The Chieftain of the Tu Family Stronghold sighed deeply. "Your mother is a great mother. She thought of you, braved the risks, and lived here in hiding among our stronghold."
Then his tone shifted. "But I cannot let her go. She is one of the Mushroom People — a member of a foreign race."
"And you know full well what these Mushroom People are like. Their hearts will never align with ours — they are not of our blood. The best fate these Mushroom People deserve is death!"
"But you are different. You are my son. You know that I have no other children — you are my only son!"
"A Le, come help your father. Only I can make room for you here. This Tu Family Stronghold is your home."
"Your father owes you a great deal, and from now on, he will do everything to make it up to you."
"After this great battle, you have accumulated more than enough merit. I know — you want the Tu surname. Originally, the stronghold would still require an assessment and review, but I am granting it to you right now. From this day forward, you shall become a true member of the Tu Family. You will bear the surname Tu — no longer called Le Tu, but Tu Le!"
"Child, your father is proud of you. This is your new beginning!"
Le Tu laughed out loud, his laughter filled with mockery and despair.
The goal he had once yearned for most was finally realized in this very moment, yet he felt not a shred of joy.
"I don't want to exchange for the Tu surname anymore! Every merit I've earned for the Tu Family Stronghold over the years — I'm using all of it to trade for my mother's life!" Le Tu shouted.
But the Chieftain's expression remained impassive. He shook his head slowly, his attitude utterly resolute.
Le Tu gritted his teeth, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. He pointed a finger at the Chieftain. "If you kill my mother, I won't live on either! And I will fight you to the death!"
"A Le!!" The Chieftain barked coldly.
Le Tu said nothing, only staring fixedly at the Chieftain.
The atmosphere in the room grew unbearably oppressive.
Father and son locked eyes. In the end, it was the Chieftain whose expression softened.
He averted his gaze, looking upward, and released a deep, heavy sigh.
Within that sigh churned a tangle of emotions — rage, hatred, helplessness, and sorrow.
The Chieftain gazed at Le Tu with deep feeling and spoke with emotion. "All these years, your father never even discovered you. I have truly failed you, my son. If I had looked after you, things would never have come to this."
"Very well!"
"Since it is your father's fault, then your father will grant you this one request."
"I will let your mother go, but only by slipping her away in secret."
"However, the Mushroom People's tribe must be eradicated — not a single one left alive!"
"This is the bottom line. It is also the greatest concession the Chieftain of the Tu Family Stronghold can make. A Le, you must understand your father's difficult position."
Le Tu's expression immediately relaxed. He swallowed hard. "Ch-Chieftain, as long as you let my mother go, I couldn't care less about those Mushroom People!"
Over the years, Le Tu had fought the Mushroom People's tribe continuously. The hatred between them was as vast as mountains and seas.
The only person he cared about was Huang Wan alone.
"Good child!" The Chieftain grew excited, patting Le Tu on the shoulder. "But your father cannot let your mother go just yet. You know this yourself — although we hold the advantage, as long as the Mushroom People's settlement remains undiscovered, we cannot truly claim victory."
"But your mother knows the secret of the Mushroom People's settlement. She knows how to find them. A Le, your father needs you to do something. Persuade your mother — make her tell us this secret."
"I promise you, I give you my word: once we have wiped out the Mushroom People's tribe and removed this grave threat from the Tu Family Stronghold, I will absolutely let your mother go. She will live out her days in good health."
"Well..." Le Tu hesitated.
Though he too wanted the Mushroom People's tribe eliminated, he understood his mother's feelings toward them.
The Chieftain patted Le Tu on the shoulder, speaking with understanding. "Your father would never force you. Think it over carefully. You're still injured — focus on your recovery. I'll give you plenty of time to consider. Your father trusts you!"
The recording ended there.
The Chieftain smiled coldly and stepped closer to Huang Wan. "Will you talk now? Or would you rather have your son come and persuade you personally?"
"Think carefully, Wan'er."
"You can give up your own life, but what about your son's?"
"If we really tear off this pretense, neither of you mother and son will have a pleasant time."
"Perhaps I won't even kill him."
"I'll simply send him to the front lines to fight — to slaughter your people with his own hands. How does that sound?"
Meng Qiuzhen watched the Chieftain with an appreciative gaze. "You really are despicable and shameless. You're quite the character."
"Hahahaha! Those who achieve great things don't fret over minor details! You're only seeing me clearly now — far too late, Wan'er!" The Chieftain laughed heartily, though something about Huang Wan's gaze struck him as slightly off.
Meng Qiuzhen nodded with a serious expression. "That's exactly why I admire you."
The laughter cut off abruptly. The Chieftain looked as though he doubted his own ears. "What did you just say?"
Meng Qiuzhen's demeanor turned brisk, his eyes bright and piercing. "You actually don't need to go to all this trouble. Don't you want to know the location of the tribe? I'll just tell you directly."
"Hmm?" The Chieftain couldn't help but freeze.
Meng Qiuzhen shrugged.
During the moments just now, he had used the Dream Butterfly Immortal Gu to scout ahead — he had even glimpsed the scene after the next, and the one beyond that. He had obtained the crucial intelligence.
In the end, the Tu Family Stronghold's army would attack the Mushroom People's nest — that much was inevitable, because the Chieftain would inevitably learn the secret location of the Mushroom People's tribe.