Chapter 142 - Reality
Yao Chen is much longer-lived than Xiao Yan, and she knows things that Xiao Yan has never seen.
Therefore, Yao Chen is more aware than Xiao Yan that within each ethnic group, there is a possibility of being divided into different factions with different ideologies, and families like the Xiao Clan are actually in the minority.
Since there is a faction within the snake-people tribe that supports peaceful coexistence with the Desert Metal Mercenary Company and humans, there must also be a faction that does not support peaceful coexistence with humans. This is inevitable.
The current question is, which ideology does the team of snake-people tribe in front of them belong to?
Although Yao Chen did not explicitly say it, Xiao Yan seemed to understand Yao Chen’s meaning.
He gently put down Qing Lin, placed her and the cloaked woman behind him, took a step forward, and faced the approaching team of snake-people tribe.
Since Xiao Yan and the others can see the team of snake-people tribe, the team of snake-people tribe can naturally see Xiao Yan and the others. After slowly approaching, the leader of the snake-people tribe raised the iron spear in his hand and pointed it at Xiao Yan, sternly questioning.
“Human! Moving forward is the territory of the snake-people tribe! What do you want?!”
Facing the questioning of the snake-people tribe leader, Xiao Yan took another step forward, pushed forward with both hands, and said loudly.
“We are mercenaries of the Desert Metal Mercenary Company! We want to go to the territory of the snake-people tribe to inquire about some important matters. Please let us through!”
“Desert Metal Mercenary Company?”
Upon hearing this name, the leader of the snake-people tribe clearly paused.
This name is familiar to him. In the past six months, due to the efforts made by Xiao Li, the reputation of the Desert Metal Mercenary Company in the snake-people tribe is much more prominent than among humans. Basically, every snake-people tribe knows that there is such an organization that works hard to make peace between the snake-people tribe and humans.
The atmosphere in the field gradually became somewhat tense.
Xiao Yan didn’t know what would happen next. He couldn’t be sure what attitude this team of snake-people tribe held toward the Desert Metal Mercenary Company.
Would it be a warm welcome? Or strong rejection?
If it’s the former, Xiao Yan can breathe a sigh of relief, and they don’t have to engage in meaningless conflicts with the snake-people tribe.
But if it’s the latter, things might be a little troublesome.
Whether they can defeat them is a minor issue. The strength of this team of snake-people tribe is not strong in Xiao Yan’s eyes, even the leader of the snake-people tribe is only equivalent to his own strength.
But the key issue is how to protect themselves without harming them.
Xiao Yan understood in his heart that even if this team of snake-people tribe rejects the Desert Metal Mercenary Company, he cannot simply and rudely use force to subdue them, let alone kill them.
If that happens, all the efforts made by Xiao Li in the past six months are likely to be in vain, even if the other party strikes first.
The situation between humans and the snake-people tribe is so tense.
The Desert Metal Mercenary Company wants peaceful coexistence between humans and the snake-people tribe, and they face not only the interests of humans but also internal issues within the snake-people tribe.
Even if some snake-people tribe has a very bad attitude towards the Desert Metal Mercenary Company, they must strive to avoid conflicts with them.
These snake-people tribe members represent not only themselves but also the entire snake-people tribe as a whole.
A slight mistake could lead to a complete failure!
If they rashly attacked them, not only would they worsen the already unfavorable attitude of the snake-people tribe towards the Desert Metal Mercenary Company, but even those snake-people tribe members who were originally inclined towards the mercenary corps might lean towards the opposing ideology.
Certainly, this development had to be avoided.
After both sides harbored their own thoughts and confronted each other for a long time, the face of the snake-people tribe leader suddenly showed a trace of anger.
“Humph! Desert Metal Mercenary Company! Don’t think I’ll believe in you like those brainless kin of mine!!!”
The words of the snake-people tribe leader were like a sharp sword of rupture, causing Xiao Yan’s face to suddenly darken.
They had drawn the short straw…
Obviously, this snake-people tribe leader had an extremely unfavorable attitude towards the Desert Metal Mercenary Company. If even the leader was like this, then the snake-people tribe behind him likely shared the same ideology.
But Xiao Yan didn’t want to give up so easily on trying to avoid conflict.
This was Xiao Li’s, his eldest sister’s, efforts over the past six months.
Unless absolutely necessary, Xiao Yan was unwilling to shatter it with his own hands.
“Friend, I am willing to guarantee with my life that I have no ill intentions towards the snake-people tribe!” Xiao Yan clasped his hands together and looked at the snake-people tribe leader, saying earnestly, “If you really can’t trust us, we can wait here, not taking a step forward. We only hope that you can report to the Desert Metal Mercenary Company for someone to come and make a decision.”
“Report? Hah! No need!!”
Faced with Xiao Yan’s sincere words, the snake-people tribe leader spat on the ground with disdain, glaring fiercely at Xiao Yan.
“You humans, saying one thing and doing another, who would believe you deceitful creatures?!”
The words of the snake-people tribe leader clearly indicated how much disgust and aversion he had towards the human race.
Xiao Yan himself knew that talking to someone like this was meaningless.
No matter how sincere he was, in the eyes of the snake-people tribe leader, it was just deception.
The prejudice that this snake-people tribe leader held against him was evident from the beginning.
Continuing the conversation would just be a waste of words.
‘If that’s the case, then there’s no other way’
Xiao Yan sighed deeply, withdrew his clasped hands, and looked at the snake-people tribe leader, softly reminding.
“Since you are unwilling to talk, I will have to use force to break through. Afterwards, I will personally apologize to you all!”
In Xiao Yan’s heart, no matter what the situation, no matter who the other person was, resorting to force was absolutely the last, reluctant, and most extreme measure.
This proved that he was fundamentally unable to resolve issues through “reason.” The means he employed were still using force to silence others.
The travels of these days gradually made Xiao Yan understand.
His former self seemed too naive in various places.
At least in terms of communication, force was often an absolutely necessary means.
It served not only as a deterrent to make the other party willing to communicate but also as a real weapon.
In this world, there always existed a portion of people who wouldn’t truly listen to you unless they had experienced force. Furthermore, even if force was used to suppress them, their hearts wouldn’t truly feel resigned.
It’s truly… revolting, to resort to force, yet at the same time, it’s inevitable.
In the end, humans are such a vast group. In this community, no matter what kind of people appear, one shouldn’t be surprised.
And now, with Xiao Yan understanding the reality, what he could do was, even if he resorted to force, constantly admonish himself in his heart, remind himself that he must not fall into the pleasure of the law of the jungle.
No matter when and where, he must steadfastly adhere to his own righteous path.
Never become a slave to power.
========= Translator Note =========
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