Chapter 71: Leave Yuan Dasheng to Me

"Yuan Er pays his respects to Master Ning!"

The instant Yuan Er knelt before him, Ning Zhuo hesitated.

He wondered if this was the opportunity to truly subdue the entire Monkeyhead Gang and use it for his own ends. Yuan Dasheng might be crippled, but his soul remained intact—a devastating weapon for seizing the inheritance of the Celestial Palace!

Yet Ning Zhuo quickly regained his composure.

"One must not covet fleeting, illusory gains!"

"Winning over Yuan Er now takes advantage of his weakness and the current situation. In the end, it's not I who has truly subdued him."

"If Fei Si or any of the other three major forces try to recruit him in the future, will Yuan Er remain loyal to me? Impossible."

"More importantly, even if Yuan Er were wholly devoted, could I really control the Monkeyhead Gang through him?"

In his heart, Ning Zhuo shook his head.

Many of the gang members were already disillusioned with Yuan Er.

"Could I use Yuan Er to control Yuan Dasheng?"

Again, Ning Zhuo’s heart replied with a silent no.

Yuan Dasheng only protected Yuan Er out of obligation; he rarely obeyed him. Rising from the lowest ranks, he possessed both ambition and judgment of his own.

He had been ambushed and lost the initiative, but he had not yet realized Ning Zhuo was the true enemy. Once given time to gather information, Yuan Dasheng’s experience in battle and hard-won wisdom would surely reveal the truth of his predicament.

His most probable move would be to seek out one of the four great powers for refuge—casting Ning Zhuo aside, or even eliminating him.

"I am so weak now, my position as precarious as walking a cliff’s edge, my life as fragile as an egg atop a pile of stones—how could I allow myself to be swayed by the promise of short-term advantage?"

"One wrong step, and I’ll be dashed to pieces at the bottom of the chasm!"

With this, Ning Zhuo was fully calm again, no longer beguiled by false prospects.

He extended both hands, gently helping Yuan Er to his feet, and said with praise, "A man who knows the times is a true hero..."

He offered soothing words, and as Yuan Er’s agitation faded, Ning Zhuo finally spoke of his true purpose: "Since you have pledged yourself to our cause, we must do everything we can to secure your position as gang leader."

"Your personal strength is still somewhat lacking. According to Lord Fei Si’s instructions, we will craft a custom mechanical construct for you."

"This device will possess the power of a Foundation Stage cultivator, enabling you to dominate the other elders within the gang."

"Oh?" Yuan Er's eyes lit up with surprise and delight.

Especially this increased investment and support—it gave him reassurance.

But Ning Zhuo’s next words made Yuan Er’s delight turn instantly to shock and anger. He was nearly ready to throw a punch.

Ning Zhuo nodded. "It’s good that you agree."

"Next, hand over Yuan Dasheng to us, so we may craft you a formidable mechanical monkey."

Yuan Er nearly leapt to his feet with rage. "No, absolutely not!"

He refused on the spot, without hesitation.

Ning Zhuo’s brow furrowed at once. "Chief Yuan Er, think carefully!"

"Only with superior materials can we forge a powerful construct."

"Do you think we wish to purchase a monkey corpse simply to humiliate you? You overestimate yourself."

"Only by using a monkey as the source can we create an exceptional mechanical monkey."

Yuan Er just kept shaking his head. "Even so, I would never use my Uncle Monkey..."

Ning Zhuo waved impatiently, brusquely cutting him off. "Enough, Yuan Er! Are you still so sentimental?"

"I’ll speak plainly: the materials must come from you."

"Only by using Yuan Dasheng’s body can we create a mechanical monkey powerful enough to protect you in the days ahead."

"We want you to remain the leader of the Monkeyhead Gang, but what do you think the elders will do?"

"Your strength is lacking, and you have no one formidable to guard you day by day. If the elders hire assassins, what then?"

Yuan Er fell silent.

Ning Zhuo went on, "Fools always wait until they see the coffin before they shed tears—by then, it’s too late!"

"You’ve already chosen to side with us—why not see it through?"

Yuan Er shook his head, resolute. "Master Ning, you needn’t try to persuade me further. Uncle Monkey’s kindness is boundless, and his contributions to the gang are without measure. I must care for him in his old age! I’ll see that he wants for nothing."

"If I fail in this, am I still worthy of being called a man?!"

Ning Zhuo narrowed his eyes, an irrational urge rising within him to kill Yuan Er on the spot—and then finish off Yuan Dasheng as well!

He had circled so long, all for the sake of Yuan Dasheng. Now, stuck at the final obstacle, impatience gnawed at him.

Reason, however, warned him not to act rashly.

Ning Zhuo drew a deep breath, forced himself to calm, and changed his approach: "Chief Yuan Er, your character truly earns my admiration."

"I respect such integrity, and I respect a man like you!"

"But... you are being a little selfish."

Yuan Er glared, bewildered. "Selfish? If I were selfish, I’d have already agreed to use Uncle Monkey as material for your construct!"

Ning Zhuo continued, "Chief, have you ever considered how your Uncle Monkey feels?"

Yuan Er was taken aback.

Ning Zhuo pressed on, "Your uncle is brave and unflinching, a true iron-blooded hero. Do you think he wishes to die wrapped in a war banner, or to perish quietly in bed?"

"In my view, if your Uncle Monkey truly becomes a cripple, confined to a bed, he would find life worse than death. This twilight existence would only satisfy your filial piety. For him, it would be a cruelty—an unbearable humiliation!"

Yuan Er’s brow furrowed, and he sank into deep thought.

Cold light flickered in Ning Zhuo’s eyes, but his voice turned gentle, soft as a spring breeze: "Why not discuss it openly with your Uncle Monkey?"

"He’s done so much for you—if he truly abhors the life that awaits him, I believe he’d willingly make this final sacrifice. He might think: even in death, I could remain by your side in another form, continuing to protect you."

"Why not ask him?"

Yuan Er raised his head, pale as death, his eyes vacant and unfocused. He murmured, "You’re right, Master Ning. Why don’t I ask Uncle Monkey myself?"

Yuan Er left the study and went to the main bedroom, kneeling at the bedside.

Yuan Dasheng remained unconscious.

Yuan Er opened his mouth, tried to speak, but after several attempts, no words would come.

That towering, mighty figure—always so strong in his memory—was now as fragile as paper, unable to provide even a sliver of reassurance.

Yuan Er’s thoughts grew scattered, his vision blurred as tears rolled down his face.

Through the haze of his tears, Yuan Er seemed to return to the past.

When he was a child...

He used to climb up Yuan Dasheng’s body, as if scaling a volcano of brick-red and black.

When he could walk and jump...

"Uncle Monkey, they’re bullying me!" Little Yuan Er would bring Yuan Dasheng to settle scores, terrifying the other children into fits of tears.

During playful times at the water...

"Uncle Monkey, why is mine so small and yours so big?" A young Yuan Er, full of curiosity, pointed at Yuan Dasheng’s groin.

As he grew older...

Yuan Er became bolder, obsessed with fighting and eager to know, "Uncle Monkey, who’s stronger—you or my father? Did you ever fight? I asked my father but he never answers."

After a victorious gang battle...

Yuan Er would run up, eyes shining with awe and excitement. "Uncle Monkey, you’re amazing! So powerful! When will I be like you?"

And then...

Things began to change.

The cold, harsh reality shattered his childish belief that "hard work alone would suffice."

To cultivate immortality required innate talent.

"I’ll never be as powerful as Uncle Monkey!"

"Uncle Monkey is so strong!"

"Uncle Monkey is too strong!"

"Uncle Monkey is... overwhelmingly strong..." The adoring boy gradually became a brooding youth.

The same facts that once inspired worship and awe turned, over time, to anxiety and suspicion.

"My father built his foundation with Uncle Monkey’s help. When my father’s gone, will I be able to control Uncle Monkey?" Yuan Er worried as he watched his father grow weaker by the day from incurable wounds.

"The Monkeyhead Gang’s might rests on Uncle Monkey. Strength is power, and the foundation of power lies in him—is this really suitable?"

"Monkeyhead Gang, Monkeyhead Gang... Is it a band of men, or a troupe of monkeys?" With the growing number of monkey retainers, Yuan Er felt increasingly lost.

When he saw the elders cowering in reverence before Yuan Dasheng, his feelings became all the more complex.

...

In the midst of a gang battle, Yuan Er shouted, "No, don’t kill him!"

But Yuan Dasheng, already lost to bloodlust, could not restrain himself and bit the opposing cultivator cleanly in half.

The enemy’s morale broke and they began to flee in panic.

Yuan Er sighed heavily. "Now there’s no turning back—we’ll have to wipe out the enemy gang completely."

Yuan Dasheng came over, holding half the corpse, and suddenly offered it to Yuan Er.

Startled, Yuan Er recoiled.

Yuan Dasheng, delighted at his prank, laughed heartily, never noticing the shadow that had darkened Yuan Er’s eyes.