I Can See Your Combat Power
Chapter 1753 - 187: About the Future_2

Chapter 1753: Chapter 187: About the Future_2

Dragon Beasts imitated humans, straightening their spines and clasping their forelimbs in a fist. The gesture was somewhat comical, yet no one in the room could muster a laugh. Du Ting and the other two’s faces had turned ashen.

"You think so too?"

Tang Luo turned and asked Lu Zhongyan, who stood beside Fu Yuanshan.

"Students naturally wish to live... but if survival means becoming Cao Lie’s lapdog, then... then I’d rather die!"

Lu Zhongyan responded with a hesitant yet resolute tone.

"Your plea, The Academy has heard."

Tang Luo nodded, speaking earnestly to the two Dragon Beasts.

"Then we shall not disturb the esteemed lords’ deliberations further."

Having said what needed to be said, the two Dragon Beasts crouched low, turned around, and departed on all fours. Their gait, however, remained dignified and grand as they slowly left the Dean’s office.

Tang Luo watched the two Dragon Beasts vanish around the corridor’s corner. Only then did he sigh faintly and remark, "Some people, even reduced to beast form, still walk the path of humanity."

After his introspection, Tang Luo turned to address the group, his voice calm and measured. "All of human existence is nothing but the collision of contradictions and choices—an interplay that shapes every outcome. Whether individual or institution, the farther one climbs, the heavier the burden of choice grows."

"Students turning into Dragon Beasts and seeking sanctuary; the Academy aiding them by intercepting Yancang’s pursuers—this is a choice. The City Hall shirking responsibility—also a choice."

"The Ten Thousand Beasts Manor comes knocking; everyone weighs pros and cons, deciding not to make small sacrifices for greater losses—that too is a choice."

"Look, the same matter leads us to divergent judgements and decisions. Has the matter itself changed?"

"I believe the matter hasn’t changed. What’s changed is perhaps the ease or difficulty of choice. With Unparalleled City’s current strength, interfering with Yancang’s pursuers is easy, so we can comfortably stand on the side of righteousness."

"But when the Ten Thousand Beasts Manor comes into play, the decision grows tangled. We know full well why Cao Lie doesn’t show himself, but instead uses the Shi brothers from the Manor to pressure us. Just as clearly, we understand how vulnerable we become once evidence of the Beast Taming Sect’s Seal falls into their hands."

"And thus, clinging to righteousness becomes much harder. Compromise seems plausible, even prudent, especially if it ensures the Academy’s survival."

"Furthermore, we might even comfort ourselves with the thought—’This is only because we’re weak now; when the Academy grows strong in the future, such indignities will cease to occur.’

Du Ting, Nongman Valley, and Nian Bo nodded repeatedly, feeling that Tang Luo’s words hit them right to their core.

"The idea is sound, yet once you veer toward the easier choice, there’s no turning back. For Unparalleled Academy will always have that ’easier choice’ before it."

"Today, the Ten Thousand Beasts Manor demands Fu Yuanshan and Lu Zhongyan—so long as Unparalleled City remains fundamentally intact, hand them over."

"Tomorrow, as strength accumulates further, the Beast Taming Sect’s Cao Lie may come asking for disciples to aid research. After all, they’re just itinerant cultivators we recruited. Plus, this builds ties with the Beast Taming Sect. Give them what they want."

"And one day, should the truth of turning humans into beasts be exposed and Cao Lie evade repercussions by retreating to Long Valley while pointing fingers at Red Cloud—what then?"

Tang Luo locked his gaze on Du Ting’s startled face and asked.

"How could such a thing... how could this happen...?"

Du Ting muttered numbly, "Dean, are you saying we now shouldn’t hand over the Dragon Beasts to the Shi brothers?"

"It seems you still haven’t grasped the essence of it."

Tang Luo chuckled softly. "Whatever choice is made will shape only Unparalleled City’s future. The image of that future stems not from your fantasies of what it could be, but from the decisions you make now."

As Tang Luo spoke, Yun Xiu, Du Sha, and Feng Shixing appeared contemplative, while Nian Bo, Du Ting, and Nongman Valley wore expressions of bewilderment.

"This decision isn’t about whether Cao Lie’s actions are brutal or whether transforming humans into beasts violates ethics. No, this decision is solely about what kind of entity you wish Unparalleled City and Unparalleled Academy to be in the future."

Tang Luo leaned forward from his chair for the first time, his fingers interlocking, elbows raised to form a deliberate triangular frame beneath his chin. With a faint smile, he said, "So, choose wisely. The Academy is curious—what will Unparalleled’s future look like?"

A seemingly simple question of handing over or withholding the Dragon Beasts suddenly expanded into a decision capable of steering Unparalleled City’s destiny. The gravity of the matter threw everyone into turmoil.

Even the usually stoic Du Sha couldn’t resist asking, "Then tell us—what is your vision for Unparalleled’s future?"

"Because such matters... are not for me to decide, but for you."

Tang Luo answered with a wry smile. "The Academy operates seamlessly even without a Dean. But without you all—chaos would erupt within two days. It is not I, but all of you who are already defining the direction of this city. Consequently, the decision belongs to you."

"What about you, then?"

Du Sha furrowed his brows and asked with gravity, "Do you harbor no preference on this matter?"

"Neither for, nor against."

Tang Luo replied coolly, "To The Academy, whatever your decision may be—it remains merely a decision."

...

Unparalleled City

Banquet Building

Catering to the Beast Taming Sect’s relatives from the sanctuaries, the City Hall spared no effort, reserving the most luxurious inn within the Inner City as their lodging and serving banquet after banquet of fine wines and exquisite dishes to the lords of Ten Thousand Beasts Manor.

Such extravagance was unprecedented in Unparalleled City. However, in Shi Ganhai’s eyes, it all felt somewhat inadequate and lacking.

"A pile of frozen lean meat, long drained of Spiritual Energy—even the Spiritual Food reeks of staleness. A provincial backwater is a provincial backwater—it can’t even prepare an acceptable meal!"

Slamming his wine bowl onto the table, Shi Ganhai scowled. "That old relic Du Ting—how can he possibly drag matters out this long? It’s been hours, and still no word!"

"Calm yourself, Second Master. I’ll personally head to the City Hall and urge them to expedite matters!"

A nearby retainer hurriedly tried to appease him.

"This godforsaken place—the largest inn doesn’t even have performers or singers!"

Shi Ganhai continued berating everything—from the wine to the dishes—until he remembered something else to unleash his displeasure about. "And where’s Yao Jiu? He’s been gone half the day—what’s the holdup?"

"Back! I’m back, Second Master!"

Just as Shi Ganhai’s complaints spilled forth, the summoned retainer Yao Jiu stormed into the inn, hauling two large gunnysacks over his shoulders. Huffing, he began to grumble, "You wouldn’t believe the trouble I went through! This Unparalleled City—it’s such a backwater it doesn’t even have brothels or pleasure houses. Not a single one. Even the streetwalkers only dare emerge at night! After so much effort—I finally managed to find two that meet your liking!"

"Ah, well done indeed."

Sizing up the alluring figures barely concealed within the sacks, Shi Ganhai’s expression softened. He patted a wine jar on the table and said, "Take this spread as your reward!"

The gesture wasn’t about the food itself—it was an honor no amount of banquet dishes could compare to.

Yao Jiu immediately expressed gratitude for the favor, and gleefully beckoned others to carry the women into Shi Ganhai’s chambers. The atmosphere was lively and jubilant.

...

Red Cloud Mountain Dock

The southern port had been completely occupied by the Ten Thousand Beasts Manor. Dozens of feral beast species were paraded out for exercise in rotation, spurring intense vigilance from Unparalleled City’s defensive ranks.

It wasn’t as though Unparalleled City had any other choice. If even a single savage beast broke out of control and stormed into the Inner City, the devastation would be unimaginable. To prevent such disasters, nearly all of Unparalleled City’s active combat units had been deployed, establishing a strict perimeter around the docks where beasts were held.

Yet the Tamers from Ten Thousand Beasts Manor clearly regarded these precautions with utter contempt. They simply went about their beast exercises and repeatedly demanded Unparalleled City to deliver food supplies—emphasizing how disastrous it would be if any creature starved.

Though their arrogance was maddening, Unparalleled City couldn’t afford defiance in the face of relations with Beast Taming Sect affiliates. Thus, vast quantities of meat were hauled out by city guards, forming a long procession along the mountain paths.

The meat rations, originally intended as supplementary nourishment for Academy students, were now fed to the feral beasts. The pain of the loss was undeniable, yet when one particularly disdainful Tamer booted a thawed chuck of meat off its container, the suppression of rage among Unparalleled City’s defense force became nearly impossible.