The majority of people in the large conference room soon left.
A small number led by Elder Qin stayed behind.
"Shi Tao, what exactly happened this time? Who are the people trying to deal with our Jiangnan Martial Arts Association?"
"Yes, Shi Tao, don’t carry everything on your shoulders. Tell us, and we’ll figure it out together."
"No one wants to see the association disband just like this."
"It’s the Song Family and the Revival Association."
Chang Fei’s voice sounded, "The ones who clashed with us in the hall earlier were them."
"The Song Family?"
"The Revival Association?"
Upon hearing this, Elder Qin and the others’ expressions changed drastically.
"Elder Qin, it’s getting late. It’s better if you go back and pack your things." Shi Tao spoke up.
Elder Qin and the others exchanged glances and nodded reluctantly.
Dealing with the Song Family alone was already difficult for them.
Adding the Revival Association...
Even with all their willpower, they were powerless.
Soon, only Shi Tao and his group were left in the conference room.
"You all should leave as well."
Shi Tao looked at Chang Fei and the others, "Leave here, as far away as possible."
"What!"
"President, you want us to leave?"
Chang Fei and the others widened their eyes, as if they had heard something unbelievable.
"I understand your sentiments, but I don’t want you to stay and make unnecessary sacrifices." Shi Tao sighed, "Moreover, I have one more thing I need to ask you to do for me."
The group suddenly looked troubled.
Each of them had long harbored the resolve to die with the association.
Even if Shi Tao urged them to leave, they wouldn’t go.
But now, Shi Tao mentioned there was something important needing their attention, he couldn’t entrust it to others.
"President, what is it?" Shen Si asked.
"I want to ask you to take care of Ling Yu for me."
"What!"
Upon hearing this, Shen Si and the others were stunned.
Wasn’t Ling Yu already dead?
He was killed by Shi Tao himself, everyone had seen it.
Shi Tao sighed deeply, "Actually, Xiaoyu is not dead. I used a little trick to preserve his last bit of vitality. With proper care, he can live like an ordinary person, but he won’t be able to do strenuous activities or walk the path of a Martial Artist in the future."
"So that’s it."
The group nodded in understanding.
They could understand Shi Tao’s actions.
After all, Shi Tao raised Ling Yu himself. Such an act of righteousness and kin-slaying is not something an ordinary person could do.
Ling Yu indeed made a grave mistake this time, but losing his martial arts and nearly dying, to live on with a body inferior to ordinary people, is a punishment that could be even more painful than death for him.
"President, does Brother Chen know about this?" Chang Fei looked around cautiously before softly asking, seemingly afraid Chen Fan might hear their conversation.
"I’m not sure about that."
Shi Tao shook his head, "He may know, or he may not. If one day in the future, he finds out and insists on killing Ling Yu, you can let him be."
He sighed.
Because by that time, he would most likely be dead.
Things behind him, he couldn’t control even if he wanted to.
"President..."
Upon hearing this, the group felt a deep sense of sorrow.
"Promise me, will you?"
Shi Tao looked at everyone, "Just take it as my last request, take good care of Ling Yu for me."
"President..."
The group’s eyes reddened, and tears uncontrollably flowed out.
They suspected that the reason the president entrusted them with this matter was also a way to keep them from staying here.
"It’s all my fault. If it weren’t for me, none of this would have happened." Shen Si was filled with remorse.
"Old Shen, what are you talking about? Obviously, the ones who bullied us are the Song Family and the Revival Association. We are the victims."
"That’s right, we were just acting in self-defense. We can’t let them kill us without doing anything, right?"
"If there’s any fault, it’s that we are too weak. In the entire association, only the president and Brother Chen are Celestial Realm Martial Artists. If our association had a dozen or so martial artists, I don’t believe the Song Family or the Revival Association would dare to come at us!"
As the words fell, everyone around him chuckled.
If they indeed had such power, even the Elder Council would treat them with respect.
"Ling Yu is here. Besides, there are many Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures here. Xiaoyu, I leave him to you."
After speaking, Shi Tao placed the Yellow Sand Tower in Chang Fei’s hand.
"President..."
Chang Fei wanted to say something.
"Go now."
Shi Tao urged, "Before the news spreads, leave here quickly and find a safe place to hide. Unless I call you back, don’t come near this place."
"President, even if we leave, the Song Family and Revival Association people may not let us go."
Chang Fei looked at the Yellow Sand Tower in his hand and smiled bitterly.
"That’s right, President. With our identities, the Song Family will surely send people to search for us afterward. With the beast tide erupting, we will be found easily." Shen Si also nodded.
Shi Tao was stunned.
He actually understood this point, but he was holding on to a bit of luck.
Even if they ended up being found, it would be better than dying with him in battle.
"President," Chang Fei said, "After I leave, I will find a reliable brother to take care of Ling Yu. He will not attract the attention of the Song Family. As for us, we will stay and wait for the Song Family and Revival Association people with you."