"Dragon King, the battle we fought this time was spectacular,"

An Long's face turned red with extreme excitement. "We have never had such a victory. Only about twenty of our brothers died, and around fifty were injured, yet we annihilated over a thousand members of the Dark Spider. It's truly unbelievable!"

Jiang Chen rubbed his head, the battle in the jungle had made his head feel like it was exploding, and though he had felt better during the journey, hearing An Long's words made him forget about the headache as his nerves tensed up sharply.

"Are you really happy about that?" Jiang Chen's eyes were ice-cold as he looked at An Long, his voice deep, "More than twenty brothers died, and you're happy about it?"

An Long was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly explained, "No, Dragon King, that's not what I meant..."

"Then what did you mean?" Jiang Chen shouted angrily, "An Long, have you gotten so heartless from your time in the mercenary world? More than twenty of our own have died, and you tell me that we fought beautifully? You show joy at this?"

An Long was left speechless by the scolding, muttering to himself, was this really necessary? In war, aren't there always...

Xuan Long opened his mouth as if to say something, but Jiang Chen spoke first, "Are you thinking that in war, people die, and that I shouldn't be angry about it?"

An Long's face shifted slightly, and he pressed his lips together without saying a word.

Jiang Chen turned his head to scan Xuan Long and the others, speaking harshly, "Xuan Long, is that what you think too?"

"I..." Xuan Long opened his mouth, but said nothing. His expression, however, admitted to it.

Jiang Chen gave a cold laugh, "You all... you've really changed beyond recognition! When we first lost twelve brothers at the villa, every one of you was devastated, but now, after losing more than twenty brothers, you only see the victory! Those were more than twenty lives! More than twenty brothers who spent day and night with us are dead, yet all you see is the outcome?"

Stunned, Xuan Long and the others stood frozen. Yan Mo and Kuang Shi looked at Jiang Chen with some misunderstanding. Scar's face grew complex with thought.

Chen Jiantao, however, looked somewhat dissatisfied as he glanced at Xuan Long and An Long, even showing a hint of disgust in his eyes.

"Xuan Long, An Long, the purpose of your training wasn't to harden your hearts to iron,"

Jiang Chen began with a pained expression, "Against our enemies, we can be cold, even cruel—that's fine. It's them or us, that's the way of the mercenary world. But why do you take the death of our own brothers for granted?

Is it just because we wiped out the Dark Spider? Because we eliminated one of the top ten mercenary corps, do you think that the death of more than twenty brothers is insignificant?"

"If that is the case, then let me ask you, if one day we go to war with Dark Night Angel and everyone in this room dies except for you two, as long as we have vanquished the Dark Night Angel, will you also feel that it was worth it? Is that right?"

By the end, Jiang Chen's expression had become extremely ugly.

Xuan Long and An Long suddenly realized the gravity of the situation, their faces turning beet red with extreme guilt as they hung their heads low, not daring to meet Jiang Chen's gaze.

"I once told you that in the Dragon Flame Mercenary Group, we value quality, not quantity.

The reason for this was first, to build a truly elite team, and second, to spare our brothers from too many heartbreaking farewells!

I never imagined that in just a short time away, you would feel that the death of more than twenty of your brothers was nothing? Have you so quickly assimilated with the sect's ways? Have you so quickly become prioritizing benefits and fame over everything else?

Do you really think that as long as you can obtain benefits and fame, the lives of your brothers are worthless?"

By the end, Jiang Chen was nearly yelling.

"Dragon King, we were wrong!" Xuan Long said, full of shame.

"Dragon King, we're sorry, we were wrong!" An Long spoke at the same time, his head almost bowing to his trousers.

Jiang Chen let out a breath and said indifferently, "Lift your heads."

Xuan Long and the other slowly lifted their heads but dared not meet Jiang Chen's eyes.

"Look at me!" Jiang Chen's voice was sharp.

Xuan Long and his companion trembled and turned to look at Jiang Chen, their hearts shook once more. In Jiang Chen's eyes, they did not see blame but only disappointment and heartache!

"Dragon King…" Xuan Long couldn't help but speak.

"No need to say more!" Jiang Chen spoke dejectedly, "It's my fault. You have never encountered the true power of sects before and have never felt the temptation within. I know within the sect forces, it's been said that you are one of the strongest among the world's top ten Mercenary Corps. You must be quite pleased, right?"

After pausing, Jiang Chen's expression turned solemn as he watched Xuan Long and his companion, "Have you ever thought about how Dragon Flame reached where it is today, how many brothers have exchanged their lives for it? Have you ever thought about whether you could have reached today without those brothers' sacrifices?"

In the eyes of Xuan Long and his companion, there was not only shame but also deep regret.

Slap! Slap!

The crisp sounds echoed as Xuan Long and his companion slapped their own faces.

"Long Ge… An Long Ge…" Scar called out before turning to Jiang Chen, "Dragon King, you can't really blame..."

"Blame what? Blame them?"

Jiang Chen turned and looked at Scar coldly, "I know you've been involved in the mercenary world since you were young and have seen too much of this kind of thing, even becoming somewhat indifferent to life.

But listen well, Scar. It's one thing to be indifferent to the lives of enemies,

but whoever the hell is indifferent to the lives of his own brothers is not my, Jiang Chen's, brother, and does not deserve to be my brother.

Does not deserve!"

Scar's heart shook, and a sense of fear surged within.

What's wrong with me? Did I really think the deaths of those twenty brothers were justifiable, even necessary? Have I truly become indifferent to my own brothers' lives?

Cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and Scar shivered all over, his complexion changing as he slapped himself hard across the face, unable to restrain himself, he raised his hand and struck himself again!

"Dragon King, I'm sorry, I understand now!" Scar said sincerely to Jiang Chen.

Yan Mo and Kuang Shi looked into Jiang Chen's eyes with complex expressions.

In the world of mercenary corps, had there ever been an instance where the leader of a Mercenary Group was chastised by the boss just for being happy about the sacrifice of their ordinary members, especially after achieving such great results?

This was real anger, not just for show!

Is there such a boss?

No!

This is absolutely unparalleled.

For such a boss, these people were truly willing to give up their lives to stand by him and fight a good fight!

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