Under one person: I, Zhang Zhiwei, the arrogant Zhang.

The dungeon of the Tang Clan was dark and damp.

Xu Xin and Dong Chang were tied up with ropes and hung in mid-air. They had been imprisoned here ever since they were captured by Elder Hong and his men, and were said to be awaiting the sect leader's personal judgment.

As righteous people, they all understood how serious it was to become sworn brothers with the leader of the Quanxing Sect. According to the sect rules and the customs of the martial world, being subjected to the punishment of three cuts and six holes, or even being executed outright, would not be an exaggeration.

"Senior brother... tell me, which bastard betrayed us?"

Xu Xin, his hair disheveled, cursed loudly, "Which bastard, that son of a bitch, did this despicable thing? I'll curse him to the bone! If I catch that bastard, I'll force-feed him ten catties of croton oil poison, poisoning him to the point that he'll vomit and die on the spot!"

"Junior brother, calm down." Although Dong Chang was also hanging, his expression was much calmer than Xu Xin's: "Think carefully back to the list that Elder Hong gave us before. Did you notice how Wugensheng was addressed?"

"What's the meaning……"

Xu Xin paused for a moment, then his mind raced: "I remember now! The name on the list is Wugensheng, not Feng Yao. This means that the person who leaked the information is not one of our thirty-six. If it were really one of our own brothers who betrayed us, then the list would definitely have Feng Yao's real name, not Wugensheng's nickname in the underworld!"

Dong Chang pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Not necessarily. If he wasn't one of the thirty-six of us, and it just so happens that an outsider knew about our secret gathering in that valley in the Qinling Mountains, then he shouldn't have known that we had sworn brotherhood."

"After all, the sworn brotherhood with Wugensheng was just a spur-of-the-moment decision. We ourselves didn't even know about it, so who else outside the valley would know?"

"Rather than saying that the informant was not one of the thirty-six people, I am more inclined to believe that the informant only wanted us to suffer and did not intend to involve Wugensheng, so he removed his real name."

Upon hearing this, Xu Xin's eyes hardened: "Senior brother, do you mean that this was all done by that shameless bastard Wugensheng?"

"Do you think that's possible?" Dong Chang asked rhetorically.

Xu Xin pondered for a moment, then lowered his head: "I was just momentarily blinded by anger. He shouldn't be the one who informed on us. What good would it do him to do so? Besides, our sworn brotherhood with him is a departure from the righteous path. As the leader of Quanxing, his sworn brotherhood with us is also a form of self-destruction against Quanxing."

In life and in business, one should always put oneself in another's shoes. The reason they were willing to become sworn brothers with Wugensheng was because Wugensheng was sincere enough.

Moreover, Wugensheng also took on great risks in this sworn brotherhood, which is why they were willing to take the risk, because they would be a community of shared interests.

If it were only them taking the risk unilaterally, even if Wugensheng were the most sincere, they wouldn't do such a thing.

“Yes!” Dong Chang nodded and said, “So, to determine who leaked the information, we need to see who benefits the most after the list is exposed. Judging from the current situation, Wugensheng will not only not gain any benefits, but will also become the target of public criticism, so it is unlikely to be him.”

"If it's not Wugensheng, then who is it? There are thirty-six of us. We share the same fate, and we all suffer together. Why would he betray us? Damn it all..." Xu Xin felt more and more aggrieved and started cursing again.

Seeing Xu Xin's broken defenses, Dong Chang sighed and asked softly, "Junior brother, are you... scared?"

"Waaah..." Xu Xin cried uncontrollably: "Senior brother, I've thought a lot these past two days. I'm really scared, but it's not that I'm afraid of dying or being punished. I'm afraid that we might have really made a mistake!"

"what?!"

Dong Chang looked at Xu Xin with surprise: "Why do you think we did something wrong? I don't think I did anything wrong. We just befriended Wu Gengsheng, not the so-called leader of Quanxing. Wu Gengsheng is not as wicked as those Quanxing villains. So, I don't think I did anything wrong."

Xu Xin shook his head painfully: "Senior brother, that's true, but we have our own stance in this world. We know in our hearts that we are sworn brothers with Wugensheng. But the fact that he is the leader of Quanxing Sect is also an undeniable fact! There's no way we can deny it!"

Dong Chang fell silent. He knew in his heart that Xu Xin was right; this label of identity could not be easily torn off.

But he felt that people and things in this world shouldn't be condemned outright. Gao Gen was right; the distinction between the righteous and the evil paths shouldn't be so hasty. Many people on the righteous path act worse than pigs and dogs, while many people on the evil path are actually good people.

Both were preoccupied with their own thoughts, and remained silent in the dark dungeon.

Not long after, the dungeon door opened, and blinding light shone in. Xu Xin and Dong Chang squinted instinctively and looked up.

Zhang Wang, Yang Lie, Tang Miaoxing, and others walked in.

“Zhang Wang, Miao Xing and I took care of these two guys. This time, you make the move!” Yang Lie said.

"Good! Good!" Zhang Wang strode over, carrying a large leather whip soaked in salt water.

"Remember to hit hard; hitting lightly won't do any good!" Tang Miaoxing added from the side.

"Don't worry, I'll beat those two bastards to a pulp!" Zhang Wang said through gritted teeth.

To be honest, he was also holding back a lot of anger. His master was Gao Yingcai, and his sweetheart was his master's daughter, Xiaomei, who was also his childhood sweetheart.

However, during a mission a few years ago, his master's wife was brutally killed by Liang Ting, a demon from the Quanxing sect. Xiao Mei was also cruelly humiliated and tortured by that beast Liang Ting until she went insane. His master, Gao Yingcai, was so devastated by this that his hair turned white overnight.

It can be said that Zhang Wang deeply loathed the Quanxing gang of wicked villains, wishing he could eat their flesh and sleep on their skin!
Xu Xin and Dong Chang were naturally well aware of this matter.

Zhang Wang still clearly remembers that when the incident happened, the two of them came to comfort him and made a solemn vow that if they ever encountered the Quanxing demon in the martial arts world, they would definitely avenge their master's wife and Xiaomei!

And the result?!

In just a few years, these two bastards who kept saying they would help him get revenge have become sworn brothers with several Quanxing demons!
Zhang Wang grew angrier the more he thought about it. He grabbed a leather whip and went up to the two men, lashing them repeatedly as he did so, cursing as he did so:
"You two sons of bitches, you went and became sworn brothers with the Quanxing heretics? Have you forgotten the feud between our Tang Sect and Quanxing?"

"Clap!"

"How the hell do you people deserve my deceased master's wife?!"

"Clap!"

"How can you face Xiaomei, who grew up with you since childhood and is as close as a brother and sister?"

"Clap!"

"How dare you do this to me?! We kowtowed together before the statue of our ancestral master, and you even patted your chests and said you'd help me get revenge! Is this how you help me get revenge?! Damn it!"

The more Zhang Wang talked, the harder he hit.

Xu Xin and Dong Chang gritted their teeth and remained silent the entire time. They were too ashamed to face Zhang Wang and had no way to refute him.

"Was the beating a bit too harsh?" Tang Miaoxing frowned slightly and whispered to Yang Lie, "Zhang Wang is getting a little too into character."

Yang Lie said, "Miaoxing, you're too soft-hearted. The sect leader is about to arrive. In my opinion, the beating wasn't fast enough or ruthless enough."

Tang Miaoxing: "…………"

At this moment, the Tang Clan Chief, who had just finished the meeting, returned to the Tang Clan. He immediately went to the dungeon to personally interrogate Xu Xin and Dong Chang, only to witness Zhang Wang whipping the two men with a leather whip.

"You two bastards, don't you know how many members of our Tang Clan have perished at the hands of Quanxing throughout history? You two actually became sworn brothers with the leader of Quanxing! I'll beat you to death!" As the sect leader drew closer, Zhang Wang beat them harder and harder, tearing their clothes into strips, which were mixed with blood and stuck to their bodies, making them look gruesome.

"Alright, stop. This self-inflicted injury charade is pointless for me to witness," Tang Bingwen, the head of the Tang Clan, said calmly as he approached.

Zhang Wang stopped what he was doing and said, "Sect Leader... I was really angry, so I took it upon myself to deal with these two guys. We can't let them off so easily. We have to punish them severely so that they will never dare to act so recklessly again."

"Yes, I understand!" Tang Clan leader nodded and said, "We old guys have already discussed it. Everyone in Quanxing should kill you. You collude with the Quanxing leader, which is a capital offense, but we are willing to give you a chance."

Upon hearing that the two still had a chance to survive, Zhang Wang, as well as Yang Lie, Tang Miaoxing, and the others standing to the side, all secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Although Zhang Wang hated these two for their sworn brotherhood with Quanxing, he hadn't reached the point where he truly wanted to kill them.

A glimmer of gratitude flashed in Xu Xin's and Dong Chang's otherwise lifeless eyes.

"The sect leader has treated me with such great kindness!"

"Wait, I haven't stated the conditions yet!" the Tang Clan leader said. "The conditions are that you two write a guarantee that is made public to the world, declaring that from this day forward, you will completely sever all ties with Wugensheng and the other thirty-four people who participated in the sworn brotherhood! And admit that you were just confused for a moment and were deceived by the demon, and that you were never sincere in your sworn brotherhood with them!"

"After you finish writing, you will go and guard the Tiantong Steel Plant. For the next twenty years, you are not allowed to step out of the plant area. If you agree, this matter will be settled, and you will still be disciples of my Tang Clan. Are you willing?"

The two fell silent.

“Master, we have no problem guarding the Tiantong Steel Plant, we can stay as long as we want, but… but… could we not write the guarantee? I swear, I will never have anything to do with them again.” Xu Xin said hurriedly.

"Xu Xin, you slippery fellow, you're still trying to bargain with me now? Write it or not? If you write it, you'll still be on the Tang Clan's side; if you don't, you'll be on the Quanxing's side. You have to choose one."

The Tang Clan leader said expressionlessly, "Actually, from my personal perspective, I don't care who you associate with in private. But one must have principles, especially in this chaotic world. Chaotic times cannot tolerate complex stances."

“Choose! Either write a guarantee that you will sever all ties with them, or I will cripple your methods and drive you down the mountain.”

The two fell silent.

“Senior brother…” Xu Xin looked at Dong Chang, about to speak.

Dong Chang understood Xu Xin's meaning: "Thirty-third brother, don't overthink it. You are you, and I am me. You choose yours, and I choose mine."

He didn't call Xu Xin "junior brother," but rather "thirty-third brother." Xu Xin regretted it, but he didn't regret it; he still felt that becoming sworn brothers was the right thing to do.

When they swore brotherhood, they made a vow to live and die together. Now, the sworn brotherhood has not been over for long, and the fire in their hearts has not been extinguished. How can he possibly write a guarantee that they will sever all ties?

Xu Xin was willing to write the guarantee that he would sever all ties with Wu Gensheng.

But Dong Chang refused to comply, even at the cost of his life.

Dong Chang looked at the Tang Clan leader and said calmly, "Clan leader, I was born a member of the Tang Clan, and I will die a member of the Tang Clan. I will always stand on the side of the Tang Clan and will never betray my sect. But... I cannot do anything to betray my sworn brothers. I cannot write that guarantee."

"Since you're unwilling to write, don't blame the sect rules for being heartless!"

The Tang Clan Master waved his hand, sending out a dagger that cut the ropes binding Xu Xin, and said:

"Xu Xin! You do it! Cripple Dong Chang's kung fu yourself!"

Xu Xin knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly and begging for mercy: "Master! No, Master! Senior Brother Dong Chang has cultivated to this level today with great difficulty! Please spare him!"

"No one in this world has it easy! As adults, once you make a choice, you always have to pay the price for it!" Tang Clan leader remained unmoved.

Dong Chang looked at Xu Xin kneeling on the ground, his lips moved slightly, wanting to say a few words of comfort, but in the end he said nothing. He just quietly closed his eyes and calmly accepted the judgment.

"What? Do you want me to cripple him myself?!" Tang Sect Master shouted angrily when he saw Xu Xin hesitate.

But at that moment, a voice came:
"Junior brother, what's the big deal? Is it really worth making such a fuss about?"

Master Tang Jiaren walked in slowly, hands behind his back, and said, "Since one is unwilling to write it and the other is unwilling to discard it, then it's very simple. I have a suggestion. Let them both try to inherit 'Dan Shi'!"

"Those who survived have learned their lesson, and as for those who died... well, that's also a lesson learned, and it's all over. As for that piece of bullshit guarantee, what's the big deal to Dan Shi?"

Tang Jiaren felt that if one could see through life and death, and then look back at this question, one would only find it naive.

Both of them were shocked when they heard about Dan Shi.

"Master...we've made such a huge mistake, can we still...can we still be qualified to inherit the Tang Clan's ultimate technique, Dan Shi?" Xu Xin couldn't believe his ears.

The Tang Clan Elder said, "Inheriting the Dan Shi is a matter of life and death. I advise you to reconsider my previous suggestion."

To be honest, although the Tang Clan Elder appears stern, he treats them much more gently than the Grand Master. After all, at most he would cripple their methods, but inheriting the Dan Shi technique would be fatal.

This has gone from writing a guarantee to a life-or-death decision.

The two looked at each other and saw a resolute determination in each other's eyes.

In the end, they all chose to inherit the Dan Shi!

Perhaps because of their resolute determination to sacrifice themselves for righteousness, neither of them was afraid of death when facing the terrifying Dan Shi. They both passed through that life-or-death barrier and successfully inherited Dan Shi!

Seeing that two top experts who had inherited the Dan Shi had suddenly appeared in the sect, plus Yang Lie who had also successfully inherited the Dan Shi before.

Now, the Tang Clan has a total of six people with the Dan Shi skill, which is rare in the history of the Tang Clan.

In the past, the Tang Clan leader would have been very happy.

But at this critical juncture, everyone is busy cleaning house, putting some in solitary confinement, and crippling others' methods. But the Tang Clan is doing the opposite. Not only do they not cripple their methods, they are also teaching them methods. It doesn't sound good if word gets out.

The Tang Clan leader then sent them to guard the Tiantong Steel Plant to weather the storm.

As for the guarantee, since they are unwilling to write one, he will make a guarantee in the name of the Tang Clan.

As long as it enhances the sect's strength and achieves its goals, Tang Bingwen doesn't care much about such things. (End of Chapter)