Chapter Forty-Four: Life and Death

  "So you're saying I should also go out and temper myself." Su Huan said with a gloomy face.

  "Uncle, don't worry, I have a plan for your position." Su Ming's face revealed a subtle smile that made it impossible to guess what he was thinking.

  "That's good, I'll ask you again. Now that our clan only has 4,000 warriors left, why did you let Su Ai lead 3,000 warriors to the Xuan Tie mine? Don't you worry that Yue Ya will take advantage of our weakness and attack us? How can 1,000 warriors protect my Su family?"

  "Great Uncle, it seems you're only suited to being the head of household affairs for the Su family. Don't blame me, after all these years of staying in the Su family and managing household affairs, you've become a pampered and privileged martial artist who doesn't understand battlefield matters."

  "Su Ming, don't think that just because you're the head of the clan now, you can be arrogant. After all, I'm still your elder uncle, and my strength in the Su family is among the top. Show some respect." Su Huan said angrily.

  "Uncle, how have I not shown respect to you? Is it because I didn't address you as 'uncle' or did I say something wrong? Your abilities are strong, ranking among the top in the clan, but you spend all day cooped up in the clan, handling internal affairs and never having been on a battlefield. Am I wrong about this?" Su Ming directly ignored Su Huan's anger, saying whatever he wanted to say.

  "You..." Su Huan was left speechless by Su Ming's words.

  "I know you all have doubts about my decision to dispatch troops, but I can tell you that this is now a matter of life and death for the Su clan. Yesterday, I went to the border and annihilated the Black Ghost tribe, and received some information - the Black Stone tribe has already prepared to take action against our clan. The Black Ghost tribe had also launched a sneak attack on the Qing Shui tribe just the day before, but fortunately, Su Qing left behind 500 soldiers, or else the Qing Shui tribe would have been taken down by the Black Ghost tribe. The Black Ghost tribe is just a vanguard force - in a few days, the Black Stone tribe will mobilize thousands of soldiers to take action against the Qing Shui tribe. Once the Qing Shui tribe's territory falls, I think you all know what the consequences will be."

  "Su Ming, even if what you said makes sense, what does it have to do with sending troops to rescue your father? In the end, you're being selfish and only care about saving your father, without regard for the safety of our tribe and other affiliated tribes." Su Huan said sternly, thinking he had grasped Su Ming's weakness.

  "I sent troops to the mine site not to rescue my father, but to retake the mine as soon as possible. The Xuan Tie mine is the economic lifeline of our Su family tribe. Every day it's in someone else's hands, we lose a day, and at the same time, the prestige of our Su family tribe gradually weakens. By then, all the small and large tribes around us will dare to take action against us. Is this result what you are willing to see?"

  Su Ming looked at everyone with a questioning expression, and after getting some people's responses, he continued.

  "I think that with my father, Su Qing and Su Ai joining forces, the three of us can easily defeat the Ta Shi tribe, while also proving to them that our Su tribe is not one that their small tribe can bully. We'll take down the Xuan Tie mine, and have Su Qing lead 5,000 soldiers to head to the Qing Shui tribe, to help them deal a crushing blow to the Hei Shi tribe, completely dispelling any notions of the surrounding small tribes getting ideas."

  "It sounds good, but have you ever thought that if you send out most of the warriors in your clan, what will the Su clan use to resist when the Moon Tooth tribe launches a large-scale attack? Do you want the Su family to be destroyed?" Su Huan asked persistently.

  "Can't even protect our own clan, is there still a need for the Su family to exist?" Su Ming said, exhaling a breath, his face revealing some painful color.

  Su Ming's words gained support from the crowd present. The Su Clan was established by the Su family, and if even the Su Clan no longer existed, what would be the point of preserving the Su family?

  Su Ming saw Su Huan not speaking, a hint of smile on his face: "Although we are in trouble, I believe that the Su family tribe will definitely get through this, because everyone thinks that the Su family tribe must have left warriors to guard the Su house, and there are many masters in the Su house, so no one dares to attack the Su house. The Moon Tooth tribe is now waiting for the surrounding tribes to constantly devour the territory of the Su family tribe, until we are forced to only have a piece of land where the Su house is located, and then take action against us. At that time, even if we have the power to turn back the sky, we will not be able to protect the Su house."

  "You're being too reckless, it's like you're gambling with the survival of the Su family. You should know that as long as the Su family is still around, we can rebuild the Su clan at any time. But once the Su family is gone, the Su clan will truly be no more." Su Huan furrowed his brow and said.

  "Adventure? At this point, not taking a risk is just waiting for death. I've already made up my mind on this matter, so you don't need to say anything more." Su Ming felt that he had explained everything he needed to explain, and if they still couldn't understand him, then there was nothing he could do about it.

  His plan was to combine all the forces of the tribe to deal with one enemy, and eliminate them one by one before others could react. This approach is indeed risky, but the current Su Tribe has no choice but to take risks, otherwise they would only wait for their own destruction. Although the Su Tribe had Tianling Realm warriors, the Western City Prefecture had a rule that prohibited Tianling Realm cultivators from participating in battles between tribes.

  Only when the tribe's survival is at stake can Tianling realm warriors take action, and they can only protect their own people, not indiscriminately kill enemy soldiers. If they violate this rule and are discovered by Xicheng Prefecture, they will face its wrath. The Iron Guard of Xicheng Prefecture is not to be trifled with, consisting entirely of warriors, with team leaders being First Heaven strongmen and the commander being a Tianling realm warrior. Although numbering only 5,000, they can annihilate any tribe in Xicheng Prefecture.

  "What if your decision causes even greater losses for the Su clan?" Su He asked with a fiery expression.

  "Uncle, mind your status, you're no longer the head of the clan, you have no right to interrogate me." Su Ming glanced at Su Huan and didn't answer his question.

  "Your decision has threatened the survival of the Su tribe, I have to oppose it. If you can't give a reasonable explanation, don't even think about sending out three thousand warriors from our clan." Su Huan didn't back down, pressuring Su Ming.

  "Su Ming, don't think that just because you're the clan leader, you can ignore the safety of the Su family. When your decisions threaten the survival of the Su family, we have the right to stop you." Su Bo saw an opportunity and spoke up again.

  "Su Lao, announce Grandfather's decision." Su Ming turned his head to glance at Su Lao, then shook his head, completely disregarding the intimidation from Su Huan and Su Bo.

  At this time, Su Lao took out a white paper from his sleeve and opened it: "This is the old clan leader's handwritten letter, I will read it to you now."

  "The position of the clan leader is passed on to Su Ming, and all matters concerning the tribe and the Su family are entrusted to him. Anyone who disobeys will be expelled from the Su family. Signed: Su Hao."