Third Master’s thinking was the same as Jingrong’s!

This matter was of great importance; only by meeting face to face could they talk properly.

Various details could also be explained more clearly.

Muzhaar’s face was full of conflicting emotions. He sighed and sat down, slamming a frustrated fist on the table, his heart wavering left and right, not knowing how to proceed next. Although he was Houliao’s leader, above tens of thousands, with courage in his heart, unafraid of death or defeat, according to others’ words he was somewhat indecisive, unable to make up his mind about many things immediately! Perhaps only when sitting in his position could one truly understand his concerns. After all, this wasn’t just his own affair—it concerned all of Houliao. More precisely, what he now held in his hands was not only Houliao’s fate, but also several hundred years of Houliao’s dignity and countless people’s lives. So naturally his decisions were cautious and deliberate.

Not a single step could be wrong!

And this collective discussion didn’t yield the result anyone wanted.

After Third Master returned to his own tent, he didn’t say a word!

Watching this made Saihe anxiously worried, so he spoke loudly in his rough voice: “Third Master, say something! Since you’ve already said submitting to Da Lin is impossible, then we should quickly gather our forces. Only by making complete preparations can we properly fight those Central Plains people.”

He insisted on deploying troops.

“Fight, fight, fight—that’s all you know.” Third Master shot him a glance.

“Third Master…”

Wulihan immediately slapped his shoulder: “Can you not be so impulsive? Think things through before acting. This isn’t fighting Yue Dan—it’s not just one tribe, it’s Da Lin! They have strong military forces and plenty of arrows. If we clash head-on, we won’t have a good outcome.”

Compared to Saihe, Wulihan was much more rational!

“You’re boosting others’ morale while deflating our own prestige!”

“I think you’re stubborn beyond reason!”

“Then what do you say we should do now? We’re neither submitting nor deploying troops to fight—are we just going to endure this standoff with the Central Plains people? See whose life lasts longer? I don’t have that kind of patience.” Saihe snorted, the flesh on his body jiggling several times.

Wulihan was speechless: “You’ve followed Third Master for so many years, yet you still have such an impulsive, rash temperament. If you continue like this, you’ll ruin things sooner or later.”

“That’s still better than you, fussing like an old woman, not daring to do anything, just like a female.”

“You…” Wulihan was always so angry at him he couldn’t speak. He waved his hand and made a “tch” sound, not wanting to continue arguing with him.

Third Master listened to the two arguing endlessly, his brow constantly furrowed without saying a word.

After quite a while—

Saihe and Wulihan exchanged glances, both unsure what Third Master was thinking.

“Third Master, do you already have a plan?” Wulihan inquired.

Third Master sighed, “Things have already come to this—what plan could there be?”

He too was conflicted!

“Right now the leader also doesn’t know what to do. Third Master, this burden falls on your shoulders. Your decision… is the most important!” Wulihan deliberately reminded him.

The most important!

Like a massive stone.

Third Master held his head and sighed again: “Alright, let me think it through properly.”

“Fine.”

Just at this moment, Muruo had already rushed back from Xiamen Pass.

He came in great haste, clearly having ridden at full speed.

As soon as he saw Third Master, he told him everything about his conversation with Jingrong.

“What? If we don’t submit, we have to retreat three hundred li westward?” Saihe exclaimed in shock, unable to contain his fury. “Why don’t they just say we should directly give them the entire Xisai Grassland! A bunch of thieves, a bunch of bastards—what’s the difference between this and robbery? I think they’re clearly trying to force us into war.”

Extremely indignant!

Saihe wished he could rush to Xiamen Pass right now and kill those “treacherous” Central Plains people.

Wulihan held him back: “Calm down.”

“How can I calm down now?” Saihe turned to Third Master and said, “Third Master, you heard it—the Da Lin people want us to retreat three hundred li westward! We’d rather die than suffer such humiliation.”

The grasslands didn’t lack food or gold and silver treasures—what they lacked most was land. To them, territory was sacred and inviolable. To give up territory would not only be like taking their lives, but also a naked humiliation.

Third Master’s head ached from all the noise.

He waved his hand: “You and Wulihan go out first. I have something to discuss with Muruo.”

“Third Master!”

“Get out!”

Saihe refused to leave and grabbed Muruo’s arm, saying: “Muruo anda, I know Prince Rong is your good friend, but in this matter we can’t let personal relationships influence us. You married Asi, so you’re one of us Houliao people—you’re with us!”

A reminder.

Muruo’s face was somber, but he understood everything in his heart.

Finally, Wulihan dragged him out!

After they left, Muruo sat across from Third Master and said: “Father, from what Jingrong said, it seems they absolutely will not withdraw their troops.”

Third Master sat cross-legged on the mat, poured a cup of wine, and drained it in one gulp.

After a long while—

He instead asked Muruo: “What do you think?”

“Father?”

“If it were you, what would you do?”

This really put Muruo in a difficult position!

On one side were his sworn brothers, on the other his wife’s family.

How should he choose?

He was silent for a long time before saying: “I know that both paths—submitting to Da Lin or retreating westward—are unfeasible for all of Houliao. Everyone would rather fight Da Lin to the death than admit defeat. But… if we really go to war with Da Lin, then the entire Xisai Grassland will run with rivers of blood and countless casualties.”

“So you think… we should choose one of the two conditions they’ve offered?”

“This is just my view!”

Not a decision!

Third Master nodded and took another deep breath.

Muruo asked him with a completely serious expression: “Father, do you really want to see that day come?”

Third Master: “…”

He fell into silence.

After a very long time—

Third Master finally said: “I’ll go have a good talk with Muzhaar. You go back first. Asi is about to give birth—she needs you by her side.”

“I know.”

“Don’t tell her too much about this matter either, so she won’t worry.”

“Mm.”

After Muruo left, Third Master sat for a long time more, then finally went to find Muzhaar.

Muzhaar seemed to know he would come and had been waiting inside all along.

“There were too many people just now—many things couldn’t be said.” Muzhaar said.

They closed the door to talk properly!

Third Master told Muzhaar everything that Muruo had told him, one by one.

Muzhaar wasn’t as agitated as Saihe; instead he was very calm, drinking wine in silence. A jar of wine was quickly emptied.

That night, the two sat like this without saying anything.

Until the next day!

After Third Master came out from Muzhaar’s tent, he was “caught” by Geta.

Who pulled him aside.

And asked in a low voice: “How did it go? What did Muzhaar decide?”

Ever since that time Geta had spoken to him in that sarcastic manner, Third Master had maintained a wary heart toward him.