Douluo: Unbeatable from Capturing a Goddess

Cao Zei sighed beside him, trying to console,

"Old Zhu, such actions harm the harmony of the heavens, and I too find them excessively cruel, yet this is war."

"There's no great man without ruthlessness. If we want Our Great Xia to stand unyielding, some measures are truly unavoidable."

"Bullshit!" Zhu Wushi burst out angrily, standing up, "Has Our Great Xia stood firm to this day on such despicable means concocted in dark corners?"

Zhao Yingtian also stood up, his face showing firm resolve.

"Old Zhu!"

"You needn't say any more. Do you think my conscience isn't pained? Do you think I don't want to be a good person?"

"Do you think I want to act against defenseless infants?"

"But tell me what to do in the current situation."

"Can you guarantee that if we don't strike at them now, they won't turn against Our Great Xia in the future?"

"Can you assure that if we spare them today, they will spare us in the days to come?"

A barrage of questions like rapid-fire artillery made Zhu Wushi's blazing emotions freeze, and he opened his mouth,

but didn't know how to respond.

Liu Shengji, seated beside him, shivered in his eyes, closed them, and his face showed a deep struggle.

Then he opened his eyes.

He too stood up, patted Zhu Wushi on the shoulder, and looked towards the questioning Zhao Yingtian.

"Yes, no one can guarantee that they won't turn against Great Xia in the future."

"I admit, your method is good, and once successful, it indeed can help resolve some crises for Great Xia."

"But, I also want to ask you a question, can you guarantee that all the God's Children inheriting Divine Power are bad, with not a single one good? Can you be certain that in the future, all God's Children will definitely act against Great Xia?"

After listening, Zhao Yingtian fell silent.

Indeed, just as Zhu Wushi couldn't assure him they were all good, he couldn't promise Liu Shengji that all the God's Children were bad.

Cao Zei fell into deep thought.

But Zhu Wushi's eyes lit up somewhat, urging,

"Old Liu, go on."

Liu Shengji continued, "If it's certain that the other party will harm Our Great Xia, then no matter if they're elderly, women, or children of a few years old, one need not discuss; regardless of the devious means employed, they must be slain, for this is war, where no false benevolence is needed."

"But, what if the other party never harbored any ill will against us, and we, indifferent to this, directly killed them?"

"How much hatred would that invisibly generate?"

"You are right." Zhu Wushi nodded repeatedly, seemingly on the verge of applauding. He had led a rugged life, surviving countless bloody battles, but never once raised the sword against children.

Zhao Yingtian sighed,

"But, we no longer have the time to discern good from bad, and they are not children of Our Great Xia. Those not of our kind surely have different hearts."

"Even sparing one could mean countless children of Our Great Xia dying by their hands in the future."

"I believe, better to wrongly kill a thousand than to spare one. With each God's Child that dies, our children face one less danger, Our Great Xia one less risk."

He insisted firmly, "If you all disdain to do such things, then let me be the one to do it."

"Count me in!" Cao Zei stood up, filled with murderous intent, "I am willing to bear the infamy for the lives of the sons of Great Xia."

"Aren't you afraid of drawing hatred towards Our Great Xia?"

"I can defect from Great Xia, assassinate those God's Children under the identity of a Great Xia Traitor, pretending to be seeking divine powers, needing to draw on Divine Power, and gone mad from practice. Then, you all can come after me together, which will not arouse the anger of other powers in the world."

Liu Shengji stared at Zhao Yingtian and Cao Zei, beating his chest and stamping his feet, showing his helplessness, "You two... sigh... why go to such lengths..."

Zhu Wushi had his tiger-like eyes open, and he didn't speak for a long time.

It's about the heart, not the deeds.

Although he despised the act of assassinating infants, he was touched by the resolve Zhao Yingtian and Cao Zei showed at that moment and their spirit of sacrifice for Great Xia.

Knowing that either of them was an influential figure in Great Xia, an absolute monarch within their governed province, with immense authority.

Yet at such a critical juncture for Great Xia, they were willing to bear the infamy of defection to help resolve the crisis.

"Alright, sit down."

At that time,

a calm yet powerful male voice sounded.

Everyone turned their heads in unison to look at Luo Tiance, saw that pair of exceptionally calm and composed eyes, and subconsciously sat down.

Luo Tiance nodded and affirmed,

"Your intentions, I understand."

"The problem must be solved, but to go assassinate a group of defenseless infants still in swaddling... based on mere suspicion..."

"That's absolutely not acceptable."

"But..." Zhao Yingtian and Cao Zei wanted to speak at the same time.

Luo Tiance gestured with his hand to stop them.

"Have you ever thought, what is Our Great Xia standing firm upon?"

"It's based on unity, the relentless fighting spirit not fearing sacrifice, it's based on our upfront and unyielding resolve and indomitable will. If you wish to fight, we shall fight."

"Tricks may indeed be very useful at times, but the future of Our Great Xia, relying on the preemptive assassination of infants in swaddling to be maintained? That would be ludicrous."

"If word gets out, where would Our Great Xia's grace be?"

"If the ancestors of Great Xia knew we acted in such a manner, how would they regard the descendants of this generation?"

"If our descendants in the future knew that their ancestors used such methods to protect themselves, wouldn't they be disgusted? What if they emulated us?"

"Why do the People of Great Xia naturally carry pride in their bones? Because while we can do many things and know they'll bring benefits, we disdain to do them."