Chapter 823: Is There Anyone Who Can Speak?
Tian Buku was extremely anxious; An Qingshan was now recruiting cannon fodder to attack Derekfu Star.
Derekfu Star is a superior planet to Beiji Star, with dozens of teleporters that can reach other planets.
Beiji Star has only one teleporter, and the only destination they can go to is Derekfu Star, so if An Qingshan rebels, the first target he must attack would be Derekfu Star.
But Derekfu Star is guarded by Immortals, not just one Immortal. For these people to attack Derekfu Star would be like smashing an egg against a rock, whoever goes is doomed to be cannon fodder.
However, if they don't go, An Qingshan's people will wipe them out now; many families have already been forced to send people to join An Qingshan's cannon fodder Corps.
The Tian Family was originally just a small family and dared not defy An Qingshan's orders, but the Tian Family was not populous to begin with, and there were only seven or eight young people in this generation. If all were made cannon fodder, the Tian Family would probably be finished.
"Junior Brother, we can only count on your help now. If you can help us, pull our family out of this; we'll owe you a life debt and be willing to do anything for you," Tian Buku and Tian Bunaon said in unison, their speech was almost indistinguishable from one person.
Lin Shen had already grown accustomed to their behavior and didn't find anything odd about it.
"Don't worry, Elder Brothers. After all, I am now the Dean of the Celestial Master Institute; if there is a rebellion beneath me, it is my responsibility to act. Let's hurry to your home first and ensure your family doesn't suffer any harm," Lin Shen said.
Against a powerhouse like Tian Jiuyou, he was no match. But some An Qingshan, who dared to be so arrogant and wanted to be a traitor, Lin Shen was already looking for a place to vent his anger; if An Qingshan was seeking his own destruction, Lin Shen couldn't be blamed for taking his anger out on him.
To clean up this traitor would also be considered meritorious; when he returned, maybe he could even fish out some benefits.
Upon hearing this, the Tian Brothers were overjoyed and, without any pleasantries, hurried Lin Shen to the Tian Family home.
Before long, the three of them arrived at the Tian home, seeing many soldiers from the Star Defense Team guarding the outside.
"Who are you?" the soldiers of the Defense Team challenged them as they saw Lin Shen and the others approaching.
"People of the Tian Family," Tian Bunaon said.
He had sneaked out earlier to find Tian Buku, which was why he hadn't been trapped at home.
The soldier laughed when he heard it: "Now there are still idiots running back here; that's rare. Go on in."
The Tian Brothers didn't argue with them and continued inside with Lin Shen.
In the Tian Family courtyard, the young and old of the Tian Family had been gathered together. Tian Zhihao, the current Family Head, was angrily speaking with a Celestial, seemingly infuriated to the point of trembling.
"Family Head Tian, you are part of Beiji Star and should make the appropriate contributions to it. Those with money should give money, those with strength should give strength, either offer resources or let the Tian Family's Ascenders fight for Beiji Star. Once the Star Lord achieves his great purpose, honor for your family is assured, and glory to your ancestors is just around the corner," An Qinghe, the Celestial Nirvana Being seated in a chair, said to Tian Zhihao with a smile.
"Commander An, the resources you're asking for are simply too much; even if we were to pawn everything, our family couldn't gather that many resources," Tian Zhihao said.
"Those with money can give money, and those without can give strength. Many of your family's children have been outstanding, ascending and accompanying the Star Lord to conquer far and wide, maybe someday they'll have the chance to become rulers of their own domain..." An Qinghe rattled off.
"Commander An, our children are not that exceptional, nor do we have such fortune. Please show mercy, and we will try to gather as much as we can, even if it means selling all we have, but we can only manage to collect half; please be kind," Tian Zhihao said, shaking with anger yet not daring to explode—under someone else's roof, one must bow one's head.
"Not a single part less; either hand over people or money, choose one. If you give half, then leave one child behind to take care of you in your old age. Considering your past cooperation, I'll let you pick which child to keep; isn't that fair enough?" An Qinghe said with a smile.
As these words were spoken, the An Family members were filled with righteous indignation. Wasn't this essentially asking Tian Zhihao to choose which child to throw into the fire pit?
And to only be able to keep one, yet having to surrender all of the Tian Family's resources—this was simply inhumane.
"Father..." Tian Buku and Tian Bunaon rushed back, running to Tian Zhihao's side.
Seeing Tian Buku and Tian Bunaon return, Tian Zhihao and his wife's faces changed dramatically, "You're... being foolish..."
If they hadn't come back, there might still have been a glimmer of hope. But now that they had returned, their fate as cannon fodder seemed inevitable.
"Dad, don't be afraid, someone will stand up for us," Tian Buku and Tian Bunaon said hastily.
Tian Zhihao was slightly taken aback. At this time, who else could help the Tian Family? The other families close to the Tian Family probably had their own problems by now; who could possibly come to their aid?
As Tian Zhihao pondered this, he couldn't help but look up and saw Lin Shen standing there. At first, he was stunned, then overjoyed.
An Qinghe also noticed Lin Shen, but he did not recognize him.
To a Celestial, human faces all looked somewhat similar, without much difference.
If they looked at someone individually, they might be able to spot some differences.
But with so many humans together, they were not really able to tell who was who. Moreover, Lin Shen's tattered battle suit and helmet made him even harder to recognize.
"I want to see who on Beiji Star can be more in charge than me," An Qinghe said coldly, looking at everyone with a scoff.
As he said this, the little squad leaders and middle squad leaders of the Star Defense Team following An Qinghe all laughed.
An Qinghe was the younger brother of Star Lord An Qingshan. The command to plunder the families had been personally issued by Star Lord An Qingshan; indeed, no one on Beiji Star held more authority than them.
Lin Shen looked at An Qinghe, walked up to him, and asked, "What relation is An Qingshan to you?"
"How dare you utter the Star Lord's name," An Qinghe immediately flew into a rage, a human daring to be so insolent. Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire
"I just did, what of it?" Lin Shen asked indifferently.
"You're seeking death..." Before An Qinghe could finish his sentence, a head, spewing blood, flew up into the sky, the eyes wide with shock.
Everyone was stunned. For a moment, the courtyard fell deathly silent.
No one had expected Lin Shen to suddenly lash out, decapitating An Qinghe.
The Tian Family knew who Lin Shen was and were both shocked and delighted.
The members of the Star Defense Team, however, were taken aback. Although An Qinghe was not as strong as An Qingshan, he was, after all, a Nirvana Being. How could this human in front of them have beheaded him with a single slash?
Lin Shen, holding the blood-drenched Scrap Sword, looked at the little squad leaders and middle squad leaders of the defense team and said calmly, "Is there anyone here who can talk?"