Cultivation by Trial and Error
Chapter 726: 719: Struck a Deal

Chapter 726: Chapter 719: Struck a Deal

Wu Meng’s words fell on the ears of Li Kuishan and the others, and they looked furious to the extreme.

Having stayed at the Enemy-breaking Camp for over half a year, they naturally dealt with other teams at the camp while they were busy figuring out ways to earn Merits.

Compared to other teams, the biggest advantage of their Ninth Squadron, Team 7 was the relaxed and free management approach.

Whenever they discussed this with other teams, those people were extremely envious.

Frankly speaking, Li Kuishan, Sun Tu, and a few others were actually quite satisfied with Wu Meng, the Squad Leader’s laissez-faire leadership style.

If it hadn’t been for the required hundred Merit points which they really struggled to gather, they wouldn’t have approached Wu Meng to talk about this.

To say they were incompetent, even if they didn’t admit it, they couldn’t find the words to refute.

After all, everyone in their team had just joined the Enemy-breaking Camp as newcomers, and compared to other teams, it seemed they were indeed a level behind in strength.

“Captain Fang, other teams in the camp are stronger than us and find it easier to earn Merits; we admit that,”

“Their leaders, in addition to providing informational support, usually take the lead during operations.”

“Moreover, when facing tough targets, those teams often have their leaders join forces with other teams, taking advantage of their numbers to kill the enemy together.”

“But our team, aside from having to hand over Merits, Captain Wu, you haven’t given us any support at all.”

“With no contributions whatsoever, you just relentlessly exploit us; tell me, doesn’t your conscience hurt?”

After whispering amongst themselves for a while, Li Kuishan and Sun Tu finally found an excuse to counter Wu Meng.

One after another, they pointed at Wu Meng and rebuked him sharply.

“Conscience? What is that, can you eat it?”

“To say I haven’t given you any support is pure nonsense; hasn’t every single one of your missions’ gains been exchanged for Merits through my efforts?”

“Look, I’ve supported you so much, so it’s only normal for you to hand over some Merits to me, your leader, isn’t it?”

Wu Meng’s tone was sarcastic, with the attitude of a pig not fearing the scald of boiling water.

Regardless of what Li Kuishan and the others said, in any case, he just had one thing to say: the hundred points of Merits that needed to be handed over could not be less.

Listening to both sides arguing endlessly, Chen Hai felt extremely bored; he could hardly keep himself from yawning.

Finally losing patience, he, who usually kept a low profile, couldn’t help but speak up, “Brother Li, Brother Sun, all talk and no action; if you keep arguing like this, you may well argue for a year or two without reaching any result.”

“Wu Meng, as the Squad Leader, you can drag him along with you during missions; after all, it’s his duty.”

“If he doesn’t want to, just force him to do it. Even if other people find out, they have no reason to interfere. What do you think?”

At this point, Chen Hai deliberately paused, then he casually continued, “Once we’re out of the Heavenly Mansion’s territory, who knows what you might want to do?”

“If you’re dissatisfied with Captain Wu, you might as well let him show his loyalty to our Heavenly Mansion by fighting the enemy to the death.”

“Who knows, you might even give him a glorious burial, benefitting his descendants.”

…

Hearing what Chen Hai said, Li Kuishan, Sun Tu, and the others felt as if a light had been switched on.

Before, they hesitated because of Wu Meng’s title as a Squad Leader, and because they were in the Enemy-breaking Camp, there were many things they dared to consider but not to actually do.

But now, Chen Hai’s words had pointed them towards a clear path.

“Chen Hai, you have no martial ethics.”

“When it comes to discussing matters, naturally we must present the facts and reason things out, convincing others with logic.”

“To constantly threaten me with my life, what kind of system is this…”

Feeling the ill-intended gazes of everyone sweeping over him, Wu Meng also grew anxious.

His face flushed red and his neck thickened, he stared fiercely at Chen Hai, angrily rebuking him.

Generally speaking, the team captain is usually the strongest person in the team.

However, Wu Meng, the captain, had questionable strength; his entire ability was summed up in the word “survival.”

If it actually came down to one-on-one combat, it was doubtful whether he, in the late period of the Heavenly Immortal stage, could even manage to compete with someone in the mid-period.

If Li Kuishan and Sun Tu, both openly known as Heavenly Immortals, actually listened to Chen Hai’s suggestion and forced him to join them on the mission…

The consequences were simply too terrifying, and just the thought of it made Wu Meng tremble involuntarily, shivering repeatedly.

“You all continue, don’t mind me!”

“Seeing you argue for so long without reaching any conclusion, I was merely making a casual remark, don’t take it seriously.”

Grinning, Chen Hai casually responded with a laugh.

With everyone from the team here, he didn’t find it convenient to leave on his own, so he found a chair nearby, sat down, and began to pretend to sleep.

“Captain Wu, since you’re unwilling to decrease the quota of merit points we have to submit, then tonight, just come with us and infiltrate the Demon Palace’s mining area!”

“With so many of us working together, you’re definitely no match for us, so surely, you wouldn’t want us to actually force you to join us!”

“Don’t worry, what Chen Hai said just now was just joking with you. You are our captain, and no matter how dissatisfied we may be with you, we can’t really kill you.”

…

Influenced by the eye-opening speech from Chen Hai, Li Kuishan and Sun Tu, among others, surrounded Wu Meng with sneers and strange laughter.

“Come on, it’s just some merit points, right? I’ll let you submit less!”

“Really? How much less? You’re not just going to throw us scraps, reducing it by one or two points only, are you?”

“Of course not, what kind of person do you think I, Wu Meng, am? The merit points you need to submit, I’ll reduce by ten for you. From now on, you’ll submit ninety each year, how about that?”

…

The group surrounded Wu Meng and began to haggle like they were bargaining at a market.

This guy was truly scared to death.

Previously, the reason he talked tough was simply because this place was the territory of Enemy-breaking Camp; he truly didn’t believe that Li Kuishan and the others would dare to actually harm him.

But now, hearing that his subordinates wanted to drag him to infiltrate the Demon Palace’s mining area, and that there might be some malicious intent towards him after that, he really was scared senseless.

It was only as the sunset in the west and dusk approached that the matter of the quota of merit points to be submitted was reluctantly settled.

Their team’s minimum quota of merit points to be submitted dropped from one hundred to fifty.

Whenever there was a mission gain, the cut that Wu Meng, as the captain, reported to Merit Hall dropped directly from thirty percent to twenty percent.

Li Kuishan and Sun Tu, among others, actually wanted to push this number even lower, but unfortunately, at this level, Wu Meng refused to decrease it any further.

The group had a standoff with him for a while, and when they saw they really couldn’t negotiate any further, they finally gave up.

Of course, being able to negotiate the quota of merit points to be given to Wu Meng to this extent, whether it was Li Kuishan, Sun Tu, or the others, they were all very satisfied.

It was just that Captain Wu Meng was a bit of a pushover; if it had been the former captain, Fang Xuan, Li Kuishan and Sun Tu wouldn’t have dared to press him, and he definitely would have drawn his sword and struck at them long ago.