The World's Number One Medical Hall

Chapter Fifty-Two: To Leave or to Stay

Liu Xianming paused slightly, his lips trembling as he looked at Tie Xiong, but ultimately he didn't confront him directly. Instead, he tried to ease the tension, earnestly saying, "Actually, Junior Brother Chen didn't intend to kill King Ming; he just acted impulsively. But Junior Brother, think about it. We've been here for seven days now. The imperial court has sent countless pursuers to closely monitor our movements. Although we feinted and lured them to Jin Hai, is that truly foolproof? In the past two days alone, the reinforcements within Beihe territory have been drastic. If it weren't for King Ming's last words..." "You're now on the wanted list, your portrait is posted, and you're being pursued. We can't stay here any longer, or we'll be exposed sooner or later. The Ming King is on his last breath; it's clear even a god couldn't save him now. The whole world knows you took the Ming King away. If we're discovered, and the Ming King's current condition is exposed, will you have any chance of survival? Not only will you die, but all of us brothers will die, including Ning'er. So, we don't need to kill the Ming King; we can't wait any longer, we must leave immediately."

Tie Xiong let out a deep breath; he knew, of course, that what his fellow disciples were saying was true.

Just now, everyone was discussing whether to leave or not.

King Ming is now on his last breath; how can he possibly move?

Tie Xiong had no choice; he couldn't abandon Ming Wang and leave him behind. So he told everyone to go first, while he stayed behind alone.

But who could just leave him alone?

In the ensuing stalemate, Chen Zhiqi flew into a rage and was about to slay Ming Wang to completely extinguish Tie Xiong's hopes.

Tie Xiong naturally refused, which led to the conflict with Chen Zhiqi, and Tie Xiong's attack was quite forceful.

It wasn't intentional; rather, he had realized that if he didn't take action this time and clearly demonstrate his stance, they would definitely target Ming Wang again.

Aside from himself, his fellow disciples were already furious about Ning'er's misfortune, and no one was willing to care about Ming Wang anymore.

"I know my fellow disciples are all doing this for my own good, but senior brother, it's not that I'm ungrateful, but you haven't seen with your own eyes how well Ning'er has been cared for by him in the Ming Prince's Mansion these past two years. Since we started our wanderings, Ning'er has been suffering with us, even though he's only a little kid. He gave Ning'er a stable life, and I really can't turn a blind eye to that. If I just abandon him like this, I can't face Ning'er, and I can't face myself either." Tie Xiong's eyes were fixed on the firelight again, and his expression slowly calmed down.

Looking up at his senior brother's serious face, he took a deep breath and said again, "Senior brother, you should go. Help me take Ning'er with you. The valuables in the Ming Prince's mansion have been properly disposed of. Go to Mingzhu. Various countries are currently entangled there, and the imperial court cannot control everything there. With your abilities, you should be able to live in peace."

"Junior brother!" Upon hearing this, the eldest brother stood up abruptly, letting out a low shout, his face extremely grim.

However, Tie Xiong raised his hand and continued, "Senior brother, I have thought it through very clearly. No matter what, as long as Sixth Master is alive, I cannot just abandon him like this. But guarding this place doesn't require so many people. If something really happens, even if we outnumber them, we are no match for the imperial court. We will only die, and be completely wiped out. Why do that? Besides, with more people, it's easier to leave a trace. I am actually safer here alone."

"If we're going to leave, we'll leave together. How can we abandon you?" The eldest brother's face was extremely grim. "Junior brother, none of us are cowards. Killing the Ming King isn't just about getting rid of a burden; he was destined to die anyway. How can we drag you down with us because of someone who's going to die? You still have family grudges to avenge; how can you lose your life because of an official enemy?"

"Senior brother, I understand. That's precisely why you must leave. I know that if you don't leave today, everyone will eventually find a chance to attack Prince Ming. But senior brother, let's not talk about grudges. Just think about how those people framed me the moment they arrived, making me a traitor and leading to my being surrounded and killed by soldiers. I didn't explain a word, and Sixth Master ultimately chose to trust me. Senior brother, how can I ignore all of this? Today, I injured Junior Brother Chen, and I already feel unbearably guilty... You should leave. As you said, Sixth Master doesn't know how much longer he can hold on. If Sixth Master really doesn't catch his breath, I will have repaid this debt of gratitude, and my conscience will be at peace for the rest of my life. If I am safe, I will go to Mingzhu to find you all. If something really happens, I will entrust Ning'er to you all, and I will be at ease."

……

It was still dark.

The atmosphere in this house was extremely heavy.

Anger, rebukes, grief and indignation...

A mix of emotions welled up, but eventually, silence fell.

Finally, as dawn approached, the fellow disciples, with tears in their eyes, packed their belongings.

The atmosphere was too heavy. Chen Zhiqi stared at Tie Xiong's solitary figure standing in the courtyard, then slapped himself hard across the face, tears streaming down his face. He turned and ran away, leaving behind the words, "Senior brother, don't worry, as long as I live, I will take good care of Ning'er!"

In fact, these people were all passionate men, none of them afraid of death, but they were entangled in this love and hatred and could not extricate themselves.

No one wanted to leave Tie Xiong alone, but as Tie Xiong said, everyone knew that if they didn't leave today, maybe this afternoon, maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow, as long as Ming Wang continued to breathe his last, someone would inevitably be unable to resist attacking Ming Wang again.

When that time comes, it might really be difficult to be brothers. We are all people of the martial arts world, and we all value loyalty and righteousness. We may give up our lives, but we must stand tall and be upright people!

Tie Xiong silently turned around and walked into a room with slightly heavy steps.

An oil lamp was lit by the bedside, its light dim.

Tie Xiong approached and looked at the motionless figure on the bed, breathing weakly. He sat down silently.

Ming Wang's face was very pale. Tie Xiong reached out and touched his pulse, which was still so weak that it was almost invisible, and his breath was barely a whisper.

For some reason, the image of that day suddenly resurfaced in my mind, showing the majestic figure of the Ming King who, upon standing tall, slayed all his enemies.

To be honest, he was the one who was most shocked by the amazing abilities that Mingwang displayed that day.

For the past two years, he had been by the side of the Ming King, and was actually the closest person to him. He knew that the Ming King was arrogant and spoiled, but his nature was not necessarily as bad as the rumors suggested; he was just impulsive and reckless.

But in any case, it absolutely lacked the grandeur it displayed now, let alone the magnificent spirit of fearlessness against all enemies of the world that it possessed on that day...

After a long while, Tie Xiong shook his head slightly, looking at Ming Wang with a mixture of shock, helplessness, and self-reproach.

Only now did he understand the true meaning behind some of the arrangements made by the Ming King that day.

But alas, man proposes, God disposes!