his head to Tang Shaoyang. He made a sorrowful expression, to show how he felt to the dead soldiers.
"I know we have a bad past, and I am very sorry about that. We know that we don't deserve your help, but our soldiers have to fight to protect the civilians. Please lend us your reserve weapon, the military would be very grateful if you help us," with his head lowered, Fan De continued.
"Sorry, I can't help you," Tang Shaoyang bluntly replied to the old man. Mu Liqiu was about to cut in, but Zhang Mengyao stopped her with a gesture and a shake of her head, 'Please listen to what he will say first,' she spoke with no voice to the old lady.
"However, I have solutions for you, your soldiers, and the civilians you protected. Are you willing to hear?" Tang Shaoyang smiled at the old man.
"This old man is willing to listen," Fan De nodded.
"The first solution is actually simple, just don't send your soldiers into the portal. If your soldiers don't enter the portal, they will be safe," if you did not want your soldiers to die, then don't send them to the battlefield. That was what he implied to the old man.
"If we don't send our soldiers to clear the portal then the beasts might come out from the portal. The civilian would be in danger by then," Fan De shook his head while making a solemn expression.
'No, we can't do that. Lin Duan has told me that entering the portal is essential to be stronger. I am not that stupid coming here without knowing anything about the portal,' the old man thought to himself, sneering at the Tang Shaoyang internally.
Tang Shaoyang waved his hand at the old man, "You don't have to worry about that. The Empire will clear the portal, so there would be no portal outbreak. We have cleared the first three portals anyway,"
Fan De looked at the man for a moment before uttering a response, "What about the second solution?"
Tang Shaoyang smiled at Fan De, "Join The Empire, I will protect my people from harm and danger If you join The Empire. We will train the soldiers, and The Empire will arm them with weapons when they are ready,"
'This man is cunning, he does not want us to grow stronger. He truly thinks of us as a threat and not willing to lend the weapon so he can suppress our growth. Just you wait until all the military is united, we are going to destroy you!' Fan De was cussing internally but he did not show it on his face.
He maintained his solemn expression, indicating he took the discussion seriously while nodding his head, "So, you can't lend us your weapon and the armor for us?"
"I can't. After the third portal, my subordinates' weapons started to get rusty too. We don't have a smith to repair the weapon, so I can't lend you our reserve weapons," Tang Shaoyang's firm tone told the old man his decision was firm as well.
"I will think about your solution and talk about it with the others," Fan De nodded and stood up, "Well, then I will leave first. We will chat again later, Old Kang," he nodded to Kang Jiayi and Mu Liqiu.
The four watched the old man left through the main door. As soon as Fan De left the house, Kang Jiayi turned toward Tang Shaoyang, "You are lying, our weapons are still in a good condition, all of them. Why don't you lend the weapons? How can you be that heartless when hundreds of loves are involved?"
Zhang Mengyao was about to speak for him, but Tang Shaoyang waved his hand, "First of all, our weapons are in a good condition, FOR NOW!" He emphasized "for now" for Kang Jiayi to hear, "For now yes, what about later? We still have four portals to face, are you willing to guarantee all weapons will be in a good condition after the fourth or even fifth portal?"
"Second, you are always looking at everything from your perspective. What about changing your perspective to mine? Are you going to arm the people who once tried to kill you so they can come to you again? Is that what you want?"
Kang Jiayi did not know how to respond to Tang Shaoyang. He could not say anything when they were at the fault. Stealing the supplies, and trying to kill them, 'Hah, should have expected this,'
"If being heartless could protect my people then I don't mind being heartless," after saying that, Tang Shaoyang left the old couple. He and Zhang Mengyao went upstairs.
*** ***
He and Zhang Mengyao entered their bedroom. He could hear the sound of the shower from the bathroom, Kang Xue was taking shower.
Tang Shaoyang threw his body to the bed and stretched his hands, "Arghhh, bed surely the best!"
"How is it? My diplomacy skill?" He winked his left eye at her while Zhang Mengyao merely rolled her eyes. It was just a normal discussion.
She sat next to him, "You said you want to discuss something with me? What is it?" Hearing that, Tang Shaoyang immediately sat up, "Oh, do you remember the time you killed the Winged Lion? Your last hit?
"Mnnn," she squinted her eyes, trying to recall the last battle. The memories were still fresh and clear, she nodded her head, "What is it?"
"Your mana control, how did you do that? You not only strengthened your lance with mana, but you can morph that, sharpening your mana as well," he tried to convey Zaneos's words to Zhang Mengyao.
"Did I? I don't know about that, I was just implementing what you taught me," Zhang Mengyao paused as she thought of something, "Actually…"