Ash seemed unaware of the astonishment on everyone's faces, slowly saying, "Tamasi's intention is very clear. He didn't inform us and insisted on leaving secretly alone because he didn't want to drag us into this."

"The Mercury Wooden Horse is below, and this is his endpoint for revenge. He is willing to sacrifice everything for it, even if it means dying in there. If he succeeds, he'll accept death willingly, and if he fails, he'll have no regrets, even if there's no grave for him."

"But we are different. We have enmity with the Mercury Wooden Horse, but not to the point of sacrificing our lives to perish together with her. More importantly, we have found a way to leave, a future we can grasp."

Ash calmly stated, "We are just one step away from happiness."

"To pull us travelers, who were originally about to leave, into a dangerous gamble with our lives just for his revenge? Merely thinking about it, this idea seems too selfish, let alone for a believer of Ya Sha Jin who acts solely for justice."

"If we truly intend to save him, we would not only be risking our lives but also failing to appreciate his kind intentions." Ash said, "We are no longer children who act based on preference, without a favorite color."

"We can't act emotionally, can't look back; everyone has their own path to tread. If paths diverge, then we don't cross each other's ways."

Aside from the slurping noises of the Beastman eating spaghetti, it seemed only Ash's words resonated in the shadows of the Gobi. Harvey gave Ash a pensive look, shook his head, and tightened his grip on Alice's hand.

"...Is this what you truly think?" the Swindler asked, "Won't you regret it?"

"What else?" Ash retorted, "Are we to charge into the camp of the Gods of Four Pillars' tens of thousands of mages just to save someone we've known for three months? Should we face the threat of a Legendary Mage for the private grudge of someone whose appearance we don't even know?"

"Obviously, if we just wait a month, we can safely leave this wasteland filled with religious lunatics, monsters, and wars, and return to the safety of the Gospel to enjoy wealth and prosperity—at least without worrying about being hunted—yet we can't stand to wait that bit of time and insist on venturing into the life-threatening Silent Spiral?"

"More importantly, is Tamasi Ya Sha Jin worth our sacrifices? Although he possesses great martial power, he is essentially just an ordinary person; he is illiterate, without any life skills aside from suspected culinary expertise..."

"Moreover, his belief in Ya Sha Jin is too cold and rigid, and I'm afraid it might also bring us trouble in the Kingdom of Gospel. Although there have been no major conflicts with us these months, minor disputes have been constant. Can we really accept a companion whose beliefs are entirely different from ours?"

"Thinking about it, we should be grateful the Mercury Wooden Horse is here." Ash said coldly, "Tamasi leaving for revenge might be a good thing."

Clang!

The Swindler slammed the stainless steel plate onto the ground, stood up glaring at the Cult Leader, eyes wide open, lips tight. Everyone else was stunned—they could hardly believe Igula would show such an emotional expression.

"Aha, what a surprise. I only just realized you're a Spirit Mage, Ash." He sneered, "Mind Reading? Imitation? You say it well, it really sounds like something I'd say, like the voiceover in my mind—keep going, I still have thirteen more reasons not to save the Black Crow, and I'd love to hear how many more you know!"

"Qikara, watch and learn! This is the peak of sarcasm, your little tricks are nothing worth showing off!"

The Beastman said weakly, "I really am sincere..."

Ash also shook his head, "I am not being sarcastic."

"Then these grandiose reasons not to save Black Crow, whom are you trying to convince? Black Crow's brother Harvey, his other race friend Qikara, or perhaps me, who shares everything with that Black Crow?" Igula kicked the plate, gritting his teeth, "Who here doesn't know your relationship with Black Crow is the best? Who's supposed to be disgusted by your words?"

"I'm not."

"Fine then." Igula walked out, spreading his arms, stating, "Since you say so, let's leave, stay in the nearest town for a dozen days, and then come back to the Silent Spiral to see if we can find that crow's corpse inside a green beast's stomach—"

"I was only afraid you wouldn't want to say it." Ash said, "So I thought I'd say it first."

The Swindler stood with his back to them, facing the desert wasteland outside, the sandy wind lifting his long, uncut blond hair.

After a long while, he finally asked, "What do you mean?"

"Even Qikara knows I want to save Black Crow. How could you not know?" Ash stated, "But I've waited all this time, and none of you have voiced a single opposing opinion."

"Unlike Blood Moon, where we were forced by circumstances to take risks for mutual interests; unlike Gospel, where we had no choice but to obey Hanna. But this time, we are free."

"You can dislike Tamasi, you can choose not to save him, you can wait a month and escape Senluo; you're free to do as you please, with nothing holding you back."

"What I fear most is you following me to your deaths."

Ash said, "Yes, I do want to save Tamasi, but if it involves risking all your lives, then that is too selfish, even more selfish than him hoping we'd help him with his revenge."

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