Poison God's Heritage

Chapter 860 THE S TEAM

I smiled, though the weight of the situation was hard to hide behind the gesture. "I really am not trying to exclude anyone. Believe me, I wish I could have all of you there. But let's face it—there's no telling if the First Born might wake up tomorrow and decide to wreak havoc again, forcing us to shift plans."

The Red Sun, never one to mince words, leaned forward, his eyes hard as molten embers. "Regardless," he began, his voice edged with stern practicality, "two Suns and a pseudo-Sun stage, plus you—that's not enough firepower to venture into a world where this thing's mother exists. It's reckless."

Tao Yang, who had been quietly watching the exchange, finally spoke up, her tone grim. "And that's not even the worst of it," she said, her voice steady, though the tension in her jaw was unmistakable. "This First Born... it's one of three. There should be two more back on my home world." She paused, letting the gravity of her words settle over the room. "So it's worse than you think."

I felt an immediate pang of frustration, though I kept my composure. Should have told us that before! I cursed inwardly, biting back the urge to call her out. This whole expedition was starting to feel more impossible with each revelation.

"Regardless," I interjected quickly, my voice more forceful than I intended. "I'll ask a few of my companions to join us. We'll need all the help we can get, and Master Rain—especially his proficiency in inscriptions—his skills are far superior to mine," I explained, hoping to calm the growing tension with practical solutions.

The Red Sun, never one to let an opportunity for pragmatism slip by, nodded. "Right, and take the Slave Heaven Stage with you. He'll serve you well, especially in situations where brute strength is required." His words were more of an order than a suggestion, a reminder of the gift he had bestowed upon me—a powerful servant bound by oath.

"Sure," I replied, already running through the mental checklist of who to bring. "I'll be taking Zhang Tian and Dao Shen with me too."

A low grumble escaped the Red Sun's throat as he shook his head in disapproval. "They're too young. Too inexperienced, and too weak for something of this scale."

I knew he had a point, but I stood my ground. "They need the opportunity to prove themselves, Red Sun. They won't stay weak forever, and this will push them to grow. We're not just preparing for this fight—we're preparing for all the ones to come."

His eyes flickered with frustration, but before he could argue further, I added, "I'll also have to ask Meng Hao to accompany me. His strength—"

A rare warmth spread through the room, softening the tension. For all his bluster, the Red Sun did care—he just showed it in his own brusque way.

"Good then," I said, my tone resolute, though I couldn't shake the gnawing sense of dread building in my chest. "We'll be off as soon as I notify the rest of the companions."

The Wisest Sun, who had been silently watching the debate from his own position in the corner, gave me a nod, his expression thoughtful. "Godspeed, Shen Bao," he said, his words measured and sincere. I thanked him quietly.

Just as the conversation seemed to be winding down, the Darkest Sun, who had remained silent throughout most of the exchange, suddenly spoke up, his voice a deep rumble that cut through the relative calm. "Take the Fire King with you."

I opened my mouth, then promptly closed it, unsure how to respond. The Fire King? On the same mission as Meng Hao? That was like throwing a match into a barrel of gunpowder. "If they both go with me on the same trip, I can guarantee you one thing—one of them will lose their life."

The Darkest Sun's piercing gaze bore into me. "And it is your job to make sure that doesn't happen."

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in before continuing. "I asked you to come to meet me for a reason. The friction between Meng Hao and the Fire King needs to be resolved. Whether you like it or not, you're the one to make that happen."

I stared at him, trying to process the added burden. Managing Meng Hao's temper was one thing, but the Fire King? That was another level of chaos. "I have no idea what you're planning, but if they meet, Meng Hao will jump the Fire King the moment he lays eyes on him," I said, feeling the headache forming behind my eyes.

"Then make sure he doesn't," the Darkest Sun replied simply, as if it were the easiest thing in the world.

My thoughts spiraled in frustration. Should I ask Meng Hao not to come? But no, that wasn't an option. I needed him for this. Both of them, despite their hostility toward one another. "Goddammit, why does everything have to be this complicated?" I muttered under my breath.

The Red Sun chuckled darkly. "Welcome to the world of responsibility, Shen Bao. Enjoy your stay."