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Chapter 4553: 5.0305 Hitting the Mark

"Are you sure you can make that decision?"

It wasn't that Qiao Mu underestimated the Long Hui siblings. In reality, the true power within the clan still rested with the old lady.

If she didn't relinquish authority, Long Hui and his sister wouldn't be able to touch the core of the Long clan.

Long Hui closed his eyes, then opened them with a deep breath. "I will bring the three thousand Mermen warriors here as soon as possible."

"At that time, I hope Cousin will train them strictly, without any leniency."

Qiao Mu said expressionlessly, "As long as they join the Heaven's Will Slaying Battle Group, they are our brothers and will naturally be treated equally."

"It's a deal," Long Hui stood and bowed. "Your brother thanks you in advance, Cousin. I appreciate the trouble you and Cousin-in-law are going through."

Qiao, the hands-off manager, indicated that she wasn't really going to much trouble.

She had set up a talisman array in the designated area and usually just roamed around the island, eating and drinking without any fuss.

However, it was best not to say such straightforward things and annoy people.

Long Hui turned and bowed to the others, then said, "I'll go back and start preparing now. I'll arrange a batch of resources to bring to Cousin then."

Qiao Mu nodded.

Long Xiangyun also stood up, looking at Long Hui as if she had something more to say.

"Xiangyun, you stay on this island for now."

"Brother." Long Xiangyun's face was filled with unease.

Long Hui still had to return to the clan territory, gather his personal guards, and bring a large group to this desolate island. Such a large-scale operation might attract the chieftain's attention.

It was even possible that their supposed secret visit this time had already caught the old chieftain's eye.

"This time back, I still want to make one last effort to persuade Grandmother." If Grandmother could be like her cousin, put aside those small family matters, and first gather strength to jointly deal with Heaven's Will, perhaps...

Qiao Mu glanced at him, shaking her head. "It's useless. The old lady has been stubborn her entire life; how could she listen to a few words of persuasion from you?"

"A word of advice: after you go back, don't make a big show. Just secretly gather your personal guards. Once everyone is assembled, depart immediately without delay."

Long Hui stared blankly at Qiao Mu for a long moment, then smiled bitterly. "What Cousin said is almost exactly what Father said."

"Allow me to say something unpleasant," Qiao Mu said coldly. "The Wangchuan Dragon Clan has been hiding in that remote, broken place for far too long."

"From the inside out, they've all been hollowed out and rotted away."

"Most of your clansmen have lost their fighting spirit and any trace of their former vigor."

As Qiao Mu spoke each word, Long Hui's face grew paler and more ashen.

"They just want to settle for peace. Perhaps your grandmother even thinks the conditions offered by Heaven's Will are very good."

"They've grown accustomed to compromise, just like back then, when they were almost crushed by a small Dragon clan branch."

Long Hui bit his lip, his pale face devoid of color.

"Perhaps, at first, your chieftain will use clever words and specious arguments to tell you. It's because of the loss of the ten-thousand-year Merman pearl that your entire clan's overall strength has weakened to this extent."

"She will tell you, the direct descendants of the Long clan, how powerful your ancestors were due to the Merman pearl's baptism. However, now, as time passes, the advantage of the Merman pearl's baptism has weakened with each generation."

"You urgently need the ten-thousand-year Merman pearl; you urgently need to seek this power that you don't have to work for."