Chapter 26 Argument

Inside a dilapidated tent near the center of the camp, the surviving leaders of the caravan had gathered to discuss what they should do next.

The atmosphere was heavy and oppressive.

More than half of the caravan had already been lost, and with the journey far from over, no one knew how many of them would survive to reach their destination.

At that moment, one of the vice leaders finished counting the casualties and reported, “The casualty count is complete.

We currently have 210 people remaining, including 134 Gu Masters and 76 mortals.”

Jia Hu, the caravan leader, frowned deeply upon hearing the report.

In all his years of leading caravans, this was the first time he had encountered such a disastrous situation.

Their caravan seemed cursed, suffering one beast tide after another without even a chance to recover.

The once-massive caravan of nearly a thousand people had been reduced to barely more than two hundred.

Although 134 Gu Masters might sound like a considerable force, only thirty-six were Rank 3.

Another forty-eight were Rank 2, while the remaining fifty were only Rank 1 Gu Masters.

Worse still, these numbers included the wounded and disabled.

After excluding those who had suffered serious injuries or could no longer fight, the caravan had barely half of its remaining combat strength available.

The mortals had suffered equally heavy casualties.

The caravan originally had several hundred mortals, but now fewer than a hundred remained.

With so few people left, they could no longer handle all the work required to keep the caravan moving.

It seemed they would have no choice but to make the Rank 1 Gu Masters take over some of the work.

There would certainly be complaints, but they could hardly expect the caravan leaders to personally handle such tasks.

Sigh, the losses this time were simply too severe.

Once he returned to Jia Family Village, Jia Hu would certainly face questioning from the clan leader and the elders of the other families.

Just as Jia Hu was worrying about how to deal with the aftermath, the vice leader giving the report changed the subject.

“The only thing worth celebrating is that although we lost a great deal of manpower, we now have far more goods than before.

Once the remaining goods are divided among us, we should be able to make up for our previous losses.”

During the several beast tide attacks, many people had died, but relatively few goods had been destroyed.

Once the belongings left behind by the dead were divided among the survivors, those who managed to return alive would actually make a considerable fortune.

This was common among traveling merchants.

Trading was like gambling, except that what they placed on the table was not only their wealth, but also their lives.

If the journey succeeded, they could return carrying sacks of primeval stones.

If it failed, they would lose not only their goods and fortune, but possibly their lives as well.

Therefore, while the deaths of so many people brought sorrow and fear, the wealth they left behind also stirred greed and excitement in the hearts of the survivors.

Upon hearing those words, almost everyone in the tent suddenly came to a realization.

Merchants were driven by profit, and even in such a dangerous situation, that nature remained unchanged.

Better for a fellow Daoist to die than for me.

Since you’re already dead, I’ll gladly accept your goods and primeval stones.

As for your wife and children, don’t worry.

I’ll take good care of them, so you can rest in peace.

For a moment, everyone in the tent fell into their own thoughts.

Some of the deceased Gu Masters had left behind exceptionally beautiful wives and daughters.

As their good brothers, how could they stand by and watch the families of their fallen companions suffer?

Naturally, they had to step forward and shoulder the responsibilities their unfortunate brothers could no longer fulfill.

After a moment of silence, Lin Feng, one of the Vice leaders, coughed and said, “I don’t think dividing everything equally is appropriate.

These goods should be distributed according to everyone’s contribution.

The Zhang family has fought on the front lines during every beast tide and made considerable contributions to the caravan.

We should receive at least thirty percent of the unclaimed goods!”

Lin Feng did not care much about the wealth itself.

No matter how the goods were divided, the Zhang family would never receive the largest share.

He had deliberately spoken first to stir up everyone’s greed and turn the discussion into an argument.

“Thirty percent?

Then our Jia family should take fifty percent!” One of the Jia family Gu Masters immediately objected.

“The Jia family leads this caravan.

Without us holding everything together, would any of you have survived this long?

Half of the unclaimed goods should belong to us!”

“You’re talking nonsense!

Our Su family contributed just as much, and we lost several Rank 3 Gu Masters one after another.

If we’re dividing the goods according to contribution and losses, then our Su family should receive fifty percent!”

“That’s right!

Jia Hu, if it weren’t for your poor decisions, would our caravan have suffered such heavy losses?

You still have the nerve to demand fifty percent?

And then there’s that young master of yours…”

As he spoke, the vice leader cast a meaningful glance at Jia Jinsheng, the only “Rank 1 Gu Master” in the tent.

The other caravan leaders followed his gaze, causing resentment to surge in Jia Jinsheng’s heart.

Just you wait.

Sooner or later, I’ll kill this talkative bastard with my own hands.

Jia Jinsheng had already reached Rank 2 middle stage.

With the large amount of blood he had accumulated from the dead Gu Masters, breaking through to Rank 3 was only a matter of time.

Combined with the power of his Blood Path Gu, killing this vice leader in the future would not be difficult.